US4404853A — Method and apparatus for ultrasonic testing of tu…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 133 words

Apparatus for ultrasonic testing of tubular goods, comprising: array block means defining a cylindrical central bore area; plural ultrasonic energy transducers secured in said block means for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic energy toward said central bore area, said plural transducers including a first equi-spaced circumferential array of transducers for detecting transverse discontinuities and a second equi-spaced circumferential array of transducers for detecting longitudinal discontinuities; means for disposing tubular goods in said central bore area for movement relative to said plural ultrasonic energy transducers; fluid enclosure means including a central bore area defined by a slidable seal for maintaining a fluid environment between each of said plural ultrasonic energy transducers and said tubular goods; and means for energizing said plural ultrasonic transducers and indicating received energy variations due to discontinuities in said tubular goods.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 133 words

Apparatus for ultrasonic testing of tubular goods, comprising: array block means defining a cylindrical central bore area; plural ultrasonic energy transducers secured in said block means for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic energy toward said central bore area, said plural transducers including a first equi-spaced circumferential array of transducers for detecting transverse discontinuities and a second equi-spaced circumferential array of transducers for detecting longitudinal discontinuities; means for disposing tubular goods in said central bore area for movement relative to said plural ultrasonic energy transducers; fluid enclosure means including a central bore area defined by a slidable seal for maintaining a fluid environment between each of said plural ultrasonic energy transducers and said tubular goods; and means for energizing said plural ultrasonic transducers and indicating received energy variations due to discontinuities in said tubular goods.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 67 words

Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein: said first circumferential array of transducers are each disposed at a selected acute angle relative to normal to the longitudinal axis of said tubular goods; and said second circumferential array of transducers are each disposed at a selected acute angle relative to the radial dimension of said tubular goods as aligned in a plane normal to said tubular goods.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 27 words

Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 which further includes: a third circumferential array of transducers each disposed normal to the longitudinal axis of said tubular goods.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 21 words

Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein: said block means is an aluminum formation defining said central bore area therethrough.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 21 words

Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein: said block means is suspended resiliently in position within said fluid enclosure means.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 61 words

Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said fluid enclosure means comprises: an enclosure having watertight sides and first and second end panels, said first and second end panels each having a central bore area; and first and second resilient seal members each disposed inwardly adjacent the respective first and second end panels, and each defining said central bore area.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 29 words

Apparatus as set forth in claim 6 which further includes: a source of fluid connected for input to said enclosure; and an overflow fluid outlet connected to said enclosure.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 27 words

Apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein: said first and second resilient seal members are replaceable to adjust the size of the central bore slidable seal.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 36 words

Apparatus as set forth in claim 6 which further includes: a frame means supporting said block means with each of said plural ultrasonic energy transducers in operative position between said first and second resilient seal members.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 37 words

Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for disposing comprises: a well drilling platform and associated elongate goods control mechanism for moving said elongate goods through said central bore area at a controllable rate.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 29 words

Apparatus as set forth in claim 10 which is further characterized in that: said plural ultrasonic transducers and fluid enclosure means are resiliently secured beneath the well drilling platform.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 20 words

Apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein: said tubular goods is drill pipe sections in coupled thread-end box-end engagement.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 61 words

Apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein said fluid enclosure means comprises: an enclosure having watertight sides and first and second end panels, said first and second end panels each having a central bore area; and first and second resilient seal members each disposed inwardly adjacent the respective first and second end panels, and each defining said central bore area.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 29 words

Apparatus as set forth in claim 13 which further includes: a source of fluid connected for input to said enclosure; and an overflow fluid outlet connected to said enclosure.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 44 words

Apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein said means for disposing comprises: means for supporting said elongate goods in a generally horizontal attitude; and drive means for moving said plural transducers and water enclosure means along said elongate goods at a controllable rate.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 46 words

Apparatus as set forth in claim 15 wherein said drive means comprises: drive frame means secured to said water enclosure means; motor means secured on said drive frame means; and drive wheel means rotatably driven by said motor means in gripping contact with said tubular goods.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 39 words

Apparatus as set forth in claim 16 wherein: said drive frame means is an inverted V-shape with motor means mounted at each lower extremity to drive oppositely disposed dual drive wheel means in gripping contact with said tubular goods.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 24 words

Apparatus as set forth in claim 16 which further includes: a third circumferential array of transducers for detecting wall thickness of said tubular goods.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 36 words

Apparatus as set forth in claim 15 which is further characterized in that: said plural transducers and water enclosure means are sealably bisectable to enable manual placement of said ultrasonic testing apparatus on the tubular goods.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 32 words

Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for disposing comprises: means for supporting said elongate goods while moving said elongate goods through said plural transducers and water enclosure means.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 54 words

Apparatus as set forth in claim 20 wherein said means for supporting comprises: upright frame means including base support and upper frame supporting said plural transducers and water enclosure means; and drive means including drive wheels in gripping engagement with said tubular goods for moving the tubular goods horizontally through said central bore area.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 27 words

Apparatus as set forth in claim 21 wherein: said first and second resilient seal members are replaceable to adjust the size of the central bore slidable seal.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 37 words

Apparatus as set forth in claim 21 which further includes: water supply means providing input to said water enclosure means; and means collecting water escaping from said enclosure means for redirection back to said water supply means.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 24 words

Apparatus as set forth in claim 23 which further includes: a third circumferential array of transducers for detecting wall thickness of said tubular goods.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 67 words

Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein: said first circumferential array of transducers are each disposed at a selected acute angle relative to normal to the longitudinal axis of said tubular goods; and said second circumferential array of transducers are each disposed at a selected acute angle relative to the radial dimension of said tubular goods as aligned in a plane normal to said tubular goods.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 27 words

Apparatus as set forth in claim 25 which further includes: a third circumferential array of transducers each disposed normal to the longitudinal axis of said tubular goods.

Claim 28

Independent Claim 138 words

A method for ultrasonic testing of tubular goods, comprising: moving said tubular goods longitudinally relative to a point of inspection; repetitively pulsing and receiving return energy at said point of inspection from first and second circumferential arrays of ultrasonic energy transducers disposed in an array block, wherein the first circumferential array is directed with each transducer disposed at a selected acute angle relative to normal to the longitudinal axis of the tubular goods to detect transverse discontinuities, and the second circumferential array is directed with each transducer disposed at a selected acute angle relative to the radial dimension of said tubular goods as aligned in a plane normal to said goods to detect longitudinal discontinuities; continually maintaining an energy-couplant fluid environment at said point of inspection; and indicating both transverse and longitudinal discontinuities detected along said tubular goods.

Claim 29

Independent Claim 138 words

A method for ultrasonic testing of tubular goods, comprising: moving said tubular goods longitudinally relative to a point of inspection; repetitively pulsing and receiving return energy at said point of inspection from first and second circumferential arrays of ultrasonic energy transducers disposed in an array block, wherein the first circumferential array is directed with each transducer disposed at a selected acute angle relative to normal to the longitudinal axis of the tubular goods to detect transverse discontinuities, and the second circumferential array is directed with each transducer disposed at a selected acute angle relative to the radial dimension of said tubular goods as aligned in a plane normal to said goods to detect longitudinal discontinuities; continually maintaining an energy-couplant fluid environment at said point of inspection; and indicating both transverse and longitudinal discontinuities detected along said tubular goods.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 36 words

A method as set forth in claim 27 wherein: said tubular goods is box-end thread-end coupled oil well drill pipe in operative disposition; and said point of inspection is located beneath the oil well drilling platform.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 44 words

A method as set forth in claim 27 which further includes: repetitively pulsing and receiving return energy at said point of inspection from a third circumferential array of transducers directed normal to the longitudinal axis of said tubular goods to detect wall thickness thereof.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 29 words

A method as set forth in claim 29 wherein: said first, second and third transducer arrays are energized at differing ultrasonic frequency thereby to eliminate interference as between arrays.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1986-09-19	1987-03-21	1987-09-20	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1990-09-19	1991-03-21	1991-09-20	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1994-09-19	1995-03-21	1995-09-20	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Method and apparatus for ultrasonic testing of tubular goods

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