US3763695A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ultrasonic testing device
Assignee: COPPERHEAD STEEL CO
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Filing: 1972-01-12
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Granted: 1973-10-09
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Expires: 1992-01-12
Abstract
Abstract The specification discloses an ultrasonic testing device for non-destructively testing electrically welded steel tubing. The device comprises a mechanical mounting arrangement for one or more ultrasonic transducers which automatically tracks the path of movement of steel tubing through the device to insure substantially uniform positioning of the transducers with respect to the tubing notwithstanding deviations in the path of movement of the tubing. The device includes a box having a pair of aligned sealed openings through which the tubing passes, and in which the tubing and the ultrasonic transducers may be immersed in water which serves as a couplant for transmission of sound waves emitted from the transducers to the tubing and reflected back to the transducers.
Inventors
- 👤 D Zeiters
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 22:13
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N29/00; G01N29/22; G01N29/223
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
120 words
Ultrasonic apparatus for testing the integrity of welded steel tubing moving therethrough, said apparatus comprising a test box enclosure through which welded tubing to be tested is moved, ultrasonic transducer means carried in a fixed position on said enclosure, means movably mounting said enclosure, and means fixed to said mounting means for tracking said tubing and effecting movement of said test box enclosure according to deviations in the path of movement of said tubing to maintain a uniform physical relation between the said transducer means and the tubing, said tracking means comprising a plurality of aligned rollers attached to said test box enclosure and each roller having a concave surface on which tubing is supported for movement through said enclosure.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
120 words
Ultrasonic apparatus for testing the integrity of welded steel tubing moving therethrough, said apparatus comprising a test box enclosure through which welded tubing to be tested is moved, ultrasonic transducer means carried in a fixed position on said enclosure, means movably mounting said enclosure, and means fixed to said mounting means for tracking said tubing and effecting movement of said test box enclosure according to deviations in the path of movement of said tubing to maintain a uniform physical relation between the said transducer means and the tubing, said tracking means comprising a plurality of aligned rollers attached to said test box enclosure and each roller having a concave surface on which tubing is supported for movement through said enclosure.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
67 words
Ultrasonic apparatus for testing the integrity of welded steel tubing according to claim 1, wherein said means movably mounting the enclosure comprises a platform member on which said test box enclosure is removably attached, means movably mounting said platform member for free lateral movement, and base means yieldingly supporting said platform member via said movably mounting means and urging said rollers in biased relation to the tubing.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
109 words
Ultrasonic apparatus for testing the integrity of welded steel tubing according to claim 2, wherein the said means movably mounting the platform member comprises a plurality of carrier shafts in parallel relation to each other, anti-friction bearing members attached to and mounting said platform member on said carrier shafts for lateral movement relative to the path of movement of the tubing, said aligned rollers attached to said test box enclosure being effective upon lateral deviation of the tubing from a predetermined path of movement to move responsively according to the lateral deviation of the tubing to correspondiNgly laterally move the platform member and the test box enclosure secured thereon.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
59 words
Ultrasonic apparatus for testing the integrity of welded steel tubing according to claim 1, wherein said test box enclosure comprises a base member, an inner enclosure wall attached to said base member on which said ultrasonic transducer means is supported and an outer enclosure wall, attached to said base member in surrounding relation to the said inner enclosure wall.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
59 words
Ultrasonic apparatus for testing the integrity of welded steel tubing according to claim 3, wherein said base means supporting said carrier shafts, comprises spring means for resiliently supporting said carrier shafts and urging said rollers upwardly against the tubing resting thereon, whereby said test box follows correspondingly any vertical deviation of the tubing from a predetermined path of movement.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
49 words
Ultrasonic apparatus for testing the integrity of welded steel of tubing according to claim 4, wherein said inner enclosure wall has an inlet via which liquid is introduced therein and wherein said outer enclosure wall has an outlet via which to drain liquid which overflows said inner enclosure wall.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
95 words
Ultrasonic apparatus for testing the integrity of welded steel tubing according to claim 4, wherein said inner enclosure wall comprises two wall sections in spaced substantially parallel relation, said wall sections having respective openings in aligned relation to each other, and seal assemblies mounted on said wall sections within said openings for providing a seal on the tubing so as to contain liquid within the said inner enclosure wall to a level to effect immersion of the said transducer means and of the tubing as it moves through the space within said inner enclosure wall.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
74 words
Ultrasonic apparatus for testing the integrity of welded steel tubing according to claim 4, wherein said outer enclosure wall is relatively low in height above said base member compared to the said inner enclosure wall, and wherein said plurality of concave rollers are so mounted on the said base member as to support the tubing for movement through the space within the inner enclosure wall at a level above the said outer enclosure wall.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
96 words
Ultrasonic apparatus for testing the integrity of welded steel tubing according to claim 5, wherein said base means comprises a main base having a rectangular shape with a vertical guide block at each of the four corners thereof in which guide rods are telescopically supported, a slide base having corner guide blocks slidable on said guide rods, and air cylinder means having a piston and piston rod, the latter being connected to said slide base, pressurization of said air cylinder means supporting said slide base in an elevated position in which said biasing means is effective.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
92 words
Ultrasonic apparatus for testing the integrity of welded steel tubing according to claim 7, wherein each of said seal assemblies comprises a sandwich of two outer plates of metal, two inner plates of elastomeric material, a separator strip between the two inner plates, and screw means holding said plates and strips together, the said inner plates having uniform sized openings therein for sealingly engaging the tubing as it moves therethrough, and the said outer plates having uniform sized openings therein slightly larger in cross-section than the openings in the said inner plates.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-10-08 | 1977-04-09 | 1977-10-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-10-08 | 1981-04-09 | 1981-10-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-10-08 | 1985-04-09 | 1985-10-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |