Inspection Or Maintenance Of Pipe-lines Or Tubes In Nuclear Installations [g21c-17/00f] Patents (Class 976/DIG214)
  • Patent number: 5767410
    Abstract: A probe inspects steam generator tubing for defects. The probe includes a transducer which generates a localized ultrasonic Lamb wave. The ultrasonic wave is transferred to the tubing by a coupling medium, such as water, that physically couples the transducer and the tubing. Defects in the tubing reflect the ultrasonic wave to the probe which detects the reflections. The results are then used to determine the length and depth of such defects as cracks, pitting, and thinning. The localized ultrasonic wave performs an inspection sensitive enough to detect ligaments between crack segments. This allows highly accurate predictions of tubing integrity and rupture strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1998
    Assignee: Combustion Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: John P. Lareau, Mark V. Brook