Scanning Curved Surface In Direction Of Curvature Patents (Class 73/640)
  • Patent number: 5549004
    Abstract: Corrosion damage to the tubes of power plant boiler waterwalls is detected by a portable hand-held ultrasonic scanner probe equipped with plurality of dual element transducers having concave cylindrically curved surfaces for simultaneously examining arcuate areas of walls of several tubes as the probe is moved along the waterwall. Tube wall thickness and probe location data are processed by a computer for detection, display and recording of places where significant tube damage has occurred.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1996
    Inventor: Michael J. Nugent
  • Patent number: 5535628
    Abstract: A scanner head for ultrasonic testing of structures includes a carriage with rollers supporting the carriage for movement over a surface being tested in a selected direction. A transverse frame is supported by the carriage and extends in a second direction crossing the one direction. A transducer is supported by the frame for movement along the frame to preset operative offset positions. For pipes or boiler tubes, the frame is in the form of an arc bar having a T-slot in which a holder for the transducer rides. With the carriage moving axially of the tube or pipe along a reference line, the arc bar keeps the transducer perpendicular to the surface regardless of the offset position. The rollers drive a distance increment signal generator to pulse the transducer and drive the ultrasonic transceiver and display circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1996
    Assignee: Rohrback Cosasco Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Jerry Rutherford
  • Patent number: 5454267
    Abstract: The ultrasonic transducer (5) is moved along the axial direction of elements of elongate shape (1), and is electrically excited for the emission of ultrasonic waves. Electrical measurement currents originating from the transducer (5) are collected and analyzed. The transducer (5) comprises a support having a concave active surface having curved generatrices and a plurality of piezoelectric elements fixed to the active surface of the support in adjacent dispositions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 3, 1995
    Assignee: Framatome
    Inventors: Georges Moreau, Jacques Archer, Francis Bodson, Olivier Burat
  • Patent number: 5385051
    Abstract: An ultrasonic testing machine has a rotor (20) which incorporates several probes (21 to 23) and which has a transmission device (26) with several channels for connecting the probes (21 to 23) to a stationary electronic control and analysis device (32). The rotor (20) contains more probes (21 to 23) than channels in the transmission device (26). All probes (21 to 23) are connected electrically to a first multipoint connector (24) and all transmission devices are connected electrically to as second multipoint connector (28). At least one interchangeable plug counterconnector (30) corresponding to these two multipoint connectors is present and contains connections for contacts associated with the channels of the transmission device (26) with contacts of connections for some of the probes (21 to 23).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1995
    Assignee: Krautkramer GmbH & Co.
    Inventor: Reinhard Prause
  • Patent number: 5372043
    Abstract: Ultrasonic inspection of composite products such as curved components of airplane engine nacelles utilizes guide wheels and rollers to support and control the nacelle component or panel and permit rotation of the nacelle panel about its longitudinal axis. The nacelle panel is passed through an inspection zone which contains an ultrasonic inspection assembly comprising ultrasonic transmitting transducers and ultrasonic receiving transducers mounted on opposite sides of the nacelle panel. The ultrasonic inspection assembly is mounted to be moved along a frame by a drive assembly whereby the ultrasonic inspection assembly is translated across the width of the nacelle panel. The nacelle panel is rotated about its axis in small incremental rotational steps by a cable driven by a motor drive assembly. After each incremental rotational movement of the nacelle panel, the ultrasonic inspection assembly is translated across the width of the nacelle panel to inspect the portion aligned with the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1994
    Assignee: Vought Aircraft Company
    Inventors: John W. Speight, II, Fred M. Burns, Thomas J. Blackstock, Donald S. Lotz
  • Patent number: 5313837
    Abstract: The invention is a compact ultrasonic tester involving rotating sensors. The processor rotates with the sensors so that the output signal of the processor goes through the slip rings, rather than the output signal of the sensors. A spraying system is incorporated in conjunction with rollers. The rollers take the applied spray on the pipe surface and paint a film on the outer pipe surface to allow a good contact for meaningful results. A floating shoe is provided for holding each sensor against the pipe wall. The sensors are biased into contact with the pipe surface and the machine can handle different diameters of pipe. By controlling the pipe speed of advance and the rotational speed of the sensors, 100 percent coverage of the pipe wall is assured. The machine is compact and can be installed behind existing electromagnetic/gamma testers without major modifications to pipe-testing facilities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1994
    Assignee: ICO, Inc.
    Inventor: John Haynes
  • Patent number: 5203869
    Abstract: A transducer device for an ultrasonic flaw detection system comprises a right angle rectangular block with one longitudinal edge being shaped to accurately conform to the curvature of the surface to be inspected. An ultrasonic sound wave beam in the block is reflected 90.degree. by a rotating mirror to cut a 360.degree. arc path through the surface to be inspected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1993
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Manohar Bashyam
  • Patent number: 5195372
    Abstract: An ultrasonic testing method for detecting flaws of balls for structural members comprises rotating a ball to be tested in an ultrasonic wave transmitting medium. At least two focus-type ultrasonic probes are provided and arranged so as to cover nonoverlapping flaw-detecting regions on and/or inside the ball. Flaws in the ball are detected by sending ultrasonic waves from the probes toward the ball. An apparatus for detecting flaws of balls comprises a ball holding portion for rotatably holding the ball to be tested, at least two focus-type probes for detecting flaws and at least two probe mounting portions for mounting the probes thereof so that respective axes of the probes are each capable of being set eccentrically relative to the center of the ball and wherein the focal positions of the probes are variable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1993
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Koji Fushimi, Keiji Kawasaki
  • Patent number: 5125274
    Abstract: A test apparatus for testing objects such as tubing is disclosed. The apparatus includes a rotatively fixed transducer and a rotating lens, wherein the transducer receives an input signal and converts it into an emitted wave energy, the lens focuses the emitted wave energy onto the tubing and focuses reflected wave energy from the tubing back onto the transducer, and the transducer receives the reflected wave energy and converts it into an output signal. The transducer can be provided on one support shell and the lens can be provided on another support shell. One of the support shells can then be positioned within the other support shell. The apparatus is useful for performing dimensional tests and longitudinal and circumferential flaw tests on tubing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1992
    Assignee: Sandvik Special Metals Corporation
    Inventor: Dennis H. Gilbert
  • Patent number: 5074151
    Abstract: A tube inspection station includes a receptacle having walls defining a cavity for holding energy coupling liquid and receiving an object to be inspected in the liquid. At least one wall of the receptacle has a longitudinal bore defined and extending therein from an opening at the top thereof above the cavity and a transverse bore extending through the wall. The transverse bore intersects with the longitudinal bore and opens at both interior and exterior surfaces of the wall. The station also includes a transducer operable for sending waves of energy from its first end into the cavity toward the object and receiving echos of energy at the first end from the object for measuring a parameter of the object. Also, the transducer is operable for transmitting input and output signals at its second end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1991
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: Clarence D. John, Jr., Richard S. Wengewicz
  • Patent number: 5067352
    Abstract: So as to control parts of any form, such as panels made of a composite material, a control head (10) is used comprising a small bar made of an elastic material, aligned ultrasonic transducers (18) being placed in said control head which functions by reflected light. The small bar bears contact blocks (22,24) which are brought into support on the surface of the part to be controlled, which has the effect of deforming the small bar and orientating each of the transducers perpendicular to the surface. As regards parts having a non-uniform shape, a uniform quality of the control is thus ensured, the same applying for a reduction of the control time. A precise control of the evolution of the structure of parts during production is also rendered possible. Advantageously, the transducers are mounted on the small bar so as to be disassembled, said mounting being effected by means of wedging members, such as screws and metal wire clips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1991
    Assignee: Societe Nationale Industrielle et Aerospatiale
    Inventor: Michel Floret
  • Patent number: 5062300
    Abstract: A ultrasonic device for non-destructive testing of thin tubes, for instance heat exchanger tubes, comprises a head having a longitudinal axis and insertable into a tube. A mechanism imparts to the head a rectilinear motion along and a rotational motion about the axis. The head contains ultrasonic transducers coupled with the tube through a fluid and able to transmit an ultrasonic beam in the form of volume waves in a direction at an angle with the longitudinal axis and to detect echoes. The transducers include one (or more) ultrasonic transducer delivering a focussed beam directed in a plane containing the longitudinal axis and at an angle with a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and one (or more) second ultrasonic transducer delivering a focussed beam parallel to a line perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and located at a distance from the line. Circumferential as well as longitudinal flaws may consequently be detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1991
    Inventor: Jean P. Vallee
