Ultrasonic transducer apparatus and method for high temperature measurements

Claim 2

A non-destructive method for inspecting materials at temperatures in excess of 500° C. comprising the steps of: (a) providing a dual transducer having a pair of transducer elements; (b) providing a delay line suitable for operation at said temperatures, said delay line being adapted to receive said dual transducer elements and be in intimate sonic contact therewith while providing acoustic isolation therebetween, said delay line being adapted to be in direct intimate contact with only one surface of said material under test; (c) acoustically coupling said delay line to one surface of said material to be inspected by direct intimate contact thereto; (d) fluid cooling said delay line to maintain said dual transducer elements in contact therewith at a safe operating temperature; (e) transmitting an ultrasonic wave through one portion of said delay line by one of said dual transducer elements; (f) receiving an acoustical sound wave by the other of said dual transducer elements reflected from a defect appearing in said material under test or from the far surface of said material through the other portion of said delay line; and (g) providing means for determining the location of said defect relative to the position of said dual transducer on said material.

Claim 3

The method according to claim 1 further including the step of (h) displaying the location of said defect.

Claim 4

The method according to claim 1 wherein said fluid cooling is accomplished by water flowing in a continuous path simultaneously cooling both transducer elements of said dual transducer.

Claim 7

An apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said cooling means simultaneously cools both said transducer elements.

Claim 8

An apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said delay line comprises: (a) an upper ring member having; (i) two channels disposed proximate the circumference thereof, each of said channels extending less than one half the distance of said circumference leaving solid portions therebetween, (ii) fluid input and output means, said fluid means communicating with one of said two channels and said fluid output means communicating with the other of said two channels, and (iii) a centrally disposed aperture; (b) a lower ring member having; (i) a channel disposed proximate the circumference thereof, said channel extending completely around said ring member, and (ii) a centrally disposed aperture; (c) acoustic isolation means disposed between said delay line two portions sandwiching said acoustic isolation means therebetween and disposed within said upper and lower ring apertures, said delay line portions being provided with through apertures disposed about the periphery of said portions in an axial direction to provide a continuous fluid flow path from said upper ring input means to said upper ring output means via, one of said upper ring channels, the apertures in one of said portions, said lower ring channel, the apertures in the other of said portions, and the other of said upper ring channels.

Claim 9

An apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said delay line comprises: (a) a solid member cut in half along its longitudinal axis to form said two portions; (b) acoustical isolation means disposed between said two portions; and (c) a hollow cooling coil adapted to receive cooling liquid therethrough, said cooling coil circumscribing said delay line half portions with said acoustical means disposed therebetween and in intimate contact therewith.