Abstract: There are provided a crack determining device capable of determining, in real time and with precision, the fact that a crack has occurred in a solder layer, and a semiconductor device comprising same.

Abstract: An eddy current sensor includes: an excitation coil that applies a predetermined alternating-current excitation signal to a measurement target component; and a detection coil that detects a detection signal, generated by eddy current, from the measurement target component to which the alternating-current excitation signal is applied. The excitation coil has a plurality of solenoid coils. The detection coil is arranged at least on one of two sides of the excitation coil in a direction of a central axis of each solenoid coil. Then, the plurality of solenoid coils are arranged in parallel with one another so that winding directions of the adjacent solenoid coils are opposite to each other.

Abstract: A gasket according to the present invention is for sealing a valve or pipe used in a high-pressure gas supplying equipment, which is comprised of a polymer material containing magnetic particles. Also, in a determination method of deterioration and damages of a gasket according to the present invention, the aforementioned gasket is used as the gasket for sealing a valve or pipe in a high-pressure gas supplying equipment, and the magnetic force of the gasket is measured to determine the deterioration and the damages of the gasket.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are an apparatus and method for detecting a crack in a small-bore piping system. The apparatus includes a sensor unit, a bobbin coil, a power supply unit, and a signal reception unit. The sensor unit is configured such that a plurality of magnetic sensors is arranged thereon and formed to be cylindrical. The bobbin coil is wound around the outside surface of the sensor unit. The power supply unit applies direct current (DC) power to the sensor unit and alternating current (AC) power to the bobbin coil. The signal reception unit quantifies a signal from the sensor unit. The sensor unit detects the distribution of a magnetic-field attributable to the crack in the small-bore piping system based on the AC power applied to the bobbin coil.

Abstract: A bearing residual life prediction method, a bearing residual life diagnostic apparatus and a bearing diagnostic system can be provided. The bearing diagnostic system 20 includes: an eddy current tester 11 that measures the impedance X of a certain portion of a bearing 24 before and after the use of the bearing; a bearing information transmitter 30 that transmits bearing information s1 containing the impedance X; and a bearing information receiver 31 that receives the information; a diagnostic section 12 that obtains the residual life information s2 of the bearing 24 based on the received impedance X; and a life information transmitter 36 that transmits the residual life information s2; and a life information receiver 40 that receives the information. Hence, the bearing used by the user can be inspected nondestructively, and the residual life of the bearing can be predicted.

Abstract: A magnetic pattern detection device for use with a medium having at least one magnetic pattern of a plurality of types of magnetic patterns whose residual magnetic flux density and permeability are different on a basis of both of a level of residual magnetic flux density and a level of permeability may include a common sensor part structured to detect presence/absence of each of the plurality of types of magnetic patterns, and a signal processing section structured to extract a first signal corresponding to the level of the residual magnetic flux density and a second signal corresponding to the level of the permeability from a signal outputted from the sensor part.

Abstract: An energy converter includes a magnetism generation mechanism unit that generates a magnetic field when connected to an AC electrical power source, and a rotating mechanism unit having a single turn coil array member in which a plurality of single turn coils is disposed at a predetermined interval and a soft magnetic metal plate disposed on a side of the single turn coil array member opposite to the magnetism generation mechanism unit. The rotating mechanism unit is structured such that the single turn coil array member faces the magnetism generation mechanism unit across a predetermined magnetic gap and rotary driven by the magnetic field. Here, a drive signal period of the electrical power source is a period that maximizes an eddy current generated in the soft magnetic metal plate.

Abstract: A magnetic inspection station for tubular members and methods for operating the same have a longitudinal flaw detection assembly adapted to pass a circumferential magnetic field through a tubular member and a transverse flaw detection assembly adapted to pass a longitudinal magnetic field through the tubular member. The magnetic fields cause congregation of a ferromagnetic particles sprayed on the tubular member in a magnetic particle inspection fluid. The congregation of ferromagnetic particles indicates a flaw in the tubular member. The magnetic inspection station includes a clamping apparatus positioned closely adjacent to the magnetic inspection station and adapted to support the tubular member within the magnetic inspection station and exert a compensating force on the tubular member to resist the magnetic forces generated by the longitudinal flaw detection assembly and the transverse flaw detection assembly.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for detecting wear of a surface of an object or part, and directing the measured amount of wear to an interface such that an operator may be apprised of this value are described. One end of the sacrificial wear sensor hereof is disposed such that it experiences the same wear as the surface of the part to be monitored. One embodiment of the present sensing element includes a permanent magnet fixedly sandwiched between two plates having high magnetic permeability material, wherein magnetic poles are oriented perpendicular to the plates. The plates extend beyond the magnet on the side thereof opposite the wear edge, forming thereby an air gap such that magnetic flux is concentrated in the plates with the magnetic circuit being completed through the air gap between the plate extensions. A magnetic flux monitoring device may be disposed in the air gap of the sensing element for measuring the magnetic flux density in the gap.

Abstract: A dynamically self-adjusting magnetometer is disclosed. In one embodiment, a first sample module periodically generates an electronic signal related to at least one magnetic field characteristic of a monitored environment. A second sample module periodically generates an electronic signal related to at least one magnetic field characteristic of a monitored environment. A summing module sums the absolute value of the electronic signal from the first sample module and the electronic signal from the second sample module. A delta comparator module receives the electronic signals from each of the first sample module, the second sample module and the summing module and compares each of the electronic signals with a previously received set of electronic signals to establish a change, wherein an output is generated if the change is greater than or equal to a threshold.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide an eddy current testing apparatus capable of accurately detecting any flaws occurring in a columnar or cylindrical subject to be tested regardless of their extending directions, with the use of the same probe coil. The eddy current testing apparatus 100 according to the present invention comprises a spinning plate 1 and a probe coil 2 disposed on the spinning plate 1. The probe coil is a probe coil capable of obtaining a differential output about a scanning direction of a detection signal which corresponds to a detected eddy current induced in the subject to be tested. The spinning plate is disposed in such a position that a spinning center RC of the spinning plate faces with an axial center PC of the subject to be tested.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing soluble and insoluble contaminants from highly purified and ultra-pure liquids having a bulk resistivity in excess of one megohm-centimeter by establishing laminar flow of the liquid in a cylindrical chamber through an electromagnetic field transverse to the direction of flow, to induce mobility of the constituents. The wall of the chamber forms a cathode and a central rod forms an anode in the chamber. The mobilized constituents are transported either to the anode or the cathode, where the material will adhere and agglomerate with other constituents. Systems are provided utilizing the method and apparatus for purifying and analytically evaluating highly purified and ultra-pure water.

Abstract: In a method for the nondestructive testing of pipes made of ferromagnetic steel for flaws by means of stray flux, the pipe is magnetized by a constant field and the discontinuities in the near-surface region of the outer or inner surface of the pipe cause magnetic stray fluxes, which exit the pipe surface and are detected by probes of a test unit, wherein the association of the detected amplitude signals is performed on the basis of the amplitude height and/or the frequency spectrum with respect to an external or internal flaw via defined flaw thresholds respectively. For this, prior to associating the detected amplitude signals to an external or internal flaw, the angular position of the flaw relative to the respective magnetic field direction is determined, and a correction of the signals is carried out via a previously determined correction factor for amplitudes and/or frequencies of a perpendicular angular position.

Abstract: An eddy current sensor is used for detecting a metal film (or conductive film) formed on a surface of a substrate such as a semiconductor wafer. The eddy current sensor is disposed near the metal film or the conductive film formed on the substrate to detect an eddy current generated in the metal film or the conductive film. The eddy current sensor includes a plurality of coils having different sizes formed by winding a wire or a conductive material. The plurality of coils includes an inner coil and an outer coil spaced from each other, and the outer coil is configured to surround the inner coil. The plurality of coils are configured to detect respective eddy currents generated in the metal film or the conductive film.

Abstract: A method of non-destructively testing a magnetisable conducting object surrounded by a magnetisable layer wherein the field strength of a primary magnetic field that is applied exterior to the magnetisable layer is abruptly changed. A vanishing secondary magnetic field generated by eddy currents induced by the changed field strength of the primary magnetic field is received and the temporal field strength of the received secondary magnetic field is analysed for deriving characteristics of the magnetisable conducting object. Furthermore, a transient tertiary magnetic field exterior to the magnetisable layer when the field strength of the primary magnetic field abruptly changes is applied wherein the orientation of the primary and tertiary magnetic field, respectively, are mutually opposite.