  • Patent number: 5046364
    Abstract: A hand-held ultrasonic probe for measuring the thickness of a conduit, such as a boiler tube, from the tube inside surface. The probe is slidable and rotatable relative to the longitudinal axis of the tube under investigation. The probe may also be manually skewed relative to the tube longitudinal axis to measure corroded regions which are not parallel to the centerline of the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1991
    Inventors: David G. Stasuk, Roger A. Strukoff
  • Patent number: 5007291
    Abstract: Pipe inspection apparatus comprising transducers for transmitting pulsed beams of ultrasonic energy longitudinally, transversely and obliquely into the wall of the pipe for detection of flaws. The apparatus includes a motor driven chuck 18 for rotating the transducers about the a pipe P and motor driven roller 12 for axial movement of the pipe whereby the transducers move in a helical scanning path. A control system 60 maintains the axes of the pipe and circle array of transducers in coincidence and with hydraulic controls 80 maintains each transducer at fixed distance to the pipe for sonically coupling thereto by a flowing liquid whereby a shear wave is generated by each beam in the tubular wall. The transducers comprise multiple pairs, the members of which are diametrically opposed and transmit in opposite directions, for transmitting longitudinally at angles of 12.degree., 27.degree. and 42.degree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 16, 1991
    Assignee: Scan Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: William T. Walters, Carroll R. Thompson
  • Patent number: 5001674
    Abstract: An ultrasonic testing method comprises steps of transmitting an ultrasonic wave from a probe to a test article, detecting an internal flaw in the test article by a reflected flaw echo from the internal flaw, and deciding a condition of the detected flaw by comparing and analyzing frequency components of the transmitted ultrasonic wave and the reflected flaw echo. The probe has a curved tip surface which is the same kind as that of a curved incident surface of the test article and has a radius of curvature of 0.5.about.2.0 times the radius of curvature of the curved incident surface of the test article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 19, 1991
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventor: Keiji Kawasaki
  • Patent number: 4774842
    Abstract: A plurality of ultrasonic transducers mounted linearly on a belt that is contained and supported by a housing. The housing has wheels and handles mounted on its sides to allow an operator to grasp the apparatus and roll it across the surface of a test object along a line normal to the belt. The transducers are electrically connected to various devices which enable pulse echo testing to be performed on the test object and make the results immediately available as a picture either on paper or on a video monitor. The belt is moved laterally and cyclically back and forth as the apparatus is rolled longitudinally and the transducers are sequentially excited to emit ultrasonic waves, thus testing a swath having a width equal to the extremes of lateral motion of the line of transducers. A dynamic counterbalance swings 180.degree. out of phase with the cyclic motion of the belt, and serves to damp out the vibration generated by the belt's motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1986
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1988
    Assignee: McDonnell Douglas Corporation
    Inventors: Raymond J. Kollar, Richard T. Melvin
  • Patent number: 4715228
    Abstract: It is common practice to pass an ultrasonic probe over a workpiece so as to enable examining of the material for faults such as flaws within the material thickness. Known apparatus for achieving this has a drawback in that the probe supporting structure is such that the probe oscillates about some point within its length, as the structure passes over curved or undulating surfaces. Control over the position of the focal point is thus lost. The invention involves ensuring that the pivot point of the probe coincides with its focal point which in turn enables control of the position of the focal point to be maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1987
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce plc
    Inventors: Terry Livsey, Graham T. Foulkes
  • Patent number: 4672852
    Abstract: A test manipulator externally applicable to a pipe, preferably for ultrasonically testing welded seams, the manipulator having a divided race for surrounding a pipe which is to be tested, a guide segment guiding the race at the periphery thereof, a test system carrier drivable in peripheral direction around the pipe, a driving and positioning device for the test system carrier and at least one test head holder fastenable to the test system carrier includes clamping means for fastening the race directly to the pipe in centered relationship to an adjustment mark located on the pipe; a guide segment mounted so as to be movable along the periphery of the race; an outrigger unit flangeable, together with the test system carrier and the test head holder, to the guide segment; and a saddle fastenable to the pipe in centered relationship to the adjustment mark; alternatively, during testing of a so-called pipe connection seam, the guide segment being movable on the saddle in axial direction of the pipe, and the race,
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1984
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1987
    Assignee: Kraftwerk Union Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Georg Gugel, Erich Haas
  • Patent number: 4665734
    Abstract: For selective detection of microscopic defects in a workpiece to be checked presenting at least one macroscopic discontinuity of known nature, upon relative motion in respect to such workpiece according to a given check line, detecting the times when such check line meets a discontinuity, and searching for any possible defects in the workpiece intermittently for time intervals defined in reference to said times. This applies in particular to inspection of weld seams of welded tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1985
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1987
    Assignee: S.A. Vallourec
    Inventor: Francois Joet
  • Patent number: 4612808
    Abstract: An ultrasonic probe for inspecting a weld between a cylinder (C) and a pipe (P) is caused to move in a holder at the end of an arm (11) pivoted at a point on the axis (Z) of the pipe so that the line (12) of transmission from probe penetrates the weld and, when projected beyond the weld, intersects the axis (Z) of the pipe (P) for all positions of the arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 23, 1986
    Assignee: United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority
    Inventors: Bruce J. McKirdy, Ashley G. Cooper
  • Patent number: 4597294
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for inspection of tubing, and more particularly, the determination of the extent of erosion in the wall of a heat exchange tube of a nuclear reactor. An ultrasonic transducer assembly is movable axially and rotatably in a helical path for producing both thickness and position signals to provide a map of wall thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1984
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1986
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: Bernard A. Brill, III, Warren R. Junker, John K. White, Iftikhar A. Rana, Bruce W. Bevilacqua, Frank W. Cooper, Jr., Bruce J. Taszarek
  • Patent number: 4593568
    Abstract: To monitor the deterioration of a weld (10) between a tube (11) and tube plate (12) which has been repaired by a repair sleeve (14) inside the tube and brazed at one end to the tube, ultrasound from a crystal (21) at the end of a rod (24) is launched into the tube through the braze (15) and allowed to travel along the tube to the weld and be reflected back along the tube. The technique may also be used for the type of heat exchanger in which, during construction, the tubes are welded to the tube plate via external sleeves in which case the ultrasound is used in a similar manner to inspect the sleeve/tube plate weld.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 10, 1986
    Assignee: United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority
    Inventors: David W. Telford, Thomas S. Peat
  • Patent number: 4586380
    Abstract: A transducer assembly for maintaining a transducer in contact with, and in alignment with, a surface includes a pair of opposed swivel bars, each of which is pivotably mounted to a cradle. The swivel bars are free to pivot about a roll axis. Two tension arms are pivotably mounted to one of the swivel bars. Each tension arm resiliently urges an end of the transducer into contact with the surface. One of the swivel bars supports two spaced-apart wheels whose contact with the surface is effective to rotate its swivel bar into a predetermined rotation about the roll axis. The transducer, being attached to the swivel bar by one of the tension arms is also rotated into a predetermined angle about the roll axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 1985
    Date of Patent: May 6, 1986
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Robert W. Patterson
  • Patent number: 4581938
    Abstract: A tool (100) for scanning the inner surface (110) of a pipe (106), comprising a scanning section (112) interacting with a centering section (114). The scanning section includes an axle member (128) having strut members (130) rigidly connected thereto and projecting diametrically outwardly for urging inspection probe sleds (126) against the pipe surface. The centering section (114) includes a slide cylinder (124) coaxially disposed about the axle member (128), and having rigidly connected actuating members (120) projecting diametrically outward for contacting the pipe inner wall with sufficient force to center and support the tool within the pipe. Locking means (146) are provided within the actuating member (120) for selectively engaging the axle member (128) to lock the longitudinal position of the strut member (130) relative to the actuating member (120).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1984
    Date of Patent: April 15, 1986
    Assignee: Combustion Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy H. Wentzell
  • Patent number: 4577507
    Abstract: A method for the ultrasonic testing of disc bodies, shrunk onto shafts, is especially adapted for testing the shrink-fitted seats thereof adjoining the shafts and usually is provided with anti-rotation holes containing anti-rotation inserts. Such disc body arrangements are often used in the field of low pressure turbine rotor disc fastenings. The method is carried out by using ultrasonic angle beam probes operating according to a method of corner reflection or transversal waves within the range of critical angles of total reflection, or according to a method of grazing incidence. Both methods can be used as a pulse echo technique, or as a tandem technique. The probes are coupled to the curved side walls of the discs for following test patterns extending in circumferential direction of the disc bodies. Ultrasonic sound beams emanating from the probes are aligned toward the test regions of the inner surfaces of the hubs. Three axially adjacent test regions are tested.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1984
    Date of Patent: March 25, 1986
    Assignee: Kraftwerk Union Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Hans-Achim Jestrich, Ewald Werntgen
  • Patent number: 4562738
    Abstract: An automatic flaw detection apparatus comprises a supporting frame; a rotational frame supported inside the supporting frame in a freely rotatable manner by means of bearings; a hollow shaft which is supported by and inside the rotational frame, through the interior of which passes a material to be inspected; a holder which is disposed within the hollow shaft extending in the longitudinal direction of the axis of the hollow shaft and rotates in association with the hollow shaft, the a sensor incorporated in the holder to detect any defect in the material to be probed; and a signal transmission device which is placed between the hollow shaft and the rotational frame and comprises a stator section supported by the supporting frame and a rotor section supported by the hollow shaft or the rotational frame to be electrically in association with the stator section, and which transmits flaw detection signal from the sensor to the outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 1984
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1986
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuo Nakayama, Yukio Naito, Eiji Munesue
  • Patent number: 4555948
    Abstract: A method of ultrasonic flaw detection of a pipe comprises comparing ultrasonic waves passing through a test piece portion with the arithmetic means of ultrasonic waves passing through portions adjacent each side of the test portion. The comparison is made around the entire periphery of a pipe, for example, an austenic heat resisting cast steel pipe used as a hydrogen manufacturing reformer tube. This method is free from adverse influence of macrostructures unevenly distributed in the peripheral direction of the pipe, and enables a quantitative grasp of flaws in a base material and a weld of the pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1983
    Date of Patent: December 3, 1985
    Assignees: Kubota, Ltd., Osaka Gas Company, Limited
    Inventors: Hirofumi Miyamoto, Nobuaki Kaitatsu, Junichi Sugitani, Yasumaru Taniguchi, Tetsuo Kaji
  • Patent number: 4554835
    Abstract: An automatic flaw detection apparatus comprises a supporting frame; a hollow shaft which is supported on said frame in a freely rotatable manner through a bearing, and through the interior of which passes a material to be inspected; a holder disposed within said hollow shaft, and extending in the longitudinal direction of the axis of said hollow shaft, and rotating in association with said hollow shaft; sensing means incorporated in said holder to detect any defect in said material to be probed; and a signal transmission device interposed between said hollow shaft and said supporting frame, and to transmit the flaw detection signal from said sensor means to outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1984
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1985
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshio Sakuragi, Kazuo Nakayama, Masaaki Sato, Mitsuhiro Koike
  • Patent number: 4532808
    Abstract: A method and device for ultrasonically inspecting the corner region formed by the joining of a pair of cylindrical conduits is disclosed. Ultrasonic sound beams (62) are transmitted beneath inner surface (12) of the first conduit at an oblique angle resulting in a shallow refracted sound path (74) through the solid corner region (84). Sound energy (76) reflected by the presence of a radially oriented crack (67) within the desired zone of interest (66) passes (80) out of the solid (84) for detection. A device having an ultrasonic transmitter (44) and a directional receiver (60) is disclosed carrying out the inspection method according to the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1983
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1985
    Assignee: Combustion Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy H. Wentzell, Mark V. Brook
  • Patent number: 4531413
    Abstract: An ultrasonic flaw detector driving apparatus with no guide rail and including a traveling member (2) capable of being freely mounted to and dismounted from piping (1) to be inspected, and a turning member (3) detachably attached to the traveling member for turning movement thereabout. The traveling member is equipped with a multiplicity of sets of traveling rolling elements (9,9a) maintained in contact with an outer peripheral surface of the piping and spaced apart from one another circumferentially of the piping while each set of the traveling rolling elements of comprises at least two rolling elements which are spaced apart from each other axially of the traveling member (2). The turning member (3) is equipped with at least one ultrasonic wave probe (4) which scans the outer peripheral surface of the piping to inspect it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1983
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1985
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Tsuchita, Kozo Domon, Fuminobu Takahashi
  • Patent number: 4526037
