Can weld side-seam defect detector utilizing infrared detection means and collimator fiber optics

Claim 2

An infrared radiation detector system comprising in combination: flat optical resolving means having a surface and having parallel passageways for absorbing all infrared radiation except that normal to the surface of said resolving means, mask means mounted adjacent said revolving means for obstructing undesired radiation and passing desired radiation, and photoelectric cell means mounted adjacent said mask means for generating electric current in response to infrared radiation falling on said cells.

Claim 3

An infrared radiation detector system as set forth in claim 1 in which said optical resolving means comprises, a collimator plate.

Claim 4

An infrared radiation detector system as set forth in claim 2 in which said collimator plate comprises, a plate having parallel passageways extending normal to the surface of the plate and through said plate, each said passageway having a length at least 10 times that of its aperture.

Claim 5

An infrared radiation detector system as set forth in claim 3 in which said passageways further comprise, walls made of an infrared absorptive material.

Claim 6

An infrared radiation detector system as set forth in claim 1 in which said mask means and said photoelectric cell means comprise, a sheet of opaque material having square apertures located in side-by-side relationship with said opaque material between said apertures across said detector unit and mounted between said optical resolving means and said photoelectric cells, and a plurality of square photoelectric cells with each cell opposite an individual aperture.

Claim 7

An infrared radiation detector system as set forth in claim 5 in which: each of said apertures in said sheet is approximately 0.010 inch square and there are 12 apertures.

Claim 8

An infrared radiation detector system as set forth in claim 1 in which said mask means comprises, a sheet of opaque material having square apertures located in staggered relationship across said detector unit.

Claim 9

An infrared radiation detector system as set forth in claim 1 in which said optical resolving means comprises, a bundle of optically transmitting fibers having two ends, one end of each of said fibers having its optical axis pointing in the direction of said photoelectric cells, the other end of each of said fibers having its optical axis pointing in the direction of the infrared radiation source, and, a few darkened fibers spaced from each other in the bundle to provide absorption means to absorb infrared radiation which crosses from one optically transmitting fiber to another.

Claim 10

An infrared radiant energy weld inspection device comprising in combination: optical resolving means having at least an aperture at one end for allowing passage therethrough of radiant energy from the section of an infrared radiant energy source that is directly in front of the aperture and having passageways extending normal to the surface of said resolving means, infrared absorptive means in said optical resolving means for absorbing infrared energy that does not originate from directly in front of said aperture, mask means positioned adjacent said resolving means for obstructing undesired radiation and having apertures for passing desired radiation, photoelectric cell means behind said mask means for receiving infrared radiation and converting it to electric current, and electrical conductor means for conducting said current from said cell means.

Claim 11

An infrared radiant energy weld inspection device comprising in combination: optical resolving means having at least an aperture at one end for allowing passage therethrough of radiant energy from the section of an infrared radiant energy source that is directly in front of the aperture and having passageways extending normal to the surface of said resolving means, infrared absorptive means in said optical resolving means for absorbing infrared energy that does not originate from directly in front of said aperture, mask means positioned adjacent said resolving means for obstructing undesired radiation and having apertures for passing desired radiation, photoelectric cell means behind said mask means for receiving infrared radiation and converting it to electric current, and electrical conductor means for conducting said current from said cell means.

Claim 12

An infrared radiant energy weld inspection device as set forth in claim 9 in which said passageways comprise, walls made of an infrared absorptive material.

Claim 13

An infrared radiant energy weld inspection device as set forth in claim 9 in which said optical resolving means comprises, a bundle of fibers having a first and a second end and in which most fibers are of optically transmitting material and occasional fibers are of optically absorptive material, one end of each of said optically transmitting fibers having its optical axis pointing in the direction of said photoelectric cells, the other end of each of said fibers having its optical axis pointing in the direction of the infrared radiation sources whereby infrared radiation is conducted from one end of said fiber to the other, and occasional ones of said fibers are blackened to provide absorption means to absorb infrared radiation which crosses from one fiber to another.

Claim 14

An infrared radiant energy weld inspection device as set forth in claim 9 in which said photoelectric cell means comprises, a series of photoelectric cells each positioned behind an aperture in said mask.

Claim 17

An infrared radiation detector unit as set forth in claim 7 in which said photoelectric cell means comprises, a plurality of square photoelectric cells each located behind one of said square apertures in said mask whereby infrared radiation passes through each aperture onto one corresponding photoelectric cell.

Claim 18

An infrared radiation detector unit as set forth in claim 14 in which said apertures in said sheet and said photocells comprise, apertures of about 0.010 inch square each, photocells of about 0.010 inch square each, and each said photocell is located opposite an individual aperture with its orientation such that all of the collimated infrared radiation passing through each aperture falls on its corresponding photocell.

Claim 19

An infrared radiant energy weld inspection device as set forth in claim 9 further comprising: a neutral density filter mounted between said optical means and said infrared energy source whereby the intensity of said infrared radiant energy reaching said photoelectric cell means is diminished a predetermined amount.

Claim 20

An infrared radiant energy weld inspection device as set forth in claim 9 further comprising: a housing for supporting said resolving means, said mask means and said photoelectric cell means and having passageways in said housing whereby cooling water is circulated through said passageways to keep said resolving means, said mask means and said photoelectric cell at a constant temperature.