CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[000 1 ] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Serial

No. 61 /31 1 ,805, fi led Ma r c h 9, 2010, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1 . Technical Field

[0002] This invention relates generally to surface inspection systems and methods of inspection thereof, and more particularly to inspection systems and methods for inspecting bores.

2. Related Art

[0003] Manufactured parts having annular inner surfaces, e.g., vehicle parts, such as seals, gaskets, or pistons, for example, are typically inspected during manufacture to ensure the inner surfaces meet predetermined specifications. Known inspection systems and methods include measurement systems that make physical contact with the parts during manufacture, such as profilometers, for example. These systems obtain data through relative movement between a stylus and the abutting surface of the part. Although this type of inspection system can provide accurate results, it can result in damage to surface being inspected and the inspection results are generally limited to a small portion of the surface being inspected, and further, can be very time consuming. In addition to damaging the surface being inspected, known inspection systems are generally limited to inspecting relatively small areas, and thus, in many cases the entire surface of the part being inspected in unable to be inspected. Further yet, known bore inspection systems are typically complex, requiring multiple pieces of equipment oriented individually relative to one another, thereby requiring a good deal of set-up time for each different configuration of part being inspected. As such, the known bore inspection systems are generally time consuming to use, and thus costly to operate.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] An imaging system for inspecting an inner surface bounding a component bore is provided. The system includes a laser light source configured to emit a laser beam. Further, a camera is configured to image a reflection of the laser beam from the inner surface. At least a first mirror is disposed within the bore. The laser light source is configured to emit the laser beam directly from the laser light source in substantial ly parallel relation to the central axis incident on the first mirror and the camera is configured to view a reflection of the laser beam off the inner surface.

[0005] In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, the system includes a light transmisive tube having an outer surface configured to abut the seal bore surface and an inner surface configured to receive the mirror therein.

[0006] In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, the system includes a second mirror disposed within the seal bore. The first mirror is configured to reflect the incident laser beam onto the seal bore surface, while the second mirror is configured to reflect an image of the seal bore surface to the camera.

[0007] In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, a method of inspecting a bore surface of a part is provided. The method includes disposing at least one mirror in the bore. Further, directing a laser beam substantially parallel to a central axis of the bore and reflecting the laser beam off the first mirror, onto the inner surface and back onto said at least one mirror. Then, capturing an image of the inner surface from the laser beam reflected back onto the at least one mirror with a camera.

[0008] In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, the method further includes disposing a glass tube in abutment with the bore surface and disposing the at least one mirror within a bore of the glass tube.

[0009] In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, the method further includes disposing another mirror within the bore being inspected and reflecting the incident laser beam off one mirror onto the bore and reflecting the returning laser beam off the other mirror to the camera.

[0001 0] In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention, the method further includes orienting the mirrors at compound angles relative to one another within the bore to allow the emitted laser beam and the reflected beam to the camera to travel substantially parallel to one another.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0001 1 ] These and other aspects, features and advantages of a bore inspection system and method of inspection therewith in accordance with the invention will become more readily appreciated when considered in connection with the following detailed description of presently preferred embodiments and best mode, appended claims and accompanying drawings, in which:

[00012] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a bore inspection system constructed in accordance with one aspect of the invention;

[0001 3] Figure 2 is a perspective view of a bore inspection system constructed in accordance with another aspect of the invention; and