    Abstract: The lip of the inner radius of a nozzle mounted through the wall of a nuclear reactor vessel is sandwiched between a transmitter and receiver of ultrasonic sound. The transmitter scans the internal surface of the nozzle lip while maintained a constant average distance from a receiver scanning the nozzle surface on the reactor vessel side of the lip. The two surfaces intersecting to form the inner radius vary in angle as the surfaces are scanned by the transmitter and receiver. Linkage is shown between the transmitter/receiver and the boom with which they are caused to sweep the lip to simultaneously accommodate the saddle shape of the inner radius and the varying angle between the lip surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1983
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1985
    Assignee: Combustion Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy H. Wentzell, Zoran Kuljis
  • Patent number: 4524622
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus of ultrasonic flaw detection suitable for detecting internal cavern defects of a material, the method involving the mounting on a rotary body of a plural number of skew probes in equidistant positions in the circumferential direction of the rotary body to provide a corresponding number of channels for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic beams in a direction intersecting the axis of rotation of the rotary body at different depths in an inspection zone of a material positioned opposingly to the probes. The rotary body is turned to revolve the probes through 360.degree. about the axis of rotation while transmitting and receiving the ultrasonic pulses. Selected flaw patterns are produced from the peak values of the echoes received at the detection gates of the respective channels in relation with the direction of incidence of the ultrasonic beams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1983
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1985
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho
    Inventors: Norio Suzuki, Hiroshi Kajikawa, Tadashi Nishikawa
  • Patent number: 4522064
    Abstract: An ultrasonic method and apparatus are described for determining the depth of cracks 12 in a pipe or conduit 14. The apparatus 10 includes a transmitting transducer 30 and a receiving transducer 40 that are placed on the outside surface of the pipe to one side of the pipe. The transmit transducer 30 is energized to direct a shear wave beam 34 of ultrasonic energy at the crack to generate a complex reflected wave front from the crack 12 which contains information as to the size of the crack in relation to the wall thickness. The recovery transducer 40 is moved relative to the transmit transducer until a peak or maximum amplitude reading is found. When the maximum amplitude is found, the distance between the transducers is measured. The measured distance is then correlated with information obtained from specimens 80 of the same material and wall thickness as the on-site pipe to determine the depth of the crack 12.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1983
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1985
    Assignee: Sigma Research Inc.
    Inventor: John D. McMillan
  • Patent number: 4474064
    Abstract: An ultrasonic flaw detector for detecting any flaw existing in the inner peripheral corner section of the joint portion between the barrel of a nuclear reactor pressure vessel and each of a plurality of cylindrical nozzles projecting from the barrel, by means of an ultrasonic wave applied from the outer peripheral corner section of the joint portion. The flaw detector has a probe pivotable around an axis which is made to follow up the locus of the center of curvature in the rounded surface of the outer peripheral corner section during the movement of the probe around the nozzle. According to this arrangement, it is possible to achieve a full automatic and remote control of the flaw detector except the attaching and detaching of the same, and to facilitate the processing of the signals representing the result of the flaw detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1982
    Date of Patent: October 2, 1984
    Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akisuke Naruse, Tatsukuma Hosono, Kazuo Takaku, Shigeru Kajiyama
  • Patent number: 4467654
    Abstract: A method of ultrasonic flaw detection of a pipe, worth particularly for instance for a heater pipe as is used for catalytic gas reforming with steam. A transmitter probe and a receiver probe are disposed on the pipe outer surface with suitable spacing one from the other both in axial or longitudinal direction and in peripheral direction of the pipe. The transmitter probe launches ultrasonic radiation under proper angle of incidence upon the pipe outer surface at the point of entering material of the pipe, to be refracted under a particular angle of refraction so that it may then pass through the material of the pipe straight to another point upon the pipe outer surface. The receiver probe receives the ultrasonic radiation transmission echo. Flaw in the material of the pipe is detected from fluctuation of the echo, as seen upon scanning the pipe surface by moving the transmitter and receiver probes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1981
    Date of Patent: August 28, 1984
    Assignees: Kubota, Ltd., Osaka Gas Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinichi Murakami, Junichi Sugitani, Teruo Yoshimoto
  • Patent number: 4453410
    Abstract: An ultrasonic probe is positioned within a hollow body such as a pipe for detecting possible flaws in the body wall. The probe is designed for rotational and longitudinal movement in said pipe and includes an ultrasonic transmitter/receiver mounted eccentrically within a liquid filled chamber of the probe, so that transmitted impulses strike the inner wall of the pipe at such an angle that the angle of refraction of the sound wave in the material of the wall is always less than 90.degree..
