| Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
|---|
| 073588000 | Structural bond evaluation | 61 |
| 20080196504 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR DETECTING CRACKS IN WELDS - A method of inspecting a portion of a weld between at least two materials includes mounting at least one ultrasonic phased array probe including at least one transducer having a plurality of elements within a housing containing a liquid therein, attaching the housing adjacent to an outer surface of the portion of the weld such that the liquid is adjacent to the outer surface of the portion of the weld, and scanning the weld with the at least one ultrasonic phased array probe. | 08-21-2008 |
| 20080210009 | Automatic Ultrasonic Examination Device, Automatic Ultrasonic Examination Method and Production Method Using the Examination Method - An automatic ultrasonic examination device | 09-04-2008 |
| 20080257048 | Apparatus and method for non-destructive testing - A diagnostic means to enable real-time inspection of bonded structures. The disclosed apparatus detects bond failure stress waves on-axis from the front side (beam application side). Pi-box and pi-rail EMAT gauges can be used with the disclosed apparatus. An inductively coupled EMAT may also be employed. An improved means to remotely deliver an interrogating laser beam to a surface is provided. The process head may utilize a water column or a water film. The water film process head may include the use of either a single water film or two spaced apart water films. The disclosed apparatus can be used with bonded composite structures, bonded structures using various materials, and to determine the dynamic strength of unbonded solid materials. The apparatus may also be used in other applications that require remote flexible delivery of a localized stress wave to a material and/or diagnosis of the resultant stress waves. | 10-23-2008 |
| 20090031811 | Ultrasonic Method to Verify the Interference Fit of Fasteners - Embodiments of techniques to verify the interference fit of fasteners are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes aligning a probe proximate a fastener, the fastener being disposed within a material. A dynamic stress signal is generated from the probe using a low frequency transducer, and the dynamic stress signal is interrogated after it passes between the fastener and the material. An interference fit is then determined based on the interrogated dynamic stress signal. | 02-05-2009 |
| 20090049916 | Detection of defects in welded structures - A method of detecting defects in a welded metal structure, comprising mounting an ultrasonic transducer at or adjacent to a weld seam, and emitting ultrasonic signals so that the signals are propagated in the weld seam acting as a wave guide, and detecting reflections of the signals that may be indicative of defects in or adjacent to the weld seam. Waveguiding occurs within the weld principally because it is thicker than the plate, and thus the phase velocity in the plate is greater than that in the weld. This results in total internal reflection within the weld. In addition, an evanescent wave propagates in a region adjacent to the weld. The common problem with non destructive testing of excitation and reception of unwanted modes is greatly reduced, since it has been found that for certain frequency regions, transmitted waves will propagate only in a single mode at a predetermined frequency. As preferred the fundamental symmetric Lamb wave mode S | 02-26-2009 |
| 20090100934 | USING THERMAL BURSTS TO APPLY A COMBINED SHOCK WAVEFRONT TO STRUCTURAL BONDS - A system for applying a controlled stress on a joint in a structure includes means for applying a plurality of thermal bursts in a designated timing sequence and trajectory pattern to produce a combined shock wavefront directed toward the joint. This system can provide increased accuracy in measuring the strength and quality of composite bonds and laminations. | 04-23-2009 |
| 20090255341 | WELD VERIFICATION SYSTEM AND METHOD - An inspection method and system that locates a probe proximate a region of a shaft that is welded to a slug that secures the shaft to a housing. An acoustical wavefront may be emitted from the probe into the shaft toward the slug, and a reflection of the acoustical wavefront may be received with the probe. Whether the reflection occurred at an interface between the shaft and the slug or at a distal end of the slug is determined based on a time that the reflection is received by the probe. | 10-15-2009 |
| 20090293619 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR EVALUATING ADHESION STRENGTH OF A THIN FILM - A method and apparatus for evaluating the adhesion strength of a thin film are capable of quantitatively and qualitatively evaluating the adhesion strength of thin films that were difficult to evaluate with conventional methods. The method of evaluating the adhesion strength of a thin film includes: a step of placing an ultrasonic vibration needle in contact with one of an edge portion in a planar direction of a thin film formed on a substrate and a periphery of the edge portion, and applying ultrasonic vibration; a step of detecting occurrences of detachment at the edge portion of the thin film after application of the ultrasonic vibration; and a step of evaluating the adhesion strength of the thin film on the substrate according to the occurrences of detachment. | 12-03-2009 |
| 20090320598 | METHOD FOR TESTING THE MICROSTRUCTURE OF A WELDED JOINT - A method for testing the microstructure of a welded joint for interior damage due to material creepage, with the following steps is disclosed: creating at least one ultrasonic surface wave by a first test head, receiving of the ultrasonic surface wave by a second test head, determining the acoustic properties within the structural conditions on the basis of the relation between a created and received ultrasonic surface wave, and determining the degree of damage of the interior structural conditions on the basis of the acoustic properties ascertained. | 12-31-2009 |
| 20100031749 | COMPENSATING FOR TEMPERATURE EFFECTS IN A HEALTH MONITORING SYSTEM - A method is present for monitoring a structure. A plurality of modes is identified for a first response for the structure at a first temperature. Each mode in the plurality of modes is adjusted from the first temperature to the second temperature to form a plurality of temperature adjusted modes. A temperature adjusted response is formed from the plurality of temperature adjusted modes in which the temperature adjusted response is adjusted to a second temperature from the first temperature. The temperature adjusted response is compared to a second response to evaluate the changes in the structure between the two sets of measurements. | 02-11-2010 |
| 20100089161 | Vibration Based Damage Detection System - The present invention provides methods of assessing damage on a joint that includes energizing the joint, detecting the vibration of the joint using one or more signal generating sensors, processing the signal(s), and applying a damage index to the processed signal(s), wherein the damage index incorporates a processed control signal generated by a sensor(s) at or near the joint when the joint was healthy, i.e., in a substantially undamaged state. Another aspect of the present invention provides a pipeline that includes at least two pipe segments, at least one joint connecting the two pipe segments, and at least one signal generating sensor affixed to the pipeline that is capable of detecting vibration at or near the joint, at least one signal processor that is capable of EMD processing the signal, and an output device (e.g., computer monitor, LED display, a light bulb, an electronic alarm, or other sound or light generating device). | 04-15-2010 |
| 20100101326 | ULTRASONIC FLAW DETECTION APPARATUS AND ULTRASONIC FLAW DETECTION METHOD FOR PIPE - The present invention has a structure capable of detecting the scattered-type penetrator having oxides each with the size of several μm sparsely and widely dispersed. Specifically, the structure includes a wave transmission unit | 04-29-2010 |
| 20100107766 | Ultrasonic testing method of threaded joint of pipes or tubes - There is provided a method for detecting an abnormal portion (defect, non-adhering portion, and seized portion) lying at a contact region between each part of a pin and each part of a box forming a threaded joint to be used as a joint of pipe or tubes such as OCTG. This invention provides an ultrasonic testing method of a threaded joint of pipes or tubes including a pin having an external thread part, a metal seal part, and a shoulder part on an outer peripheral surface, and a box having an internal thread part, a metal seal part, and a shoulder part corresponding to each part of the pin on an inner peripheral surface and being fastened with the pin by way of a lubricant. The method according to the present invention comprising the steps of: transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves to and from a plurality of locations along an axial direction of the threaded joint in at least one of the internal thread part, the metal seal part, and the shoulder part of the box; detecting echo intensities and reception times of echoes for the plurality of locations; and detecting an abnormal portion in the threaded joint based on axial directional distribution of the echo intensities and axial directional distribution of reception times of the echoes. | 05-06-2010 |
| 20100116058 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR MEASURING PARAMETERS OF CARDIAC FUNCTION - A full tube is closed in a closing station of a tube filling machine by forming a welded joint, and the closed tube is then tested in terms of the tightness thereof. In order to do so, sound wave energy is introduced into the welded joint, and the sound wave that penetrates the welded joint is detected and is compared with a reference sound wave. The tube is classified as faulty if the detected sound wave deviates from the reference sound wave by more than a predetermined measure. | 05-13-2010 |
