Patents Assigned to GE Sensing & Inspection Technologies GmbH
  • Patent number: 10241084
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to a method for ultrasonic testing according to the pulse-echo method as well as an arrangement for performing such a method. By means of an ultrasonic transducer, an ultrasonic pulse is obliquely incident into a sound incidence surface of a test object. Next, an echo signal is received from the test object. This takes place either by means of the ultrasonic transducer, which has emitted the ultrasonic pulse or with another ultrasonic transducer. The time amplitude characteristic of the echo signal is evaluated in a predefined defect expectation interval of time. The evaluation step includes, in at least one section of the amplitude characteristic, an amplification of the amplitude and/or a reduction in the threshold value. For example, the amplitude of the received echo signal is then compared with the predefined threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: GE SENSING & INSPECTION TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
    Inventors: Reinhard Prause, Wolfgang Dick
  • Patent number: 10241087
    Abstract: The present embodiments relate to a device for the non-destructive ultrasound testing of workpieces. The device comprises an ultrasonic test probe with an ultrasonic transducer, the ultrasonic test probe being configured for generating and coupling ultrasonic signals into a workpiece or/and for receiving ultrasonic signals from the workpiece. Furthermore, an electronic control unit is provided. The ease of operation is improved as a whole by a special configuration of the test probe and the control unit. Furthermore, the embodiments relate to a method for the non-destructive ultrasound testing of workpieces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: GE Sensing & Inspection Technologies GmbH
    Inventor: Ralf Ratering
  • Patent number: 10194874
    Abstract: A method of using computed tomography for determining a volumetric representation of a sample, involving a first reconstruction for reconstructing first reconstructed volume data of the sample from first x-ray projection data of the sample taken by an x-ray system, a second reconstruction for reconstructing second reconstructed volume data of the sample from second x-ray projection data of the sample taken by an x-ray system, characterized by calculating first individual confidence measures for single voxels of the first reconstructed volume data, calculating second individual confidence measures for single voxels of the second reconstructed volume data, and calculating, in a subsequent step, at least one resulting set of individual values for each voxel based on the first individual confidence measures and the second individual confidence measures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: GE SENSING & INSPECTION TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
    Inventors: Eberhard Neuser, Alexander Suppes, Nils Rothe, Michael Hoetter, Anja Frost
  • Patent number: 10139373
    Abstract: A method and a device for the near-surface, non-destructive inspection by means of ultrasound of a rotationally symmetric workpiece having a diameter that changes from section to section are provided. The method and device are based on the insonification of an ultrasonic test pulse into the workpiece at a defined insonification angle and the subsequent recording of an ultrasonic echo signal from the workpiece. Echo signals that trace back to a near-surface region ROI of the workpiece are identified and evaluated. Then, a graphic representation of the surface of the workpiece is generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: GE Sensing & Inspection Technologies GmbH
    Inventor: Prashanth Kumar Chinta
  • Patent number: 9831024
    Abstract: A high-voltage resistant cable for connecting a high-voltage source and an acceleration section of an X-ray tube that each have a respective socket and a flange. The cable includes an inner conductor, a surrounding electrical insulator, an enveloping shielding made of an electrically conductive material, and plugs at each respective end. Each plug includes a plug flange for cooperating with the respective flange and having a hollow interior, and an electrical insulator that includes a conic-shape portion for extending into the respective socket, and a cylindrical portion extending within the hollow interior of the plug flange. The cable including absorber elements at each of the two ends of the cable for absorbing the energy of high-voltage discharge-related transients. Each absorber element is configured as a ring-shape, the ring-shape absorber element encircling the cylindrical portion and being located within the hollow interior of the plug flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: GE SENSING & INSPECTION TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
    Inventors: Reinhard Friedemann, Andreas Schmitt, Farid Aslami, Florian Goellner
  • Patent number: 9601300
    Abstract: A cathode element for a microfocus x-ray tube includes a heatable filament formed of a wire for thermionic emission of electrons for generating an electron beam. The filament, in a source area of the electron beam, has an elongate extension in two directions perpendicular to the electron beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: GE Sensing and Inspection Technologies GMBH
    Inventors: Eberhard Neuser, Andreas Schmitt, Wolfgang Sperner
  • Patent number: 9488604
    Abstract: A system for the automated serial testing and/or measuring of a plurality of substantially identical components by X-radiation, the system comprising a testing device with a support, a rotor mounted so as to be continuously rotatable on the support, and an X-ray device disposed on the rotor, a protective enclosure surrounding the testing device, a handling device for handling a component during X-ray testing, and a control/evaluation unit configured for automatically controlling the system as well as evaluating the X-ray signals by computer tomography. The handling device is configured for periodically reciprocating between a loading region and a testing region and comprises an end face element on which the component can be disposed on the side of the end face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: GE Sensing & Inspection Technologies GMBH
