Patents Assigned to Krautkramer GmbH
  • Patent number: 6286371
    Abstract: The invention concerns a monitor head for ultrasound control by pulse echo process, in particular for producing a brief ultrasound pulse, unipolar as far as possible, comprising an oscillator/transmitter (26) and an oscillator/receiver (32), each provided with electrodes (28, 30, 34, 36). The oscillator/transmitter (26) and the oscillator/receiver (32) are made of the same material. The oscillator/transmitter (26) and the oscillator/receiver (32) are arranged directly one behind the other, in the sound propagation direction, in particular flat-bonded one on the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Assignee: Krautkramer GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Johannes Büchler, Manfred Rost, Torsten Niederdränk
  • Patent number: 5880370
    Abstract: In a device for the arrangement of at least one ultrasonic testing head on a tube having a welding seam for the ultrasonic testing of the welding seam of the tube each ultrasonic testing head is built in a support. The support is provided with front and rear support points and led in constant radial distance to the tube on a test trace. The ultrasonic testing head is arranged in the area of the front support points, which are closest to the welding seam to be examined seen in the peripheral direction of the tube. A mechanical scanning device is provided, it is connected to the ultrasonic testing head and is arranged at the support in the area between the front and rear support points. The ultrasonic testing head has a single ultrasonic vibrator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: Krautkramer GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Michael Wachter, Kurt Hannoschock, Dieter Grohs, Peter Steinert, Wolfgang Zydek
  • Patent number: 5583292
    Abstract: An ultrasonic measuring process is disclosed for measuring the wall thickness variation in the region of the welding seam of a pipe. At least two testing heads are each acoustically coupled to the pipe by a water jet. The acoustic entry zones of the testing heads are moved together in relation to the pipe, parallel to the axis of the pipe. At least one of the testing heads is moved back and forth across the axis of the tube, crossing over the welding seam. The acoustic entry zone can be moved by modulation of a phased array. The second testing head either emits acoustic radiation into the pipe always outside the welding seam or also crosses the welding seam, but at different times than the first testing head. The signals of both testing heads are processed in a measurement value processing circuit such that simultaneously occurring measurement value deviations supply no output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1996
    Assignee: Krautkramer GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Bernhard Karbach, Siegmar Schulz, Peter Steinert
  • Patent number: 5555180
    Abstract: A method for processing digitized ultrasonic signals originating from an ultrasonic probe for the storage and later reconstruction of the ultrasonic signals from the stored data. Each half-wave from the digitized data is stored as the maximum amplitude, polarity sign, and location on the time axis of the wave. Reconstruction of the signal from the stored data is effected by constructing a series of 180.degree. cosine curves from the stored data and connecting each successive cosine curve with the previous cosine curve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1996
    Assignee: Krautkramer GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Heinz-Josef Hilger, Manfred Rehrmann, Norbert Steinhoff
  • Patent number: 5507184
    Abstract: In the process whereby a time gate but especially the time gate for an expected error range 58 in a device by means of which materials are tested by ultra sound according to the impulse echo process involving a test head 20 which emits pulses that impinge diagonally on the surface 28 of a test piece 24, the test head 20 that emits diagonally is firmly connected to a test head 22 from which pulses are emitted vertically. Both test heads emit at given intervals 48, 49 ultra sound impulses and subsequently receive them. The echo signal 50 of the entry of sound of the test head 22 from which pulses emit vertically is utilized to activate the time gate of the test head from which sound is emitted diagonally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 16, 1996
    Assignee: Krautkramer GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Alexander Freund, Ingo Stahl, Norbert Steinhoff, Reinhard Prause
  • Patent number: 5493912
    Abstract: An ultrasonic probe suitable for acoustic-coupling via a water channel, includes a main element with a housing. Housed in watertight fashion in the housing is an ultrasonic oscillator, the oscillator being joined to a protective layer which is flush with the lower surface of the housing. The housing wall encloses a water channel which is connected at the input end to a hose connector and whose output end opens out in the lower surface next to the oscillator. The side wall of the housing immediately next to the lower surface has a physically interlocking coupling element for a nozzle with a matching physically interlocking coupling element to be fitted over the lower surface. The nozzle forms a truncated-conical channel which tapers towards its open end and which fits against the surface of the oscillator at the input end. The nozzle also has a blind-end bore, which forms an extension of the output end of the water channel, and a cross-channel between the blind-end bore and the channel in the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 27, 1996
    Assignee: Krautkramer GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Werner Gunther, Ulrich Sauer
  • Patent number: 5485751
    Abstract: The method for ultrasonic testing of work pieces to detect longitudinal, transverse and oblique errors therein uses a test head support having at least one test head. The test head support is moved in a translatory direction along a surface of the work piece. Ultrasonic impulses are generated in a rapid sequence by the test head, progress along a sound beam, and are directed to impact the surface of the work piece in test areas. All test areas of the at least one test head lie in a linear test path. In the case of uninterrupted, translatory movement, all test areas meet in one and the same test area. The sound beams progress in a given constant angle in relation to one set perpendicular line on each test area. The sound beams rotate, in a conical envelope, around the respective perpendicular line. A complete rotation of 360.degree. takes place in time t.sub.r which is shorter than time t.sub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 23, 1996
    Assignee: Firma Krautkramer GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Bernhard Karbach, Ottokar Patzke
  • Patent number: 5473943
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a u/s test device for nondestructive testing of a workpiece moving relative thereto by the pulse echo method, having a fluid coupling between the ultrasonic oscillator and the surface of the work material. At least two test heads are provided whose sound beam axes intersect at a point in the region of the workpiece and a travel path in the form of a chamber is provided for guiding the fluid medium. To reduce susceptibility to interference and to achieve high test performance, a separately guided travel path extending along a determined length of the chamber and forming a duct (12-20) is associated with each test head (1-9), the axes of the travel path being aligned with the respective sound beam axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 12, 1995
    Assignees: Mannesmann Aktiengesellschaft, Krautkramer GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Manfried Schoenen, Harri Haacke, Hans-Jurgen Bathmann, Bernhard Karbach, Gerd Kauth, Reinhard Prause, Ottokar Patzke
  • Patent number: 5461920
    Abstract: In the whole-product ultrasonic inspection system proposed, a test head mount, having an axis of rotation, is mounted on a height-adjustable test bench. A test-piece, manipulator having an axis of rotation, is also mounted on the test bench. The test head mount axis and the test-piece manipulator axis are parallel to each other. A guideway is coupled between the test bench and the test head mount or the test-piece manipulator. The guideway runs in a direction that is orthogonal to the test head mount axis and the test-piece manipulator axis. The guideway is arranged such that the test-piece manipulator can move relative to the test head mount between a test position in which the test head mount axis and the test-piece manipulator axis coincide and a service position in which an object to be tested can be received by the test head mount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 31, 1995
    Assignee: Krautkramer GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Reinhard Prause, Ottokar Patzke, Reinhard Pawelletz, Bernhard Harbach
  • Patent number: 5454263
    Abstract: The invention relates to a test-piece manipulator and an appropriate cylindrical test-piece with standard defects for setting ultrasonic test equipment. The test-piece manipulator is connected at its end region to a flange which is axially inserted in the test-piece, shares an axis therewith and has a coaxial axially accessible cone section. The test-piece manipulator has a clamping flange which can rotate about a rotation axis and a counter-cone section arranged concentrically with the rotation axis corresponding to the cone section which is axially accessible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 3, 1995
    Assignee: Krautkramer GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Ottokar Patzke, Reinhard Prause, Linus Weiss
  • Patent number: 5447070
    Abstract: A rotor of on ultrasonic testing device for rotation-symmetrical test-pieces has drillings arranged in pairs for test head supports and test head supports arranged in these drillings. These supports are longitudinally adjustable along the axis of the drilling. The supports are sealed in the drilling and carry at least one test head. The drillings arranged in pairs are arranged in staggered array along the axis of rotation of the rotor or around the periphery of the rotor. Each pair has a rotary drive which as a shared activating system and facilitates synchronous rotation in an opposite direction of the two test head supports of the pair around the axis of the drilling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1995
    Assignee: Krautkramer GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Ottokar Patzke, Reinhard Prause, Rudolf Mietzner
  • Patent number: 5437187
    Abstract: Along with an ultrasound test apparatus for elongated test specimens (20) having cross sections that are constant throughout their length, in particular pipes and rods, which pass longitudinally along a test line (24) and thereby pass through a test machine (28) which is arranged on the test line (24), a second test machine (34) is provided. Both test machines (28, 34) are arranged on a pivot mount (30) at some distance from each other, parallel to each other and rotated 180.degree. with respect to each other, rotatable by at least 180.degree. around an axis of rotation (38), the axis of rotation running at a right angle to the test line (24) and at some distance from it, so that in an initial rotation position of the pivot mount (30) the one test machine (28) is positioned on the test line (24) and the other test machine (34) can be changed over, and in the second rotation position the other test machine (34) is positioned on the test line ( 24) and the first test machine (28) can be changed over.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 1, 1995
    Assignee: Firma Krautkramer GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Bernhard Karbach, Ottokar Patzke, Reinhard Prause
  • Patent number: 5427105
    Abstract: The device for measuring the thickness of the mucous membrane in the region of the jawbone ridge consists of an evaluation instrument and a hand probe interconnected by a cable. The hand probe has a probe housing and an ultrasonic oscillator fitted therein on which are arranged a damping member on the back and a lead member on the front, in which the lead member forms a coupling surface for coupling to the mucous membrane and consists of a material with an acoustical impedance corresponding to 0.3 to 3 times the value and preferably 0.5 to 2.4 times the value of the acoustical impedance of water. A control electronic system and an evaluation electronic system, an electric power supply and a display unit are fitted in the evaluation instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 27, 1995
    Assignee: Krautkramer GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Gerd Knapp, Benedikt Pollock, Heiko Bonenkamp, Klaus Volkmann
  • Patent number: 5402682
    Abstract: An ultrasonic test device for rotationally symmetrical test specimens permits performing oblique error testing. A probe carrier is mounted within a bore hole of a rotor such that its position can be rotationally adjusted about the axis of the bore hole and also adjusted longitudinally in the direction of the axis of the bore hole. Thus, especially in combination with an angle probe or an inclination-adjustable probe, the acoustic irradiation angle can be adjusted by rotation of the probe carrier. In this way, it is possible to achieve test paths for rotors that range continuously between every test spiral pitch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 4, 1995
    Assignee: Krautkramer GmbH & Co.
