Patent US3910104A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3910104A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Apparatus and method for ultrasonic testing
Assignee: British Steel PLC
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Filing: 1974-09-04
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Granted: 1975-10-07
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Expires: 1994-09-04
Abstract
Abstract A steel plate or other test piece can be ultrasonically tested using water as a coupling medium by passing the plate past or through a water reservoir which is, if necessary, continuously supplied with additional water to maintain contact with the plate, the reservoir containing a buoyant beam carrying an array of ultrasonic transducers directed towards the plate, means being provided to reciprocate the beam to give a plurality of zigzag ultrasonic inspection paths. Reciprocation of the beam increases the area scanned and the particular apparatus allows a light yet rigid beam to be rapidly reciprocated.
Inventors
- 👤 David Harris Davies
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 13:56
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N29/00; G01N29/22; G01N29/28
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
118 words
Apparatus for ultrasonically testing a test piece utilising water as a coupling medium between ultrasonic transducers and a test piece moving relative to the testing apparatus along a predetermined pathway, which apparatus comprises guide means defining the pathway to be followed by the test piece, a reservoir for the water so arranged in relation to the pathway that the water can contact successive parts of the test piece to be tested, a beam in the reservoir mounted for axial reciprocation transversely of the pathway, and a plurality of ultrasonic transducers carried spaced along the beam operatively directed towards the pathway, the beam and the ultrasonic transducers carried thereon having in combination substantially neutral or positive buoyancy in water.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
118 words
Apparatus for ultrasonically testing a test piece utilising water as a coupling medium between ultrasonic transducers and a test piece moving relative to the testing apparatus along a predetermined pathway, which apparatus comprises guide means defining the pathway to be followed by the test piece, a reservoir for the water so arranged in relation to the pathway that the water can contact successive parts of the test piece to be tested, a beam in the reservoir mounted for axial reciprocation transversely of the pathway, and a plurality of ultrasonic transducers carried spaced along the beam operatively directed towards the pathway, the beam and the ultrasonic transducers carried thereon having in combination substantially neutral or positive buoyancy in water.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
69 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the pathway is disposed outside the reservoir which is provided with an elongate outlet disposed transversely of the pathway, and the reservoir is further provided with means for the continuous supply to it of water, whereby a continuous flow of water emerging from the outlet can intersect the pathway and contact the test piece when it is moving along the pathway.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the reservoir is situated beneath the pathway.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the guide means defining the pathway comprises two successive rollers of a roller table.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the beam extends through opposite walls of the reservoir.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the beam and the transducers which it carries are streamlined in the direction of their reciprocating motion.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
111 words
A method for ultrasonically testing a test piece, which method comprises moving the test piece relatively to a reservoir of water along a predetermined pathway whereby water from the reservoir contacts successive parts of the test piece to be tested, axially reciprocating in the reservoir a beam carrying a plurality of ultrasonic transducers spaced along the beam operatively directed towards the pathway, the beam and the ultrasonic transducers carried thereon having in combination substantially neutral or positive buoyancy in the water, and activating the ultrasonic transducers whereby to transmit ultrasonic energy to the test piece and receive ultrasonic energy reflected from the test piece through the water as a coupling medium.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
111 words
A method for ultrasonically testing a test piece, which method comprises moving the test piece relatively to a reservoir of water along a predetermined pathway whereby water from the reservoir contacts successive parts of the test piece to be tested, axially reciprocating in the reservoir a beam carrying a plurality of ultrasonic transducers spaced along the beam operatively directed towards the pathway, the beam and the ultrasonic transducers carried thereon having in combination substantially neutral or positive buoyancy in the water, and activating the ultrasonic transducers whereby to transmit ultrasonic energy to the test piece and receive ultrasonic energy reflected from the test piece through the water as a coupling medium.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
48 words
A method as claimed in claim 7 in which the pathway is outside the reservoir, and the reservoir is continuously supplied with water which contacts the test piece moving along the pathway by continuously flowing through an elongate outlet disposed transversely of the pathway to intersect the pathway.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
50 words
A method as claimed in claim 7 in which the transducers are carried on the beam in an array whose length is greater than the width of the test piece, and during axial reciprocation of the beam neither edge of the test piece over reaches either end of the array.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method as claimed in claim 7 in which the test piece is a steel plate.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as claimed in claim 7 in which the test piece is passed through the water resErvoir.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3631714A
Cited
US3850027A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-10-06 | 1979-04-07 | 1979-10-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-10-06 | 1983-04-07 | 1983-10-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-10-06 | 1987-04-07 | 1987-10-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |