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: 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: A tool for manipulating an ultrasonic inspection transducer is actuated to move the transducer over the surface of an irregular weld body. The weld body disclosed, joins the nozzle of a reactor vessel to its vessel, the irregularity of the weld body defined by the intersection of the two cylinders. The transducer is moved over the surface of the weld body and actuated to scan through a predetermined angle in relation to the changing aspect of the geometry of the weld body by a cam mounted at the pivoting center of the tool.

Abstract: An ultrasonic non-destructive testing device for welded seams on pipes and tubes comprises two test heads arranged opposite one another on a line normal to the welded seam. Each test head comprises a transducer element for longitudinal defects and two transducer elements for transverse defects. The transducer elements for transverse defects interact with transducer elements on the opposite side of the welded seam. The device allows the complete automatic testing of a welded seam from the beginning of the pipe to the end of the pipe for longitudinal and transverse defects.

Abstract: A mounting system for maintaining a transducer 20 in contact with a pipe 12 during testing. The system is mounted to a frame 32 which is in turn mounted for movement along a length of pipe. A first step in the testing procedure is to position the frame 32 a distance away from the pipe dependent on the pipe diameter. A carriage 34 coupled to the frame is then lowered to a scanning position and scanning takes place as the frame is moved along the pipe. A universal joint mechanism 36 connecting the carriage to the transducer 20 allows up and down and side to side movement of the transducer and thereby allows scanning to continue on pipes with bows and other irregularities along their length. When the pipe end is neared the carriage 34 is retracted away from the pipe 12 by action of a spring mechanism 154. In this retracted position downward movement of the transducer is prevented by a ball support 146, 147 coupled to the transducer and contacting a supporting surface 149 of the carriage.

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 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: The disclosed device comprises two support end assemblies formed as cup-shaped sleeves adapted to be alternatingly engaged with the internal surface of a pipeline and interconnected by a motion member. The lateral surface of each sleeve defines and annular chamber with an elastic sheath thereby. The two sleeves are interconnected by a bellows fixed between the bottoms of the sleeves. The annular chambers and the bellows are connected to an air-compressor through an automatic control system arranged so that at the initial stage of a successive advancing step the leading chamber communicates with the ambient atmosphere, while the trailing chamber and the bellows are communicated to the pressure connection of the compressor, whereas at the final stage of the step the trailing chamber and the bellows are communicated with the suction connection of the compressor, while the leading chamber is under pressure.

Abstract: An ultrasonic flaw detector for detecting irregularities in an object, such as a pipe, having a segment of annular cross-section. The detector includes a transducer with an involute transmitting surface for sending ultrasonic signals into the object at equal non-radial angles of incidence. The detector further includes transmission apparatus for maintaining a constant physical relationship between the transducer and the pipe and interpretive apparatus for correlating reflections of ultrasonic signals within the object with irregularities.

Abstract: An ultrasonic transducer is held in a tubular holder which in turn is axially placed in a mount. A frame depends from a cover of a gimbal mounted container for coupler fluid and the mount is clamped to the frame at an adjustable angle so that the transducer axis always intersects the same point. Ball rollers on the cover position the container in relation to a pipe to be tested so that said point is located on the pipe's surface. The transducer holder has a shoulder onto which one may seat a calibration standard.

Abstract: The seam of a pipe is tested sequentially from various directions and with differently directed test beams to search for differently oriented defects, and repeatedly for stepwise testing each portion of the same.

Abstract: A pipe is reeled onto and over a stand having several positioning rollers to serve as reference for the pipe inspection devices. These devices include a plurality of transducers for longitudinal flaw detection arranged in pairs and along opposite sides of the seam, the transducers being in water tanks hung in gimbals on individual swing arms. Four additional transducers for transverse flaw detection are arranged in a tank hung also in gimbals for positioning the tanks so that it engages the seam while the transducers are aligned with the seam. A gimbal hung tank with two edge probing transducers engages lastly the pipe seam.

Abstract: Disclosed is a self-propelled pipe inspection apparatus suitable for use in inspecting a plurality of parallel and vertical pipes one by one, for the presence of faults such as cracking, corrosion and so on, by non-destructive testing method. The apparatus has fault detecting means which may be of conventional type, pipe cramping means adapted to cramp the pipe and a mobile carrier by which the fault detecting means and the pipe cramping means are carried. The mobile carriage has a power-driven running surface which may be a running surface of an endless belt and adapted to be pressed onto the pipe surface when the pipe is cramped by the cramping means. The cramping means comprise at least a pair of arms each of which having a bent end carrying a roller. Each arm is supported for free rotation around its longitudinal axis, so that the roller may be swung outwardly to clear the pipe, when the latter is brought into the space between the pair or arms.

Abstract: A pipeline inspection vehicle for detecting defects in the pipeline wall provided with a detector support system comprising a freely supported ring encircling the body of the vehicle and on which are mounted a plurality of spring-loaded pivotally connected link plates, the outermost plates of which carry flux-sensing devices and are urged by spring means resiliently to engage the inner surface of the pipeline wall.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for excitation and reception of ultrasonic plate waves in a workpiece in which the surface of the workpiece is acted upon by a high-frequency electromagnetic field excited by a system of flat radiators forming a comb-shaped structure and positioned discretely in the direction of radiation with a pitch divisible by the wave length. A magnetizing field, whose vector is parallel to the surface of the workpiece under test, is introduced into the workpiece in the area of the high-frequency electromagnetic field and the vector of the magnetizing field is arranged at an angle relative to the radiation direction with respect to the flat radiator array to excite transverse normal waves.

Abstract: A system for continuously determining the eccentric characteristics of a tube wall, including a positioning assembly supported by the tube when it travels in its lengthwise direction. Two thickness sensors are supported by the positioning assembly and have sensing axes disposed in a predetermined angular relation with respect to one another about the periphery of the tube. The two sensors continuously measure the wall thickness of the tube at the predetermined angular locations as the tube moves in its lengthwise direction. Signal processing circuits are provided for continuously computing the eccentricity characteristics of the tube based entirely upon the comparative values of the thickness readings of the sensors.

Abstract: A method and device which are suitable for the in-place inspection of pipelines are provided. A completely self-contained, mobile inspection station is placed inside a pipeline. The station runs through the pipe and transmits Lamb waves within the pipe wall, receives reflected and transmitted portions of the waves, and records the amplitude and phase of the received waves. The recorded information is analyzed to determine the location and nature of discontinuities in the pipe.

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.

Abstract: Apparatus for measuring the thickness of the walls of liquid-bearing pipelines provides a transmitter and a receiver of ultrasonic waves supported to move down the pipelines in spaced relationship to the walls, and provides means associated with the receiver for detecting the reflections of the transmitted waves from both the inner and the outer walls of the pipeline and for recording the time interval between such detections as a measure of pipe thickness.Another aspect of the invention provides, for measuring the thickness of the walls of gas-bearing pipelines of providing a liquid filled tire which rolls on the pipeline wall as the detecting apparatus travels therealong and which tire and its contained liquid contain the ultrasonic transmitter and receiver.

Abstract: An ultrasonic flaw detector for detecting irregularities in an object, such as a pipe, having a segment of annular cross-section. The detector includes a transducer with an involute transmitting surface for sending ultrasonic signals into the object at equal non-radial angles of incidence. The detector further includes transmission apparatus for maintaining a constant physical relationship between the transducer and the pipe and interpretive apparatus for correlating reflections of ultrasonic signals within the object with irregularities.