[00014] Figure 3 is a schematic front view of a housing of the bore inspection system shown having a seal disposed therein with a transparent tube disposed in the seal.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[00015] Referring in more detail to the drawings, Figure 1 illustrates a bore inspection system, referred to hereafter as system 1 0, configured in accordance with one aspect of the invention to inspect an inner surface 12 bounding a bore of a seal 14, although any component having an inner surface bounding a bore may benefit from being inspected with the system 10. The system 10 includes a laser light source, also referred to as laser beam emitting device 16, an imaging device, such as a camera 18, for example, and at least a first mirror 20. The laser emitting device 16 is oriented to transmit a laser beam in the form of a fanned laser beam 22 (fanned in a vertically or substantially vertical plane P I ) parallel to or substantially parallel to a horizontal central axis 24 of the seal 14 incident on the first mirror 20 that is positioned in radial alignment with the inner surface 12 within the bore of the seal 14. The fanned laser beam 22 reflects off the mirror 20 vertically onto a targeted sealing surface 26 extending across the width of the bore 12, whereupon the laser beam 22 is reflected off the surface 26, as an incident line extending across the full width of the inner surface 12, whereupon the line is reflected back to the mirror 20 and is then reflected to and imaged directly and fully by the camera 1 8 without need of being further reflected by additional mirrors. Accordingly, the only mirror or mirrors are those within the bore in radial alignment with the inner surface 12 of the seal 14. To faci litate imaging the entire surface 26 of the seal bore inner surface 1 2, the seal 14 can be rotated about its central axis 24 while the mirror 20 remains fixed, wherein the rotation is facilitated via a turntable 28 that is operably fixed to the seal 14.

[0001 6] In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 1 , the seal 14 is mounted in fixed relation in a bore 30 of a carrier, also referred to as housing 32. The housing 32 is fixed to the turntable 28, such that the housing 32 and seal 14 rotate conjointly with the turntable 28 at a selected rotational speed, as desired, during an inspection procedure. It should be recognized that the bore 30 of the housing 32 can be provided having any suitable diameter and width, as preferred, to facilitate fixing components having a variety of di fferent diameters and widths therein.

[0001 7] The laser beam emitter 16, camera 1 8 and mirror 20 are all fixed relative to one another, and are shown here as being fixed to a common platform 34. The laser beam emitter 1 6 and camera 18 are shown as being adjustable along respective sl ide rails 36, 38. The platform 34 extends along a generally horizontal plane and has a reduced width portion 40 sized for a clearance receipt in the bore of the seal 14. The reduced width portion 40, upon being disposed within the bore, does not interfere with or otherwise contact the inner surface 12 bounding the bore, wherein the mirror 20 is fixed to the reduced width portion 40 and also does not interfere with or otherwise contact the inner surface 12. Of course, it should be recognized that the platform 34 need not be provided as a monolithic piece of material, though being formed as a single piece of material facilitates orienting and assuring the laser beam emitter 1 6, camera 18 and mirror 20 in their desired respective fixed locations relative to one another.

[0001 8] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, as shown in a schematic view of Figure 3, the system 10 can include a transparent cylindrical tube 44 having an outer surface 46 configured to abut the seal bore inner surface 12 and an inner surface 48 configured to receive the mirror 20 in a clearance fit therein. The outer surface 46 is sized to mimic the shaft size intended for the seal 14, and thus, the images obtained by the camera 1 8 provide insight as to the contact patch that will be exhibited in actual use between the sealing surface 26 and a running surface of the shaft, or a wear sleeve, if used in application.

[0001 9] With the tube 44 being formed from a light transmissive material, such as a transparent or substantially transparent glass or polymeric material, the laser beam 22 is able to pass through the wall thickness of the tube 44 to provide the camera 18 with an ability to produce a clear and accurate image of the sealing surface 26.

[00020] In the embodiment of Figure 1 , the camera 1 8 is circumferentially or radial ly offset and focused along an axis 42 that is inclined in an oblique relation to the horizontal central axis 24 of the seal 14. As such, with the laser beam 22 being vertically fanned along the plane P I , the camera 18 is able to view the full reflection of the incident line of the laser beam 22 on the inner surface 12 directly from the flat reflective surface of the fi rst mirror 20 without aid of additional mirrors, as long as the width of the body of the seal itself does not obstruct the view path between the first mirror 20 and the lens of the camera 18. The first mirror 20 is tilted from a horizontal plane about 45 degrees from the horizontal central axis 24 about a single horizontal axis HA extending perpendicularly to the laser beam 22, and thus, the laser beam 22 is reflected as a line generally 90 degrees upwardly onto the inner surface 12. If the width of the bore inner surface 12 is wide enough to cause the body of the seal 14 to at least partial ly interfere with a full viewing of the incident laser line from the first mirror 20, then a plurality of mirrors can be integrated within the seal bore, as shown in Figure 2, and discussed below.

