Non-destructive testing procedures

Claim 2

A non-destructive testing arrangement comprising a penetrative energy source capable of emitting an energy envelope, means for expanding said envelope primarily in one plane, a receiver assembly positioned to intercept said envelope and capable of developing proportional electric signals upon reception of said energy, means for mounting said source and said receiver assembly in spaced alignment, means for mounting a test object intermediate said source and said receiver assembly so as to intercept at least a portion of said envelope, said receiver assembly including a tandem array of individual receivers, said array being aligned with said plane, and means for relatively moving said test object mounting means along a path extending between said source and said receiver assembly in substantial alignment with said energy envelope while maintaining one of said object mounting means and said energy source and receiver assembly substantially and relatively in place to produce a zoom effect of any flaws of said object at an image made on said receiver assembly.

Claim 3

The combination according to claim 1 wherein said test object mounting means additionally are provided with means for moving said object transversely of said expanding envelope plane.

Claim 4

The combination according to claim 1 wherein said test object mounting means additionally are provided with means for rotating said test object about an axis thereof.

Claim 5

The combination according to claim 1 wherein said test object mounting means additionally are provided with means for moving said test object transversely of said envelope but generally parallel to said expanding plane thereof.

Claim 6

The combination according to claim 1 wherein said Test object mounting means include a platform slidably mounted on guide rail means extending between supports forming part of said source and said receiver assembly mounting means.

Claim 7

The combination according to claim 5 wherein said guide rail means include a pair of generally parallel guide rails, one of said guide rails is threaded and rotatably mounted in said supports, said platform being threadedly engaged with said one guide rail, and means are provided for rotating said threaded guide rail for traversing said platform therealong.

Claim 8

A non-destructive testing arrangement comprising a penetrative energy source capable of emitting an energy envelope, means for expanding said envelope primarily in one plane, a receiver assembly positioned to intercept said envelope and capable of developing porportional electric signals upon reception of said energy, means for mounting said source and said receiver assembly in spaced alignment, means for mounting a test object intermediate said source and said receiver assembly so as to intercept at least a portion of said envelope, said receiver assembly including a tandem array of individual receivers, said array being aligned with said plane and with the interception of said envelope including an object image on said receiver assembly, a second energy source similarly mounted adjacent the firstmentioned source, a second receiver assembly similarly mounted adjacent the first-mentioned receiver assembly in alignment with a second energy envelope emitted by said second source, means for similarly expanding said second envelope in a plane substantially parallel to the first-mentioned envelope plane, said test object mounting means including means for mounting a pair of test objects on a common support and in alignment respectively with said envelopes, said sources and said receiver assemblies being further disposed in respective aligngment with said energy envelopes, and means for moving said common support for a scanning of said objects.

Claim 9

A non-destructive testing arrangement comprising a penetrative energy source capable of emitting an energy envelope, means for expanding said envelope primarily in one plane, a receiver assembly positioned to intercept said envelope and capable of developing porportional electric signals upon reception of said energy, means for mounting said source and said receiver assembly in spaced alignment, means for mounting a test object intermediate said source and said receiver assembly so as to intercept at least a portion of said envelope, said receiver assembly including a tandem array of individual receivers, said array being aligned with said plane and with the interception of said envelope including an object image on said receiver assembly, a second energy source similarly mounted adjacent the firstmentioned source, a second receiver assembly similarly mounted adjacent the first-mentioned receiver assembly in alignment with a second energy envelope emitted by said second source, means for similarly expanding said second envelope in a plane substantially parallel to the first-mentioned envelope plane, said test object mounting means including means for mounting a pair of test objects on a common support and in alignment respectively with said envelopes, said sources and said receiver assemblies being further disposed in respective aligngment with said energy envelopes, and means for moving said common support for a scanning of said objects.

Claim 10

A non-destructive testing arrangement comprising a penetrative energy source capable of emitting an energy envelope, means for expanding said envelope primarily in one plane, a receiver assembly positioned to intercept said envelope and capable of developing proportional electric signals upon reception of said energy, means for mounting said source and said receiver assembly in spaced alignment, means for mounting a test object intermediate said source and said receiver assembly so as to intercept at least a portion of said envelope, said receiver assembly including a tandem array of individual receivers, said array being aligned with said plane and with the interception of said envelope including an object image on said receiver assembly, and means for moving each of said source and said receiver assembly laterally and independently of said test object and of one another for adjustment purposes.

Claim 11

A non-destructive testing arrangement comprising a penetrative energy source capable of emitting an energy envelope, means for expanding said envelope primarily in one plane, a receiver assembly positioned to intercept said envelope and capable of developing proportional electric signals upon reception of said energy, means for mounting said source and said receiver assembly in spaced alignment, means for mounting a test object intermediate said source and said receiver assembly so as to intercept at least a portion of said envelope, said receiver assembly including a tandem array of individual receivers, said array being aligned with said plane and with the interception of said envelope including an object image on said receiver assembly, and means for moving each of said source and said receiver assembly laterally and independently of said test object and of one another for adjustment purposes.

Claim 12

A non-destructive testing arrangement comprising a penetrative energy source capable of emitting an energy envelope means for expanding said envelope primarily in one plane, a receiver assembly positioned to intercept said envelope and capable of developing porportional electric signals upon reception of said energy, means for mounting said source and said receiver assembly in spaced alignment, means for mounting a test object intermediate said source and said receiver assembly, so as to intercept at least a portion of said envelope, said receiver assembly including a tandem array of individual receivers, said array being aligned with said plane, a second such source and a second such receiver assembly spacedly and alignedly mounted such that an energy envelope from said second source is intercepted by said second receiver assembly, said second source envelope substantially intercepting said first-mentioned envelope at said test object, and means for relatively moving said test object mounting means longitudinally between said first-mentioned source and receiver assembly and for relatively moviNg said mounting means longitudinally between said second source and said second receiver assembly along paths in substantial and respective alignment with said energy envelopes while maintaining one of said object mounting means and associated energy sources and receiver assemblies substantially and relatively in place to produce zoom effects of any flaws of said object at at least one of the images made on said receiver assemblies respectively.

Claim 13

A non-destructive testing arrangement comprising a penetrative energy source capable of emitting an energy envelope means for expanding said envelope primarily in one plane, a receiver assembly positioned to intercept said envelope and capable of developing porportional electric signals upon reception of said energy, means for mounting said source and said receiver assembly in spaced alignment, means for mounting a test object intermediate said source and said receiver assembly, so as to intercept at least a portion of said envelope, said receiver assembly including a tandem array of individual receivers, said array being aligned with said plane, a second such source and a second such receiver assembly spacedly and alignedly mounted such that an energy envelope from said second source is intercepted by said second receiver assembly, said second source envelope substantially intercepting said first-mentioned envelope at said test object, and means for relatively moving said test object mounting means longitudinally between said first-mentioned source and receiver assembly and for relatively moviNg said mounting means longitudinally between said second source and said second receiver assembly along paths in substantial and respective alignment with said energy envelopes while maintaining one of said object mounting means and associated energy sources and receiver assemblies substantially and relatively in place to produce zoom effects of any flaws of said object at at least one of the images made on said receiver assemblies respectively.

Claim 14

The combination according to claim 9 wherein said moving means are so configured that said test object is maintained at said envelope intersection irrespective of longitudinal movement relative to either or both of said sources.

Claim 15

The combination according to claim 10 wherein said object mounting means and said moving means include a platform slidably mounted on a guide mechanism extending between said first-mentioned source and receiver assembly, a second guide mechanism is slidably mounted on said platform for movement transversely of said first-mentioned guide mechanism, said second source and said second receiver assembly being mounted adjacent the ends respectively of said second guide mechanism.

Claim 16

The combination according to claim 11 wherein each of said guide mechanisms includes a pair of guide rails, a guide rail of each of said mechanisms being threaded and being threadedly engaged with said platform, each of said threaded guide rails being rotatably mounted adjacent its ends in supports therefor respectively adjacent the associated source and receiver assembly, and means are provided for rotating each of said threaded guide rails.

Claim 17

The combination according to claim 11 wherein a turntable for said test object is rotatably mounted on said platform substantially at said intersection.

Claim 18

The combination according to claim 13 wherein means are mounted on said platform for elevating said turntable relative to said platform.

Claim 19

A non-destructive testing arrangement comprising a penetrative energy source capable of emitting an energy envelope, means for expanding said envelope primarily in one plane, a receiver assembly positioned to intercept said envelope and capable of developing proportional electric signals upon reception of said energy, means for mounting said source and said receiver assembly in spaced alignment, means for mounting a test object intermediate said source and said receiver assembly so as to intercept at least a portion of said envelope, said receiver assembly including a tandem array of individual receivers, said array being aligned with said plane and with the interception of said envelope including an object image on said receiver assembly, a second such source and a second such receiver assembly spacedly and alignedly mounted such that an energy envelope from said second source is intercepted by said second receiver assembly, said second source envelope substantially intercepting said first-mentioned envelope at said test object, said sources being positioned so that said envelope interception contains a long transverse axis of each of said envelopes, and means for moving each of said sources and its associated receiver assembly laterally and independently of said object and of one another for adjustment purposes.

Claim 20

A non-destructive testing arrangement comprising a penetrative energy source capable of emitting an energy envelope, means for expanding said envelope primarily in one plane, a receiver assembly positioned to intercept said envelope and capable of developing proportional electric signals upon reception of said energy, means for mounting said source and said receiver assembly in spaced alignment, means for mounting a test object intermediate said source and said receiver assembly so as to intercept at least a portion of said envelope, said receiver assembly including a tandem array of individual receivers, said array being aligned with said plane and with the interception of said envelope including an object image on said receiver assembly, a second such source and a second such receiver assembly spacedly and alignedly mounted such that an energy envelope from said second source is intercepted by said second receiver assembly, said second source envelope substantially intercepting said first-mentioned envelope at said test object, said sources being positioned so that said envelope interception contains a long transverse axis of each of said envelopes, and means for moving each of said sources and its associated receiver assembly laterally and independently of said object and of one another for adjustment purposes.

Claim 21

A non-destructive testing arrangement comprising a penetrative energy source capable of emitting an energy envelope, means for expanding said envelope primarily in one plane, a receiver assembly positioned to intercept said envelope and capable of developing proportional electric signals upon reception of said energy, means for mounting said source and said receiver assembly in spaced alignment, means for mounting a test object intermediate said source and said receiver assembly so as to intercept at least a portion of said envelope, said receiver assembly including a tandem array of individual receivers, said array being aligned with said plane and with the interception of said envelope including an object image on said receiver assembly, a second sUch source and a second such receiver assembly spacedly and alignedly mounted such that an energy envelope from said second source is intercepted by said second receiver assembly, said second source envelope substantially intercepting said firstmentioned envelope at said test object, said sources being positioned so that said envelope interception contains a long transverse axis of each of said envelopes, said second source being capable of emitting and said second receiver assembly being capable of receiving a different type of penetrative energy from that of said first-mentioned source.

Claim 22

A non-destructive testing arrangement comprising a penetrative energy source capable of emitting an energy envelope, means for expanding said envelope primarily in one plane, a receiver assembly positioned to intercept said envelope and capable of developing proportional electric signals upon reception of said energy, means for mounting said source and said receiver assembly in spaced alignment, means for mounting a test object intermediate said source and said receiver assembly so as to intercept at least a portion of said envelope, said receiver assembly including a tandem array of individual receivers, said array being aligned with said plane and with the interception of said envelope including an object image on said receiver assembly, a second sUch source and a second such receiver assembly spacedly and alignedly mounted such that an energy envelope from said second source is intercepted by said second receiver assembly, said second source envelope substantially intercepting said firstmentioned envelope at said test object, said sources being positioned so that said envelope interception contains a long transverse axis of each of said envelopes, said second source being capable of emitting and said second receiver assembly being capable of receiving a different type of penetrative energy from that of said first-mentioned source.