| 20100242608 | ELECTRODE CAP FOR ULTRASONIC TESTING - An example electrode cap includes a bored portion of an electrode cap. The bored portion establishes a bore that extends longitudinally from one end of the electrode cap and terminates at a surface having a radius relative to the longitudinal axis. A tip portion of the electrode cap extends from the surface toward another end of the electrode cap. An example method of maintaining a focal point of an ultrasonic wave includes propagating an ultrasonic wave from a transducer through a bore and a tip portion of an electrode cap and receiving a reflection of the ultrasonic wave. The method further includes determining information about a welded area using the reflection and adjusting a radius of a surface of the electrode cap to position a focal point of the ultrasonic wave within the tip portion. | 09-30-2010 |
| 20100326196 | WELDING INSPECTION METHOD AND WELDING INSPECTION APPARATUS - Disclosed is a welding inspection method which does not require the inspector to be highly skilled, does not require waiting for the spot welded part to cool off, and with which the probe is not consumed or damaged. A probe temporarily mounted close to the welded part on the surface of a metal plate emits ultrasonic waves from an oblique direction with respect to the boundary surfaces between a plurality of metal plates. At this time, the probe is temporarily mounted at the position where the incident ultrasonic waves pass through the welded part at the boundary between the plurality of metal plates in an oblique direction with respect to the boundary surface. Also, a display processing means displays the intensity of the refrected ultrasonic waves. Alternatively, the display processing means displays the details of the detection result estimated based on the intensity of the reflected ultrasonic waves. | 12-30-2010 |
| 20110016975 | Method and Apparatus For Measuring In-Situ Characteristics Of Material Exfoliation - Methods and apparatus for measuring, in-situ, at least one characteristic of a bonding process between a material sheet and a substrate, include: producing acoustic signals in response to acoustic energy within at least one of the material sheet and the substrate proximate to a bonding interface between the material sheet and the substrate; and deriving the at least one characteristic of the bonding process from the acoustic signals. | 01-27-2011 |
| 20110138918 | Method of Assessing Bolted Joint Integrity - A method of assessing bolted joint integrity. A guided wave is sent through a structure containing at least one bolted joint. The guided wave that is subsequently propagated through the structure and interacted with the bolted joint is measured to obtain a measured result. At least one parameter of the guided wave after its travel through the structure, and after having been affected by a nonlinear acoustic behavior of the bolted joint, is analyzed. Either at least one guided wave parameter is compared to a wave propagation pattern of the bolted joint at a correct torque level, or variation of at least one guided wave parameter is compared, to determine changes in wave propagation time and/or wave propagation shape. An incorrect torque level of the bolted joint is inferred from any changes that are determined. | 06-16-2011 |
| 20110146407 | METHOD FOR IDENTIFYING DEFECTIVE HEAT FUSION JOINTS - A method for characterizing a defect of a defective heat fusion joint connecting two pipe segments in which the time of flight of an ultrasonic waveform reflected off an exterior surface of a heat fusion joint fitting connecting the two pipe segments or reflected off an interior wall of one of the pipe segments at a plurality of locations around the circumference of the heat fusion joint fitting is measured to determine the minimum and maximum times of flight, which correspond to the maximum and minimum combined wall thicknesses of the heat fusion joint fitting connecting the pipe segments and the pipe segment wall. If the difference between the minimum and maximum combined wall thicknesses as determined from the measured times of flight is equal to or greater than a predetermined amount, then the heat fusion joint is defective and possibly unacceptable for use, requiring a second set of time-of-flight measurements to characterize the nature of the defect. | 06-23-2011 |
| 20110146408 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PASS/FAIL DETERMINATION OF BONDING AND BONDING APPARATUS - An apparatus for pass/fail determination of bonding used in a bonding apparatus, includes: an ultrasonic horn configured to vibrate longitudinally in resonance with the vibration of an ultrasonic vibrator; a capillary attached at an anti-node of the vibration of the ultrasonic horn; a flange provided at a node of the vibration of the ultrasonic horn; a bonding arm; and a load sensor attached between the center of rotation of the bonding arm and a flange mounting surface in an offset manner from a longitudinal central axis of the ultrasonic horn, in which a load on the capillary in the direction toward and away from the bonding target is continuously detected by using the load sensor during bonding operation and the maximum value of the detected load is defined as an impact load to determine pass/fail of the bonding based on the impact load, thereby allowing a mid-bonding pass/fail determination. | 06-23-2011 |
| 20110209547 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR THE ULTRASOUND MONITORING, MEASURING AND TRACKING OF HEAT-SEALED SEAM BETWEEN TWO METAL PARTS - A device for checking, measuring and monitoring by ultrasound a hot weld seam between two metal parts, of the type including at least one ultrasonic transmitter. The device includes a shoe equipped with a planar face which is suitable for being in contact with a wall of one of the two parts and includes a housing for maintaining the ultrasonic transmitter in a predetermined orientation in relation to the wall, a cooling system for cooling the ultrasonic transmitter to a temperature below its operating temperature limit, and distributor for depositing and distributing a coupling product between the base plate of the ultrasonic transmitter and the wall. | 09-01-2011 |
| 20110296922 | EMAT FOR INSPECTING THICK-SECTION WELDS AND WELD OVERLAYS DURING THE WELDING PROCESS - The invention relates to a method and system for monitoring the integrity of thick section welds during the welding process with electromagnetic acoustic transducers (EMAT). Using induction coils in properly arranged and oriented magnetic fields, EMATs can generate shear horizontally polarized (SH) skimming waves in the base metal adjacent to the weld. A through transmission method is adopted where by a transmitting EMAT is used to generate SH skimming waves on side of the weld while a receiving EMAT is used to sense and assess the ultrasonic signal acquired by a receiver EMAT on the other side of the weld there by indicating the quality of the most recent weld layer applied by the welder. | 12-08-2011 |
| 20120011934 | JOINT QUALITY INSPECTION APPARATUS AND JOINT QUALITY INSPECTION METHOD - A joint quality examining device and method for accurately examining in real time the qualities of the joints of all the products where joining members are joined to members to be joined. A joining device includes an ampere meter, a frequency meter, an encoder, and a recording unit the four for detected the joining waveform produced in a joining process, a feature point extracting unit for extracting from the deleted joining waveform a feature point related to an after-endurance physical quantity usable for evaluation of the quality which the joint is required to have after an endurance test, a calculating formula setting unit storing the calculation formula for calculating the after-endurance physical quantity, a calculating unit for calculating the after-endurance physical quantity of the joint from the feature point extracted by using the calculation formula, and a judging unit for judging whether or not the joint quality of the joint is acceptable on the basis of the comparison of the calculated after-endurance physical quantity and a predetermined threshold. | 01-19-2012 |
| 20120111115 | Non-Contact Microelectronic Device Inspection Systems And Methods - Non-contact microelectronic device inspection systems and methods are discussed and provided. Some embodiments include a method of generating a virtual reference device (or chip). This approach uses a statistics to find devices in a sample set that are most similar and then averages their time domain signals to generate the virtual reference. Signals associated with the virtual reference can then be correlated with time domain signals obtained from the packages under inspection to obtain a quality signature. Defective and non-defective devices are separated by estimating a beta distribution that fits a quality signature histogram of inspected packages and determining a cutoff threshold for an acceptable quality signature. Other aspects, features, and embodiments are also claimed and described. | 05-10-2012 |
| 20120204645 | Circumferential Weld Scanner With Axial Drift Prevention - Inspection of circumferential sections of pipe or other conduit using an ultrasonic scanning apparatus is provided, wherein axial drift of the ultrasonic scanning apparatus is prevented using a guide track assembly. The guide track assembly is rigidly coupled to the ultrasonic scanning apparatus in the axial direction, but allows rotational motion of the ultrasonic scanning apparatus directly along the outer surface of the conduit using a drive chain that is driven by a circumferential drive. Secure rotational motion without drift between the guide track assembly and the ultrasonic scanning apparatus is maintained by the rigid coupling and by a spring-loaded wheel housing assembly that maintains contact of wheels that travel along the guide track. The ultrasonic scanning apparatus includes a transducer with spring-loaded gimbaling that maintains optimal proximity with the conduit surface. The transducer is translated axially along linear journals that extend along the conduit with a linear actuator. | 08-16-2012 |