[00021 ] In Figure 2, a system 1 10 is illustrated, wherein the same reference numerals as above, offset by a factor of 100, are used to identify like features. In contrast to the previous system 10, the system 1 10 incorporates a pair of mirrors 120, 120' disposed within the bore in radial alignment with the inner surface 1 12 being inspected to facilitate inspecting and imaging a bore 1 12 having an increased width extending along the central axis 1 24 in comparison with the width of the previous inner surface 12. The system 1 10 functions similarly as discussed above to allow the full width of the surface 126 of the bore inner surface 1 12 to be imaged, however, there are no restrictions placed on the width of the bore 1 12 capable of being imaged. This is due in part to the use and orientation of the plurality of mirrors 1 20, 120', and further, to the orientation of a laser beam emitting device 1 1 6 and a camera 1 18 relative to a central axis 1 24 of the seal 1 14.

[00022] One of the mirrors, also referred to as first mirror 120, is oriented the same as discussed above, and thus, is tilted to an inclination of about 45 degrees from the central axis 124 about a horizontal axis HA extending perpendicularly to the laser beam 122. However, unlike the previous embodiment, the first mirror 1 20 is sized to reflect the incident laser beam 122, however, it is narrow enough to avoid reflecting the incident line of the laser beam 122 reflecting off the sealing surface 126. As such, the other mirror, also referred to as second mirror 120', is positioned and sized to reflect a beam 122' of the reflected laser light that is reflected from the sealing surface 126. To facilitate inspecting large depth or width bores, the second mirror 120' has a flat reflective surface that is oriented at a compound angle relative to flat reflective surface of the first mirror 1 20, and thus, the flat reflective surfaces of the first and second mirrors 120, 120' are non-parallel to one another. The compound angle is formed by orienting the second mirror 120' to extend in a first plane alone the same 45 degree angle relative to the central axis 1 24 as the first mirror 1 20. Thus, the second mirror 120' is first inclined 45 degrees from the central axis 1 24 about the horizontal axis HA, similarly as the first mirror 120. Then, the second mirror 1 20' is also rotated about a vertical axis VA. The rotation of the second mirror 1 20' about the vertical axis VA is over a sufficient number of degrees to cause the beam 1 22' of the reflected laser light to be imaged fully by the camera 1 18 along an axis 142 that is parallel, or substantially parallel to the central axis 124. Accordingly, the incident laser beam 1 22 and the reflected line of the laser beam light 122' travel in parallel or substantially parallel relation to one another. Thus, the camera 1 1 8, rather than being oriented in an oblique relation relative to the central axis 124 as in the previous embodiment, is oriented facing along the same direction in generally parallel relation with the laser beam emitting device 1 16.

[00023] In accordance with one method of inspecting a bore using the systems 10,

1 10 discussed above and illustrated, the method includes disposing at least one mirror 20, 120, 120' in a bore of an inner surface 1 2, 1 12 being inspected. Then, reflecting a laser beam 22, 122 off the at least one mirror 20, 120 onto the bore surface 26, 126. Further, capturing a reflection of the laser beam 22, 122' off the at least one mirror 20, 120' with a camera 1 8, 1 1 8 without the aid of additional mirrors downstream from the min-ors 20, 120' positioned within the bore 12, 1 12. When using a plurality of mirrors 120, 120' within the bore 1 12, the method further includes orienting the mirrors 120, 120' at a compound angle to one another within the seal bore inner surface 1 12 and causing the incident and reflected laser beams 122, 122' to travel along substantially parallel axes 124, 142.

[00024] The method further includes disposing a glass tube 44 in abutment with the bore surface 26, 1 26 and disposing the at least one mirror 20, 120, 120' within a bore of the glass tube 44.

[00025] Obviously, many modi fications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifical ly described.