Method and system having ultrasonic sensor movable by translation device for ultrasonic profiling of weld samples

US7690260B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignees

• Ford Motor Company · US
• The Regents of the University of California · US

Inventors

• James Panyard · Livonia, US
• Timothy J. Potter · Dearborn, US
• William Charron · Rochester Hills, US
• Deborah Hopkins · Berkeley, US
• Frederic Reverdy · Paris, FR

Key dates

• Filing date: May 1, 2007
• Grant date: Apr 6, 2010
• Expiry date: Jul 17, 2028

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01N2291/267
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A system for ultrasonic profiling of a weld sample includes a carriage movable in opposite first and second directions. An ultrasonic sensor is coupled to the carriage to move over the sample as the carriage moves. An encoder determines the position of the carriage to determine the position of the sensor. A spring is connected at one end of the carriage. Upon the carriage being moved in the first direction toward the spring such that the carriage and the sensor are at a beginning position and the spring is compressed the spring decompresses to push the carriage back along the second direction to move the carriage and the sensor from the beginning position to an ending position. The encoder triggers the sensor to take the ultrasonic measurements of the sample when the sensor is at predetermined positions while the sensor moves over the sample between the beginning and positions.