    Inventor: Michael Wuestenbecker
  • Patent number: 9404897
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for the non-destructive inspection of a test object with a large material thickness by means of ultrasound. The apparatus includes an ultrasonic test probe with an ultrasonic transducer divided into a plurality of individually activatable transducer segments wherein the transducer segments are concentric circles or rings, or sections thereof. A first group j (j=1, 2, 3, . . . ) of transducer segments is selected in such a way that a parallel activation of these transducer segments results in a circular active surface Fj of the ultrasonic transducer (22). An ultrasound inspection of the test object is undertaken with the first group j (j=1, 2, 3, . . . ) of transducer segments, wherein they are activated in parallel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: GE Sensing & Inspection Technologies GMBH
    Inventor: York Oberdoerfer
  • Patent number: 9341546
    Abstract: An apparatus for materials testing of test objects using X-rays, the apparatus comprising an X-ray device, comprising: an X-ray source for irradiating a test object held in a test position; an X-ray linear diode array detector comprising at least two detection sections and configured to acquire a complete radial cross-section of the test object; and an electronic control device configured to control the X-ray device, wherein during X-ray testing the test object and the X-ray device are rotatable relative to each other only around an essentially vertical axis of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: GE SENSING & INSPECTION TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
    Inventors: Ingo Stuke, Til Florian Guenzler, Michael Wuestenbecker, Jan Kraemer, Holger Lux, Nicolas Bretzke
  • Patent number: 9213020
    Abstract: An ultrasonic testing method is provided. The ultrasonic method includes non-destructively testing a test object with an ultrasound generated by an ultrasound probe, continuously circulating a liquid coupling medium outside of the test probe before and/or during non-destructively testing the test object, branching a part of the liquid coupling medium off from the circulation, and feeding the branched liquid coupling medium to a coupling chamber arranged between the ultrasound probe and the test object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: GE SENSING & INSPECTION TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
    Inventors: Reinhard Prause, Christof Breidenbach
  • Patent number: 9153408
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for a micro focus X-ray tube for a high-resolution X-ray including a housing, an electron beam source for generating an electron beam and a focusing lens for focusing the electron beam on a target. The micro focus X-ray tube includes a substantially rotationally symmetrical, ring-shaped cooling chamber configured to circulate a liquid cooling medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: GE Sensing & Inspection Technologies GmbH
    Inventors: Eberhard Neuser, Andreas Schmitt, Wolfgang Johannes Sperner
  • Patent number: 9146327
    Abstract: A method and system for determining geometric imaging properties of a flat panel detector in an x-ray inspection system are described herein. The method can include arranging a calibration phantom between an x-ray source and the flat panel detector, the calibration phantom including at least one discrete geometric object. Additionally, the method can include recording at least one x-ray image of the calibration phantom with the flat panel detector. At least one discrete geometric shape is generated in the x-ray image by imaging the at least one discrete geometric object of the calibration phantom. Further, the method can include determining a location-dependent distortion error of the flat panel detector from the at least one x-ray image on the basis of at least one characteristic of the at least one discrete geometric shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: GE Sensing & Inspection Technologies GmbH
    Inventors: Alexander Suppes, Pavel Pokutnev, Eberhard Neuser, Nils Rothe
  • Patent number: 8997590
    Abstract: A multi-part mounting device for an ultrasonic transducer, the mounting device comprising a first part configured to mount the mounting device on a housing of an ultrasonic test probe, and a second part configured to retain the ultrasonic transducer, wherein the second part is at least in touching contact with the ultrasonic transducer, wherein the second part comprises a first plastic and is connected by positive fit to the first part, and wherein the first part has a greater hardness than the second part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: GE Sensing & Inspection Technologies GmbH
    Inventors: York Oberdoerfer, Judith Duerscheid, Jochen Zilz, Willi Warkowski, Marek Parusel
  • Patent number: 8977022
    Abstract: A computed tomography method for determining a volumetric representation of a sample comprising reconstruction initial volume data of the sample from x-ray projections of the sample taken by an x-ray system, determining a part of the reconstructed initial volume data to be updated, and executing an iterative update process configured to generate, using an iterative reconstruction method, updated volume data only for the part of the volume data determined to be updated. Determining the part of the sample volume to be updated comprises individually evaluating every single voxel in the reconstructed initial volume data, based on available quality information for the reconstructed initial volume data, whether or not the voxel fulfils a predetermined condition indicating that an update is required for the voxel, and the iterative update process generates the updated volume data only for the voxels which have been determined that an update is required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: GE Sensing & Inspection Technologies GmbH
    Inventors: Eberhard Neuser, Alexander Suppes, Nils Rothe, Michael Hötter, Anja Frost
  • Patent number: 8955384