Abstract: A wire rope flaw detector includes a magnetizer having a pair of exciting magnets disposed on a back yoke such that polarities thereof are opposite to each other, and forming a main magnetic path in a predetermined segment in an axial direction of a wire rope; and a leakage magnetic flux detection section disposed in the predetermined segment in the axial direction, and detecting leakage magnetic flux generated from a damaged portion of the wire rope. Each of the exciting magnets are formed so as to have a cross-section of a shape that embraces the wire rope when each exciting magnet is cut along a plane perpendicular to the axial direction of the wire rope, and has magnetic orientation, on the cross-section of the exciting magnet, oriented from at least two directions toward the wire rope.

Abstract: An orthogonal eddy current probe with at least three coils, each of the coils is wound across the two facing sides of an at least six-sided right polygonal [b1] prism. At each time interval, two of the three coils are used as driver coils, being charged simultaneously with electric current driven in coherent directions to induce a combined eddy current and one of the coils is used as a receiver coil to sense the eddy current, with the combined eddy current to be orthogonal to the receiver coil. Each coil alternates to be one of the driver coils or the receiver coil at a predetermined switching sequence and a predetermined switching frequency during consecutive time intervals. The eddy current probe provides advantages of inspecting a test surface for flaws of any flaw orientation with one pass of scan, providing sufficient sensitivity and desirable noise cancellation in all directions.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for maintaining normalcy of a sensor with respect to a structure. The apparatus includes a driving member, a driven member, and a sensor. The driving member includes a first engaging element and a second engaging element. The driven member includes a third engaging element and a fourth engaging element. The third engaging element of the driven member is engaged with the first engaging element of the driving member. The fourth engaging element of the driven member is engaged with the second engaging element of the driving member. The sensor is coupled to the driven member, which is rotatably drivable by the driving member. Engagement between the first and third engaging elements facilitates three-dimensional adjustment of the driven member relative to the driving member. Engagement between the second and fourth engaging elements facilitates co-rotation of the driving member and the driven member.

Abstract: A method and device for nondestructive and noncontact detection of faults in a test piece, or electrically conductive particles in a liquid flow, moving passed the device, using eddy currents. The test piece or flow is exposed to periodic alternating electromagnetic fields. A periodic electrical signal is detected. The receiver coil signal is digitized with an A/D converter stage. A useful signal is produced from the digitized receiver coil signal with a signal processing unit, and the useful signal is evaluated with an evaluation unit for detecting a fault in the test piece or electrically conductive particles. When overdriving of the A/D converter stage by the receiver coil signal is ascertained by monitoring the curve shape of the digitized receiver coil signal, a part of the receiver coil signal truncated by the A/D converter stage is reconstructed using a mathematical approximation in the digitized receiver coil signal.

Abstract: An eddy current flaw detection system includes an eddy current flaw detection probe having a substrate facing an inspection surface, and at least one exciting coil and at least two detecting coils provided on the substrate, a scanning device which scans the probe on the inspection surface, a scan control device which drives and controls the scanning device, an eddy current flaw detection device which acquires results of detection of a plurality of detection points corresponding to combinations of the exciting and detecting coils for each scan position of the probe, and a data processing/display device which processes data from the scan control device and the eddy current flaw detection device and thereby displays a result of flaw detection. The data processing/display device acquires three-dimensional coordinates of the detection points for each scan position of the probe and thereby creates three-dimensional flaw detection data.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for scanning metallic surfaces. The apparatus, in one embodiment, comprises a shaft and a rotating member. The rotating member may comprise a sensing end and a featuring engaging element. The shaft further comprises a first coupling element and the rotating member further comprises a second coupling element. The first coupling element may be coupleable with the second coupling element such that the rotating member is pivotable at any three-dimensional angle with respect to the shaft to orient the sensing surface parallel to the scanned surface.

Abstract: Systems and methods for flaw detection and monitoring at elevated temperatures with wireless communication using surface embedded, monolithically integrated, thin-film, magnetically actuated sensors, and methods for fabricating the sensors. The sensor is a monolithically integrated, multi-layered (nano-composite), thin-film sensor structure that incorporates a thin-film, multi-layer magnetostrictive element, a thin-film electrically insulating or dielectric layer, and a thin-film activating layer such as a planar coil. The method for manufacturing the multi-layered, thin-film sensor structure as described above, utilizes a variety of factors that allow for optimization of sensor characteristics for application to specific structures and in specific environments. The system and method integrating the multi-layered, thin-film sensor structure as described above, further utilizes wireless connectivity to the sensor to allow the sensor to be mounted on moving components within the monitored assembly.

