Eddy current surface mapping system for flaw detection

Claim 1

An apparatus for non-destructive measuring and testing of a manufactured part comprising: an electromagnetic transducer positioned for inducing an eddy current in a part and for providing an output signal representative of the eddy current induced in the part; scanning apparatus connected to at least one of the part and said transducer for effecting relative movement between said transducer and the part; processing apparatus connected for receiving said output signal and for deriving therefrom first and second mutually perpendicular drive signals representative of phase and amplitude components of the eddy current; a controller coupled to said scanning apparatus for producing a first and a second movement signal for effecting relative movement between said transducer and the part; a signal mixer connected for receiving said drive signals and said movement signals and for generating a composite signal in response thereto, said composite signal being representative of the relative movement of said electromagnetic transducer in at least one axis as indicated by one of said movement signals and of the magnitude of said eddy current distributed in the part; and a two-dimensional display coupled for receiving and displaying said composite signal and the other movement signal to generate an apparent three-dimensional representative image of irregularities in the part.

Claim 2

An apparatus for non-destructive measuring and testing of a manufactured part comprising: an electromagnetic transducer positioned for inducing an eddy current in a part and for providing an output signal representative of the eddy current induced in the part; scanning apparatus connected to at least one of the part and said transducer for effecting relative movement between said transducer and the part; processing apparatus connected for receiving said output signal and for deriving therefrom first and second mutually perpendicular drive signals representative of phase and amplitude components of the eddy current; a controller coupled to said scanning apparatus for producing a first and a second movement signal for effecting relative movement between said transducer and the part; a signal mixer connected for receiving said drive signals and said movement signals and for generating a composite signal in response thereto, said composite signal being representative of the relative movement of said electromagnetic transducer in at least one axis as indicated by one of said movement signals and of the magnitude of said eddy current distributed in the part; and a two-dimensional display coupled for receiving and displaying said composite signal and the other movement signal to generate an apparent three-dimensional representative image of irregularities in the part.

Claim 16

A method for non-destructive testing of a part in a system including an eddy current probe for identifying irregularities in the part, said method comprising the steps of: (a) positioning an eddy current probe near a surface of a part for detecting part irregularities manifested by variations in probe impedance, the probe generating electrical signals representative thereof; (b) effecting relative movement between the probe and the part whereby the probe scans the part for producing electrical signals varying as a function of part irregularities; (c) converting said electrical signals to two mutually perpendicular drive signals representative of the magnitude of the electrical signal at a corresponding location; (d) generating a first and a second movement signal representative respectively of the probe position relative to the part along first and second orthogonal axes; (e) generating a composite signal comprising a summation of the drive signals and the first movement signal; and (f) coupling the composite signal and the second movement signal to a display apparatus for generating a two-dimensional image representative of three-dimensional irregularities in the part.

Claim 17

A method for non-destructive testing of a part in a system including an eddy current probe for identifying irregularities in the part, said method comprising the steps of: (a) positioning an eddy current probe near a surface of a part for detecting part irregularities manifested by variations in probe impedance, the probe generating electrical signals representative thereof; (b) effecting relative movement between the probe and the part whereby the probe scans the part for producing electrical signals varying as a function of part irregularities; (c) converting said electrical signals to two mutually perpendicular drive signals representative of the magnitude of the electrical signal at a corresponding location; (d) generating a first and a second movement signal representative respectively of the probe position relative to the part along first and second orthogonal axes; (e) generating a composite signal comprising a summation of the drive signals and the first movement signal; and (f) coupling the composite signal and the second movement signal to a display apparatus for generating a two-dimensional image representative of three-dimensional irregularities in the part.