Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US7242744?ie=ISO-8859-1&dq=6,998,619
Timestamp: 2015-08-04 18:58:20
Document Index: 378373142

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 14', 'art 14', 'art 14', 'art 14', 'art 14', 'art 12']

Patent US7242744 - X-ray diffraction apparatus and method - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inAdvanced Patent SearchPatentsIn accordance with the present invention, an x-ray diffraction apparatus and method are provided in which an x-ray or goniometer head can be adjusted in different directions to allow the head to direct x-rays at a part from various positions. In this manner, measurements can be taken from a wider region...http://www.google.com/patents/US7242744?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US7242744 - X-ray diffraction apparatus and methodAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS7242744 B2Publication typeGrantApplication numberUS 11/011,491Publication dateJul 10, 2007Filing dateDec 13, 2004Priority dateMar 31, 1999Fee statusPaidAlso published asUS6721393, US6853706, US20040165697, US20050195942Publication number011491, 11011491, US 7242744 B2, US 7242744B2, US-B2-7242744, US7242744 B2, US7242744B2InventorsMichael BraussOriginal AssigneeProto Manufacturing Ltd.Export CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (31), Referenced by (4), Classifications (12), Legal Events (2) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetX-ray diffraction apparatus and method
US 7242744 B2Abstract
This is a continuation of prior application Ser. No. 10/781,417, filed Feb. 18, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,853,706 B2, which is a divisional application from prior application Ser. No. 09/539,346, filed Mar. 31, 2000, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,721,393 B1, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Despite the widespread use of cables, there are few tools available to inspect and characterize the stresses on cables. In fact, at this time there are two techniques currently in common use, a direct measurement by “jacking”, literally by deflecting the cable with a calibrated jack and an indirect method using the “time to damping” of an induced vibration. Both of these approaches to stress measurement are at best an approximation of cable force due to underlying assumptions as discussed in F. A. Zahn and B. Bitterli's paper “Developments in Non-Destructive Stay Cable Inspection Methods” delivered at the IABSE Symposium in San Francisco in August, 1995 (see pp. 861–866). This is because the accuracy of the measurement is less than ideal, the total stress in the cable is ignored and the techniques cannot characterize individual strands which may comprise a cable bundle. Accordingly, there is a need for an apparatus and method that can address these shortcomings.
FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of the portable unit of FIGS. 2–4 showing an arcuate oscillation drive for the x-ray head;
FIGS. 13A–13C are views of maps of residual stress of a part that can be generated in the field with the apparatus and method of the present invention.
In FIG. 1, an x-ray diffraction apparatus 10 in accordance with the present invention is shown. The apparatus 10 includes an x-ray head 12 from which x-rays are directed at a part 14, such as the illustrated bridge tension member 16. The main advantage provided by the present apparatus 10 is in the ability of the x-ray head 12 to be moved in a plurality of different directions relative to the part via various adjustment mounts, generally designated 18, that are provided on frame structure 20 supporting the x-ray head 12 for its movements. In this regard, the adjustment mounts 18 afford the head 12 a range of movement so that the head 12 can direct x-rays at the part from different positions thereof and at corresponding different positions on the part 14. As discussed, this is particularly helpful where the part 14 is in service and subject to various use and environmental conditions that can cause highly specific and localized variations in the strength-related characteristic being measured by the x-ray diffraction apparatus 10. By having the ability to scan a region of the part, aberrations in the characteristic being measured by the apparatus 10 can be readily determined so, for instance, such localized variations will not unduly influence the determination as to the remaining useful life of the part 14. By way of example and not limitation, the adjustment mounts 18 herein can provide the x-ray head 12 with movements in the range of 2 to 4 inches.
FIGS. 2–5 are directed to an apparatus 10 a similar to apparatus 10 in that the x-ray head 12 thereof is capable of movements in a plurality of different directions. It also is preferably adapted to be portable and mounted to a bridge tension member 16 via fixture portion 22 thereof. As best seen in FIG. 4, the rough x-axis adjustment mount 64 is substantially the same as previously described. Similarly, the rough z-axis adjustment mount 66 is also similar to that previously described for apparatus 10. The x-axis adjustment mount 60 of apparatus 10 is substantially the same in apparatus 10 a; however, an additional fine x-axis adjustment mount 110 is incorporated in frame 112 of the apparatus 10 a so that both coarse and precision measurements of the head 12 can be made in the x-axis direction 62. Also, a fine phi-axis adjustment mount 114 is incorporated in the frame 112.
To use the touch sensor 230, it is removed from a stored position remote from the x-ray head 12 and placed onto the head 12 so that the probe 232 extends in a downward direction parallel to the collimator 48. An operator using a remote control box can coordinate movement of the head via the adjustment mounts and once in position lower the head 12 down until the probe 232 engages the surface of the part 14 to be measured. At this point, the head will be in its focus position at a predetermined distance defined by the length of the probe 232 from the part surface. Accordingly, for different focus distances, different length probes 232 can be utilized. Once the probe 232 engages the part surface, the controller 135 will receive the signal from switch 234 and store the position of the head 12 in memory, and in particular the positions of each of the adjustment mounts. Thereafter, the head 12 moves back to a home or initial position away from the part 12, and the touch sensor 230 is placed back in its stored position. At this point, all an operator has to do to focus the head 12 relative to the part surface is to click on a refocus icon in a Windows based program for instance or a “teach” key on the remote control box held by the operator and the head 12 under command of the controller 135 will automatically move back down to the previously determined focus position.
Referring next to FIGS. 11 a and 11 b, the software of the controller 135 can be programmed to allow the controller 135 to learn or be taught the contour on the region of the part surface from which measurements are desired. Although it is contemplated that the touch sensor 230 will be utilized for this purpose, it is also possible that the software can be adapted to accept and understand a digital interpretation of the part configuration, such as via a CAD drawing. To build the part configuration map in accordance with FIGS. 11 a and 11 b, the numerals 1 and 2 after the letters x, y, z indicate whether the motors are for the fine adjustment mounts (numeral 1) or for the rough adjustment mounts (numeral 2). To build the part map, the operator moves the head 12 by way of control over the adjustment mounts such as either via a PC Windows operating program or by controls on the remote control box. The operator moves the head to a position over each point on the part surface from which x-rays are to be directed thereat. At this position, the operator can actuate the “teach” key and the head will use the above-described “autofocus” routine to focus on the part surface. In a like manner, the operator will move the head 12 to the next position from which x-rays are to be directed at the next point on the part surface and initiate the “autofocus” sequence previously described. In this manner, each position of the head 12 will be stored in the controller so that the controller can command the head 12 to move in a precise path keeping the head 12 at a focused distance from the part positions to be measured. In addition, because of the use of the various adjustment mounts 18 as previously described, the x-ray diffraction equipment described herein can be made to automatically take measurements from fairly complex shapes without requiring any operator intervention.
Further, where the equipment is used at a part site, it is desirable for the controller 135 to be adapted for generating maps of the measured strength characteristic so that an operator in the field can make ready comparisons of, for example, stress measurements to easily determine whether localized stress aberrations are present or more importantly if there undue tensile stresses that are more representative of overall fatigue affecting part life. As shown in the stress maps of FIGS. 13A–13C, the areas on the maps of FIGS. 13B and 13C between the vertical lines show undesirable tensile stresses in an easy to see fashion. By providing these types of maps to field personnel at their job site, it is anticipated that the value of the x-ray diffraction equipment will be unquestionably realized.
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