Abstract: In order to examine abnormality in shape of an outer circumference of a wire rope, the rope tester device includes a comb-shaped detection plate having a curved test edge portion extending along at least one portion of an outer circumference of a substantially circular sectional configuration of the wire rope and a testing recessed portion for receiving the wire rope in the vicinity of or in contact with the test edge portion, and a support device for rotatably supporting the detection plate in the vicinity of or in contact with the wire rope for permitting the rotation of the detection plate when the detection plate receives a force from an abnormal portion of the wire rope to relieve the force. A test string is disposed in an opening of the testing recessed portion for testing a surface that is not in the vicinity of or in contact with the test edge portion.

Abstract: A detection method for detecting a concavo-convex shape surface defect existing on a ferromagnetic metal object including sensing a signal attributed to strain of the concavo-convex shape surface defect having a size in a range of 0.5 to 6 ?m. The signal is magnetic flux leaking from the ferromagnetic metal to which magnetic flux is applied. A detecting apparatus incorporates a magnetizer for magnetizing a ferromagnetic metal and a plurality of magnetic sensors arranged in the direction perpendicular to a traveling direction of the ferromagnetic metal to sense a signal attributed to strain of a concavo-convex shape surface defect having a size in a range of 0.5 to 6 ?m.

Abstract: A magnetic testing apparatus has a magnetizing device applying a rotating magnetic field to a material to be tested, a testing signal detecting device, and a signal processing device applying signal processing to the testing signal. The signal processing device has a first synchronous detecting device detecting a testing signal by using the first current as a reference signal, a second synchronous detecting device detecting an output signal of the first synchronous detecting device by using the second current as a reference signal to extract a candidate flaw signal, and a testing image display device displaying a testing image in which each of pixels has a gray level corresponding to an intensity of the candidate flaw signal at each of positions of the material to be tested, and a phase of the candidate flaw signal at each of the positions is capable of being identified.

Abstract: A multi-frequency eddy current (MFEC) inspection system is provided for inspection of case hardening depth on a part. The MFEC inspection system comprises a generator configured to generate one or more multi-frequency excitation signals and an eddy current probe configured to be disposed at one side of the part. The eddy current probe comprises one or more drivers and one or more pickup sensors. The one or more drivers are configured to receive the one or more multi-frequency excitation signals to induce eddy currents in the part. The one or more pickup sensors are configured to detect the induced eddy currents within a local area of the part to generate one or more multi-frequency response signals. The MFEC system further comprises a processor configured to receive the one or more multi-frequency response signals for processing to determine a case hardening depth of the local area of the part. A pulse eddy current inspection system and an eddy current inspection method are also presented.

Abstract: An eddy-current flaw detection device comprises a magnetic element group of which a specified number of magnetic elements are evenly spaced in each of at least two rows around the surface of a column shaped casing that can be inserted into a conductive pipe, with one row being located at a different position from the other row by ½ the even spacing in the row direction, and switching circuits for switching the magnetic elements in the respective row at time-division. The elements of one row function as magnetic field excitation elements, the elements of the other row function as magnetic field detection elements, and the eddy-current flaw detection device performs eddy-current flaw detection of the conductive pipe by detecting magnetic field excited by magnetic field excitation element by two magnetic field detection elements located at different positions from the magnetic field excitation elements by 3/2 the even spacing.

Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment, a method is provided for non-destructive examination of a composite structure having a non-conductive surface and a conductive substrate. The method may include applying an alternating current to a probe having a coil conductor, scanning the probe across the non-conductive surface to induce eddy currents in the conductive substrate, and measuring changes in an electrical property of the probe in response to changes in the eddy currents indicative of variations in the depth of the conductive substrate.

