Abstract: An ultrasonic inspection device having an array of opposing transducers that longitudinally, transversely, and obliquely transmit sonic beams through tubular members having a range of diameters such that refracted beams meet on the inner surface of the members. Alternate halves of the array of transducers transmit and receive sonic beams reflected from defects in the tubular members using both the pulse-echo and pitch-catch methods.

Abstract: A method, and an apparatus for carrying out the method, for displacing a weld scanner in and out of a horizontal reactor vessel nozzle submerged in a water pool characterized by buoyancy chambers into which water and air may be introduced by remote control to move the scanner and an associated telescopic boom, column and spider into position relative to the reactor vessel.

Abstract: A method of reliably detecting flaws in a thick wall steel pipe with an ultrasonic beam in which flaws of the internal surface of the pipe are detected using a shear wave mode. The transmitting probe is disposed slantingly relative to both the longitudinal and transverse directions of the pipe so that the shear wave emitted therefrom is incident onto the pipe at a refraction angle of 35 to 70 degrees, whereby the beam inside the walls of the pipe is made to impinge on surface flaws of the inner surface of the pipe at an angle in the same range.

Abstract: A test manipulator externally applicable to a pipe, preferably for ultrasonically testing welded seams, the manipulator having a divided race for surrounding a pipe which is to be tested, a guide segment guiding the race at the periphery thereof, a test system carrier drivable in peripheral direction around the pipe, a driving and positioning device for the test system carrier and at least one test head holder fastenable to the test system carrier includes clamping means for fastening the race directly to the pipe in centered relationship to an adjustment mark located on the pipe; a guide segment mounted so as to be movable along the periphery of the race; an outrigger unit flangeable, together with the test system carrier and the test head holder, to the guide segment; and a saddle fastenable to the pipe in centered relationship to the adjustment mark; alternatively, during testing of a so-called pipe connection seam, the guide segment being movable on the saddle in axial direction of the pipe, and the race,

Abstract: For selective detection of microscopic defects in a workpiece to be checked presenting at least one macroscopic discontinuity of known nature, upon relative motion in respect to such workpiece according to a given check line, detecting the times when such check line meets a discontinuity, and searching for any possible defects in the workpiece intermittently for time intervals defined in reference to said times. This applies in particular to inspection of weld seams of welded tubes.

Abstract: Apparatus for adjustably mounting ultrasonic testing devices around a rod end weld for providing water path adjustment to maintain predetermined focal depths of the testing devices, such as transducers. The apparatus enables the transducers to be adjustably radially located with respect to the rod end weld to be tested in order to establish a desirable ultrasonic beam normality. The apparatus provides for the remote actuation thereof.

Abstract: An ultrasonic inspection apparatus is shown for locating multiple defects in eccentric wall tubing or goods. A plurality of transducers are arranged in mated pairs, each of the pairs including a sender element for transmitting an ultrasonic shear wave and a receiver element for receiving a reflected ultrasonic wave component from the tubular goods being inspected. Each sender element is a point focus transducer having sufficiently high resolution to maintained detectability of defects in the tubular goods. Each receiver element is a wide focal width transducer having a large effective beam width area to compensate for eccentricity in the wall of the tubular goods.

Abstract: A method for the ultrasonic testing of bolts for incipient cracks emanating from a wall thickness discontinuity between thinner and thicker parts of the bolt, which includes placing an ultrasound transmitter and receiver in the form of a piezo-electric transducer on the periphery of the thicker part of the bolt with the discontinuity located in the near-field region, radiating longitudinal waves at an angle of 55.degree. to 70.degree. and transversal waves at an angle of 25.degree. to 35.degree. from the transducer in direction toward the discontinuity, and comparing the intensity of reflected transversal and longitudinal waves with an echo characteristic obtained from a test body corresponding to the bolt to be tested, having slots formed therein simulating incipient cracks of different depths, and an apparatus for carrying out the method.

Abstract: For monitoring stranding machines for breakage or run-out of single strands, a device is employed which checks the rope or cable after stranding for uniformity of the rope or cable surface. For this purpose, an electrical image of the rope or cable surface is read into a memory and the measured values compared with this stored pattern during the further stranding process. In the event of deviations resulting from this comparison, disconnecting or other actuating elements are actuated in order to avoid the production of further faulty lengths of rope or cable. For reflection measurements, electromagnetic, optical or acoustic waves can be employed. Instead of scanning of the rope or cable surface based on reflection, corpuscular radiation which partially penetrates the rope or cable can be employed.

