Patent · US Expired

Eddy current surface flaw detection employing signal correlation

US4355281A · kind A · utility

14Cited by
14References
6Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 14, 1979
Grant dateOct 19, 1982
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 14, 1999

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01N27/904
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An eddy current flaw detection system for inspecting a workpiece for surface flaws is described. The system has a search unit for mounting a pair of eddy current search coils in close proximity to a workpiece at locations which are longitudinally spaced with respect to the workpiece. The system is disclosed in the environment of a workpiece support and transport mechanism which causes a workpiece to rotate and move axially with respect to the search unit. Coil energizing and detection circuitry is provided having a pair of eddy current channels. Each channel energizes a connected one of the search coils to induce eddy currents within a workpiece at slightly different energization frequencies. Each channel has an output for producing signals indicating the presence and severity of detected flaws. The coil energization at different frequencies results in each coil responding to self induced eddy currents rather than currents induced by the other of the two coils. Processing circuitry is provided having a pair of inputs each connected to a respective eddy current channel output. The processing circuitry algebraically multiplies concurrently received eddy current channel output signals…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.