Method and apparatus for measuring wall thickness, ovality of tubular materials
US7231314B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 2, 2006 |
| Grant date | Jun 12, 2007 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 2, 2026 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01B17/00
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The wall thickness and ovality of a tubular are simultaneously determined. The theoretical radius of a pipe is computed from a measurement of its circumference. An ultrasonic device conventionally used to measure the wall thickness of tubulars is adapted to also measure the maximum and minimum diameters and ovality by equipping or utilizing existing ultrasound inspection device with contact surfaces which contact the tubular at a fixed distance apart and at a known distance from the surface of the ultrasonic transducer. The contact surfaces define a chord of known length on the tubular under test. The mean radius of the tubular may be computed from multiple water path measurements around the circumference relative to a known fixture. The maximum and minimum diameter and ovality are calculated from the measured differences in distance from the surface of the tubular to the ultrasonic transducer and the theoretical circle. Wall thickness and ovality may be correlated relative to position by using the same apparatus for both measurements.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.