Abstract: Remote-controlled system for moving an ultrasonic transducer assembly around a pipe where it has a welded joint between a straight pipe section and a curved or straight pipe section. The system includes a platform movable along an arm projecting from a carriage on a track around the pipe, and a pressure cylinder and universal joint connecting the platform to the transducer assembly. Couplant fluid is fed continuously to the surface of the assembly engaging the pipe as it slides over the pipe.

Abstract: A device for detecting an end-shape of a steel tube which includes in combination: a plurality of detectors disposed around the circumference of a steel tube to be carried forward by a forwarding mechanism; and a detector position changing mechanism provided on each of the detectors to cause the same to move back and forth in the diametrical direction of the steel tube, the detector position changing mechanism being rotatable around the steel tube.

Abstract: An automatic flaw detection apparatus comprises a supporting frame; a rotational frame supported inside the supporting frame in a freely rotatable manner by means of bearings; a hollow shaft which is supported by and inside the rotational frame, through the interior of which passes a material to be inspected; a holder which is disposed within the hollow shaft extending in the longitudinal direction of the axis of the hollow shaft and rotates in association with the hollow shaft, the a sensor incorporated in the holder to detect any defect in the material to be probed; and a signal transmission device which is placed between the hollow shaft and the rotational frame and comprises a stator section supported by the supporting frame and a rotor section supported by the hollow shaft or the rotational frame to be electrically in association with the stator section, and which transmits flaw detection signal from the sensor to the outside.

Abstract: The invention relates to nondestructive inspection apparatus for automatically inspecting the end region of a tubular member and a coupling member secured to that end region. An inspection probe is yieldingly received within a housing that is pivotally supported on an arm that moves helically around the tubular member. The probe is extended outwardly from an air chamber in the housing to contact the surface of the tubular member. When the probe encounters the obstructing shoulder of the coupling on the end of the tubular member, the housing is caused to pivot to activate an air escape mechanism to reduce the air pressure in the chamber and cause the probe to be withdrawn radially to hop over the obstructing shoulder on the coupling. The housing then returns to its original position to terminate the air escape from the chamber. Air pressure builds up again to force the probe outwardly onto the surface of the coupling.

Abstract: The apparatus comprises a base and two movable opposite centers, one of which is fastened to a rotatable axle, while the other is fastened to a screw by means of a bearing, and mounted in two opposite parallel plates. Between the plates there is disposed a tank filled with an acoustic medium, and underneath it there is mounted a sensor which is connected to a measuring system. Two parallel guides are transversely fastened to the plates. The base is suspended on the parallel guides with a collar fastened to it. The base is provided with a driving screw and a handle. A spring, within the collar and attached to it, is fastened rigidly to a guiding sleeve. To this sleeve there is fastened the tank, on which there are seated parallel rotating rollers. A limiting sleeve of the sensor is mounted inside a guide by means of a locking nut, which is pressed against a second nut fastened to the guiding sleeve.

Abstract: A method for ultrasonic flaw inspection of non-rotating tubular goods using microprocessor central control. The system includes a test head with circumferential arrays of transducers oriented for inspection for each of transverse, longitudinal and wall thickness defects, and the test head includes individual pulser and pre-amplifier arrays as sequentially controlled from a remotely disposed operator console. The console includes signal processing circuitry and sequence controller for developing and displaying defect indications for the test specimen as it is moved longitudinally through the test head. The sequence controller contains resident program for addressably controlling the operational sequence of selected transducer pulsing, return signal reception, gate discrimination, and flaw signal averaging to provide qualified flaw output indication for each of the transverse, longitudinal and wall thickness testing modes.

Abstract: A method and device for ultrasonically inspecting the corner region formed by the joining of a pair of cylindrical conduits is disclosed. Ultrasonic sound beams (62) are transmitted beneath inner surface (12) of the first conduit at an oblique angle resulting in a shallow refracted sound path (74) through the solid corner region (84). Sound energy (76) reflected by the presence of a radially oriented crack (67) within the desired zone of interest (66) passes (80) out of the solid (84) for detection. A device having an ultrasonic transmitter (44) and a directional receiver (60) is disclosed carrying out the inspection method according to the present invention.

Abstract: An ultrasonic flaw detector driving apparatus with no guide rail and including a traveling member (2) capable of being freely mounted to and dismounted from piping (1) to be inspected, and a turning member (3) detachably attached to the traveling member for turning movement thereabout. The traveling member is equipped with a multiplicity of sets of traveling rolling elements (9,9a) maintained in contact with an outer peripheral surface of the piping and spaced apart from one another circumferentially of the piping while each set of the traveling rolling elements of comprises at least two rolling elements which are spaced apart from each other axially of the traveling member (2). The turning member (3) is equipped with at least one ultrasonic wave probe (4) which scans the outer peripheral surface of the piping to inspect it.

Abstract: The lip of the inner radius of a nozzle mounted through the wall of a nuclear reactor vessel is sandwiched between a transmitter and receiver of ultrasonic sound. The transmitter scans the internal surface of the nozzle lip while maintained a constant average distance from a receiver scanning the nozzle surface on the reactor vessel side of the lip. The two surfaces intersecting to form the inner radius vary in angle as the surfaces are scanned by the transmitter and receiver. Linkage is shown between the transmitter/receiver and the boom with which they are caused to sweep the lip to simultaneously accommodate the saddle shape of the inner radius and the varying angle between the lip surfaces.

Abstract: Four ultrasonic probes in space quadrature are located near the input end of a water tank to define an opening for receiving extruded plastic tubing provided from an adjacent extrusion die. The probes are formed with passages that expel bubble-free water between the probes and tubing. Ultrasonic thickness measuring circuitry provides a wall thickness signal to a control signal source that also receives a diameter signal provided by a diameter sensor near the output end of the tank representative of the tube thickness.

Abstract: A guide rail apparatus for guiding a running body running around a pipe having a complicated form such as an elbow. The apparatus includes a guide rail secured to the pipe in parallel with the weld line or others and a dynamically stable holder by which the guide rail is fixed.

Abstract: Apparatus for ultrasonic flaw inspection of non-rotating tubular goods. The apparatus includes a test head with circumferential arrays of transducers oriented for inspection for each of transverse, longitudinal and wall thickness defects, and the test head includes individual pulser and pre-amplifier arrays as sequentially controlled from a remotely disposed operator console. The console includes sequential signal processing circuitry for developing and displaying defect indications for the test specimen as it is moved longitudinally through the test head. The signal processing circuitry includes separate processing channels for each of the transverse, longitudinal and wall thickness transducers, and each channel includes receiver, gate processing and average counter circuitry which develop data signals for output to selected chart and monitor scope indicators.

Abstract: Ultrasonic probes are automatically moved and oriented on the edges of a weld in off-shore structures. An open U squirrel cage is fixed on a secondary member of an off-shore structure; an open U squirrel cage rotor rotates in the squirrel cage and bears a retractable sleeve within which an inspection arm moves. The end .OMEGA. of the arm has an orientable telescopic elbow of length .OMEGA..GAMMA.. From a wrist .GAMMA. of the arm extend two hands bearing ultrasonic feelers. The position of .GAMMA., the angle of the hands between them, and their orientation, are programmed by numerical control from theoretical geometries. The compensation of the manufacturing tolerances is integrated into the design of the hands. The device is useful for checking the welds of nodes in off-shore platforms.

Abstract: An ultrasonic inspection apparatus for the inspection of metal structures, especially installed pipes.The apparatus combines a specimen inspection element, an acoustical velocity sensing element, and a surface profiling element, all in one scanning head. A scanning head bellows contains a volume of oil above the pipe surface, serving as acoustical couplant between the scanning head and the pipe.The scanning head is mounted on a scanning truck which is mobile around a circular track surrounding the pipe. The scanning truck has sufficient motors, gears, and position encoders to allow the scanning head six degrees of motion freedom.A computer system continually monitors acoustical velocity, and uses that parameter to process surface profiling and inspection data. The profiling data is used to automatically control scanning head position and alignment and to define a coordinate system used to identify and interpret inspection data.

Abstract: An ultrasonic flaw detector is guided around a cylindrical pipe to be inspected by a cylindrical guide rail which is in the form of a split circular ring with a latch and a hinge. On the inner surface of the ring, geared bridge jacks are provided to secure the rings around the outer peripheral surface of the pipe. The ring is mounted to the peripheral surface of the pipe by turning a flexible wire rod connecting respective screws of the jacks. On the outer surface of the rings, a circular guide track and rack are arranged for engagement with the flaw detector.

