Abstract: A method and system provides for acoustic sensing of structures, including a general shape and/or configuration of the structure and movement within the structure. Acoustic waves are used to characterize structures, including any activity within. As waves from a sound source travel into the structure, they resonate within cavities and connecting tunnels or halls. This acoustic resonance is received at an acoustic receiver. The received signal is analyzed in comparison to the generated signal, and properties of the structure are determined, including the size and shape of the structure, as well as movement of objects within the structure.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the composition of a containerized material, typically a suspension, through which ultrasonic waves are passed. The component ratios and particle sizes of a stationary or flowing material are determined by measuring ultrasonic wave phase and attenuation changes at multiple frequencies and deriving shape features from curves of the phase or attenuation versus frequency. Preferably, the frequency range employed extends below and above the frequency of maximum attenuation of the expected mean particle size in a suspension. The material composition is derived from analysis of the shape features of the derived curves.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the composition of a containerized material, typically a suspension, through which ultrasonic waves are passed. The component ratios and particle sizes of a stationary or flowing material are determined by measuring ultrasonic wave phase and attenuation changes at multiple frequencies and deriving shape features from curves of the phase or attenuation versus frequency. Preferably, the frequency range employed extends below and above the frequency of maximum attenuation of the expected mean particle size in a suspension. The material composition is derived from analysis of the shape features of the derived curves.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for inspecting the surface of an article for isolated contrast variations by illuminating the surface, forming an image of the surface from the reflected light, the image being composed of pixels that contain digitized information indicative of the relative intensity level of light reflected from a particular portion of the surface, comparing the intensity levels of at least some of the pixels to a predetermined intensity threshold to identify portions of the surface contrasting with other portions of that surface, and determining from the identified pixels the number of isolated contrast variations on the surface and the area of each of the variations. The number and size of the contrast variations appearing on the inspected article surface are compared to acceptability criteria to decide whether the article is acceptable for a particular use or in particular channels of commerce.

Abstract: An acoustic transducer having a curved surface to match the inner or outer surfaces of a target surface such as a cylindrical borehole tubular is disclosed. A sequence of excitation pulses causes the transducer to launch a series of high-frequency, short duration acoustic energy pulses toward the tubular. The transducer face receives echos reflected from the surface of the tubular, including multiple echo structures indicative of the repeated echoing of the acoustic energy between the inner and outer faces of the tubular. The characteristics of the tubular surfaces, including the location, area and depth of any corrosion pits on the tubular surfaces, are determined from the full echo waveform. A rule-based Expert System analyzes the full waveform of the echo pulses returned from the tubular to determine the most likely characteristics of the surfaces which produced the full echo waveform.

Abstract: In the field of the echography, the present invention is a system and method of preprocessing and transmitting information (such as echo waveform information) from a source (such as a transducer) to a destination (such as a rule-based computer system). The present invention reduces the absolute amount of information that is transmitted without reducing the amount of meaningful information that is conveyed. In this way, the present invention is effectively able to transmit more meaningful information than would be expected for conventional transmission systems. It also acts to reduce the amount of information processing that must be done at the destination.

Abstract: Suspensions, liquid emulsions and the like are monitored with ultrasonic waves from bottom to top of a column of such to determine if there has been alteration in the original compositions thereof, the method being particularly adapted for determining the stability of coal-aqueous slurries.

Abstract: Suspensions, emulsions and the like are monitored with apparatus which pulses ultrasonic waves through a suspension at elevations from bottom to top along a column of such suspension to determine if there has been alteration in the original composition thereof, the apparatus being particularly adapted for determining the stability of coal-aqueous slurries.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring the quantity of bubbles in a gas/liquid mixture. An ultrasonic wave is launched into the mixture and the magnitudes of two reflected waves are measured and compared. The logarithm of the magnitudes of the reflected waves is a measure of the quantity of gas content. The method and apparatus are suitable for measuring gas bubble content repetitively in a mixture turbulently flowing through a conduit.