Method and apparatus for inspecting tubular cavities
US3966871A · kind A · utility
9Cited by
11References
4Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 19, 1974 |
| Grant date | Jun 29, 1976 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 19, 1994 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E30/30
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
To inspect an internal zone of a tubular cavity having an open end, for example, a zone of possible damage in a heat-exchanger tube, an elastically hardenable casting plastic is transported to the zone and cast against the surface embraced by the internal zone, and after hardening to an elastic casting, is pulled from the zone for inspection outside of the open end of the cavity. Being elastic, the casting is not permanently deformed when pulled from the zone, the casting providing an undistorted physical image of the surface within the zone, permitting a determination of possible damage including pitting, cracks and the like.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.