Abstract: A method of determining the time delay between echoes of an ultrasound pulse emitted by an ultrasound inspection device into an object, the method including: with the ultrasound probe in engagement with a front-wall feature of the object such that the ultrasound inspection device's ultrasound axis is arranged at an angle relative to the nominal surface normal of the front-wall feature, taking an ultrasound measurement which includes the ultrasound inspection device emitting an ultrasound pulse and recording echoes thereof; and determining the time delay between echoes of the pulse via a time delay determination process which adjusts the time delay calculation based on the angle of the ultrasound inspection device's ultrasound axis with respect to the nominal surface normal of the front-wall feature.

Abstract: A method of determining the time delay between echoes of an ultrasound pulse emitted by an ultrasound inspection device into an object, the method including: with the ultrasound inspection device in engagement with a front-wall feature of an object at a point to be measured, taking an ultrasound measurement, which includes the ultrasound inspection device emitting an ultrasound pulse and recording an ultrasound measurement signal including a front-wall echo and at least one interface echo reflected by an internal or back-wall feature of the object; and determining the time delay between the front-wall echo and the at least one interface echo via autocorrelation of at least a segment of the ultrasound measurement signal which comprises the front-wall echo and the at least one interface echo.

Abstract: An apparatus for crushing sugar cane to extract the juice has opposed crushing rolls at least one of which is formed with juice channels which are temporarily plugged by bagasse after the juice has entered into the channel. Further rotation of the rolls removes the trapped juice away from the cane blanket and the bagasse plug is then scraped out of the top of the channel to allow the juice to drain. The juice is drained away from the cane blanket and is not reabsorbed thereby. Efficiency of juice removal is improved. Further efficiency improvements are obtained by having pairs of crushing rolls positioned above each other such that the cane blanket moves in a generally vertical direction.