Abstract: An eddy current probe 1 in accordance with the present invention has a structure in which a cross coil 7 is placed in a predetermined direction relative to permanent magnets 3 and 5 in the following manner. When the probe 1 is erected, the coil 7 is placed between the magnets 3 and 5 so that a direction CD in which the opposing portion 9a (9c) of the first coil 9 is extended intersects with a direction MD in which the magnets 3 and 5 are extended. In the same manner, when the probe 1 is erected, the coil 7 is placed between the magnets 3 and 5 so that a direction CD in which the opposing portion 11a (11c) of the second coil 11 is extended intersects with the direction MD in which the magnets 3 and 5 are extended.

Abstract: A device for non-destructive control of a component analyzes distribution of a leakage magnetic field emitted by the component when it is subjected to an exciting magnetic field, includes means for generating an exciting magnetic field inside the component to be tested, and means for detecting and measuring the distribution of the magnetic field. The set of means is integrated in a flexible housing to form a device in the form of a flexible coating for being fixed on a region of the surface of the component to be tested. The disclosed embodiments are useful for non-destructive testing of aircraft components, but may also be used in all industrial sectors where testing the integrity of components is important, such as the automotive, railway, marine or nuclear industry.

Abstract: A method and system for inspecting components, such as a rotating component of a turbomachines having one or more slots along a perimeter thereof. The method entails mounting to a robotic apparatus a probe assembly that includes a holder assembly to which a probe tip is mounted, an eddy current coil within the probe tip and adjacent a first face thereof, a touch probe contact located at a second face of the probe tip, an element for enabling relative movement between the probe tip and holder assembly, and an element for biasing the probe tip relative to the holder assembly in a direction parallel to the movement. The probe tip is then placed in a slot and caused to travel along the surface of the slot to electromagnetically inspect the slot for cracks in its surface while the first face of the probe tip is maintained in contact with a slot surface.

Abstract: A leakage flux probe for non-destructive leakage flux-testing of magnetisable bodies comprising a plurality of coils for detection of near-surface flaws in the body, wherein the coils have a degree of sensitivity which is dependent upon the orientation of the flaws in the body, and wherein coils having a different degree of sensitivity are disposed in the leakage flux probe with a first type of coil having a high degree of sensitivity for longitudinal flaws or transverse flaws and a second type of coil having a high degree of sensitivity for oblique flaws.

Abstract: A magnetic flux generated by current excitation is allowed to pass through a part or an entire of a magnetic path of a leakage magnetic flux. A magnetic flux content due to the current excitation is temporally changed to change a leakage magnetic flux content interlinked with a detection coil so that an induced voltage is generated in the detection coil. Consequently, damage can be detected even in a case where there is no relative speed between a wire rope and a wire rope flaw detector. Further, a configuration of the magnetic path and the number of ampere turns of an exciting coil are set to be appropriate to prevent the magnetic flux generated by the current excitation from passing through the detection coil or to allow the magnetic fluxes offset each other. Thus, noise superimposition on the detection coil due to the current excitation can be prevented.

Abstract: A device and method for inspecting an inspection object of in the vicinity of a further object, both of electrically conductive material, the device comprising a transmitter/receiver arrangement for generating an electromagnetic field in the inspection object, and for measuring a signal indicative of a transient eddy current which is generated in the inspection object by the electromagnetic field, wherein the device further comprises a magnetic shield means, providing at least a partial magnetic shield for the transmitter/receiver arrangement in a direction other than a measurement direction; use of the device from inside an annulus between an inner and an outer tubular, and a method of operating a hydrocarbon well having a well completion, and inspecting the well completion from inside an annulus.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for detecting and monitoring damage to races or adjacent regions of bearing rings (1, 2, 3) of anti-friction bearings. The device includes a measuring device, disposed in the anti-friction bearing chamber, having a sensor and structure for supplying sensor measurement data to the outside. The device has an energy source, which is also disposed in the anti-friction roller bearing chamber and which comprises a first coil (16) for the measuring device and a second coil (18) disposed outside the anti-friction bearing chamber and destined for inductive transfer of electrical energy to the first coil (16). The second coil (18) extends only over a part of the bearing circumference and the energy source comprises an energy accumulator (19) connected to the first coil (16).

