Marion D Barker

US Patent:

61378607, Oct 24, 2000

Filed:

Aug 17, 1999

Appl. No.:

9/376706

Inventors:

John P. Ellegood - Englewood CO
Blaine J. Wiltshire - Littleton CO
Marion D. Barker - Sunnyvale CA
Lee M. Klynn - Los Altos CA

Assignee:

Lockheed Martin Corporation - Bethesda MD

International Classification:

G01N 2302

US Classification:

378 58

Abstract:

Disclosed is a weld inspection system that utilizes an automated digital radiographic camera and control system to generate and review digital X-ray images of the weld seam. The weld inspection system is mountable onto the weld fixture, such that the weld inspection system can inspect welds upon completion of welding operations while the barrel panels are still clamped in the weld fixture. The digital radiographic camera includes a fiber optic scintillator x-ray to light conversion screen coupled to a high resolution charged coupled device (CCD) camera to produce digital radiographic images of a portion of the weld between welded barrel panels. An X-ray source is located in a shielded housing which is attached to a carriage that is movably mounted to the vertical weld fixture on the convex side of the barrel weld. The digital radiographic camera is attached to a carriage that is movably mounted to the vertical weld fixture on the concave side of the barrel weld.