Abstract: A device for the total circumferential scanning of pipes and pipe joints is provided comprising a housing accommodating a tooth drive roller, drive means connected to said toothed drive roller, toothed idler rollers, a plurality of smooth idler rollers, scanning means for detecting faults and imperfections in pipes and pipe joints, and a flexible belt toothed on one surface thereof having a length greater than the circumference of the pipe to be scanned and having ends adapted to be securely joined together, said belt being adapted to be routed circumferentially around said pipe and through said housing by contacting each of said rollers whereby said belt is automatically aligned around said pipe so that said device circumferentially traverses the pipe in a plane perpendicular to the pipe axis.

Abstract: A semi-automatic scanner for ultrasonic flaw detection comprises a carriage travelling on a guide rail, a guide arm extending in a direction transverse to the travel direction of the carriage and supported by the carriage so as to pivot in a plane transverse to the travel direction of the carriage, a probe holder slidably supported by the arm, and a probe mounted on said probe holder so as to pivot about two axes transverse to each other. One of the axes is generally in parallel to the travel direction of the carriage. The carriage is driven by a motor, and the probe is moved by manual or motor-driving operation in a direction transverse to the travel direction of the carriage while pressing the probe on a surface to be inspected, whereby the probe accurately follows the surface even if the surface is curved.

Abstract: An ultrasonic flaw detection system is used for inspecting circumferentially welded joints in a pipeline. The ultrasonic probes include crystals for directing and receiving longitudinal waves reflected from the pipe interior surface in order to measure the pipe thickness. A gating device is timed on the basis of the measured pipe thickness and enables the angled crystals to receive transverse ultrasonic waves from weld defects and avoids recording reflections due to weld geometry. In addition a manipulation device having a guide band positioned around the pipe and an eccentric movable toward and away from the band may be used for clamping the carriage to the band.

Abstract: A container such as a glass bottle is inspected for out-of-round condition while being rotated and moved in line through a test area. A transmitter transducer directs a signal such as a 40 Khz acoustic wave to the outer surface of the bottle. The signal (such as the acoustic wave) reflected from the outer surface of the bottle is received by a receiver transducer. Changes in the phase difference between the transmitted and received signals are detected while the bottle is rotated. The difference between the maximum and minimum values of the changes in phase difference is compared to a threshold value to determine whether an out-of-round condition is tolerable. The bottle is ejected from the line if the difference signal exceeds the threshold value.

Abstract: An annular guide rail is detachably mounted in enclosing relation around a tubular member of piping to be probed for any flaws that might be present therein, and a flaw detecting unit, a circumferentially driving unit and an axially driving unit are movably arranged on the annular guide rail and interconnected by connecting means. The flaw detecting means includes an arm movable axially of the tubular member and supporting ultrasonic flaw detecting means. The circumferentially driving unit includes first driving means for moving the flaw detecting unit, circumferentially driving unit and axially driving unit circumferentially along the guide rail. The axially driving unit includes second driving means for moving the arm axially of the tubular member. A transmission mechanism is provided for transmitting the operation of the second driving means to the arm.

Abstract: Inspection device for testing vessels surrounded by a wall having an inner and an outer surface including a movable testing device and a track for guiding the testing device. The guiding track extending from a portion disposed in the vicinity of the vessel between the wall and the vessel, through a U-shaped portion over the wall and ending at a rest position for the testing device on the outer surface of the wall.

Abstract: An ultrasonic test apparatus for testing tubes or rods by rotating transducers to provide a helical scan, the test transducer, or each of a plurality of transducers, is mounted for adjustable motion along an axis which is inclined by an angle .omega. with respect to a perpendicular axis intersecting the workpiece surface. The angle .omega. is selected to provide a desired incident angle .alpha. of the ultrasonic energy upon the workpiece surface, whereby to cause a refracted angle .beta. of the ultrasonic energy. Within the range of measuring accuracy for small angles it can be assumed that angle .omega. approximates angle .alpha..

