US3837202A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Rotary ultrasonic testing apparatus
Assignee: British Steel PLC
•
Filing: 1973-03-06
•
Granted: 1974-09-24
•
Expires: 1993-03-06
Abstract
Abstract A probe unit for use in rotary ultrasonic testing apparatus which includes a tube engaging probe pad carrying at least one ultrasonic testing transducer probe, in which the probe pad is mounted at one end of an arm provided with a counter-weighting mass at the other end thereof. The unit also includes a member rotatable about an axis substantially coincident in use with that of the tube to be tested, and the arm, which is inclined relative to the axis of rotation, is pivotally connected intermediate its ends to the rotatable member for pivotal movement of the pad towards and away from the axis of rotation, whereby upon rotation of the unit with the rotatable member, the pad is urged inwards towards the axis of rotation by means of centrifugal force generated by the counter-weighting mass.
Inventors
- 👤 M Hetherington
- 👤 P Atkinson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 17:41
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N29/00; G01N29/22; G01N29/26; B; B21; B21C; B21C51/00; G01N2291/00; G01N2291/02; G01N2291/028; G01N2291/02854
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
149 words
Rotary ultrasonic tube testing apparatus incorporating a probe unit located at the input end of the apparatus, said probe unit comprising: an arm; a tube engaging probe pad carrying at least one ultrasonic testing transducer probe and being mounted at one end of said arm; a counter-weighting mass at the other end of the arm; and a member rotatable about an axis substantially coincident in use with that of the tube to be tested, the arm being inclined relative to the axis of rotation and being pivotally connected intermediate its ends to the rotatable member for pivotal movement of the pad towards and away from the axis of rotation, whereby upon rotation of the unit with the rotatable member, the pad is urged inwards towards the axis of rotation by means of centrifugal force generated by the counter-weighting mass so as immediately to engage an incoming tube for testing.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
149 words
Rotary ultrasonic tube testing apparatus incorporating a probe unit located at the input end of the apparatus, said probe unit comprising: an arm; a tube engaging probe pad carrying at least one ultrasonic testing transducer probe and being mounted at one end of said arm; a counter-weighting mass at the other end of the arm; and a member rotatable about an axis substantially coincident in use with that of the tube to be tested, the arm being inclined relative to the axis of rotation and being pivotally connected intermediate its ends to the rotatable member for pivotal movement of the pad towards and away from the axis of rotation, whereby upon rotation of the unit with the rotatable member, the pad is urged inwards towards the axis of rotation by means of centrifugal force generated by the counter-weighting mass so as immediately to engage an incoming tube for testing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the probe pad trails behind the counter weight relative to the direction of axial movement in use of the tube to be tested.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the pivotal axis of the arm is at right angles to the axis of rotation of the rotatable member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
ApparatuS as claimed in claim 1 wherein the arm is cranked adjacent its pivot point, the portion of the arm carrying the counter weight being at a greater angle to the axis of rotation than the portion of the arm carrying the pad.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said arm comprises a mutually linked pair of said arms, the counter weight being carried between the arms at one end, and the arms being attached to the pad at the other end.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the arm is inclined to the radius of the tube such that during rotation of the unit about a tube in use, the pad leads and the counter weight trails relative to the direction of rotation.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the pad is attached to the arm by means of a gimbal arrangement permitting large pivotal freedom of movement of the pad.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which a plurality of said ultrasonic testing transducer probes are carried by said probe pad.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
85 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the probe pad is provided with an inclined guide shoe on the side thereof facing against the direction of axial movement of tubes through the testing apparatus, whereby upon the tube being fed into the apparatus, the pads are guided into engagement with the periphery of the tube by means of the guide shoe engaging the end of the tube and riding radially outwardly over it until the pad is able to move on to the tube periphery.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the probe pad is provided with a guide shoe on the side thereof facing in the direction of rotation of the pad around the tube.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3281667A
Cited
US3350925A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-09-23 | 1978-03-25 | 1978-09-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-09-23 | 1982-03-25 | 1982-09-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-09-23 | 1986-03-25 | 1986-09-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |