Abstract: An ultrasound transducer for intravascular examinations comprises an interleaved series of eccentric elliptical electrodes disposed on the back face of a piezoelectric substrate that has been alternately poled in the thickness dimension. The back face of the transducer is coupled to air, while impedance-matching layers are on the front face of the transducer. The front face is concave spherical to provide a geometric focus. The electrodes are driven at an ultrasound frequency. This arrangement results in a longitudinal-mode ultrasound transmission through the front face of the transducer. The eccentricity of the electrodes precompensates for distortion imposed by a cylindrical window. The pitch (spacing) of the electrodes increases radially, reducing speckling in the ultrasound image. This transducer provides for high-frequency intravascular examinations, and thus correspondingly high-resolution images, without using impractically thin piezoelectric substrates.

Abstract: A non-destructive, non-invasive arrangement is provided for detecting defects, such as voids, or poorly adhering layers in solid objects and laminated materials. A sensing signal is emitted by one transducer and received by two others. All of the sensors are disposed in a housing unit. The difference between the received signals is used to indicate a defect in the work piece proximate one of the transducers.

Abstract: An ultrasonic piezoelectric transducer that is operable in very high and very low temperatures. The transducer has a dual housing structure that isolates the expansion and contraction of the piezoelectric element from the expansion and contraction of the housing. Also, the internal components are made from materials having similar coefficients of expansion so that they do not interfere with the motion of the piezoelectric element.

Abstract: An acoustic-emission sensor includes a composite synthetic resin-ceramic piezoelectric element which has a plurality of substantially mutually parallel columnar ceramic piezoelectric bodies. The columnar ceramic piezoelectric bodies are polarized in a longitudinal direction and are disposed in a synthetic-resin matrix. Since only longitudinal waves can be detected from among acoustic-emission waves, an intensity and variation in intensity can be detected accurately.

Abstract: In an ultrasonic probe for use in ultrasonic endoscope, ultrasonic diagnosing apparatus and other ultrasonic apparatuses, an ultrasonic vibrator is arranged in a recess formed in a cylindrical housing and is secured thereto such that portions of first and second electrodes are exposed out of the recess. First and second lead wires are embedded in the housing such that tips of the lead wires are exposed within connecting areas formed in the housing in communication with the recess. The tips of the first and second lead wires are connected to first and second electrodes of the ultrasonic vibrator with the aid of conductive members made of solder, conductive paste or conductive adhesive agent. The other end of the first and second lead wires are extended from the same end face of the cylindrical housing.

Abstract: An ultrasonic probe including a piezoelectric substrate divided into a plurality of substrate sections aligned in one direction, a common electrode connected to one side of all the separated substrate sections, and plural individual electrodes being applied to an opposite side of the separated substrate sections, whereby unnecessary vibration modes are suppressed and, additionally, crosstalk characteristics are improved.

Abstract: This invention provides an ultrasonic transducer probe for medical scanning and a lens assembly for use therein. The probe has a housing in which an ultrasonic transducer array is mounted, there being an opening in the housing adjacent the transducer array. A first lens subassembly is mounted to the transducer and moves therewith if the transducer is rotated. A second lens subassembly is mounted to the housing to fill the opening therein, and includes, for example, a thin plastic film covering the opening and bonded to the housing to seal the opening and a film backing lens or layer. The first lens subassembly is preferably a compound lens. The lens subassemblies are formed of materials having relative acoustic properties, and having mating surfaces which are shaped, to selectively focus ultrasonic signals from the transducers.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for establishing whether fiber material is contaminated with foreign objects is characterized in that for the finding of foreign objects in the form of foreign fibers and pieces of foil, for example packaging remnants such as jute sack remnants, plastic foil remnants, cords or bands, rags or cleaning scrim, the fiber material delivered in bales is investigated during bale opening. The investigation takes place by scanning the surface of at least some of the layers of fiber material exposed during the bale opening, and the degree of the contamination with the scanned foreign objects is retained and is stored in association with the particular bale which has been scanned.

Abstract: An ultrasonic contact transducer for point-focussing surface waves having a narrow beam width and a high sound intensity at a focal point in order to obtain better resolution and high beam intensity, which is applicable to the nondestructive testing technique of the surface or subsurface of a specimen to be tested, is disclosed. The ultrasonic contract transducer generates surface waves, focuses the waves at one point on the surface of the specimen and receives again the signals scattered from the surface flaws or subsurface flaws of the specimen, in order to detect the surface cracks, surface flaws, subsurface flaws of the specimen and to detect the delamination in a thin laminated film.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to improve the performance of an ultrasonic imaging sensor [11] is disclosed. The key to the performance improvement obtained in the present invention is in the matching of sensor element [10] size to the electrical characteristics of the train of pulses [24,32] used to drive the sensor. The matching causes essentially all the energy provided to the sensor [11] to go into the desired sensor resonances, those in the direction of the sensor's thickness dimension [12]. The matching also minimizes the energy which goes into the undesired dilatational resonance modes [16,18] those in the sensor element's width dimension [14]. The invention discloses the matching of each sensor element [10] so that its maximum dilatational response [54] is essentially at the same frequency as every other element in the array, so that dilatational response is substantially reduced for the array as a whole.

Abstract: The electric connection between the control circuits (13,14) of a probe and the metallized faces (5,6) of the piezoelectric elements (2) of said probe is provided by metallizations (6,8) made on parts, support (1) or blade (4) in contact with said metallized faces. The mechanical and electric connection between said metallizations may be provided by a thin layer of conducting glue (19,20).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for cleaning printed electrical circuit boards having surface mount components by ultrasonic energy in the frequency range between 300 kHz and 1.0 MHz. The ultrasonic energy is produced by an array of piezoelectric wafers mounted to the inside surface of an immersible transducer assembly which, in turn, is disposed in a tank accommodating a bath of cleaning liquid. The ultrasonic energy provided by the transducer assembly and the circuit board to be cleaned are disposed to cause the ultrasonic wave beam to be incident upon a board to be cleaned at an angle of 90.+-.60 degrees relative to the surface plane of the board. This arrangement will remove solder flux residue and other contaminants from spaces ranging from 0.001 to 0.010 inch present underneath a surface mount component.

Abstract: When making curved bar probes it is necessary, particularly at high frequency, to provide circuits for the connection of piezoelectric elements of the bars which are compatible with the curvature imposed to the bar after it has been fabricated flat. The invention overcomes such difficulty by adjoining on both sides of the elements a generally parallelepipedic relay metallized on at least two (12,13) of its adjacent faces to transpose one connection face (7) situated in plane which must be curved into one connection face (13) which is perpendicular and of which the orientation remains unchanged and parallel to a same plane during the curvature operation. As a result, the connection is simplified.

Abstract: A graded frequency ultrasonic sensor [10] that compensates for frequency downshifting [32] in the body is disclosed. The outer portion [20] of the sensor's aperture is sensitive to the lower frequency returns which are a consequence of the frequency downshifting. Therefore, the invention achieves a high degree of lateral resolution. The central portion [18, 59] of the sensor is made thinner than the outer portion ]20, 57], so that the central portion is resonant at a higher frequency than the outer portion. Lateral resolution is improved by using the largest possible aperture to receive the downshifted frequencies. Techniques for shaping graded arrays, and for applying impedance matching layers [48] are disclosed for both spherical shells [10] and linear arrays [72]. The invention can be applied to different shapes of sensors, including spherical shells [10] and linear arrays [72].

