Ultrasonic search unit

Claim 2

A search unit comprising: a transducer for radiating ultrasonic energy, said transducer being a cylindrical crystal; a reflector juxtaposed to said transducer for reflecting said energy into a beam, said reflector being conically shaped; and focusing means for changing the focus of said beam, said focusing means including Means for deforming said conical reflector.

Claim 3

An ultrasonic transducer comprising: a cylindrical crystal means for emitting an omnidirectional beam of ultrasonic energy in a direction substantially normal to the cylindrical axis of said crystal; conical reflecting means surrounding said cylindrical crystal means for angularly reflecting the ultrasonic energy in said beam toward a predetermined focal point; and deforming means for changing the included reflective angle of said conical reflecting means for changing the focal point toward which said ultrasonic energy is reflected.

Claim 4

An ultrasonic transducer comprising: a cylindrical crystal means for emitting an omnidirectional beam of ultrasonic energy in a direction substantially normal to the cylindrical axis of said crystal; conical reflecting means surrounding said cylindrical crystal means for angularly reflecting the ultrasonic energy in said beam toward a predetermined focal point; and deforming means for changing the included reflective angle of said conical reflecting means for changing the focal point toward which said ultrasonic energy is reflected.

Claim 5

The ultrasonic transducer, as defined in claim 2, wherein: said conical reflecting means includes a slot; said deforming means includes a collar surrounding said conical reflecting means; and means for compressing said conical reflecting means against said collar.

Claim 6

The transducer, as defined in claim 3, including: a lens disposed on said transducer in the path of the ultrasonic energy reflected by said conical reflecting means toward said focal point.

Claim 7

A search unit for detecting defects in a workpiece, comprising: a housing defining a cavity in one end thereof; a transducer including a cylindrical crystal disposed in the cavity of said housing; a conical reflector surrounding said crystal and having a slot defined therein; a collar disposed within said cavity of said housing and surrounding a portion of said reflector and said crystal; and focusing means for focusing said beam, including means for deforming said conical reflector by compressing said reflector into said collar.

Claim 8

A search unit for detecting defects in a workpiece, comprising: a housing defining a cavity in one end thereof; a transducer including a cylindrical crystal disposed in the cavity of said housing; a conical reflector surrounding said crystal and having a slot defined therein; a collar disposed within said cavity of said housing and surrounding a portion of said reflector and said crystal; and focusing means for focusing said beam, including means for deforming said conical reflector by compressing said reflector into said collar.

Claim 9

The search unit, as defined in claim 5, wherein said focusing means includes a collar threadably mounted to said housing and having a skirt disposed about one end thereof which engages said conical reflector.

Claim 10

The search unit, as defined in claim 6, further comprising a contact shoe mounted to the skirt of said threadable collar.

Claim 11

A search unit comprising: a transducer for radiating ultrasonic energy; a conical reflector juxtaposed to said transducer for reflecting said energy into a beam; and focusing means including means for deforming said conical reflector to change the focus of said beam.

Claim 12

A search unit comprising: a transducer for radiating ultrasonic energy; a conical reflector juxtaposed to said transducer for reflecting said energy into a beam; and focusing means including means for deforming said conical reflector to change the focus of said beam.

Claim 13

The search unit as defined in claim 8 wherein: said transducer has a substantially cylindrical shape and is adapted to radiate ultrasonic energy in directions substantially normal to the axis of said cylindrical shape.

Claim 14

A nondestructive test system for inspecting workpieces, said system including: first means for providing pulses of electrical energy; second means for receiving pulses of electrical energy; display means responsive to said receiving means for displaying signals received thereby; an ultrasonic search unit adapted to be coupled to the workpiece; a substantially cylindrical crystal transducer positioned in said search unit and effective to radiate ultrasonic energy in directions substantially normal to the axis of said cylindrical crystal, said transducer being coupled to the first means and effective to radiate said ultrasonic energy in response to said pulses of electrical energy, said transducer being coupled to the second means and effective to provide electrical energy pulses in response to echoes of the ultrasonic energy; a substantially conical reflector disposed in said search unit substantially concentrically about said transducer for reflecting said ultrasonic energy into the workpiece, said reflector being effective to reflect said ultrasonic energy on an angle determined by the included angle of said conical reflector; and focusing means for changing the included angle of the reflector for moving the focal point of the ultrasonic energy within the workpiece.

Claim 15

A nondestructive test system for inspecting workpieces, said system including: first means for providing pulses of electrical energy; second means for receiving pulses of electrical energy; display means responsive to said receiving means for displaying signals received thereby; an ultrasonic search unit adapted to be coupled to the workpiece; a substantially cylindrical crystal transducer positioned in said search unit and effective to radiate ultrasonic energy in directions substantially normal to the axis of said cylindrical crystal, said transducer being coupled to the first means and effective to radiate said ultrasonic energy in response to said pulses of electrical energy, said transducer being coupled to the second means and effective to provide electrical energy pulses in response to echoes of the ultrasonic energy; a substantially conical reflector disposed in said search unit substantially concentrically about said transducer for reflecting said ultrasonic energy into the workpiece, said reflector being effective to reflect said ultrasonic energy on an angle determined by the included angle of said conical reflector; and focusing means for changing the included angle of the reflector for moving the focal point of the ultrasonic energy within the workpiece.

Claim 16

The system as defined in claim 10 wherein: said focusing means includes deforming means for changing the overall diameter of said conical reflector whereby the included angle of saId conical reflector is changed.

Claim 17

The system as defined in claim 11 wherein: said conical reflector includes a slot defined along the length thereof; said deforming means includes a collar surrounding a portion of said conical reflector; and means for yieldably compressing said conical reflector into said collar.

Claim 18

The test system as defined in claim 11 including: a contact shoe lens disposed on said search unit and positioned in the path of the reflected ultrasonic energy and in acoustical communication with the workpiece.