Scanning ultrasonic inspection method and apparatus

Claim 3

A method as claimed in claim 1 in which the transducer elements of each individual group are energized in a predetermined timing sequence so as to emit pulses which arrive substantially simultaneously and in phase at a certain point in said region and create a focus of local maximum intensity at that point.

Claim 4

A method as claimed in claim 2 in which the transducer elements are such that when energized they each emit a pulse of ultrasonic waves throughout a substantial angle towards the test-piece.

Claim 5

A method as claimed in claim 3 in which each of said groups of transducer elements is selected to include some of the transducer elements of the group last energized.

Claim 6

A method as claimed in claim 4 in which the test-piece is positioned relative to a row of individually energizable and uniformly spaced transducer elements, and in which each group of transducer elements is selected so as to consist of a predetermined constant number of neighboring transducer elements, successive groups of transducer elements being selected to have a predetermined constant number of transducer elements common to onE another.

Claim 7

A method as claimed in claim 5 in which each group of transducer elements is energized in exactly the same predetermined timing sequence.

Claim 8

A method as claimed in claim 1 in which the transducer elements which are energized to emit ultrasonic pulses and create foci are also used to receive the ultrasonic echo pulses.

Claim 9

A method as claimed in claim 7 in which one or more of the transducer elements of each group which are energized to form a focus are used to receive ultrasonic echo pulses from any flaws in the region of that focus.

Claim 10

A method as claimed in claim 8 in which two or more of the transducer elements of each group which are energized to form a focus are used to receive ultrasonic echo pulses from any flaws in the region of that focus, and in which phase delays are introduced between the corresponding electrical signals generated in these transducer elements by the echo pulses so that they are in phase and reinforce one another when added together subsequently.

Claim 11

A method as claimed in claim 1 in which two or more transducer elements are used to receive the echo pulses from each focus, and in which phase delays are introduced between the corresponding electrical signals generated in these transducer elements by the echo pulses so that they are in phase and reinforce one another when added together subsequently.

Claim 14

A method as claimed in claim 11 in which the transducer elements are such that when energized they each emit a pulse of ultrasonic waves throughout a substantial angle towards the test-piece.

Claim 15

A method as claimed in claim 12 in which the transducer elements of each individual group are energized in a predetermined timing sequence so as to emit pulses which arrive substantially simultaneously and in phase at a certain point in said region and create a focus of local maximum intensity at that point.

Claim 16

A method as claimed in claim 13 in which each group of transducer elements is selected so as to consist of a predetermined constant number of neighboring transducer elements, and in which each group of transducer elements is energized in exactly the same predetermined timing sequence.

Claim 17

A method as claimed in claim 14 in which successive groups of transducer elements are selected to have a predetermined constant number of transducer elements in common with one another.

Claim 18

A method as claimed in claim 15 in which the transducer elements of each group are energized in a progressive manner with equal intervals of time between the energization of successive neighboring transducer elements.

Claim 19

A method as claimed in claim 12 in which transducer elements are energized one at a time in a progressive manner around the ring so that there are equal intervals of time between the energization of successive transducer elements, and the Transducer elements emit pulses which form a succession of foci.

Claim 20

A method as claimed in claim 17 in which all of the transducer elements are energized in the said progressive manner around the ring.

Claim 21

A method as claimed in claim 11 in which the transducer elements which are energized to emit ultrasonic pulses and create foci are also used to receive the ultrasonic echo pulses.

Claim 22

A method as claimed in claim 19 in which one or more of the transducer elements of each group which are energized to form a focus are used to receive ultrasonic echo pulses from any flaws in the region of that focus.

Claim 23

A method as claimed in claim 20 in which two or more of the transducer elements of each group which are energized to form a focus are used to receive ultrasonic echo pulses from any flaws in the region of that focus, and in which phase delays are introduced between the corresponding electrical signals generated in these transducer elements by the echo pulses so that they are in phase and reinforce one another when added together subsequently.