Abstract: An ultrasonic probe comprising an acoustic lens (20) having a concave lens surface (21) formed on one side of a lens body, and a piezoelectric transducer (23) disposed on the other side of the acoustic lens, ultrasonic waves generated by applying voltage to the piezoelectric transducer being focused through the lens surface to detect the reflected waves of the ultrasonic waves from a sample (26) by the piezoelectric transducer for obtaining information about the surface or interior of the sample. The lens surface (21) of the acoustic lens (20) is defined by an etch profile (15) formed by etching a substrate material (11) which makes up the lens body.

Abstract: An ultrasonic testing method comprises steps of transmitting an ultrasonic wave from a probe to a test article, detecting an internal flaw in the test article by a reflected flaw echo from the internal flaw, and deciding a condition of the detected flaw by comparing and analyzing frequency components of the transmitted ultrasonic wave and the reflected flaw echo. The probe has a curved tip surface which is the same kind as that of a curved incident surface of the test article and has a radius of curvature of 0.5.about.2.0 times the radius of curvature of the curved incident surface of the test article.

Abstract: An ultrasonic probe has a piezoelectric vibrator composed of an array of piezoelectric vibrator elements, and an electrode plate having as many electrode patterns as the number of the piezoelectric vibrator elements. The piezoelectric vibrator elements and the electrode patterns are electrically connected to each other by an auxiliary electrode plate disposed therebetween. A method of manufacturing the ultrasonic probe is also disclosed.

Abstract: An ultrasonic transducer assembly for monitoring the quality of spot welds employs a transducer element joined to a support element and fitted within a conventional welding electrode assembly. The transducer assembly is biased against the interior surface of the welding electrode tip by a biasing element, preferably a compression spring. A sleeve, preferably composed of brass, surrounds the transducer element and is joined to the support element. A coaxial cable in communication with external instrumentation has a ground lead attached to the sleeve, and a signal lead attached to the transducer element.

Abstract: An ultrasonic piezoelectric transducer and a method for measuring and/or monitoring various physical properties of a member, in-situ, are disclosed. The transducer includes a sleeve which is received in a blind bore provided in the member, a piezoelectric element positioned within the blind bore, and an aligning spacer means interposed between the end of the sleeve and the piezoelectric element. By the application of appropriate voltage pulses to the piezoelectric element causing interrogating signals to be applied to the member, and the measurement of the time interval between the application of an interrogating signal and the receipt of a return from the member, various physical properties of the member can be determined.

Abstract: An ultrasonic probe having an ultrasonic propagation medium (8) is used in medical ultrasonic diagnostic systems for examination and inspection of inside of an examining body (9) by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic signals. The ultrasonic probe comprises a body (1), and the ultrasonic propagation medium (8) made of rubber cross-linked by cross linking agent. The ultrasonic propagation medium (8) is interposed between the examining body (9) and a portion for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves of the body (1) of the ultrasonic probe when the ultrasonic propagation medium (8) is used.

Abstract: This invention is basically, an ultrasonic transducer that can be configured with good reproducibility, that includes an acoustic impedance matching member that gradually changes the acoustic impedance, and which is characterized byAn acoustic impedance matching member(2) configured with multiple unit layers (21, 22, 23, . . . 2n), each layer being thinner than a quarter-wavelength of an ultrasonic wave, andeach unit layer having a laiminated structure make up of heavy metal(52) and plastic(51) layers with a thickness ratio set between them to change gradually from the unit layer close to the ultrasonic oscillator to the unit layer close to the subject.

Abstract: Disclosed is a probe for medical echography wherein, between the piezoelectric transducers and the backing, there is inserted a half-wave strip at the natural resonance frequency of these transducers, thus enabling the use of the probe in two distinct frequencies, one of which is substantially equal to half the other, and thus providing for ordinary mode B imaging and DFM Doppler imaging with one and the same probe.

