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US4253337A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Ultrasonic nondestructive testing method

Assignee: Boeing North American Inc
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Filing: 1979-08-08
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Granted: 1981-03-03
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Expires: 1999-08-08
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Abstract

Abstract Disclosed is a method for evaluating a discontinuity in an object. As used to measure the depth of a surface discontinuity in a plate type of object, the method includes the steps of generating a horizontally polarized shear wave in the object directed substantially along the axis of the discontinuity, passing the generated wave through an aperture to diffract the wave prior to its arrival at the discontinuity, detecting the wave after it has propagated through the discontinuity, and calculating the depth of the discontinuity by correlating the phase and amplitude of the detected wave to the phase and amplitude of a similar wave propagated in a region of the object which is free of discontinuities.

Inventors

  • 👤 Carmine F. Vasile

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-26 03:11
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01V; G01V1/00; G01V1/28; G01V1/284; G01N; G01N29/00; G01N29/04; G01N29/041; G01S; G01S7/00; G01S7/52; G01S7/534; G01N2291/00; G01N2291/04; G01N2291/042; G01N2291/0422; G01N2291/0427; G01N2291/0428

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim 74 words
A method of evaluating a discontinuity in an object comprising the steps of: (a) generating an ultrasonic wave in the object directed substantially along the axis of the discontinuity; (b) passing the generated wave through an aperture to diffract the wave prior to its arrival at the discontinuity; (c) detecting the wave after it has propagated through the discontinuity; and (d) characterizing the discontinuity according to the differences between the generated and detected waves.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 74 words
A method of evaluating a discontinuity in an object comprising the steps of: (a) generating an ultrasonic wave in the object directed substantially along the axis of the discontinuity; (b) passing the generated wave through an aperture to diffract the wave prior to its arrival at the discontinuity; (c) detecting the wave after it has propagated through the discontinuity; and (d) characterizing the discontinuity according to the differences between the generated and detected waves.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 43 words
The method of claim 1, wherein step (d) further comprises: (d) calculating the depth of the discontinuity by relating the changes in the phase and amplitude of the detected wave to similar values for a wave propagating in the absence of a discontinuity.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 15 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the generated wave is a horizontally polarized shear wave.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 13 words
The method of claim 3, wherein the object evaluated is a metallic plate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 35 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the wave generation and detection locations are spaced on the object such that the length of the discontinuity constitutes a substantial proportion of the distance travelled by the wave.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 14 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the discontinuity is a crack in the object.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 14 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the discontinuity is a weld in the object.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 14 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the discontinuity is a slot in the object.
Claim 10
Independent Claim 107 words
A method of measuring the depth of a surface discontinuity in a plate type of object comprising the steps of: (a) generating a horizontally polarized shear wave in the object directed substantially along the axis of the discontinuity; (b) passing the generated wave through an aperture to diffract the wave prior to its arrival at the discontinuity; (c) detecting the wave after it has propagated through the discontinuity; and (d) calculating the depth of the discontinuity by correlating the phase and amplitude of the detected wave to the phase and amplitude of a similar wave propagated in a region of the object which is free of discontinuities.
Claim 11
Independent Claim 107 words
A method of measuring the depth of a surface discontinuity in a plate type of object comprising the steps of: (a) generating a horizontally polarized shear wave in the object directed substantially along the axis of the discontinuity; (b) passing the generated wave through an aperture to diffract the wave prior to its arrival at the discontinuity; (c) detecting the wave after it has propagated through the discontinuity; and (d) calculating the depth of the discontinuity by correlating the phase and amplitude of the detected wave to the phase and amplitude of a similar wave propagated in a region of the object which is free of discontinuities.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3115770A Cited
US3436958A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1984-03-02 1984-09-01 1985-03-03 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1988-03-02 1988-09-01 1989-03-03 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1992-03-02 1992-09-01 1993-03-03 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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