| 20120318064 | METHOD FOR TESTING CONNECTIONS OF METAL WORKPIECES TO PLASTIC COMPOUNDS FOR CAVITIES BY MEANS OF ULTRASOUND - The invention relates to a method for testing connections of metal workpieces to plastic compounds for cavities by means of ultrasound, wherein the plastic compound is arranged between the workpiece as an intermediate layer or is connected to the workpiece on one side and the cavity is located within the plastic compound, wherein the cavity is connected to the workpiece by means of a remaining plastic layer or plastic skin and wherein the plastic compound is exposed to ultrasonic signals of a certain test frequency and pulse length from the metal side of the workpiece by means of at least one ultrasonic probe, and in particular the ultrasonic signals reflected by flaws in the plastic compound are detected by the same or another ultrasonic probe and converted into electrical signals that can be evaluated and subjected to a threshold observation. The test frequency of the ultrasonic signals is set in a range of 1 to 10 MHz so that the attenuation of the sound is minimal after passing through the plastic skin. | 12-20-2012 |
| 20130000407 | Inspection System And Methods For Integral Seals - An inspection system for integral seals includes an ultrasonic transducer configured to ultrasonically scan an integral seal having a rubber sealing member attached to a seal carrier, and a transducer positioning mechanism defining a plurality of translational degrees of freedom and a rotational degree of freedom. An electronic control unit is coupled with the ultrasonic transducer, and may be configured to store data indicative of a defect in the integral seal responsive to a reflection pattern defined by ultrasound reflected by the rubber sealing member and the seal carrier. Related methodology is also disclosed. | 01-03-2013 |
| 20130192373 | Tension Wave Generation System - A method and apparatus for generating a tension wave. A beam of coherent light is directed to an absorber surface of a transducer structure. A compression wave is generated within the transducer structure. The compression wave is reflected on a reflecting surface of the transducer structure to form the tension wave. The tension wave is directed through a test object in a desired direction using a configuration of the reflecting surface relative to the test object. | 08-01-2013 |
| 20130199296 | METHOD FOR MONITORING THE QUALITY OF INDUSTRIAL PROCESSES AND SYSTEM THEREFROM - A method for monitoring the quality of an industrial working process, which includes identifying defects of the working process, comprises acquiring at least one signal having multiple frequency components from the industrial working process, decomposing the at least one signal having multiple frequency components in signals having single frequency components, calculating the information content for each signal having a single frequency component, analyzing the information content for each signal having a single frequency component, and if the value of the information content of the signal at the lowest single frequency component does not represent a main percentage of the information content of the whole acquired signal, the acquired signal having multiple frequency components is evaluated as indicative of a working process with defects and a defect analysis step is performed on the signal having multiple frequency components. | 08-08-2013 |
| 20130247672 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR NON-DESTRUCTIVE WELD TESTING - A method for detecting the integrity of a bond of a multi-piece work piece includes capturing a first image of the work piece, stressing the work piece, capturing a stressed image of the work piece, and comparing the first image of the work piece with the stressed image of the work piece to determine the integrity of the bond. | 09-26-2013 |
| 20130255384 | Ultrasonic Transducer Arrangement - An ultrasonic transducer arrangement for inspecting a pipe to fitting weld with restricted scanning access. A TOFD ultrasonic send transducer is mounted adjacent one end of a frame. A TOFD ultrasonic receive transducer is mounted on the frame and spaced linearly apart from and aligned with the TOFD send transducer. The TOFD send and receive transducers are each positioned at an angle that matches the external radius of curvature of the pipe. A phased array curved, wedge, send/receive transducer is mounted on the frame and spaced radially apart from the TOFD transducers. | 10-03-2013 |
| 20130269437 | SENSING DEVICE AND METHOD OF ATTACHING THE SAME - A sensing device and a method of attaching the sensing device to a target object is disclosed. The substrate of the sensing device has one or more bonding material vias that allows the bonding material used to attach the substrate to the target object to flow from one side of the substrate to the other side of the substrate. The bonding material forms rivets to secure the substrate to the target object and to secure the layers of the substrate to each other. | 10-17-2013 |