Abstract: An ultrasonic probe 1 for non-destructive material testing of slotted or hollowed pieces of material 2 and comprising a carrier 3 and a probe part 4 connected to said carrier, which probe part is formed with one or several piezo-electric crystals 5 provided at or adjacent the tip thereof and mounted at an angle to the longitudinal plane of the probe of between 45.degree. and 50.degree. and rotated around its own axis over an angle of about 45.degree.-47.degree.. The probe can be formed with two or several symmetrically arranged piezo-electric crystals for allowing a complete testing of the piece of material by one single docking operation in that the different crystals are connected in turn after each other. Further the probe may also be formed with one or several straight scanning piezo-electric crystals 6 mounted in the carrier 3.

Abstract: A method of testing piezo-electric transducers includes locating one end (11) of a rod (10) of solid material over the active head (20) of the transducer, the rod (10) simulating the normal acoustic impedance presented to the transducer by the normal medium, in which the transducer is intended to operate, energizing the transducer and detecting the acoustic wave propagated through the rod at the other end of the rod. A loading rod for use in testing a piezo-electric transducer is an elongated solid body so dimensioned as to simulate the normal operating acoustic impedance presented to a piezo-electric transducer to be tested.

Abstract: An acoustic transducer array includes a number of transparent continuous aperture transducer elements which are aimed at various angular sectors in a field of view and are embedded in an acoustically transparent material such as casting resin. Each transducer provides a beamformed output, and the transparency of the elements ensures that each element observes an acoustic field that is unperturbed by the other elements. A high resolution and a wide field of view are obtained by overlapping the transducer elements so that each element captures an increased area of acoustic signal. Preferably, the transducer elements are cut from thin, flexible metalized sheets of voided piezeoelectric polymer such as polyvinylidene fluoride or polyvinyl fluoride co-polymer. The polymer transducers are broad band in nature, and permit multiple frequency, multiple beam sonar configurations.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for the measuring the transverse dimensions of a hole such as in an oil well including a sonde on which an electro-acoustic transducer is mounted in an off centered position in relation to the axis of the sonde. This transducer has two opposite active faces so as to simultaneously transmit acoustic pulses in diametrically opposite directions from the sonde. When the sonde is centered in the hole, the transducer picks up the echoes retransmitted by the wall of the hole in the two directions, at different times. A recording is made of these times and preferably also of an indication of the amplitude of each of these echoes to obtain both a diameter measurement and an indication of the condition of the hole surface. Several transducers are provided, superposed and oriented along various diameters distributed around the axis of the sonde.

Abstract: Ultrasonic transducer having a plurality of piezoelectric elements arranged in a matrix, and a method for fabricating them. L shaped printed wiring boards are respectively bonded to each arrays of piezoelectric elements arranged in azimuthal direction. The bonding points of the L shaped printed wiring board to respective piezoelectric element are located at edge portion of respective back electrode. The other branch of L shaped printed wiring boards are stretched vertically to the surface of the piezoelectric elements matrix. A backing plate is formed by molding on the back side of the piezoelectric elements matrix leaving the top of the L shaped printed wiring board protruded from the molded surface of the molded backing plate. Such configuration prevents the reflection from the wiring plate of the piezoelectric element. A flexible printed wiring board is provided with wiring pattern having bonding areas positioned corresponding to the matrix of piezoelectric elements.

Abstract: An ultrasonic probe including a piezoelectric substrate divided into a plurality of substrate sections aligned in one direction, a common electrode connected to one side of all the separated substrate sections, and plural individual electrodes being applied to an opposite side of the separated substrate sections, whereby unnecessary vibration modes are suppressed and, additionally, crosstalk characteristics are improved.

Abstract: The invention is a backing material for an ultrasonic transducer. The backing material comprises a composite of tungsten powder, cerium oxide powder in an amount of 1.0 to 4.5% by weight tungsten, and an epoxy in a weight proportion to powder of from 4:1 to 50:1.

