Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
67 words
A remote field eddy current method for detecting flaws in metallic members, characterized by the steps of: producing an alternating magnetic field in the member at a first position; detecting at a remote location a. small circumferential section of the magnetic field resulting from said produced alternating magnetic field; individually analyzing each of said sections of the detected magnetic field; and displaying the results of said analyses.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
67 words
A remote field eddy current method for detecting flaws in metallic members, characterized by the steps of: producing an alternating magnetic field in the member at a first position; detecting at a remote location a. small circumferential section of the magnetic field resulting from said produced alternating magnetic field; individually analyzing each of said sections of the detected magnetic field; and displaying the results of said analyses.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said circumferential sections are chosen so that the smallest defect to be detected has at least one dimension that is less than the corresponding dimension of the circumferential section.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said analyzing comprises determining the phase difference between the detected signal and the produced magnetic field.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the phase difference signals for each section are displayed as a continuous curve, the continuous curves for each section being displayed in a correlatable manner with respect to the adjacent curves.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
132 words
A remote field eddy current apparatus for inspecting tubular members for defects, characterized by a source coil coupled to an alternating current power source, said source coil being disposed to produce an alternating magnetic field in the tubular member; a detecting means disposed a remote distance from said source coil for detecting the remote field produced by said source coil, said detecting means being responsive to small segments of the remote field around the perimeter of the tubular member and producing an individual signal for each segment; processing means coupled to said detecting means for individually processing each of said individual signals; and display means coupled to said processing means for displaying at least one characteristic of each individually processed signal, said display means displaying said individual signals in a correlatable manner.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
132 words
A remote field eddy current apparatus for inspecting tubular members for defects, characterized by a source coil coupled to an alternating current power source, said source coil being disposed to produce an alternating magnetic field in the tubular member; a detecting means disposed a remote distance from said source coil for detecting the remote field produced by said source coil, said detecting means being responsive to small segments of the remote field around the perimeter of the tubular member and producing an individual signal for each segment; processing means coupled to said detecting means for individually processing each of said individual signals; and display means coupled to said processing means for displaying at least one characteristic of each individually processed signal, said display means displaying said individual signals in a correlatable manner.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that said detecting means comprises a series of individual detectors arranged to scan the entire perimeter of the tubular member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
65 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that said detecting means comprises a single detector disposed to be moved along the perimeter of the tubular member, and in addition, circuit means for sensing said detector signal at a plurality of predetermined intervals, said intervals being chosen to provide a series of signals representing the detector's response to small contiguous segments of said perimeter.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
32 words
The apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 6 or 7, characterized in that said processing means determines the phase difference between the alternating current power source and the individual signals.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
32 words
The apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 6 or 7, characterized in that the processing means determined the amplitude difference between the alternating current power source and the individual signals.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
43 words
The apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 6 or 7, characterized in that the processing means determines the difference in direction of the magnetic field between the field induced by said source coil and the field detected by said detecting means.