Patent ID: 7640811

Claim:
A method for inspecting a structure, comprising: supporting an inspection probe against a surface of the structure, wherein the inspection probe comprises a pulse-echo ultrasonic inspection sensor, and wherein supporting the inspection probe against the surface of the structure comprises pressing the inspection probe against the surface of the structure by the application of continuous force, wherein pressing the inspection probe against the surface of the structure with the application of the continuous force comprises at least one of extending and retracting the inspection probe with respect to an extension coupler to which the inspection probe is physically coupled; moving the inspection probe over at least a portion of the surface of the structure, whereby the inspection probe rides across the portion of the surface of the structure by the movement of the inspection probe and application of the continuous force, and whereby the pulse-echo ultrasonic inspection sensor is configured to maintain constant orientation with respect to the portion of the surface across which the inspection probe rides, wherein the portion comprises a solid surface portion and at least one of an edge of a hole in the structure and an edge of the structure, and wherein moving the inspection probe over at least the portion of the surface of the structure comprises passing the inspection probe from riding on the solid surface portion to at least over at least one of the edge of the hole and the edge of the structure and returning the inspection probe from at least over the at least one of the edge of the hole and the edge of the structure to riding on the solid surface portion; temporarily locking the extended or retracted position of the inspection probe with respect to the extension coupler when the inspection probe passes over one or more of the edge of the hole, over the hole, over the edge of the structure, and past the edge of the structure, thereby preventing the inspection probe from extending past the surface of the structure into the hole or off the edge of the structure by the application of the continuous force of the inspection probe by the extension coupler; transmitting ultrasonic signals from the pulse-echo ultrasonic inspection sensor to the structure as the inspection probe is moved over at least the portion of the surface of the structure; and receiving the ultrasonic signals, transmitted from the pulse-echo ultrasonic inspection sensor to the structure and reflected from the structure, at the pulse-echo ultrasonic inspection sensor as the inspection probe is moved over at least the portion of the surface of the structure.