Inspection of pipes
US6148672A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 10, 1997 |
| Grant date | Nov 21, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 10, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N2291/2634
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An apparatus and a method for inspecting elongate members, especially pipes, using Lamb waves. The apparatus and method provide for the propagation of an axi-symmetric Lamb wave of a single mode in one direction along the pipe. A receiver is provided to receive the Lamb wave after its passage along the pipe and convert the received wave for storage, processing and analysis to determine whether or not there are faults present in the pipe. The apparatus includes at least one and usually several excitation rings each having a plurality of Lamb wave exciters deployed in equiangular spacing in a ring clamping structure whereby each exciter can be pressed with equal force against the surface of the pipe under inspection.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.