Abstract: Disclosed is a nondestructive test device for detecting a flaw proximate to a welded seam in a pipe, including an electromagnetic acoustic transmitting transducer for generating a horizontally polarized shear wave in the wall of the pipe, a high frequency generator operatively connected to the transmitting transducer for energizing the transducer, an electromagnetic acoustic receiving transducer for responding to a horizontally polarized shear wave within the wall, an amplifier operatively connected to the receiving transducer for boosting the response signal of the transducer, and an indicating instrument for receiving and displaying the amplified response signal. In the test method disclosed, a horizontally polarized shear wave is generated in the wall, the pipe is monitored to detect a reflected horizontally polarized shear wave, and a time-dependent representation of the amplitude of the reflected wave is displayed.

Abstract: A clamp on ultrasonic transducer having a clamping element which can be positioned around a conduit with the inner portion of the clamping element being formed to fit closely against the outer wall of the conduit, thus defining at a selected position along the conduit a transverse reference plane. The clamping element carries on it one or more channels extending parallel to the axis of the conduit with ultrasonic transducing elements adjustably mounted on those channels such that their contact pressure with the conduit can be independently adjusted. The ultrasonic transducing elements then form a path of ultrasonic interrogation in a plane parallel to the axis of the conduit and at a position defined by the transverse reference plane.

Abstract: A ultrasonic flaw detector driving apparatus including a driving apparatus which is equipped with an arm mounted respective side faces of a main frame of the ultrasonic flaw detector driving apparatus so as to allow the arms to move into an open and closed position. A resilient member provides a force which acts on the respective arms in such a direction so as to urge the arms into the open position. A ratchet prevents the arms from being opened by the resilient member as teeth engage with a pawl in a stepwise manner. Rollers are rotatably mounted to a tip of the respective arms and are in rolling contact with the guide rail on which the driving apparatus travels. The arms are moved to the open for mounting the driving apparatus to the guide rail and thereafter the arms are moved to the closed position. Thus, the main frame of the driving apparatus can be position movably fixed onto the guide rail.

Abstract: Directed to non-destructive testing, particularly ultrasonic inspection of round stock such as tubing, pipe and rod wherein the inspection is conducted within a water tank to provide ultrasonic coupling of the ultrasonic probe or probes employed wherein the distance between the probe or probes and the surface of the round stock being inspected is maintained essentially constant during the course of the test to assure reliable inspection results and wherein the materials handling aspects of the testing are simplified.

Abstract: An ultrasonic inspection device for nondestructive inspection of cylindrical members includes a pair of resilient inspection wheels which house multiple ultrasonic transducers. The inspection wheels are mounted in a carriage so as to ride along the surface of a rotating cylindrical member being inspected. Relative longitudinal motion between the carriage and the cylindrical member allows the inspection wheels to transcribe helical paths over the surface of the member.

Abstract: A portable apparatus for nondestructive ultrasonic inspection of oil field tubular goods includes a deck which mounts spaced drive rollers for rotating the pipe being inspected. A substantially box-shaped carriage moves on tracks above the pipe to allow a pair of ultrasonic inspection wheels to traverse the pipe. The combination of pipe rotation and carriage movement causes the inspection wheels to trace helical paths on the surface of the pipe. In an alternative embodiment, the rotating pipe is drive longitudinally through stationary ultrasonic equipment. A programmed control system and a method of ultrasonic inspection also are disclosed.

Abstract: Manipulator assembly for testing the material of a pipe elbow from the inside thereof, the pipe elbow being secured to a pipe union extending from a pressure vessel openable for receiving therein a vertically extending manipulator mast having an arm carrying a manipulator, the manipulator being movable by the arm in vertical direction, rotatably about the axis of the mast and in direction of the longitudinal axis of the arm and transversely thereto, the manipulator includes a multimember vehicle drivable in direction of the pipe-union and pipe-elbow axis, the members of the vehicle being articulatingly connected to one another and having extensible and retractable support legs for supporting the respective vehicular members centered relative to the inner periphery of the pipe elbow, the support legs having roller members at the end thereof for transporting the vehicular members in axial direction of the pipe union and the pipe elbow, the vehicular member located at the head of the multimember vehicle being a

Abstract: A weld inspection system uses fluoroscopic flaw detection particularly sensitive to volumetric type weld flaws and ultrasonic flaw detection particularly sensitive to planar type weld flaws. Both inspections are performed simultaneously throughout the pipe length. Each system marks the pipe with a distinguishing mark to identify the location of the flaw detected by that system. The fluoroscopic system is a high resolution system, the ultrasonic system avoids detection of minor non-rejectable variation in weld bead geometry and is calibrated to a desired sensitivity level.