Abstract: In an in-line pipe inspection tool, sensors for inspecting the pipe are mounted on sensor blocks moveable relative to the body of the tool. However, when the sensor blocks move radially to conform to different pipe diameters, the circumferential distances between the sensors changes. To ameliorate the effect of this, the sensor blocks have a shape such that one axial edge of each sensor block circumferentially overlaps the opposite edge of an adjacent sensor block. With such an arrangement, when the sensor block are operating at minimum diameter, part of one sensor block will overlap an adjacent block, in the circumferential direction. As the diameter of the pipeline in which the pig is used increases, the degree of overlap will reduce, and may even reduce to zero, but there will still be no overall axial gaps between the sensor blocks. Thus, by suitable shaping of the sensor blocks the tool can be used with a wide range of pipe diameters.

Abstract: A magnetic inspection device for nondestructively inspecting elongated objects, such as wire cables, pipes, and the like, for loss of metallic cross-section due to abrasion, corrosion, and external and internal discontinuities, having a magnet for inducing in sections of the object between the stations, magnetic flux at the saturation level. A magnetic flux detector having magnetic sensors positioned between the poles and laterally of the elongated object utilizes shields and flux decompressors to render the flux detector more sensitive to leakage flux caused by discontinuities in the objects.

Abstract: In a method for determining geometrical characteristics (d) of an anomaly (12) which changes the electrical conductivity in the region near the surface of an electrically conducting, in particular a metallic test object (10), a considerable simplification is achieved in that, in the region of the anomaly (12) in the test object (10), eddy currents (13, 14) of different frequencies are excited, and the magnetic field (By,0), which is produced by the excited eddy currents, is scanned in the vicinity of the anomaly (12) and the geometric characteristics of the anomaly are exclusively deduced from the distribution of the magnetic field (By,0).

Abstract: A method of testing for defects in the bottom of an above ground storage tank, the tank bottom having a lip extending outwardly from the tank wall around the circumference of the tank. A special magnetostrictive sensor is designed to be placed on this lip. The sensor is placed over a strip of magnetostrictive material, which generally conforms in length and width to the bottom of the probe, with a couplant being applied between the strip and the lip surface. The sensor is then operated in pulse echo mode to receive signals from defects in the bottom of the tank. It is incrementally moved around the circumference of the tank.

Abstract: A segmented magnetostrictive patch array transducer capable of generating a high frequency shear wave in a structure such as a rod or a pipe, a structural fault diagnosing apparatus including the segmented magnetostrictive patch array transducer, and a method of operating the segmented magnetostrictive patch array transducer are shown. The segmented magnetostrictive patch array transducer includes a plurality of magnetostrictive patches attached along a circumference of a rod member; a plurality of insulators that are disposed on the magnetostrictive patches; a plurality of meander coils, each of the meander coils comprising a plurality of coil lines extending along the circumference direction of the rod member on each of the insulators, wherein a current flows through adjacent coil lines in opposite directions to one another; and a plurality of magnets that respectively form a magnetic field along the circumferential direction of the rod member on the magnetostrictive patches.

Abstract: The surface length of a metal subject to be inspected is evaluated by detecting an eddy current without using a combination of a scale and visual or liquid penetrant inspection. An exciting coil and a detecting coil are scanned above the subject in a length direction. An eddy current detector measures an output voltage corresponding to scanning positions based on an output from the detecting coil. Based on an output voltage distribution curve indicating a distribution of output voltages corresponding to the scanning positions, position information is extracted corresponding to values which are within a differential voltage range and lower by 12 dB than a maximum value of the output voltages on the left and right sides of the distribution. A distance between the positions included in the extracted information is calculated to evaluate the length of a slit which is a defect present on the subject surface.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for the detection of defects in a recess, comprising a longitudinal hollow body (107), a movement conversion means (109) housed in said body (107) and installed free to move along the longitudinal direction, and at least one sensor (11) coupled to said body (107) and to said conversion means (109) such that longitudinal translation of the conversion means will move said sensor (11) in transverse translation between a retracted position and an extended position.

Abstract: A device (10) for the in-line detection of surface defects of a rolled product (30) in a rolling stand (11, 111) comprises an inspection unit (19) having one or more coils (20, 21) able to generate and detect magnetic fields. The rolling-stand (11, 111) is provided with a support structure (28) supporting rolling means (12, 112) that are provided for effecting a roll-mill process on said product (30), a guide element (13) having a guide hole (14) defining a nominal rolling axis (X) and a support unit (15, 115), assembled on the support structure (28) and which is provided as a structural element of the rolling stand (11, 111) that supports said guide element (13). The inspection unit (19) is assembled on said support unit (15, 115), in order to be directly housed and integrated in the structural element already present in the rolling stand (11, 111).

