US3628375A — Apparatus for ultrasonic inspection of a length o…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 253 words

Apparatus for ultrasonic inspection by rolling contact with a length of test material capable of adjustably focusing an ultrasonic beam at the material to be tested comprising: an ultrasonic transducer capable of transmitting a beam of ultrasonic energy; first and second axially aligned supporting shafts; yoke means mechanically coupled between said shafts for mounting thereto said ultrasonic transducer, said yoke means including at least one slot; means for adjustably coupling said transducer to said slot within said yoke means; coaxial coupling means coaxially coupled to said first shaft and mechanically linked to said transducer for adjusting the position of said transducer along said slot for varying the angle of incidence at which the ultrasonic beam from said ultrasonic transducer is introduced into the test material; wheel means including support means and a cylindrical member transparent to the ultrasonic beam mounted on said support means, said wheel rotatably mounted about said shafts and hermetically enclosing said yoke means for rotation about said yoke means and said transducer and capable of retaining a coupling fluid therein for coupling the ultrasonic beam to a portion of said cylindrical member in contact with the test material; and traction means mechanically coupled to said wheel means for providing frictional driving contact with the test material and to prevent frictional contact of the end portions of said cylindrical member with the test material whereby an ultrasonic inspection apparatus is provided for rapid and accurate adjustment of said transducer along said yoke means while minimizing wear on said cylindrical member.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 253 words

Apparatus for ultrasonic inspection by rolling contact with a length of test material capable of adjustably focusing an ultrasonic beam at the material to be tested comprising: an ultrasonic transducer capable of transmitting a beam of ultrasonic energy; first and second axially aligned supporting shafts; yoke means mechanically coupled between said shafts for mounting thereto said ultrasonic transducer, said yoke means including at least one slot; means for adjustably coupling said transducer to said slot within said yoke means; coaxial coupling means coaxially coupled to said first shaft and mechanically linked to said transducer for adjusting the position of said transducer along said slot for varying the angle of incidence at which the ultrasonic beam from said ultrasonic transducer is introduced into the test material; wheel means including support means and a cylindrical member transparent to the ultrasonic beam mounted on said support means, said wheel rotatably mounted about said shafts and hermetically enclosing said yoke means for rotation about said yoke means and said transducer and capable of retaining a coupling fluid therein for coupling the ultrasonic beam to a portion of said cylindrical member in contact with the test material; and traction means mechanically coupled to said wheel means for providing frictional driving contact with the test material and to prevent frictional contact of the end portions of said cylindrical member with the test material whereby an ultrasonic inspection apparatus is provided for rapid and accurate adjustment of said transducer along said yoke means while minimizing wear on said cylindrical member.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 125 words

Apparatus for ultrasonic inspection by rolling contact with a length of test material capable of adjustably focusing an ultrasonic beam at the material to be tested as claimed in claim 1 wherein; said yoke means includes first and second slots for adjustably mounting said transducer thereto, said first slot arranged within said yoke means for longitudinal movement of said transducer along said yoke means, said second slot being slightly arcuate and arranged for oblique movement of said transducer relative to said first slot whereby said transducer may be adjustably moved along said slot by said coaxial coupling means to fix the position of said transducer relative to the test material for projecting the ultrasonic beam to the test material at the desired angle of incidence.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 87 words

Apparatus for ultrasonic inspection by rolling contact with a length of test material capable of adjustably focusing an ultrasonic beam at the material to be tested as claimed in claim 1 wherein; said coaxial adjusting means includes a lead nut and screw arranged within said first shaft and mechanically linked to said transducer and an angle of incidence indicator visually arranged within said first shaft, whereby said sliding lead nut indicates the angle of incidence at which the ultrasonic beam is being introduced into the test material.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 93 words

Apparatus for ultrasonic inspection by rolling contact with a length of test material capable of adjustably focusing an ultrasonic beam at the material to be tested as claimed in claim 1 including; first valve means for introducing fluid into said wheel means for fluid coupling said transducer to the test material through said cylindrical member to facilitate transmission of the ultrasonic beam to the test material; and second valve means for simultaneously bleeding said wheel means as it is being filled with fluid to minimize the formation of air bubbles within said fluid.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 108 words

Apparatus for ultrasonic inspection by rolling contact with a length of test material capable of adjustably focusing an ultrasonic beam at the material to be tested as claimed in claim 1 wherein; said traction means includes two traction drive plates, one mounted concentrically about each of said first and second shafts and connected to said support means, each of said drive plates having a channel extending around the periphery thereof, and flexible circular drive treads having a tracking surface for frictionally engaging the test material and a ridge formed integrally therewith, said ridge dimensioned to fit within said channels for mounting said drive treads onto said drive plates.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 77 words

Apparatus for ultrasonic inspection by rolling contact with a length of test material capable of adjustably focusing an ultrasonic beam at the material to be tested as claimed in claim 1 including; magnetic sealing means concentrically mounted above said first and second shafts and sealingly coupled to said support means for magnetically sealing said support means to said shafts to hold the coupling fluid within said wheel means while minimizing friction during rotation of said wheel means.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 102 words

Apparatus for ultrasonic inspection by rolling contact with a length of test material of the type having a rotatable wheel and an ultrasonic transducer therein, said wheel having a peripheral wheel surface which is transparent to the ultrasonic beam for fluid coupling the transducer to the test material through the wheel surface, wherein the improvement comprises: traction means mechanically coupled to said rotatable wheel for providing frictional driving contact with the test material and to prevent frictional contact of the end portions of said peripheral wheel surface with the tEst material thereby minimizing wear thereon and the ''''down time'''' of said apparatus.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 102 words

Apparatus for ultrasonic inspection by rolling contact with a length of test material of the type having a rotatable wheel and an ultrasonic transducer therein, said wheel having a peripheral wheel surface which is transparent to the ultrasonic beam for fluid coupling the transducer to the test material through the wheel surface, wherein the improvement comprises: traction means mechanically coupled to said rotatable wheel for providing frictional driving contact with the test material and to prevent frictional contact of the end portions of said peripheral wheel surface with the tEst material thereby minimizing wear thereon and the ''''down time'''' of said apparatus.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 190 words

Apparatus for ultrasonic inspection by rolling contact with a length of test material of the type having a rotatable wheel and ultrasonic transducer therein, and first and second axially aligned shafts mechanically coupled to said wheel for rotation of said wheel thereabout, said wheel having a peripheral wheel surface which is transparent to the ultrasonic beam for fluid coupling the transducer to the test material through said wheel surface, wherein the improvement comprises: yoke means positioned within said wheel and mechanically coupled to said shafts, said yoke means including a plane surface with a first slot longitudinally extending therein and arranged parallel to the opposing edges of said plane surface, and a second slot obliquely arranged relative to said first slot; means for adjustably coupling said transducer to said slots within said plane surface; and coaxial coupling means coaxially coupled to said first shaft and mechanically linked to said transducer for adjusting the position of said transducer along said slots, whereby the angle of incidence of the ultrasonic beam from the transducer may be varied by controlling the position of said transducer in said slots by said coaxial coupling means.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 190 words

Apparatus for ultrasonic inspection by rolling contact with a length of test material of the type having a rotatable wheel and ultrasonic transducer therein, and first and second axially aligned shafts mechanically coupled to said wheel for rotation of said wheel thereabout, said wheel having a peripheral wheel surface which is transparent to the ultrasonic beam for fluid coupling the transducer to the test material through said wheel surface, wherein the improvement comprises: yoke means positioned within said wheel and mechanically coupled to said shafts, said yoke means including a plane surface with a first slot longitudinally extending therein and arranged parallel to the opposing edges of said plane surface, and a second slot obliquely arranged relative to said first slot; means for adjustably coupling said transducer to said slots within said plane surface; and coaxial coupling means coaxially coupled to said first shaft and mechanically linked to said transducer for adjusting the position of said transducer along said slots, whereby the angle of incidence of the ultrasonic beam from the transducer may be varied by controlling the position of said transducer in said slots by said coaxial coupling means.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1974-12-20	1975-06-21	1975-12-21	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1978-12-20	1979-06-21	1979-12-21	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1982-12-20	1983-06-21	1983-12-21	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Apparatus for ultrasonic inspection of a length of test material

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