For Flaw Or Discontinuity Detection Patents (Class 73/600)
  • Patent number: 11644445
    Abstract: To provide a method for evaluating a corroded part, the method making it possible to specify only a waveform reflected by a corroded part and to evaluate the waveform. When a transmission unit (2) is moved on the surface of a metal pipe (60) and the distance between a corroded part (5) and the transmission unit (2) is changed, only a waveform portion A of ultrasonic waves reflected by the corroded part (5) moves toward the left or right along an X axis, and only the intensity of a noise waveform portion B included in a received wave changes upward or downward along a Y axis, which makes it possible to separate the waveform portion A and the noise waveform portion B of a longitudinal-wave surface wave reflected by the corroded part (5) and evaluate the waveform portion A in detail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: KUNIHIKO NIIMI
    Inventor: Kunihiko Niimi
  • Patent number: 11566881
    Abstract: An inspection system can include a handheld inspection device having a meter portion comprising at least two different paint meters, at least one display, at least one processor configured to present paint measuring locations on an inspected object on the at least one display, and communication circuits configured to transmit inspection data generated by meter portion. Based on inspection results, a value of the inspected object can be automatically adjusted. A database can store inspection data for large numbers of objects, and track locations of objects. Corresponding methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Inventor: Greg Nickel
  • Patent number: 11046016
    Abstract: An ultrasonic welding device includes a support device configured to support a work piece along a predetermined conveyance surface; a welding machine including an oscillator for generating a high-frequency electric signal, a transducer for converting the high-frequency electric signal to a mechanical vibration, and a horn to which the mechanical vibration is transmitted, the horn being disposed to face a part to be welded of a work piece supported along the conveyance surface, and the mechanical vibration being imparted via the horn to the part to be welded, whereby the part to be welded is welded; a detector for detecting an abnormality in the part to be welded, the detector being disposed upstream in the conveyance direction of the work piece than the support device; and a protective device for prohibiting the welding machine from welding the part to be welded in which an abnormality is detected by the detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: ZUIKO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masato Hiroyasu
  • Patent number: 10877002
    Abstract: Provided is an ultrasonic flaw detection device including: a transmission window; a transmission probe, which is configured to transmit an ultrasonic beam from the transmission window toward a range required to be inspected, which is set in advance, of an inspection surface of an object to be inspected; a reception window, which is arranged in a relationship with respect to the transmission window in which an ultrasonic wave that has been reflected outside the range required to be inspected is inhibited from reaching the reception window; and a reception probe, which is configured to receive an ultrasonic wave that has passed through the reception window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: IHI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuto Asaumi, Hiroaki Hatanaka, Shigeki Sakakura
  • Patent number: 10761066
    Abstract: A system and methods of nondestructive testing are described. The system includes an immersion ultrasonic probe and a laser vibrometer. The immersion ultrasonic probe and a sample are immersed in a fluid contained in an immersion tank and the laser vibrometer is disposed outside of the immersion tank. A tightly focused ultrasonic beam from the immersion ultrasonic probe and a laser beam from the laser vibrometer are both transmitted upon a sample, the laser beam being transmitted through the wall of the immersion tank. Since the ultrasonic beam is tightly focused and the laser beam samples only a small area impinged by the ultrasonic beam, microscopic resolution is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: KBR WYLE Services, LLC
    Inventors: Jeong K. Na, Shaun L. Freed, Erin K. Oneida
  • Patent number: 10724994
    Abstract: Disclosed are composite structure health monitoring (SHM) systems that incorporate aspects of both a passive SHM system and an active SHM system. Systems provide a route for continuous monitoring to recognize potentially damaging events as well as to determine the location and intensity of damage in those instances in which the event does cause damage to the structure. Systems can provide improved monitoring with a low space and weight requirement, for instance when utilized for SHM of aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: University of South Carolina
    Inventors: Michael Van Tooren, Victor Giurgiutiu, Paul Ziehl, Bin Lin
  • Patent number: 10458959