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1983
    Date of Patent: June 12, 1984
    Assignee: Ruhrchemie Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Hans-Peter Schmitz, Bernard Schleper
  • Patent number: 4423636
    Abstract: A nondestructive eddy current or ultrasonic articulated probe mechanism automatically detects rolling mill roll surface defects for use with a defect test system. The articulated probe mechanism is mounted on a traversing roll grinder carriage, is automatically positioned over the test roll, and has a probe head with controlled fluid bearing, air or liquid, to automatically maintain probe head-to-test roll gap. One or multiple eddy current, or ultrasonic, probes in the head generate anomoly test signals which, together with a probe head temperature sensor signal, are suitable for processing in an appropriate test instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1981
    Date of Patent: January 3, 1984
    Assignee: Bethlehem Steel Corporation
    Inventor: Arcade J. Plante
  • Patent number: 4387598
    Abstract: A device for the total circumferential scanning of pipes and pipe joints is provided comprising a housing accommodating a tooth drive roller, drive means connected to said toothed drive roller, toothed idler rollers, a plurality of smooth idler rollers, scanning means for detecting faults and imperfections in pipes and pipe joints, and a flexible belt toothed on one surface thereof having a length greater than the circumference of the pipe to be scanned and having ends adapted to be securely joined together, said belt being adapted to be routed circumferentially around said pipe and through said housing by contacting each of said rollers whereby said belt is automatically aligned around said pipe so that said device circumferentially traverses the pipe in a plane perpendicular to the pipe axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1981
    Date of Patent: June 14, 1983
    Assignee: Electric Power Research Institute
    Inventors: John M. Jamieson, Dixon Cleveland
  • Patent number: 4387596
    Abstract: Spherical bodies, such as bearing balls, are tested for machining irregularities or structural defects by subjecting them to supersonic vibrations from two or more ultrasound generators through the intermediary of a coupling liquid in which these bodies are immersed. One ultrasound generator has an axis in line with the body being tested while the other generator or generators have axes including acute angles with the radial directions of that body. The body is subjected to rotation in different planes by injecting the coupling liquid, alternately or simultaneously but at varying relative rates, through two different nozzles into an interspace separating the body from a spherically concave supporting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1981
    Date of Patent: June 14, 1983
    Assignee: FAG Kugelfischer Georg Schafer & Co.
    Inventors: Max Fenkner, Hilmar Wehner
  • Patent number: 4385523
    Abstract: Apparatus for testing vessel walls having projections with a multiplicity of guide tracks extending among the projections for guiding a slide carrying a testing device, and carriage means for transposing the slide onto the individual guide tracks, the carriage means being movable on a transport track connecting the ends of the guide tracks, including a thrust hose rigid in tension and compression and guidable by the guide tracks, respectively, a drive for the thrust hose mounted on the carriage, the thrust hose connecting the slide to the drive, and a jib carried by the carriage and operatively associated with the drive, the jib being of such dimension as to accommodate the slide and the testing device and being movable for adjusting to the guide tracks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1982
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1983
    Assignee: Kraftwerk Union Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Georg Gugel, Franz Huber
  • Patent number: 4377088
    Abstract: A position sensor for sensing the angular position of an oscillatory member includes a magnetic element which is permanently magnetized in a predetermined direction and is mounted as a unitary structural part of the oscillatory member for oscillatory movement therewith. A Hall plate sensor is positioned adjacent the magnetic element to detect changes in the magnetic field presented thereto by changes in position of the magnetic element. When the magnetic element is oscillated with the transducer, the magnetic field presented to the Hall plate is varied accordingly. This, in turn, produces an electrical signal as an output of the Hall plate which is a function of the instantaneous position of the magnetic element and hence of the oscillatory transducer. That electrical signal may then be used to produce synchronization signals for the imaging apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1981
    Date of Patent: March 22, 1983
    Assignee: Honeywell Inc.
    Inventor: Donald A. Evert
  • Patent number: 4359905
    Abstract: An ultrasonic transducer device is provided which is used in ultrasonic inspection of the material surrounding a threaded hole and which comprises a wedge of plastic or the like including a curved threaded surface adapted to be screwed into the threaded hole and a generally planar surface on which a conventional ultrasonic transducer is mounted. The plastic wedge can be rotated within the threaded hole to inspect for flaws in the material surrounding the threaded hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1980
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1982
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventor: Donald A. Gavin
  • Patent number: 4275598
    Abstract: Device for volumetric testing of pressure-vessel walls and pipes with a combined transmit-receive test head for scanning a test track having a given test-track spacing, includes an oscillator unit including an oscillating crystal and a receive oscillating crystal having respective centers spaced apart a distance smaller than that of the test-track spacing so that the test head has a full width within which at least one additional oscillating crystal is accommodated, the additional oscillating crystal being paired with one of the transmit and receive oscillating crystals so as to form therewith another oscillator unit including a transmit oscillating crystal and a receive oscillating crystal having centers spaced apart a distance smaller than that of the test-track spacing, the distance between the crystals of both of the oscillator units being substantially equal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1980
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1981
    Assignee: Kraftwerk Union Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Gunter Engl
  • Patent number: 4184374
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus are provided for ultrasonically inspecting a cylindrical object. The object is placed between the poles of a magnet to create a circumferential magnetic field in the object. A group of electromagnetic transducers (EMAT's) are placed adjacent the material so that the transducers scan the entire object when it is rotated. When an RF signal is applied to the transducers, elastic waves are generated in the material. These elastic waves reflect from defects in the material and these reflections are received by the transducers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1978
    Date of Patent: January 22, 1980
    Assignee: Rockwell International Corporation
    Inventors: Robert B. Thompson, Christopher M. Fortunko
  • Patent number: 4167121
    Abstract: A precision ultrasonic evaluation and recording system is provided which s immersed ultrasonics for locating and inspecting structural integrity flaws in general metal cylinders, expecially warheads, and for recording point-to-point structural integrity flaw information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1978
    Date of Patent: September 11, 1979
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: John W. Mauch
  • Patent number: 4117733
    Abstract: Test system carrier for ultrasonic testing of pressure vessels, the carrier being supported at the end of a telescopic tube for executing stroke and rotary motions in or about the axis of a nozzle, the telescopic tube being adjustably mounted on the central mast of a central-mast manipulator so as to be adjustable in elevation and rotatable about the axis of the central mast as well as about its own axis includes, in combination, an inner-periphery test-head carrier displaceable along the axis of a nozzle and radially thereto for ultrasonically testing seams formed in the nozzle and seams between pipe connections and the nozzle as well as zones adjacent thereto; a tiltable lever, test head means carried by the lever, the lever being movable so as to bring the test head means into contact with surfaces at the end of the nozzle, the corner of the nozzle and the inner periphery of the nozzle and movable in test tracks within the entire respective peripheral angle nozzle thereof; the pivot axis of the lever being
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1976
    Date of Patent: October 3, 1978
    Assignee: Kraftwerk Union Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Georg Gugel
  • Patent number: 4089227
    Abstract: Apparatus for measuring the radial dimensions of a cylindrical tube by ultrasonics by means of which it is possible to measure the radial dimensions of said tube in directions perpendicular to the direction of the ultrasonic beam or beams emitted by one or more transducers, comprising a fixed ultrasonic transducer, whose emitting part is shaped like a cylindrical ring emitting ultrasonic pulses in accordance with a bundle of rays substantially parallel to the generating lines of the cylindrical tube, a truncated cone-shaped mirror whose apex angle is equal to 90.degree. and whose axis is parallel to the radii of the bundle of ultrasonic rays emitted by the transducer or transducers, a rotary shield having at least one opening arranged between the transducer and the tube whose radial dimensions are to be measured and means for collecting the ultrasonic echo returned by the tube and for measuring the time gaps separating the reception of said echos.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1977
    Date of Patent: May 16, 1978
    Assignee: Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique
    Inventors: Jean Paul Falgari, Jean Perdijon, Bernard Voituriez