Claim 24

A method as claimed in claim 11 in which two or more transducer elements are used to receive the echo pulses from each focus, and in which phase delays are introduced between the corresponding electrical signals generated in these transducer elements by the echo pulses so that they are in phase and reinforce one another when added together subsequently.

Claim 25

Apparatus for testing a test-piece for flaws with ultrasonic energy comprising a row of separate transducer elements arranged opposite a surface of the test-piece each of which is adapted to emit a pulse of ultrasonic energy towards said surface when energized which overlaps with similarly produced pulses of energy from neighboring transducer elements in a region of the test-piece which is to be tested; energizing means to energize each of said transducer elements individually; control means which is adapted to control said energizing means so that the latter energizes each of a succession of different predetermined groups of said transducer elements in a predetermined manner such that the transducer elements of each individual group emit pulses which arrive in phase at a certain point in said region and create a focus of local maximum intensity at that point, and further such that the successive foci so created are displaced relative to one another in directions parallel to said surface of the test-piece; transducer elements which receive ultrasonic echo pulses from any flaws in the region of each focus and which generate corresponding electrical echo signals; and processing means which gates said electrical echo signals and which is adapted to give an indication of the presence of a flaw.

Claim 26

Apparatus for testing a test-piece for flaws with ultrasonic energy comprising a row of separate transducer elements arranged opposite a surface of the test-piece each of which is adapted to emit a pulse of ultrasonic energy towards said surface when energized which overlaps with similarly produced pulses of energy from neighboring transducer elements in a region of the test-piece which is to be tested; energizing means to energize each of said transducer elements individually; control means which is adapted to control said energizing means so that the latter energizes each of a succession of different predetermined groups of said transducer elements in a predetermined manner such that the transducer elements of each individual group emit pulses which arrive in phase at a certain point in said region and create a focus of local maximum intensity at that point, and further such that the successive foci so created are displaced relative to one another in directions parallel to said surface of the test-piece; transducer elements which receive ultrasonic echo pulses from any flaws in the region of each focus and which generate corresponding electrical echo signals; and processing means which gates said electrical echo signals and which is adapted to give an indication of the presence of a flaw.

Claim 27

Apparatus as claimed in claim 23 in which the energizing means comprises an electrical power source and individual switching devices connected between each transducer element and said source, each of said switching devices being under the control of said control means and being operative to cause said source to energize the associated transducer element.

Claim 28

Apparatus as claimed in claim 24 in which said electrical power source is a d.c. voltage supply and in which each of the switching devices is a logic gate.

Claim 29

Apparatus as claimed in claim 24 in which the control means comprises a computer.

Claim 30

Apparatus as claimed in claim 24 in which each of said individual switching devices is uniquely coded and in which the control means comprises a coded pulse generator which produces a predetermined sequence of coded pulses which are fed to said switching devices to operate the corresponding ones and thereby energize the associated transducer elements.

Claim 31

Apparatus as claimed in claim 27 in which said coded pulse generator includes a binary counter with an input from a pulse oscillator and with output connections which deliver said coded pulses.

Claim 32

Apparatus as claimed in claim 27 in which said transducer elements which receive ultrasonic echo pulses are the same tRansducer elements which are energized to produce said foci, and in which said processing means comprises individual switching devices associated with each of the transducer elements and which are each uniquely coded and are controlled to gate electrical echo signals by coded pulses from said coded pulse generator.

Claim 33

Apparatus as claimed in claim 23 in which the transducer elements are such as to emit energy throughout a wide angle towards said surface when energized.

Claim 34

Apparatus for testing a cylindrical tube for flaws with ultrasonic energy comprising a ring of uniformly spaced transducer elements arranged concentrically about the tube each of which is adapted to emit a pulse of ultrasonic energy towards the center of the tube when energized which overlaps with similarly produced pulses of energy from neighboring transducer elements in a region of the tube which is to be tested; energizing means to energize each of said transducer elements individually; control means which is adapted to control said energizing means so that the latter energizes each of a succession of different predetermined groups of said transducer elements in a predetermined manner such that the transducer elements of each individual group emit pulses which arrive in phase at a certain point in said region and create a focus of local maximum intensity at that point, and further such that the successive foci so created are displaced relative to one another in directions parallel to said surface of the tube; transducer elements which receive ultrasonic echo pulses from any flaws in the region of each focus and which generate corresponding electrical echo signals; and processing means which gates said electrical echo signals and which is adapted to give an indication of the presence of a flaw.

Claim 35

Apparatus for testing a cylindrical tube for flaws with ultrasonic energy comprising a ring of uniformly spaced transducer elements arranged concentrically about the tube each of which is adapted to emit a pulse of ultrasonic energy towards the center of the tube when energized which overlaps with similarly produced pulses of energy from neighboring transducer elements in a region of the tube which is to be tested; energizing means to energize each of said transducer elements individually; control means which is adapted to control said energizing means so that the latter energizes each of a succession of different predetermined groups of said transducer elements in a predetermined manner such that the transducer elements of each individual group emit pulses which arrive in phase at a certain point in said region and create a focus of local maximum intensity at that point, and further such that the successive foci so created are displaced relative to one another in directions parallel to said surface of the tube; transducer elements which receive ultrasonic echo pulses from any flaws in the region of each focus and which generate corresponding electrical echo signals; and processing means which gates said electrical echo signals and which is adapted to give an indication of the presence of a flaw.

Claim 36

Apparatus as claimed in claim 31 in which the transducer elements are such as to emit energy throughout a wide angle towards said surface when ener2ized.

Claim 37

Apparatus as claimed in claim 32 in which the control means is adapted to cause energization of successive groups of transducer elements, each consisting of a predetermined constant number of neighboring transducer elements, in the same predetermined manner.

Claim 38

Apparatus as claimed in claim 33 in which the control means is adapted to cause energization of successive transducer elements in each group at regular intervals.

Claim 39

Apparatus as claimed in claim 34 in which said energizing means comprises an electrical power source and individual switching devices connected between each transducer element and said source, each of said switching devices being under the control of said control means and being operative to cause said source to energize the associated transducer element.

Claim 40

Apparatus as claimed in claim 35 in which each of said individual switching devices is uniquely coded and in which the control means comprises a coded pulse generator which produces a predetermined sequence of coded pulses which are fed to said switching devices to operate the corresponding ones and thereby energize the associated transducer elements.

Claim 41

Apparatus as claimed in claim 36 in which said coded pulse generator includes a binary counter with an input from a pulse oscillator and with output connections which deliver said coded pulses.

Claim 42

Apparatus as claimed in claim 37 in which said transducer elements which receive ultrasonic echo pulses are the same transducer elements which are energized to produce said foci, and in which said processing means comprises individual switching devices associated with each of the transducer elements and which are each uniquely coded and are controlled to gate electrical echo signals by coded pulses from said coded pulse generator.

Claim 43

Apparatus as claimed in claim 38 in which said binary counter of the coded pulse generator operates cyclically, counting up from a progressively differing count during successive cycles and resetting to zero automatically and counting up to the next starting count during eAch cycle.

Claim 44

Apparatus as claimed in claim 39 in which the state of said binary counter at the end of each cycle is used to produce a corresponding coded pulse to gate the electrical echo signal from a transducer element.

Claim 45

Apparatus as claimed in claim 40 in which successive gated electrical echo signals are used to produce successive horizontally spaced vertical deflections in a cathode ray tube display.

Claim 46

Apparatus as claimed in claim 32 in which the control means is adapted to cause energization of all of the transducer elements one at a time in a progressive manner around the ring so that there are equal intervals of time between the energization of successive transducer elements.