Patent US4121469A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4121469A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for producing a pulse type ultrasonic wave on a workpiece surface
Assignee: Krautkramer Branson Inc
•
Filing: 1977-12-01
•
Granted: 1978-10-24
•
Expires: 1997-12-01
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for producing on the surface of a workpiece an ultrasonic pulse wave without physical contact comprise the use of a laser beam illuminating a small, striplike, portion of the workpiece surface and such portion being moved with uniform motion along a linear axis over a predetermined distance. The angle of propagation of the resulting ultrasonic wave is a function of the propagation velocity of sound in the workpiece and the velocity of the illuminated portion along the linear axis.
Inventors
- 👤 Walter Kaule
- 👤 Erik Primbsch
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 05:17
CPC Classifications
G; G10; G10K; G10K15/00; G10K15/04; G10K15/046; G01; G01N; G01N29/00; G01N29/22; G01N29/24; G01N29/2418; G01N29/34; G01N29/341; G01N29/343; G01N2291/00; G01N2291/04; G01N2291/042; G01N2291/0421
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
92 words
The method of producing free of physical contact on the surface of a light absorbing workpiece an ultrasonic pulse wave having a predetermined angle of propagation relative to the workpiece surface comprising: illuminating a portion of the workpiece surface with a beam of coherent radiation; causing such illuminated portion to be moved in uniform motion at a predetermined velocity along a linear axis over a predetermined distance, and selecting said predetermined velocity to provide said predetermined angle of propagation as determined also by the propagation velocity of said wave in the workpiece.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
92 words
The method of producing free of physical contact on the surface of a light absorbing workpiece an ultrasonic pulse wave having a predetermined angle of propagation relative to the workpiece surface comprising: illuminating a portion of the workpiece surface with a beam of coherent radiation; causing such illuminated portion to be moved in uniform motion at a predetermined velocity along a linear axis over a predetermined distance, and selecting said predetermined velocity to provide said predetermined angle of propagation as determined also by the propagation velocity of said wave in the workpiece.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
132 words
The method of producing free of physical contact on the surface of a light absorbing workpiece an ultrasonic pulse wave having a predetermined angle of propagation relative to the workpiece surface comprising: illuminating a portion of the workpiece surface with a beam of coherent radiation; causing such illuminated portion to be moved in uniform motion at a predetermined velocity along a linear axis over a predetermined distance; whereby the ultrasonic pulse wave results from the superposition of fundamental waves and the angle α of propagation of the wave relative to an axis normal to the workpiece surface is given by the equation: sin α = c/v; wherein c is the propagation velocity of the ultrasonic wave in the workpiece and v is the velocity of the illuminated portion along said linear axis.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
132 words
The method of producing free of physical contact on the surface of a light absorbing workpiece an ultrasonic pulse wave having a predetermined angle of propagation relative to the workpiece surface comprising: illuminating a portion of the workpiece surface with a beam of coherent radiation; causing such illuminated portion to be moved in uniform motion at a predetermined velocity along a linear axis over a predetermined distance; whereby the ultrasonic pulse wave results from the superposition of fundamental waves and the angle α of propagation of the wave relative to an axis normal to the workpiece surface is given by the equation: sin α = c/v; wherein c is the propagation velocity of the ultrasonic wave in the workpiece and v is the velocity of the illuminated portion along said linear axis.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of producing free of physical contact an ultrasonic pulse wave as set forth in claim 2, said portion of the workpiece comprising a strip-like portion, and said linear axis being transverse to the longitudinal axis of said strip-like portion.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of producing free of physical contact an ultrasonic pulse wave as set forth in claim 3, said strip-like portion being of substantially rectangular shape.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
95 words
An apparatus for producing an ultrasonic pulse wave on the surface of a workpiece, said wave having a predetermined angle of propagation relative to an axis normal to the workpiece surface comprising: means for providing a beam of coherent radiation disposed for illuminating a portion of a workpiece surface, and means for causing said illuminated portion to be moved lineally along said workpiece surface with a predetermined uniform velocity and over a predetermined distance, said predetermined velocity being responsive to said angle and to the velocity of propagation of said ultrasonic wave in the workpiece.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
95 words
An apparatus for producing an ultrasonic pulse wave on the surface of a workpiece, said wave having a predetermined angle of propagation relative to an axis normal to the workpiece surface comprising: means for providing a beam of coherent radiation disposed for illuminating a portion of a workpiece surface, and means for causing said illuminated portion to be moved lineally along said workpiece surface with a predetermined uniform velocity and over a predetermined distance, said predetermined velocity being responsive to said angle and to the velocity of propagation of said ultrasonic wave in the workpiece.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
112 words
An apparatus for producing an ultrasonic pulse wave on the surface of a workpiece, said wave having a predetermined angle of propagation relative to an axis normal to the workpiece surface comprising: laser means for providing a beam of coherent radiation disposed for illuminating a strip-like portion of a workpiece surface; means for causing said illuminated strip-like portion to be moved lineally along said workpiece surface with a predetermined uniform velocity and over a predetermined distance, whereby said predetermined velocity v is determined by: sin α = c/v wherein α is said angle of propagation of the ultrasonic wave and c is the propagation velocity of the ultrasonic wave in the workpiece.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
112 words
An apparatus for producing an ultrasonic pulse wave on the surface of a workpiece, said wave having a predetermined angle of propagation relative to an axis normal to the workpiece surface comprising: laser means for providing a beam of coherent radiation disposed for illuminating a strip-like portion of a workpiece surface; means for causing said illuminated strip-like portion to be moved lineally along said workpiece surface with a predetermined uniform velocity and over a predetermined distance, whereby said predetermined velocity v is determined by: sin α = c/v wherein α is said angle of propagation of the ultrasonic wave and c is the propagation velocity of the ultrasonic wave in the workpiece.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
53 words
An apparatus for producing an ultrasonic pulse wave on the surface of a workpiece as set forth in claim 6, said strip-like portion is of substantially rectangular shape, and said means for causing said portion to be moved causing such motion in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of said strip portion.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
56 words
An apparatus for producing an ultrasonic pulse wave on the surface of a workpiece as set forth in claim 6, said means for causing said illuminated strip-like portion to be moved comprising deflection means disposed between said laser means and the workpiece surface for deflecting said beam of coherent radiation along the surface of the workpiece.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus for producing an ultrasonic pulse wave on the surface of the workpiece as set forth in claim 8, said deflection means being a movable mirror surface.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus for producing an ultrasonic pulse wave on the surface of a workpiece as set forth in claim 8, said deflection means comprising an acousto-optical deflecting means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3978713A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-10-23 | 1982-04-24 | 1982-10-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-10-23 | 1986-04-24 | 1986-10-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-10-23 | 1990-04-24 | 1990-10-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |