US4642215A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Universal tool for ultrasonic testing of nuclear reactor vessels
Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp
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Filing: 1983-10-13
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Granted: 1987-02-10
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Expires: 2003-10-13
Abstract
Abstract A universal tool for the weld inspection of tubular objects such as reactor vessels is disclosed. The tool is constructed from an array of transducers mounted in groups for common inspection of a particular weld volume. The individual transducers, as well as the groups, are arranged in a compact assembly for minimizing the overall dimensions of the tool and its corresponding weight. The transducers are arranged in a manner which permits inspection of tubular objects having different radii of curvature and corresponding different diameters with a single tool without the need of having to individually adjust the orientation angles of the transducers.
Inventors
- 👤 Daniel E. Klinvex
- 👤 Suzanne B. Crusi
- 👤 William E. Kepes
- 👤 Joseph A. Vano
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 08:26
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N29/00; G01N29/04; G21; G21C; G21C17/00; G21C17/003; G01N29/22; G01N29/26; G01N29/265; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E30/00; Y02E30/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
139 words
A composite tool for inspecting portions of a plurality of objects for locating defects therein, each of said objects having a longitudinal axis and a different radius of curvature, said tool comprising a support plate, and a plurality of individual sensors mounted to said plate for emitting inspection beams therefrom, said sensors being arranged relative to said plate such that said inspection beams from each of said sensors penetrate a predetermined portion of said object lying substantially along an imaginary line on the surface of said object when said plate is positioned at a predetermined location relative to said line, said imaginary line lying in a plane containing said longitudinal axis of said body whereby the inspection of said predetermined portion of said object by said sensors is independent of the radius of curvature of said object being inspected.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
139 words
A composite tool for inspecting portions of a plurality of objects for locating defects therein, each of said objects having a longitudinal axis and a different radius of curvature, said tool comprising a support plate, and a plurality of individual sensors mounted to said plate for emitting inspection beams therefrom, said sensors being arranged relative to said plate such that said inspection beams from each of said sensors penetrate a predetermined portion of said object lying substantially along an imaginary line on the surface of said object when said plate is positioned at a predetermined location relative to said line, said imaginary line lying in a plane containing said longitudinal axis of said body whereby the inspection of said predetermined portion of said object by said sensors is independent of the radius of curvature of said object being inspected.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The tool of claim 1 wherein said sensors each comprise an ultrasonic transmitter and receiver.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The tool of claim 1 wherein said sensors are arranged in a group, said sensors in said group adapted for inspection of a common predetermined portion of said object.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
The tool of claim 3 wherein said sensors are arranged in a plurality of groups, a first number of said groups being positioned and aligned at predetermined angles to said plate to permit simultaneous inspection by said beams of a respective predetermined portion of said object.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
The tool of claim 4 wherein a second number of said groups are aligned at predetermined angles to said plate to permit separate inspection of locations within a predetermined portion of said object.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The tool of claim 4 wherein said groups of individual sensors are positioned relative to one another so as to minimize the size of said plate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The tool of claim 1 wherein a first number of said sensors are fixedly mounted to said plate.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The tool of claim 7 wherein a second number of said sensors are removably mounted to said plate.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
The tool of claim 1 wherein said object comprises a nuclear reactor vessel.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
55 words
The tool of claim 1 wherein said sensors are arranged along an axis of said plate, said axis during the inspection of said object lying in a plane containing said longitudinal axis of said object and said imaginary line when said plate is positioned at said predetermined location relative to said object for inspection thereof.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
The tool of claim 10 wherein said sensors are aligned for directing said inspection beams to fall within said plane.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
55 words
The tool of claim 1 wherein said sensors are arranged along an axis of said plate, said axis during the inspection of said object lying outside said plane containing said longitudinal axis of said object and said imaginary line when said plate is positioned at said predetermined location relative to said object for inspection thereof.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
The tool of claim 12 wherein said sensors are aligned for directing said inspection beams to intersect said plane at said imaginary line.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
40 words
The tool of claim 12 wherein said sensors are arranged in a group, a first number of individual sensors of said group lying within said plane while a second number of individual sensors of said group lying outside said plane.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
46 words
The tool of claim 14 wherein said sensors are arranged in a plurality of groups, a first number of individual sensors of each of said groups lying within said plane while a second number of individual sensors of each of said groups lying outside said plane.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
143 words
A tool having an array of ultrasonic transducers for rendering an ultrasonic inspection of a plurality of objects having cylindrical portions of different curvatures while maintaining said transducers at the same orientation with respect to one another, comprising a support plate for supporting said transducers, a row of individual transducers disposed along a line in said support plate for emitting and receiving a plurality of ultrasonic beams disposed along a plant which is substantially orthogonal to said support plate, a plurality of transducers on either side of said row for transmitting and directing an ultrasonic beam through a focal line in said beam plane which is parallel to the row of ultrasonic transducers, and positioning means for aligning said beam plane with a radial plane of one of said cylindrical objects and for positioning said focal line on the surface of said object.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
143 words
A tool having an array of ultrasonic transducers for rendering an ultrasonic inspection of a plurality of objects having cylindrical portions of different curvatures while maintaining said transducers at the same orientation with respect to one another, comprising a support plate for supporting said transducers, a row of individual transducers disposed along a line in said support plate for emitting and receiving a plurality of ultrasonic beams disposed along a plant which is substantially orthogonal to said support plate, a plurality of transducers on either side of said row for transmitting and directing an ultrasonic beam through a focal line in said beam plane which is parallel to the row of ultrasonic transducers, and positioning means for aligning said beam plane with a radial plane of one of said cylindrical objects and for positioning said focal line on the surface of said object.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
17 words
A tool as described in claim 16, wherein said support plate is formed from high strength aluminum.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
A tool as described in claim 16, wherein said plurality of transducers are substantially symmetrically arranged with respect to said row of individual transducers.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
33 words
A tool as described in claim 16, wherein at least one of said transducers in said row transmits and directs an ultrasonic beam which is orthogonally disposed with respect to said support plate.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
58 words
A tool as described in claim 19, further including at least first and second additional transducers on either side of said row, respectively, for transmitting and directing at ultrasonic beam which is orthogonally disposed with respect to said support plate, wherein the information generated by said first and second transducers is used to remotely control the positioning means.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
118 words
A process for ultrasonically inspecting a plurality of objects having cylindrical portions of different curvatures with a fixed array of ultrasonic transducers which are maintained in the same orientation with respect to one another as said different cylindrical portions are inspected, comprising the steps of: (a) generating a plurality of ultrasonic beams along a common plane; (b) generating a plurality of other ultrasonic beams which converge on said common beam plane along a common line; (c) aligning said beam plane with a radial plane of said cylindrical portion of a selected one of said objects while positioning said focal line on a portion of the surface of said object, and (d) monitoring the resulting reflections of ultrasonic beams.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
118 words
A process for ultrasonically inspecting a plurality of objects having cylindrical portions of different curvatures with a fixed array of ultrasonic transducers which are maintained in the same orientation with respect to one another as said different cylindrical portions are inspected, comprising the steps of: (a) generating a plurality of ultrasonic beams along a common plane; (b) generating a plurality of other ultrasonic beams which converge on said common beam plane along a common line; (c) aligning said beam plane with a radial plane of said cylindrical portion of a selected one of said objects while positioning said focal line on a portion of the surface of said object, and (d) monitoring the resulting reflections of ultrasonic beams.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-02-09 | 1990-08-11 | 1991-02-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-02-09 | 1994-08-11 | 1995-02-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-02-09 | 1998-08-11 | 1999-02-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |