US3837218A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Process for non-destructive measurement of the extent to which a surface layer of a material has been affected by a superficial treatment
Assignee: Centre Technique des Industries Mécaniques
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Filing: 1972-09-21
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Granted: 1974-09-24
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Expires: 1992-09-21
Abstract
Abstract The invention relates to a process and device for nondestructive measurement of the extent to which a surface layer of a material has been affected by a superficial treatment. The device includes a single transducer emitter-receiver of ultrasonic waves movable over a cylindrical surface of a coupling block, the latter having a curved reflective surface such that a beam of ultrasonic waves, when reflected by the surface of the material being treated, is then reflected by the curved surface back to the surface of the material and from there reflected back to the transducer.
Inventors
- 👤 C Flambard
- 👤 A Lambert
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 10:42
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01B; G01B17/00; G01B17/02; G01B17/025
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
129 words
A process for non-destructive measurement of the extent to which a surface layer of a material has been affected by a superficial treatment, particularly for measurement of the depth to which a material has been affected by a thermal and/or thermochemical and/or galvanic treatment, said process including the steps of directing a beam of ultrasonic waves at various angles of incidence through a coupling block to the surface of the material to be studied, causing the ultrasonic wave beam to be once reflected from said surface back into the coupling block and thereafter reflected from a surface of said coupling block back to the material surface and measuring the energy of the beam after a second reflection from the surface of said material to the source of ultrasonic energy.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
129 words
A process for non-destructive measurement of the extent to which a surface layer of a material has been affected by a superficial treatment, particularly for measurement of the depth to which a material has been affected by a thermal and/or thermochemical and/or galvanic treatment, said process including the steps of directing a beam of ultrasonic waves at various angles of incidence through a coupling block to the surface of the material to be studied, causing the ultrasonic wave beam to be once reflected from said surface back into the coupling block and thereafter reflected from a surface of said coupling block back to the material surface and measuring the energy of the beam after a second reflection from the surface of said material to the source of ultrasonic energy.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
54 words
A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the reflective surface of the coupling block is arranged in such a way that the beam reflected therefrom is sent back towards the surface of the sample along a path substantially coinciding with the path of the beam first reflected from the surface of the sample.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
A process as claimed in claim 2, wherein the reflective surface of the coupling block has a curved profile.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the incident beam is emitted by, and the reflected beam, after said second reflection, is received by, a transducer emitter-receiver.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
A process as claimed in claim 4, wherein emission is effected at intervals separated by silences during which reception is effected.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the beam of ultrasonic waves is emitted in the form of pulses.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the beam of ultrasonic waves is emitted in the form of sequence waves of regulable length.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
176 words
A device for the non-destructive measurement of the extent to which a surface layer of a material has been affected by a superficial treatment, particularly for measurement of the depth to which a material has been affected by a thermal and/or thermo-chemical and/or galvanic treatment, said device including a transducer emitter-receiver for ultrasonic waves; a coupling block between the transducer and the material; means for suporting the transducer on the block; said block having at least one surface adapted to contact the material, a cylindrical surface on which the transducer is adjustably positioned and a reflective surface; means for measuring the orientation of said transducer on said block to correctly position said transducer for surface layer measurement; and means for measuring reflected beam energy; whereby the ultrasonic wave beam is directed through the coupling block to the surface of the material to be studied, reflected from said surface back into the coupling block and thereafter reflected from said reflective surface of said coupling block back to the material surface and reflected therefrom back to the emitter-receiver.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
176 words
A device for the non-destructive measurement of the extent to which a surface layer of a material has been affected by a superficial treatment, particularly for measurement of the depth to which a material has been affected by a thermal and/or thermo-chemical and/or galvanic treatment, said device including a transducer emitter-receiver for ultrasonic waves; a coupling block between the transducer and the material; means for suporting the transducer on the block; said block having at least one surface adapted to contact the material, a cylindrical surface on which the transducer is adjustably positioned and a reflective surface; means for measuring the orientation of said transducer on said block to correctly position said transducer for surface layer measurement; and means for measuring reflected beam energy; whereby the ultrasonic wave beam is directed through the coupling block to the surface of the material to be studied, reflected from said surface back into the coupling block and thereafter reflected from said reflective surface of said coupling block back to the material surface and reflected therefrom back to the emitter-receiver.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
A device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the coupling block is made of a plastic material.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
A device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the coupling block is made of polymethyl methacrylate.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
95 words
A device as claimed in claim 8, for examining samples whose surface to be examined is flat, the coupling block having a semicylindrical shape, the plane surface of which is adapted to rest on the flat surface of the sample, part of the cylindrical surface of which constitutes the surface on which the transducer is positioned and the other part of the cylindrical surface of which constitutes said reflective surface, said means for supporting the transducer being so mounted as to be pivotal on an axis coinciding with the axis of the said cylindrical surface.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
37 words
A device as claimed in claim 8 wherein the curved surface of tHe coupling block is a portion of a cylindrical surface coaxial with the cylindrical surface on which the transducer is supported, but of smaller radius.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
FR1065907A
Cited
GB780752A
Cited
US2984756A
Cited
US3364732A
Cited
US3433059A
Cited
US3610028A
Cited
US3554013A
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 |