Automatic self-checking of test equipment

US4240281A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Mannesmann AG · DE

Inventors

• Dieter Lather · Rheurdt, DE
• Karl Ries · Mülheim, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 27, 1978
• Grant date: Dec 23, 1980
• Expiry date: Nov 27, 1998

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01N2291/02854
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

Equipment for ultrasonic testing structural materials includes transducers and test electronics normally operated in sequential test cycles each cycle including the generation of a test pulse to be sent into the test object and subsequently, upon interaction with the test object, return signals (echos) are received and processed, e.g. as to transit time, amplitude, contour, etc. Self-checking is carried out in three phases. One phase uses simulated receiver signals for operatively disconnected transducers, to be processed by the electronics as if they were echos; a second phase uses simulated transducer inputs and analogous processing and a third phase uses a reference body as test body simulation for conduction of "tests". The results of signal processing are compared with reference signals and correlation of deviations and absence of deviations is used to isolate malfunctions.