Patent · US Active

Membrane-coupled ultrasonic probe system for detecting flaws in a tubular

US8166823B2 · kind B2 · utility

16Cited by

12References

19Claims

0Family size

Assignee

National Oilwell Varco, L.P. · US

Inventors

Clive Lam · Tomball, US
Yanming Guo · Beijing, CN
Kevin D. Logan · Humble, US
Qingshan Yuan · Houston, US

Key dates

Filing date	Jun 8, 2010
Grant date	May 1, 2012
Priority date	—
Expiry date	Aug 13, 2030

Classification

Technology area (CPC G)Physics
CPC primaryG01N2291/2634
WIPO fieldMeasurement
WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An ultrasonic probe apparatus for detecting flaws in a tubular includes a probe housing. The probe housing has an axial axis, a central cavity lying along the axial axis, and a bottom face adapted for placement on the tubular. The bottom face of the probe housing has an opening in the middle. A probe support is disposed within the central cavity and rotatable about the axial axis of the probe housing. An ultrasonic probe is mounted on the probe support and has a scanning face exposed to the opening of the bottom face of the probe housing, and may be coupled to the pipe with a liquid acoustic couplant medium.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.