Patent · US Expired

Phased array inspection of cylindrical objects

US4523468A · kind A · utility

42Cited by
2References
16Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 3, 1983
Grant dateJun 18, 1985
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 3, 2003

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01N2291/2634
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A first array (A) of ultrasonic transducers transmits ultrasonic shear waves circumferentially around an examined cylindrical object (110). A second array (B) transmits ultrasonic shear waves axially along the examined object. Triggering pulses from a triggering amplifier (22) are switched by a multiplexer (24) to each individual transducer of the first and second arrays. As one of the transducers assumes the role of a transmitting transducer and transmits an ultrasonic wave, the other transducers of the first and second arrays assume a receiving mode to receive reflected ultrasonic components. A wave travel timer (26) measures the duration for an ultrasonic wave to be transmitted from the transmitting transducer to a defect and for a reflected component to propagate from the defect to the receiving transducer. A microprocessor (20) tri-angulates or otherwise computes the location and orientation of a reflective defect from the measured travel time, the spatial relationship of the transmitting and receiving transducers, and the direction of propagation of the transmitted ultrasonic wave.

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