Abstract: An ultrasonic transducer assembly comprising an injection-molded body member, a pair of piezoelectric ceramic members and a multi-pin connector is described. The piezoelectric ceramic members are electrically connected to the multi-pin connector by means of thin metallic ribbons. When assembled, the transducer assembly is detachably inserted in recesses provided therefor in the end of a hand-held probe.

Abstract: An ultrasonic transducer includes a piezoelectric body having a reflector and an acoustic matching layer deposited on the opposing surfaces thereof. The piezoelectric body is constituted by a piezoelectric member exhibiting an acoustic impedence of from 2.5.times.10.sup.6 to 15.times.10.sup.6 kg/m.sup.2 s, and the reflector has a thickness of less than .lambda..sub.2 / 4, where .lambda..sub.2 represents the wavelength of sound in the reflector at a frequency which is one half the free resonance frequency of the piezoelectric body. The acoustic matching layer includes a material exhibiting an acoustic impedance of from 1.6.times.10.sup.6 to 4.times.10.sup.6 kg/m.sup.2 s and has a thickness of from .lambda..sub.3 /8 to 28 .lambda..sub.3 /120, where .lambda..sub.3 represents the wavelength of sound in the acoustic matching layer at a frequency which is one half the free resonance frequency of the piezoelectric body.

Abstract: A transducer is provided for measuring tangential dynamic displacement of a transient nature at a point location on the surface of a mechanical body. This broadband transducer is particularly useful for detection and measurement of acoustic emission signals. The essential components are a large, extended compound backing (1), a sensing piezoelectric element of low geometric symmetry (2) having the proper static polarization, an electrode system (3) and (4), an attachment process (3a), and a means of leveling the transducer (5). The element is characterized by two parallel plane faces of contact, the area of the rear face of attachment being much larger than the front face. The front face has a width dimension which is small in comparison to the wavelength of the highest frequency of interest.

Abstract: A contact medium for use in a probe of an ultrasonic flaw detector is made of a macromolecular substance possessing such specific physical constants as a bulk modulus of elasticity in the range of 0.30.times.10.sup.10 to 2.00.times.10.sup.10 dynes/cm.sup.2 and an acoustic impedance in the range of 1.80.times.10.sup.5 to 2.67.times.10.sup.5 g/cm.sup.2 -sec. The medium can be used at a working temperature range of -20.degree. to 60.degree.0 C. and in a thickness in the range of 0.5 to 2.0 mm by fixedly attached to the leading end of the probe of the ultrasonic flaw detector with adhesive. The macromolecular substance is, for example, a synthetic rubber piece obtained by admixing ethylenecyclopentadiene as a base with carbon, a vulcanizer, a vulcanization accelerator, an antioxidant, ZnO, stearic acid, and process oil and molding the resulting blend.

Abstract: An ultrasonic piezoelectric transducer and a method for measuring and/or monitoring various physical properties of a member, in-situ, are disclosed. The transducer includes a sleeve which is received in a blind bore provided in the member, a piezoelectric element positioned within the blind bore, and an aligning spacer means interposed between the end of the sleeve and the piezoelectric element. By the application of appropriate voltage pulses to the piezoelectric element causing interrogating signals to be applied to the member, and the measurement of the time interval between the application of an interrogating signal and the receipt of a return signal from the member, various physical properties of the member can be determined.

Abstract: An ultrasonic test head including an oscillating crystal (1). A damping body (2) is mounted on the side of the crystal which faces away from the sonic beam direction. The damping body includes a plurality of sound-conducting and sound-absorbing lamellae (3, 5) which are stacked alternately on one another and each have one side thereof coupled to the oscillating crystal (1) thereby providing a high acoustic impedance as well as a high acoustic absorption.

Abstract: An on-line instrument in rolling contact with a papermachine web determines the web's strength and elastic modulus properties by intermittently pulsed sonic waves transmitted through the traveling web mass between a full circle, piezoelectric transducer emitter and identical receiving transducers respectively displaced from the emitter along the MD and CD web axes. Transducer signals from the receivers are analyzed by cross-correlation function techniques relative to the original stimulation reference signal to isolate the desired data signal from integral noise.

Abstract: An adaptation layer for an ultrasound applicator which contains a mixture of synthetic resin and ceramic powder. Through the addition of ceramic powder, the acoustic impedance of the applicator can be easily adjusted. Impedance values selectable in the range of e.g., 6 to 12.times.10.sup.6 kg/m.sup.2 sec are possible.

Abstract: A transducer for transmitting or receiving ultrasound in on-line applications is disclosed. The transducer comprises a piezoelectric element having the shape of a parallelepiped, and a nosepiece rigidly attached to a surface of the element and adapted for contact with sheet material through which ultrasound is propagated.

Abstract: An ultrasound transducer device for use below and above room temperature comprises a case secured to a cup-shaped ceramic piece having a substantially flat end wall. The outer surface of the end wall comprises a face through which ultrasound is transmitted and received by the transducer device. The cup-shaped ceramic piece has sidewalls extending along the entire periphery of the end face and back into the case. A piezoelectrically active element is bonded to the inner surface of the end wall of the cup-shaped ceramic piece.

Abstract: An acoustic transducer (10) with a pointed piezoelectric element (11) mounted on an electrically conductive damping mass (12), having a conductive tip (33), the damping mass (12) and conductive tip (33) being electrically connected to opposite terminals in a coaxial line (14). The conductive tip (33) has a convex wear member (35) for contact with a surface to be measured. In one version, the tip (33) is in contact with a flexible conductive sheet (17') for environmental protection.

Abstract: A transducer assembly includes a piezoelectric transducer and a support member encasing the transducer. The transducer and the support member may have commonly disposed openings. The support member has a progressively increasing thickness at progressive positions from the opening to distribute equally the stresses at the different positions on the piezoelectric transducer. A plurality of such transducer assemblies may be disposed at spaced positions in an oil well with the support members supported on a support rail extending through the well. The support rail serves as an electrical ground. A bus bar extends through the well at positions corresponding substantially to the centers of the transducer assemblies. The bus bar is supported by electrically insulating spacer members extending from the support rail. A ring is supported at one end by the support rail and is coupled at the other end to a tubing. The tubing envelopes, the transducer assemblies, the support rail, the bus bar and the spacer members.

Abstract: This invention relates to an ultrasonic angle test probe comprising at least two ultrasonic transducers for respectively generating and receiving ultrasonic waves propagating in different directions. According to the invention, in order to obtain relatively small wedge shaped coupling members and small coupling surfaces on the side of the probe contacting the workpiece, a plurality of transducers are disposed above one another instead of side by side. In a typical embodiment, a first transducer is disposed on a first wedge-shaped coupling member and second transducer is disposed on a second wedge-shaped coupling member superposed upon said first coupling member for providing different angles of propagation of sound waves responsive to energizing one or the other transducer.

Abstract: A high pressure transducer for transmitting and/or receiving sonic energy, the transducer having a housing with a cylindrical opening, a metallic acoustic window element closing one end of the opening, a cylindrical transducer crystal having one planar surface in engagement with the acoustic window rearward face, a thrust producing compression screw threadably received in the cylindrical opening supplying pressure through dampening means to the crystal rearward face to force the crystal into intimate engagement with the acoustic window, the acoustic window having a thickness of about N times 1/2 of the wavelength of crystal produced sound in the acoustic window, N being the least whole number providing an acoustic window having strength to withstand the pressure to which the transducer is subjected without significant deformation.

Abstract: An ultrasonic piezoelectric transducer and a method for measuring and/or monitoring the thickness of a wear member, in-situ, and the amount of wear that has occurred thereto, is disclosed. The transducer includes a sleeve which is received in a blind bore provided in the wear member, a piezoelectric element positioned within the blind bore, and an aligning spacer means interposed between the end of the sleeve and the piezoelectric element. By the application of appropriate voltage pulses to the piezoelectric element, the wall thickness between the bottom of the blind bore and the inner surface of the wear member can be measured.

