Patents by Inventor William C. Rutherford

William C. Rutherford has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Low profile encircling ultrasonic probe for the inspection of in-situ piping in immersion mode
    Patent number: 8301401
    Abstract: An ultrasonic probe encircles the perimeter of a target component to be ultrasonically tested and has a base and a pair of jaws pivotally mounted to the base at opposite ends of an arcuate inner surface of the base to encircle a target component with arcuate inner surfaces of the jaws as well. The inner surfaces form a coupling fluid chamber with an outer surface of the target component. Front and rear sets of seals connected to and extending along front and rear portions of the arcuate inner surfaces seal the chamber so that it can retain a coupling fluid such as water. An arcuate set of ultrasonic transducers is connected along at least one but preferably all of the arcuate inner surfaces for transmitting ultrasonic signals to the coupling fluid chamber and into the target component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Inventors: Donald W. Morrison, Jr., Daniel T. MacLauchlan, William C. Rutherford, Todd E. Mitton
  • LOW PROFILE ENCIRCLING ULTRASONIC PROBE FOR THE INSPECTION OF IN-SITU PIPING IN IMMERSION MODE
    Publication number: 20120053856
    Abstract: An ultrasonic probe encircles the perimeter of a target component to be ultrasonically tested and has a base and a pair of jaws pivotally mounted to the base at opposite ends of an arcuate inner surface of the base to encircle a target component with arcuate inner surfaces of the jaws as well. The inner surfaces form a coupling fluid chamber with an outer surface of the target component. Front and rear sets of seals connected to and extending along front and rear portions of the arcuate inner surfaces seal the chamber so that it can retain a coupling fluid such as water. An arcuate set of ultrasonic transducers is connected along at least one but preferably all of the arcuate inner surfaces for transmitting ultrasonic signals to the coupling fluid chamber and into the target component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Inventors: DONALD W. MORRISON, JR., Daniel T. MacLauchlan, William C. Rutherford, Todd E. Mitton