Hand-held variable angle membrane (VAM) ultrasonic scanning head for the noninvasive detection of corrosion, MIC and foreign objects in pipes
US6578424B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 27, 2000 |
| Grant date | Jun 17, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 27, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N2291/2634
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A hand-held Variable Angle Membrane (VAM) ultrasonic scanning head consisting of transmitting and receiving transducers is used to excite guided waves to detect corrosion, MIC and foreign objects in containers such as pipes. The scanning head includes transducers mounted on a fluid filled housing sealed by a membrane. This system couples ultrasound from the transducer to the pipe wall. The transducer housings are mounted in a rigid frame that holds the ultrasonic transducer housings a specific distance apart and allows each transducer housing to rotate about a pivot point. The membrane deforms to the pipe diameter to be scanned. The scanning head is adjusted to perform inspections in various container diameters and thicknesses. Once adjusted for diameter and thickness, the operator places the scanning head on the pipe and couples the rubber membranes to the pipe with a small amount of couplant. Separate electronics excite the transmitting transducer, and then condition the signal from the receiving transducer for analysis.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.