Abstract: An ultrasonic transducer system is disclosed consisting of a support body (2), a radiating layer (8,9), a first .lambda./4 matching layer (10,11) and a second .lambda./4 matching layer (12,13). According to the invention, at least two ultrasonic transducers (4,6) with different and predetermined mid-frequencies are attached to a common support body (2) and have natural foci which overlap if the ultrasonic transducers (4,6) are mechanically separated. The ultrasonic transducer (4), having the higher mid-frequency, is provided with a larger radiating surface (4). This configuration, through the appropriate selection of the mid-frequencies, allows compensation for the frequency dependent damping of the transmission medium by frequency related weighting during radiation. In this manner, substantial improvements with respect to bandwidth of the total transmission path, from transmitting transducer through transmission media to receiving transducer, and the image quality can be realized.

Abstract: An ultrasonic flowmeter of the upstream-downstream type having piezoelectric crystals operated in the radial mode, as well as the compression mode, or primarily the radial mode. If both modes are used, one of the two may be selected in order to optimize the received signal. Selection would depend upon the molecular weight and temperature of the viscous fluid in the flowmeter. The selected frequency would be below the relaxation frequency of the flowing material. Radial mode oscillations are achieved by mass loading members adhered to either side of the crystal, thereby creating acoustic impedances which dampen the compressional mode, but enhance the radial mode of vibration. The mass loading member rearward of the crystal is significantly larger than the forward member so that most of the energy to be transmitted is directed in a forward direction. The forward end of the crystal is mounted in a tubular housing which is inserted into a pipe opening into a larger pipe where fluid flow occurs.

Abstract: A transducer assembly and a system application wherein said transducer assembly may be used in the inspection of iron, steel, aluminum, as well as plastic materials as a homogeneous object in the form of a sheet, slab or bloom. Inspection is through use of ultrasonic acoustic energy propagated through ambient air. A coupling medium in the form of matching layers efficiently couple the transducer assembly to the ambient air.

Abstract: A mechanism for attaching an ultrasonic head of an ultrasonic microscope to a vibration shaft of a vibrator is disclosed. A first connector half to which an R.F. cable is connected is fixedly arranged to the vibration shaft and a second connector half having the ultrasonic head coupled therewith is detachably attached to the first connector half, so that an exchange of the ultrasonic head can be performed in an easy and swift manner without affecting the position and characteristics of the R.F. cable.

Abstract: A special angle beam probe for ultrasonic testing includes at least one ultrasonic vibrator fastened in a beam probe housing on a wedge-shaped support body which may be formed of Plexiglass, using damping means. The ultrasonic beam of the vibrator strikes the surface of the test piece at an incidence angle other than 0.degree., as measured from a perpendicular at the surface of the test piece at the point where the beam strikes. The ultrasonic beam furthermore strikes the test piece surface at an oblique angle between 0.degree. and 360.degree. subtended between a principal beam probe axis and the beam, as seen in the direction perpendicular to the beam probe from above. The novelty of the invention is that the special angle beam probe includes a multiplicity of prefabricated beam probe subassemblies. The ultrasonic vibrator of each subassembly is fastened with a predetermined incidence angle within a first beam probe housing.

Abstract: A conformable acoustic coupler for ultrasonically testing an article. The upler has an ultrasonic transducer with an active surface which transmits ultrasonic energy pulses to an article to be tested. A sensor receives and measures an ultrasonic echo from the tested article. The article to be tested is acoustically mated to the active surface by a medium of a gelatinous material layer on the active surface and a flexible film on the gelatinous material layer. The combination of the gelatinous material and film conforms to the shape of the article and provide acoustic coupling between the active surface and the article without leaving a residue of the medium on the article.