Method and a device for inspecting a pipe connection weld by an ultrasound probe
US8042399B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 4, 2006 |
| Grant date | Oct 25, 2011 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 13, 2028 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG10K11/346
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method of inspecting a substantially circular circumferential weld for connecting together an inner pipe and a coaxial outer pipe, either directly or via a junction forging, by using an ultrasound probe having a plurality of robotic multibeam piezoelectric emitter-receivers. The method is performed by: a) positioning at least one ultrasound probe inside said inner pipe; b) scanning the various ultrasound beams from the various emitters of said probe while the probe is positioned at a given position; and c) moving said probe in rotation about the axis of said pipe through a given angle corresponding to an arc length less than or equal to the size of the weld defects that are to be detected; and then d) repeating steps b) and c) until the entire circumference of the weld has been inspected. The present invention also provides a device for inspecting a circumferential weld that is suitable for use in a method of the invention.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.