    Abstract: There is disclosed a method of detecting failures or anomalies of a large number of sensor terminals without using manpower or expensive equipment in the seismic exploration business. The method includes preparing a plurality of sensor terminals having sensors that detect vibrations from outside, the plurality of sensor terminals receiving the vibrations and outputting vibration reception signals, and comparing a first vibration reception signal output by a first sensor terminal with a second vibration reception signal output by a second sensor terminal, thereby detecting if one of the first sensor and the second sensor is failed or anomalous.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hisanori Matsumoto, Shiro Mazawa, Michio Iguchi
  • Patent number: 10197537
    Abstract: This invention provides a method and device for nondestructive testing of an anchor bolt. Said method and device make it possible to quantitatively test the soundness of an anchor bolt affixed to a foundation via an adhesive anchor. In this method for nondestructive testing of an anchor bolt, in which the soundness of an anchor bolt affixed to a foundation via an adhesive anchor is tested, a section of the anchor bolt that is exposed from the surface of the foundation is hit so as to produce an impact noise, a signal waveform corresponding to said impact noise is received and subjected to frequency analysis so as to obtain frequency information for said signal waveform, and the soundness of the anchor bolt is nondestructively, quantitatively tested on the basis of said frequency information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: NUCLEAR FUEL INDUSTRIES, LIMITED
    Inventors: Takashi Matsunaga, Junji Etoh, Yoshihiro Isobe
  • Patent number: 10060883
    Abstract: A method includes emitting an ultrasonic signal into a test specimen from a transducer, receiving a first reflected ultrasonic signal from the test specimen, wherein the first reflected ultrasonic signal is reflected from a feature in the test specimen and the first reflected ultrasonic signal is internally reflected within the test specimen three times prior to being received, and determining a threshold depth of the feature in the test specimen based on receiving the first reflected ultrasonic signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Inventors: Jochen Uwe Giese, Andrew Robinson, Markus Holger Blust, Christian Alexander Goldmann
  • Patent number: 9945716
    Abstract: The ultrasonic inspectability of a supplied part out of which a final component is to be machined is determined by following a set of inspection rules for ultrasonic inspection of the supplied part. The rules determine which parts of the polygon cannot be inspected by a scan at a given ultrasound beam angle (typical beam angles are 0°, +20° and ?20° relative to the perpendicular direction to the edge) along a given edge of the polygon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Stephen Samuel Wiseall, Anthony Bernard Phipps, David Cameron Wright, Sree Vamsi Tammineni, James William Cheang Meas
  • Patent number: 9607605
    Abstract: An ultrasonic sensor and method for using the same are arranged for capturing a value document transported through a capture region of the ultrasonic sensor. The ultrasonic sensor has an ultrasound transmitter arranged for emitting ultrasound into the capture region and an ultrasound receiver arranged for receiving ultrasound from the ultrasound transmitter from the capture region. A control and evaluation circuit is arranged for controlling the ultrasound transmitter and for capturing and evaluating the signals of the ultrasound receiver. A circuit carrier carries the control and evaluation circuit, the ultrasound transmitter, the ultrasound receiver, and conducting paths electrically connecting the control and evaluation circuit to the first and second ultrasonic transducers. The circuit carrier has a U-shaped configuration and two interconnected arm portions, and the ultrasound transmitter is held on one of the two arm portions and the ultrasound receiver on the other of the two arm portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: GIESECKE & DEVRIENT GMBH
    Inventors: Hans-Uwe Moosler, Oskar Dicklberger, Joseph Lohner, Frank Hermann
  • Patent number: 9466229
    Abstract: A document product includes a web having a transverse splice therein. A mask is formed near the splice and is subsequently used for automatically rejecting a spliced document.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Iconex, LLC
    Inventors: Wendell B. Halbrook, Jr., Mark A. Anderson
  • Patent number: 9423321
    Abstract: Provided is a tire testing machine including: a spindle shaft that rotatably attaches a tire as an inspection target thereto; a tire outer shape measurement sensor that moves close to the tire or moves away from the tire and detects a deformation amount of an outer shape and a diameter of the tire attached to the spindle shaft; and a collision preventing sensor that includes a probe formed in a linear material and a contact detecting portion detecting a state where the probe contacts the tire in order to prevent the tire outer shape measurement sensor from colliding with the tire, wherein the probe has a bent or divided shape in order to ensure a wider contact detecting range contacting the tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takehiko Wakazono, Masanobu Kurumaji
  • Patent number: 9335304
    Abstract: A scanner comprises a scanning array mounted within a rotatable assembly having a first wheel on a first side, a second wheel on a second side and a membrane forming a drum around the array wherein a load path is provided between the wheels to divert load from the membrane such that it can be made thinner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS LIMITED
