Holiday testing circuit for coated surface inspection
US11275017B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 6, 2019 |
| Grant date | Mar 15, 2022 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 14, 2040 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N17/02
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A system is disclosed for detecting holidays, e.g., defects, in surface coatings applied to metallic assets like a pipe. The system comprises a detection circuit with a test probe having a conductive tip which is moved along the coating during inspection and a DC voltage input signal generator which supplies a switched DC voltage input to the test probe. The detection circuit can be configured to operate using a low and/or high voltage switched DC input voltage signal. A measurement component comprising a sensing resistor and measurement tool is configured to measure a signal response of the detection circuit during inspection and detect holidays based on changes in the signal response caused by electrical properties of the coated surface. The detection circuit is configured such that the probe provides the only area of contact between the circuit and asset and enables detection of holidays without a separate ground connection.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.