Claim 23

A non-destructive testing arrangement comprising a penetrative energy source capable of emitting an energy envelope, means for expanding said envelope primarily in one plane, a receiver assembly positioned to intercept said envelope and capable of developing proportional electric signals upon reception of said energy, means for mounting said source and said receiver assembly in spaced alignment, means for mounting a test object intermediate said source and said receiver assembly so as to intercept at least a portion of said envelope, said receiver assembly including a tandem array of individual receivers, said array being aligned with said plane and with the interception of said envelope including an object image on said receiver assembly, a second such source and a second such receiver assembly spacedly and alignedly mounted such that an energy envelope from said second source is intercepted by said second receiver assembly, said second source envelope substantially intercepting said firstmentioned envelope at said test object, said sources being positioned so that said envelope interception contains a long transverse axis of each of said envelopes, a third source and third receiver assembly mounted respectively adjacent said first-mentioned source and receiver assembly for emitting and receiving respectively a similarly shaped energy envelope substantially parallel to said first-mentioned envelope, a fourth source and a fourth receiver assembly mounted respectively adjacent said second source and said second receiver assembly for emitting and receiving respectively a similarly shaped fourth energy envelope substantially parallel to said second envelope, said object mounting means including a common support for mounting said object and a second object so that said objects respectively are positioned substantially at the intersections of said envelopes, and means for moving said common support for a scanning of said objects.

Claim 24

A non-destructive testing arrangement comprising a penetrative energy source capable of emitting an energy envelope, means for expanding said envelope primarily in one plane, a receiver assembly positioned to intercept said envelope and capable of developing proportional electric signals upon reception of said energy, means for mounting said source and said receiver assembly in spaced alignment, means for mounting a test object intermediate said source and said receiver assembly so as to intercept at least a portion of said envelope, said receiver assembly including a tandem array of individual receivers, said array being aligned with said plane and with the interception of said envelope including an object image on said receiver assembly, a second such source and a second such receiver assembly spacedly and alignedly mounted such that an energy envelope from said second source is intercepted by said second receiver assembly, said second source envelope substantially intercepting said firstmentioned envelope at said test object, said sources being positioned so that said envelope interception contains a long transverse axis of each of said envelopes, a third source and third receiver assembly mounted respectively adjacent said first-mentioned source and receiver assembly for emitting and receiving respectively a similarly shaped energy envelope substantially parallel to said first-mentioned envelope, a fourth source and a fourth receiver assembly mounted respectively adjacent said second source and said second receiver assembly for emitting and receiving respectively a similarly shaped fourth energy envelope substantially parallel to said second envelope, said object mounting means including a common support for mounting said object and a second object so that said objects respectively are positioned substantially at the intersections of said envelopes, and means for moving said common support for a scanning of said objects.

Claim 25

The combination according to claim 17 wherein said object mounting means further include means for mounting said objects respectively at the intersections of said first and second envelopes and of said third and fourth envelopes.

Claim 26

A non-destructive testing arrangement comprising at least two sources of penetrative energies, a receiver for each of said sources and alignable respectively with an associated one of said sources, means for mounting one of said sources and its associated receiver in spaced alignment, means for similarly mounting the other source and its associated receiver such that an energy envelope of said other source intersects an energy envelope of said one source, means for mounting a test specimen at an intersection of said envelopes, means for moving said specimen mounting means longitudinally between said sources and said receivers respectively along paths in substantial and respective alignment with said energy envelopes while maintaining one of said specimen mounting means and said energy sources and receivers respectively and substantially and relatively in place to produce zoom effects of any flaws of said specimen at at least one of the images made on said receivers.

Claim 27

A non-destructive testing arrangement comprising at least two sources of penetrative energies, a receiver for each of said sources and alignable respectively with an associated one of said sources, means for mounting one of said sources and its associated receiver in spaced alignment, means for similarly mounting the other source and its associated receiver such that an energy envelope of said other source intersects an energy envelope of said one source, means for mounting a test specimen at an intersection of said envelopes, means for moving said specimen mounting means longitudinally between said sources and said receivers respectively along paths in substantial and respective alignment with said energy envelopes while maintaining one of said specimen mounting means and said energy sources and receivers respectively and substantially and relatively in place to produce zoom effects of any flaws of said specimen at at least one of the images made on said receivers.

Claim 28

The combination according to claim 19 wherein said longitudinally moving means are configured such that said test specimen is maintained at said envelope intersection irrespective of longitudinal movement of said specimen relative to at least one of said Sources.