    Inventors: Andrew Bond-Thorley, Richard Freemantle, Arthur O'Mahony, Luis Rivera, Alun Williams, Andrew Philpot, Neil Hankinson
  • Patent number: 9301720
    Abstract: A measurement system for capturing a transit time, phase, or frequency of energy waves propagating through a propagation medium is disclosed. The measurement system comprises a sensing module (200) and an insert dock (202). The sensing module (200) includes a load sensing platform (121), an accelerometer (122), and sensing assemblies (123). In one embodiment, a force or load applied by the muscular-skeletal system is measured. The force or load is applied to the sensing assembly (123). The accelerometer (122) generates motion data. The motion data includes acceleration data. The force or load measured by sensing assembly (123) in combination with the motion data captured by the accelerometer (122) is used to calculate a total force or load. A second accelerometer can be used to provide reference position information. The sensing assemblies (123) comprise a transducer (304), an elastic or compressible propagation structure (305), and a second transducer (314).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: ORTHOSENSOR INC
    Inventor: Marc Stein
  • Patent number: 9280620
    Abstract: A probabilistic estimation of fatigue crack life of a component is provided. A plurality of representations of the component is defined from material property scatter data and flaw-size scatter data, wherein each representation is defined by one possible material condition and flaw-size condition associated with the component. For each representation, a component location is selected and a determination is made whether said individual representation fails after a given number of cycles N, based on the calculation of a crack growth in the selected location. The crack growth is calculated on the basis of the material condition and the flaw-size condition in the selected location. Failure of the individual representation is determined if the crack growth is determined to be unstable. The sum total of the number of the representations that failed after N cycles is determined. A probability of failure of the component after N cycles is then determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Christian Amann, Phillip W. Gravett, Kai Kadau
  • Patent number: 9267922
    Abstract: A method and system for determining the purity and authenticity of a substance being transported in a container. A coded signal is first passed through the container and its contents thereby generating an identifier. When the container reaches its destination, a second signal is passed through the container and its contents thereby generating a second identifier. The first and second signals are compared to determine if the substance inside the container has been altered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Inventors: Miroslaw Wrobel, Jason S. T. Kotler
  • Patent number: 9248710
    Abstract: Various embodiments of an ultrasonic tire mounting machine and system are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: BRIDGESTONE AMERICAS TIRE OPERATIONS, LLC
    Inventor: Robert W. Asper
  • Patent number: 9200976
    Abstract: A wheel servicing machine such as a wheel balancer includes an acoustic transducer configured to measure energy of one or more reflected acoustic waves after the waves have bounced off a material boundary surface such as a wheel assembly. In some embodiments, a return energy index signal representative of the measured energy is generated by a transducer and is further processed by a processor to control operations of the machine. The acoustic transducer also measures distance between the transducer and the wheel assembly surface in some embodiments. One or more values in a sample queue of acquired distance data may be flagged, or indexed, based on variation in the magnitude of the return energy signal. Methods of measuring wheel width using sonar measurement of both distance and reflected energy are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Inventors: Xin Ye, Matthew Weis, Rhonda White
  • Patent number: 9177400
    Abstract: Disclosed is a non-invasive technique for determining with high precision vascular disease, in particular arteriosclerosis, vascular stenosis, and aneurisms. This technique is achieved by a program that determines vascular disease in a subject by comparing normal distribution graphs obtained from a subject to normal distribution graphs obtained from a normal individual, which are based on reflective echo waveforms obtained by sending ultrasonic waves to the subject's pulsating blood vessels, detecting correlation or difference between the normal distribution graphs, and, if a difference in the normal distribution graphs is detected, implementing on the computer a step for determining that the subject has a vascular disease.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: TOHOKU TECHNOARCH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toshimitsu Yokobori, Daisuke Tanaka, Yuuki Tomono, Masatoshi Ito, Yuji Otomo
  • Patent number: 9068965