    Abstract: The invention relates to a test probe 10 for the non-destructive testing of a workpiece by means of ultrasonic sound. The test probe has an ultrasonic transducer 20 for the generation of an ultrasonic field, which is coupled acoustically to a delay line body 12, which is provided to be attached for a coupling of the ultrasonic field into the workpiece on a surface of the workpiece. Furthermore, the invention relates to a family of test probes as well as to a testing device for the non-destructive testing of a workpiece by means of ultrasonic sound, with a test probe 10, whose ultrasonic transducer 20 has a majority of independently controllable individual oscillators. Furthermore, a control unit 50 is provided, which is equipped to control the individual oscillators of the ultrasonic transducer 20 with phase accuracy in such a way, that a sound field rotationally symmetrical to the central beam is generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: GE Sensing & Inspection Technologies GmbH
    Inventors: Wolf-Dietrich Kleinert, Gerhard Splitt
  • Patent number: 8850894
    Abstract: A device and a method for ultrasonic testing by means of a local immersion technique of a stringer component section of a flat component are provided. The device includes a test head assembly mounted as moving floatingly by a holding device in the Y-direction longitudinally. The test head assembly includes: a test head that can be connected to an automatically actuated handling device and that can be moved by the handling device along the stringer; a test head holder; and a counter-holder coupled with the test head holder by an actuation element, wherein the actuation element is configured to steer the test head holder and the counter-holder from a closed position to an open position, the test head holder and the counter-holder being mounted floatingly along a guiding rail running in the X-direction transversely to the stringer, and fit, in a force-loaded manner, to each side surface of the stringer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: GE Sensing & Inspection Technologies GmbH
    Inventors: Walter De Odorico, Roman Koch
  • Publication number: 20140236500
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for processing an ultrasonic analog signal (10) representing a reflected ultrasonic wave, wherein the ultrasonic analog signal (10) is fed in a parallel manner into at least two signal paths (A;B) and the ultrasonic analog signal is supplied in each signal path (A;B) to respective amplifiers (20A;20B) whose gains are different from one another. The ultrasonic analog signals (11;11?) which have thus been amplified differently are supplied in each signal path (A;B) to a respective A/D converter (30A;30B) which converts the amplified ultrasonic analog signals (11; 11?) into digital ultrasonic data (12;12?), from which a combined digital ultrasonic signal (15) is reconstructed after further processing steps. According to the invention, a decomposition of the digital ultrasonic data (12; 12?) is carried out in each signal path (A;B) by the first level of a wavelet filter algorithm, and the wavelet coefficients are altered by a threshold analysis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2012
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: GE SENSING & INSPECTION TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
    Inventors: Roman Heinrich Koch, Gerhard Finger, Klaus-Peter Busch
  • Publication number: 20140216160
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for the non-destructive testing of a test object by means of ultrasound. The device comprises a control unit provided for driving a phased array ultrasonic test probe and a display. The control unit is configured to operate the phased array test probe in the pulse echo operation and to control the insonification angle ? of the phased array test probe into the test object. The pulse echo from the test object received by the phased array test probe is analyzed by the control unit, wherein the control unit generates an A-scan or/and a B-scan of a received pulse echo on the display. The invention further relates to a method for operating such a device and a method for the non-destructive inspection of a test object by means of ultrasound in accordance with the TCG method, using a phased array ultrasonic test probe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 4, 2012
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: GE SENSING & INSPECTION TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
    Inventor: Peter Renzel
  • Publication number: 20140190262
    Abstract: The invention relates to a feeding device for an ultrasound inspection system, with means for transporting a test object (7), in particular a pipe, into an ultrasound inspection chamber of the ultrasound inspection system, comprising at least one guiding unit (1) for the test object with at least one, preferably three, still more preferably six elastically biased counter bearings (2) resting against a jacket surface (8) of the test object (7) via a contact part (4) in order to guide the test object during transport.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2011
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: GE SENSING & INSPECTION TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
    Inventors: Damian Meinert, Stephan Schmitz
  • Patent number: 8770028
    Abstract: The subject of the invention is a device for the nondestructive recording of a rotational movement, e.g. of a probe, on the surface of a specimen. In a developed configuration, a translational movement on the surface of the specimen can be detected. To this end, the device comprises a transmitter which is set up to transmit a temporal sequence of excitation signals Si, which penetrate into the specimen at least to some extent and interact with it. Furthermore, an array is provided, which is based on a plurality of receivers which are set up to receive echo signals, which result from the interaction of the excitation signals Si, transmitted by the transmitter, with the specimen. The echo signals for an excitation signal Si which are absorbed by the receivers form a set M (Si) of measurement values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: GE Sensing & Inspection Technologies GmbH
    Inventor: Wolf-Dietrich Kleinert