Abstract: An in-line inspection tool is disclosed for inspecting the wall of a pipeline while traveling therethrough. The in-line inspection tool may include a transmitter, a signal generator, one or more receivers, and a decoder. The signal generator may generate a pseudorandom signal, generate an inspection signal, and drive the transmitter with a convolution of the pseudorandom signal and the inspection signal. The transmitter may transmit the convoluted signal to the wall of the pipeline. One or more receivers may receive from the wall of the pipeline a received signal comprising at least one of the convoluted signal and a reflection of the convoluted signal. The decoder may identify the inspection signal within the received signal by cross correlating the received signal and the pseudorandom signal.

Abstract: A linearly polarized eddy current sensor including a source antenna and a parasitic antenna coupled to the source antenna, serves as a high sensitivity tool for the measurement of the surface impedance of sheet goods without requiring contact with the sample. Sheet goods can have an anisotropic, frequency-dependent surface impedance that is sensitive to minor changes in configuration of the sample. Because the electric field induced by the sensor is linearly polarized, measurement of directionally dependent sheet impedance can be achieved. The measurement is performed with the resonant device operating in resonance mode whereby the immediate proximity of the material to be measured causes damping and shifting of the coupled loop resonance. The resonant frequency of the sensor can be tuned by making changes to its geometry.

Abstract: A pipeline inspection tool includes two pole magnets oriented at an oblique angle relative to the central longitudinal axis of the tool body. An array of sensor coil sets is located between opposing edges of the two pole magnets and oriented perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis. Each sensor coil set includes a transmitter coil and two opposing pairs of receiver coils that are gated to receive reflections from the wall of a tubular member. Because the line of sensor coils is rotated relative to the magnetic bias field, the receiver coils are in-line with, and have the same angular orientation as, the transmitter coil. The tool provides improved sensitivity to small defects, substantial decrease in RF pulser power requirements, full circumferential coverage, self-calibration of the transmitted signals, and less interference between transmitter coils caused by acoustic ring around.

Abstract: An intelligent eddy current array probe comprising a plurality of coil elements and an embedded non-volatile memory element is disclosed. Prior to coupling the intelligent eddy current array probe to an NDI system, a data table describing a desired firing sequence for the array probe within a given inspection operation is created. This data table is then stored within the embedded non-volatile memory element of the intelligent eddy current array probe such that when the array probe is coupled to the NDI system, the elements of the NDI system can load and execute the stored firing sequence without operator intervention. In this way, a plurality of intelligent eddy current array probes, each with its own firing sequence, can be used interchangeably within a single NDI system without the need for mechanical adjustments to the NDI system.

Abstract: A magnetostrictive transducer that generates a large shear horizontal (SH) wave useful for non-destructive testing of a plate member, and method and apparatus for structural health monitoring by using the magnetostrictive transducer. The magnetostrictive transducer includes: a magnetostrictive patch array comprising a plurality of magnetostrictive patches that have different radii of curvature, and have the same center of curvature when arranged on a plate member and form an overall fan-shape; a static magnetic field forming unit comprising two magnets that are respectively installed on both sides of the magnetostrictive patch so that a magnetic field is formed in parallel to an arc direction of the magnetostrictive patch; and a dynamic magnetic field forming unit comprising a wound coil comprising a plurality of curved portions.

Abstract: A device for the non-destructive testing of parts of a turbomachine motor, including a longitudinal rod carrying at its distal end a longitudinal finger carrying a retractile or deployable flexible blade supporting an inspection probe, this blade being guided in axial translation on the finger between a retracted position in which it extends along the finger and an advanced or deployed position in which it extends in front of the finger.

Abstract: A method of eddy-current flaw detexction where an exciting device and a receiving device are held in the vicinity of a conductor. An eddy current is generated in the conductor by a primary magnetic field generated by excitation, thereby generating a secondary magnetic field, wherein the state of the magnetic field is detected by the receiving device. The exciting device includes a coil and an iron core. The coil has a first current line and a second current line in which electric current flows in opposite directions. The iron core is gate-shaped in cross section and includes a first leg portion, a second leg portion, and a beam portion. The receiving device is disposed in a corner between the second leg portion and the conductor, on a side opposite the second current line on the outer side of the iron core.