    Abstract: An apparatus for detecting blood clots in a blood stream of an extracorporeal blood circuit includes an optical sensor, an ultrasound sensor, and a signal evaluator. The apparatus is configured such that the blood is optically monitored by the optical sensor and ultrasonically monitored by the ultrasound sensor. The signal evaluator is configured such that the blood clots are detected by a comparison of the monitoring signals of the optical sensor and the ultrasound sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: FRESENIUS MEDICAL CARE DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
    Inventor: Christoph Wiktor
  • Patent number: 9032799
    Abstract: A nondestructive inspection apparatus according to the present invention has a transmission-side probe configured to emit a first ultrasonic wave toward a test-target fluid, a plate through which a Lamb wave generated by the first ultrasonic wave is propagated when the first ultrasonic wave is propagated, and a reception-side probe configured to measure intensity of a second ultrasonic wave which is emitted from the plate and propagates through the test-target fluid. At this time, the nondestructive inspection apparatus can inspect the test-target fluid without bringing the transmission-side probe configured to emit the first ultrasonic wave and the reception-side probe configured to measure the second ultrasonic wave into contact with the test-target fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Hidetaka Hattori, Hideki Horizono, Masayuki Kanemasu, Shigeyuki Matsubara, Kunihiko Shinoda, Hirotoshi Hujigaki, Susumu Ryuuou
  • Patent number: 9032798
    Abstract: Provided are a device (10) and a method for measuring the crispness of a food product. An item to be measured (22) comprising a porous food product is broken apart by causing the blade of a knife (14) to penetrate into the item. A vibration detector (18) attached to the knife (14) detects crack vibrations from cracks that form when the item to be measured (22) is broken apart. In a computer (20), the small crack vibrations of a predetermined vibration power or less that are included in the crack vibrations within an individual cracking duration time are extracted from the detected crack vibrations. Crispness is measured on the basis of the number of extracted small crack vibrations counted (number of cracks).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignees: NISSHIN SEIFUN GROUP INC., GIFU UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Michihiro Sakakibara, Takahisa Nishizu
  • Patent number: 8966983
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for the contactless detection of laminated, flat objects, particularly sheet-like recording media. There is a galvanic separation and mechanical decoupling between the transmitter and receiver to improve detection. These measures can be further improved with correction characteristic methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Pepperl + Fuchs GmbH
    Inventor: Dierk Schoen
  • Patent number: 8943681
    Abstract: A device for use as an adjunct in assuring that a manufactured wire is substantially free of internal flaws. A plurality of successively adjacent wire bending stations are provided, where each station includes means for bending the wire into bending planes which are different for each of the stations. The wire is passed through the successive stations, whereby the different bending planes at each station subject the wire at each station to tensile bending strain at portions of the wire cross-section which are different for each station. As a result the probability is increased that a given internal flaw in the wire will be exposed to the tensile bending strain condition as the wire passes through the successive stations, increasing likelihood of breakage of the wire at the flaw or of flaw magnification to improve detection of the flaw during subsequent wire inspections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Oxford Superconducting Technology
    Inventors: Jeff Parrell, Boleslaw Czabai, Youzhu Zhang, Seungok Hong, Michael Field
  • Publication number: 20140352148
    Abstract: A method is provided of non-destructively inspecting titanium alloy articles in the as-cast condition using ultrasonic waves to detect internal flaws, comprising modification of grain structure in the as-solidified ingot structure by the addition of trace boron to various titanium alloys. The ability to ultrasonically inspect as-cast billets combined with improved hot workability provided by trace boron enhancement permits an economical method of manufacture of titanium alloy articles destined for high performance applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2014
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Applicant: RTI International Metals, Inc.
    Inventor: Sesh Tamirisakandala
  • Publication number: 20140338453
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for inspecting a composite structure. A thickness profile of a portion of a region of a composite structure is identified. The region has a cross-section with non-parallel surfaces. An estimated thickness for a location within the region and outside of the portion is identified using the thickness profile. An indication of whether the location has undesirable porosity is generated based on information about attenuation of response sound signals and the estimated thickness for the location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2013
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Roger W. Engelbart, Christopher Mark Vaccaro, Nancy L. Wood
  • Patent number: 8874384
