Hand-holdable probe having a flexible eddy current sensor
US5841277A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 21, 1997 |
| Grant date | Nov 24, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 21, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N27/902
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A probe, such as an eddy current probe, which can be moved by hand to a surface to be tested. A toroidal-shaped first resilient member contacts the bottom face of a support member. An elastic membrane extends over the bore of the first resilient member, contacts the bottom lateral surface of the first resilient member, and is unattached to the radially-inward-facing surface of the first resilient member. A more elastic, second resilient member is placed in the bore, is unattached to the first resilient member, and contacts the bottom surface of the elastic membrane. A flexible, surface-conformable, eddy current sensing coil overlies a portion of the bottom side of the second resilient member. More broadly stated, the probe includes first apparatus, for providing a stand-off distance between the support member and the surface, and second apparatus, which includes a flexible sensor (such as an eddy-current sensing coil), for providing a predetermined force to the surface, the predetermined force being essentially decoupled from any force applied to the surface by the first apparatus.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.