    Inventor: Ottokar Patzke
  • 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: 5373741
    Abstract: An ultrasonic measuring device that is especially suited to nondestructive testing of materials is fitted with an ultrasound test head 72, a transmitter (74) and a receiver (76) that is characterized by a broadband logarithmic amplifier (78). This amplifier consists of several amplifier stages that are identical in construction and connected in series. Each amplification stage is characterized by the fact that it contains two transistorized individual amplifiers, namely a first and a second differential amplifier that are connected to one another and whose transistors (20, 22; 24, 26) are each interconnected at their base and at their collector. Each of these transmitters is connected at the emitters via inverse feedback resistors (34, 36; 40, 42) to a constant-current source (46, 50).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1994
    Assignee: Krautkramer GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Klaus Volkmann, Horst Pollok, Manfred Kickartz
  • Patent number: 5335546
    Abstract: In a process for ultrasonic testing of elongated, prism-shaped sections (22) with at least one planar outer surface (54) extending along the longitudinal axis (26) of the section, with the objective of detecting material defects or verifying geometric data, the section (22) to be tested is exposed to ultrasonic beams from several ultrasonic probes (28 to 34) installed in a probe carrier (44). The section (22) is moved along its longitudinal axis (26) in relation to the probe carrier (44). The latter is installed in the rotor (20) of a rotary testing machine which rotates around the longitudinal axis (26) of the section (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1994
    Assignee: Krautkramer GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Bernhard Karbach, Reinhard Prause, Heinrich Weber
  • Patent number: 5228343
    Abstract: An ultrasound testing device for the non-destructive testing of a workpiece wherein at least three testing heads are disposed on a testing head carrier, and the testing heads emit sound waves which converge at one or more intersections in an area of the workpiece so as to detect defects and determine the wall thickness. Operationally, the number of intersections is one less than the number of testing heads, and the separation between the sound waves is chosen so as to avoid the disturbances associated with utilization of oppositely situated testing heads. In addition, the device uses a flow medium to couple the testing heads to the surface of the workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1993
    Assignees: Mannesmann AG, Krautkramer GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Manfried Schoenen, Harri Haacke, Hans-Jurgen Bathmann, Bernhard Karbach, Gerd Kauth, Reinhard Prause, Ottokar Patzke
  • Patent number: 5092175
    Abstract: An apparatus for testing hardness under load has a measuring sensor in the form of a manual apparatus in which a mobile rod-shaped resonator can be slidingly inserted. The free end of the resonator, situated outside the housing, has a measuring tip. The resonator is held against the housing of the measuring sensor by a spring and is linked to ultrasonic converters connected to an electronic generator and to a receiving circuit which records changes in the duration or frequency of the vibrations of the generator. A basic apparatus comprises a display unit and is connected by a connecting line to the measuring sensor. A memory for storing individual parameters of the rod-shaped resonator and the electronic generator is arranged in the housing of the measuring sensor. The basic apparatus is detachably connected by insertion to the measuring sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1992
    Assignee: Krautkramer GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Immo Winckler, Jurgen Kising, Andreas Wiese
  • Patent number: 4517152
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for testing fuel element tubes by ultrasonic energy. For testing, each tube becomes disposed in the space between a transmit transducer and a receive transducer. The echo signals falling within a predetermined time interval are evaluated. Since the distance between the transducers may vary as the transducers move through the space between fuel element tubes, the transmitted signal reaching the receive transducer without passing through the tube may be confused with the revolving echo signal. Therefore, this invention discloses an arrangement for cyclically controlling the setting of the time gate before each such tube is in position between the transducers. To this end, the ultrasonic transit time of signals between the transmit transducer and the receive transducer is measured in the gap between the last tested tube and the next to be tested tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1982
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1985
    Assignees: Krautkramer GmbH, Brown Boveri Reaktor GmbH
    Inventors: Kurt Pieper, Rainer Scharpenberg