    Abstract: A method of standardizing ultrasonic flaw detectors utilizing electronic porosity standards which includes the steps of obtaining bandwidth characteristics of an ultrasonic flaw detector, obtaining broadband porosity attenuation characteristics of porosity samples, and generating porosity vs. attenuation curves calibrated to the apparatus using the bandwidth characteristics and the broadband porosity attenuation characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Steven K. Brady, William P. Motzer, Jeffrey R. Kollgaard, Nathan R. Smith
  • Patent number: 8869621
    Abstract: A geometry compensating transducer attachment for ultrasonic inspection of a structure includes a geometry-compensating structure having at least one angled surface configured to engage the structure to be inspected, and the geometry-compensating structure having an acoustic velocity generally matching an acoustic velocity of the structure to be inspected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Jeffrey R. Kollgaard, Barry A. Fetzer, Christopher R. Brown, William J. Tapia, David Brooks
  • Patent number: 8776603
    Abstract: Provided herein is a non-destructive testing method capable of diagnosing a condition of an object to be tested using a single-pulse ultrasonic wave signal. An attenuation waveform of the single-pulse ultrasonic wave signal received by a receiving section 3 is wavelet transformed by a wavelet transform section 6 to obtain an envelope line A(t) and a phase ?(t) of the attenuation waveform. A temporal change computing section 7 approximates the attenuation waveform by an approximation equation available for computation, using the envelope line A(t) and the phase ?(t) of the attenuation waveform inputted from the wavelet transform section 6, and obtains the temporal change of instantaneous frequency of the attenuation waveform. A diagnosing section 8 diagnoses a condition of the object to be tested, based on the temporal change of the instantaneous frequency computed by the temporal change computing section 7.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Kyushu University, National University Corporation
    Inventor: Takumi Inoue
  • Patent number: 8671761
    Abstract: A method of assessing bolted joint integrity. A guided wave is sent through a structure containing at least one bolted joint. The guided wave that is subsequently propagated through the structure and interacted with the bolted joint is measured to obtain a measured result. At least one parameter of the guided wave after its travel through the structure, and after having been affected by a nonlinear acoustic behavior of the bolted joint, is analyzed. Either at least one guided wave parameter is compared to a wave propagation pattern of the bolted joint at a correct torque level, or variation of at least one guided wave parameter is compared, to determine changes in wave propagation time and/or wave propagation shape. An incorrect torque level of the bolted joint is inferred from any changes that are determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: New Mexico Technical Research Foundation
    Inventors: Andrei Zagrai, Derek Doyle
  • Patent number: 8626459
    Abstract: Disclosed are systems, methods and articles, including an inspection system that includes at least one generator to apply energy to an object at an application point to cause waves to travel, at least partly, through the object. The system further includes at least one detector configured to detect at least a portion of the waves traveling through the object, and a statistical analyzer to perform a statistical analysis based on an output produced by the at least one detector in response to the detected portion of the waves, the statistical analysis being used to determine whether at least one defect is present in the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Francesco Lanza Di Scalea, Stefano Coccia, Ivan Bartoli, Salvatore Salamone, Piervincenzo Rizzo
  • Patent number: 8601877
    Abstract: An ultrasonic measurement device and method in which an ultrasonic transducer is acoustically coupled to an object to be measured by a resilient material contact layer. The transducer transmits a plurality of consecutive ultrasonic transmit signals into the object being measured, the transmit frequency of each of the plurality of transmit signals being distinct from the frequency of the other transmit signals of the plurality of transmit signals. Signal echoes of the transmitted signals are received, and based on the received signal echoes, at least one transmit frequency to be used for ultrasonic measurement of the object is selected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Atlas Copco Industrial Technique Aktiebolag
    Inventors: Carl-Gustaf Carlin, Erik Thomas Bergkvist, Lars Rickard Eriksson, Jarl-Olof Huldén
  • Patent number: 8559696
    Abstract: Scattered waves from the defect of burst ultrasonic waves radiated from an ultrasonic transmitter to a structure in two different arrangements of the ultrasonic transmitter and an array receiver are received by the array receiver so as to obtain a reception signal. The reception signal is subjected to a band-pass filter that passes a specific frequency component, shifted by different time according to the position of each reception sensor element of the array receiver and then, added so as to obtain a processing signal. On the basis of the processing signal, an image of the defect is obtained, respectively. A common portion of the obtained two images is extracted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Tohoku University
    Inventors: Kazushi Yamanaka, Yoshikazu Ohara, Yohei Shintaku
  • Patent number: 8528407
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method are disclosed for testing the quality of a wafer. The apparatus and a method comprise coupling a broad-band actuator to the wafer. Sweeping frequencies are connected to the broad-band actuator for vibrating the wafer. An acoustic sensor is coupled to the wafer for measuring a resonant frequency of the vibrating wafer. The measured resonant frequency of the vibrating wafer is compared with a reference resonant frequency to deterring the quality of the wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Inventor: Sergei Ostapenko
  • Patent number: 8490463
    Abstract: A method is provided for calibrating ultrasonic signals passed through a crimp formed with respect to a deformable body via an ultrasonically-equipped crimp tool (UECT). The UECT verifies a crimp quality using the ultrasonic signals. The method includes forming the crimp, transmitting a first signal, e.g., a pulse, to a first transducer of the UECT, and converting the first signal, using the first transducer, into a second signal which defines an ultrasonic pulse. This pulse is transmitted through the UECT into the crimp. A second transducer converts the second signal into a third signal, which may be further conditioned, and the ultrasonic signals are calibrated using the third signal or its conditioned variant. An apparatus for calibrating the ultrasonic signals includes a pulse module (PM) electrically connected to the first and second transducers, and an oscilloscope or display electrically connected to the PM for analyzing an electrical output signal therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: William T. Yost, Daniel F. Perey, K. Elliott Cramer
  • Patent number: 8490492
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the destruction-free testing of metallic pipes, in particular seamlessly produced steel pipes, in which method the entire length of the pipe is scanned following the circumference precisely and in this case, in addition to the wall thickness (WD) and the external diameter (Da) being determined, the inner and outer surfaces of the pipe are examined for faults, the faults determined in this process are compared with a predefined permissible reference fault depth RFT (RFT=fault threshold of×% of the nominal wall thickness), the pipes are sent to reworking means if the fault threshold is exceeded, and a requisite minimum wall thickness (WDmin) has to be present in the reworked region after the processing has been carried out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: V & M Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Groos, Stefan Nitsche
  • Patent number: 8453510
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for evaluating rock specimens subjected to high pressures and temperatures by ultrasonic evaluation utilizing various transducer enhancements. Certain embodiments contemplate configuring ultrasonic evaluation systems to provide more accurate measurements, enhanced protection of transducer elements, fewer metal interfaces between transducer elements and test specimens, and easier access to transducer elements for maintenance and replacement. Additionally, certain embodiments allow for sequential or simultaneous p-wave and s-wave measurements of a test specimen. These enhancements translate into a more accurate and efficient ultrasonic evaluation system offering higher resolution measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: ConocoPhillips Company
    Inventors: David M. Chancellor, Gangerico G. Ramos
  • Patent number: 8438926
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method which allows simply, easily and accurately evaluating the fastening state of shoulder parts of a threaded joint for use as a joint of pipes or tubes, such as OCTG, during fastening or after fastening. The fastening state evaluation method for a threaded joint 100 of pipes or tubes according to the present invention is characterized in that it transmits ultrasonic surface waves from the internal surface of either one of the pin 1 and the box 2 toward the internal surface of the other one of the pin 1 and the box 2 through the shoulder parts 13, 23 of the pin 1 and the box 2, and on the basis of the transmitted wave intensity or the reflected wave intensity thereof, determines whether or not the fastening state of the threaded joint 100 is satisfactory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corporation
    Inventors: Ikuji Hoshino, Masaki Yamano, Makoto Sakamoto, Keiichi Nakamura, Jun Masubuchi, Kenta Sakai
  • Patent number: 8402829
    Abstract: A device for determining the internal structure of a bone along a path directed into the bone (or other tissue) is disclosed. The device comprises a nozzle fluidically connected to a liquid reservoir for providing a liquid jet directed at the bone in the direction of the path; an ultrasonic transducer for generating ultrasonic waves through the liquid jet and for detecting echoes of the ultrasonic waves caused by changes in the acoustical impedance in the bone characterizing changes in the structure of the bone along the path; and an analyzer for interpreting the echoes into meaningful information relating to the location of the structural changes along the path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Jet-Guide Ltd.
    Inventors: Jacob Halevy-Politch, Andre Craft
  • Patent number: 8387462
    Abstract: Provided are an ultrasonic testing method and an ultrasonic testing apparatus capable of accurately detecting flaws present in a weld zone of a test object, such as a welded pipe, regardless of the position of the flaws. An ultrasonic testing apparatus 100 includes an ultrasonic probe 1 which is provided with n (n?2) transducers 11 arranged along a direction orthogonal to the weld line of a weld zone P1 of a test object P and is arranged so as to face the weld zone, and transmission/reception control means 2 which selects m (n>m?1) transducers from the n transducers, causes the selected transducers to transmit and receive ultrasonic waves to and from the weld zone, and switches the selected transducers one after another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Sumitomo Metal Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaki Yamano, Hiroyuki Okubo, Takumi Horikiri
  • Patent number: 8297122
    Abstract: A method for processing ultrasonic response signals collected from a plurality of measurement locations along a weld of a test sample to determine the presence of defects in the weld may include filtering an ultrasonic response signal from each measurement location to produce a plurality of filtered response signals for each measurement location, wherein each filtered response signal corresponds to specific types of defects. Thereafter, a plurality of energy distributions may be calculated for the weld based on the plurality of filtered response signals for each measurement location. The plurality of energy distributions may be compared to corresponding baseline energy distributions to determine the presence of defects in the weld.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corporation
    Inventors: Ifeanyi Charles Ume, Tsun-Yen Wu, Matthew Rogge
  • 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
  • Patent number: 8292813
    Abstract: Provided is a method of ultrasound diagnosis, wherein the method includes: coating a surface of a specimen with a transmission medium; and performing the ultrasound diagnosis, wherein the transmission medium has a viscosity of at least 1,000 mPa·s at 25° C. and contains a hydrocarbon compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Tsubouchi, Shoji Aoyama, Mikio Fukuhara
  • Patent number: 8286487
    Abstract: An ultrasonic aperture scanning system includes a transducer insert having an insert plug, an ultrasonic transducer carried by the transducer insert and an indicator unit having at least one indicator interfacing with the ultrasonic transducer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Jeffrey R. Kollgaard, Barry A. Fetzer, Kevin M. Uhl
  • Patent number: 8286488
    Abstract: An apparatus and system for measuring material thickness of a test object. In one embodiment, the apparatus can include a measurement probe that can have a plurality of transducer elements that can include transmitter elements and receiver elements arranged, respectively, in on a first side and a second side of a gap. The first side and the second side can form a scan area with at least one active group that can have at least one transmitter element and at least one receiver element, which can be separated from the transmitter element in a spaced relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Paul Meyer, Jeffrey Anderson, Anand Desai, Wei Luo
  • Patent number: 8266965
    Abstract: A method and a device for the contactless detection of laminated, flat objects, particularly sheet-like recording media. There is a galvanic separation and mechanical decoupling between the transmitter and receiver to improve detection. These measures can be further improved with correction characteristic methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Pepperl + Fuchs GmbH
    Inventor: Dierk Schoen
  • Patent number: 8256296
    Abstract: A method for processing ultrasonic response signals collected from a plurality of measurement locations along a weld to determine the presence of a defect in the weld may include filtering an ultrasonic response signal from each of the measurement locations to produce a filtered response signal for each of the measurement locations. Thereafter, an ultrasonic energy for each of the measurement locations is calculated with the corresponding filtered response signal. The ultrasonic energy for each measurement location is then compared to the ultrasonic energy of adjacent measurement locations to identify potential defect locations. When the ultrasonic energy of a measurement location is less than the ultrasonic energy of the adjacent measurement locations, the measurement location is a potential defect location. The presence of a defect in the weld is then determined by analyzing fluctuations in the ultrasonic energy at measurement locations neighboring the potential defect locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corporation
    Inventors: Ifeanyi Charles Ume, Renfu Li, Matthew Rogge, Tsun-Yen Wu
  • Publication number: 20120186349
    Abstract: Provided herein is a non-destructive testing method capable of diagnosing a condition of an object to be tested using a single-pulse ultrasonic wave signal. An attenuation waveform of the single-pulse ultrasonic wave signal received by a receiving section 3 is wavelet transformed by a wavelet transform section 6 to obtain an envelope line A(t) and a phase ?(t) of the attenuation waveform. A temporal change computing section 7 approximates the attenuation waveform by an approximation equation available for computation, using the envelope line A(t) and the phase ?(t) of the attenuation waveform inputted from the wavelet transform section 6, and obtains the temporal change of instantaneous frequency of the attenuation waveform. A diagnosing section 8 diagnoses a condition of the object to be tested, based on the temporal change of the instantaneous frequency computed by the temporal change computing section 7.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2010
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Applicant: Kyushu University, National University Corporation
    Inventor: Takumi Inoue
  • Patent number: 8210042
    Abstract: A spiral wound module assembly comprising: a permeate collection tube, at least one membrane envelope wound about the permeate collection tube, an outer module housing, and at least one acoustic transducer located adjacent to the permeate collection tube. Several embodiments are disclosed including a stand-alone probe adapted for insertion into the permeate collection tube. In several other embodiments, one or more transducers are secured to the inner surface of the permeate collection tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: William E. Mickols, Michael S. Koreltz, David J. Moll, Donald B. Streeter