| 20130269438 | METHOD OF TESTING A WELD BETWEEN TWO PLASTIC PARTS - The invention relates to a method for determining whether two plastics components ( | 10-17-2013 |
| 20130269439 | ULTRASONIC IN-PROCESS MONITORING AND FEEDBACK OF RESISTANCE SPOT WELD QUALITY - A method and apparatus for ultrasonic in-process monitoring and feedback of resistance spot weld quality uses at least one transducer located in the electrode assembly transmitting through a weld tip into an underway weld. Analysis of the spectrum of ultrasonic waves provides the operator with an indication of the size, thickness, location, dynamics of formation and quality of the spot weld. The method presents a fundamentally new physical approach to the characterization of the spot weld quality. Together with transmission mode it includes new modes of operation of ultrasonic probes such as a reflection mode and simultaneous use of transmission and reflection modes, and a new physical interpretation of the signal analysis results. | 10-17-2013 |
| 20140047922 | WEAK BOND DETECTION - Apparatuses and methods are disclosed for determining whether a structure of bonded layers includes locations where the layers are weakly bonded. Embodiments include evaluating the frequency response of the structure in response to vibrational inputs. Alternate embodiments include evaluating the non-linear response of the structure using a modal analysis. Further embodiments include obtaining the vibrational information with an accelerometer contacting the structure, while additional embodiments include exciting the structure with an impact force, which may be applied at multiple locations on the structure's surface. Still further embodiments include performing a MAC, COMAC, and/or FRF analysis. Still other embodiments include varying the amplitude of the input vibration. Additional embodiments locate the areas of weakened bonding. Still other embodiments include methods and apparatuses for simulating a laminated structure with defective bonding, such as kiss bonding. | 02-20-2014 |
| 20140076053 | PROFILING TOOL FOR DETERMINING MATERIAL THICKNESS FOR INSPECTION SITES HAVING COMPLEX TOPOGRAPHY - A phased array ultrasonic probe may be mounted to a component to be inspected for wall thickness on an apparatus that includes a split ring adapted to be magnetically held in place on the component. In particular, the probe may be mounted to a carriage connected to the split ring in a manner that allows the carriage to rotate around the split ring while the probe is in operation. Between the probe and the component, a transducer shoe defining, by a flexible membrane, a cavity and an aperture. Conveniently, the construction of the flexible membrane allows wall thickness measurements to be acquired in portions of the component that have complex topography, such as welds. The apparatus is installed on an adaptor assembly for inspection of straight section of pipes. This adaptor assembly is not used in absence of straight section. By acquiring data from multiple output pulse transmitted at multiple incidence angles, processing software may conveniently produce an accurate wall thickness map of the area of interest on the component. | 03-20-2014 |
| 20140083191 | JOINT STRUCTURE BY WELDING AND WELDING QUALITY INSPECTION METHOD THEREOF - A joint structure by welding includes a butted part between facing surfaces of a first member and a second member and two-stepped clearances adjacent to the butted part, and a weld bead that is melted from a joint of the butted part which is positioned on an opposite side of the two-stepped clearances into the two-stepped clearances is formed in the butted part by welding. Other parts than the butted part are spaced apart from each other between the facing surfaces, and when a width of the weld bead is assumed to be “A”, a width of a first level clearance of the two-stepped clearances that is adjacent to the butted part is assumed to be “B”, and a width of a second level clearance of the two-stepped clearances that is adjacent to the first level clearance is assumed to be “C”, the relation of “B | 03-27-2014 |
| 20140130599 | METHOD FOR INSPECTING DEFECT POINT IN ADHESIVE LAYER OF FIBRE CLOTH - The invention provides a method for inspecting defect point in adhesive layer of fibre cloth. The method includes following steps: spreading a fibre cloth; inspecting, by using two ultrasonic detectors, an upper surface and a lower surface of the fibre cloth simultaneously to sense a defect point in an adhesive layer of the fibre cloth; and analyzing an inspecting information sensed by the two ultrasonic detectors to obtain the situation of the defect point of the fibre cloth. | 05-15-2014 |
| 20140157900 | METHOD OF CHARACTERIZING AN ADHESIVE BOND - The invention relates to a method of characterizing an adhesive bond, the method comprising a step of recording an ultrasound wave reflected by an adhesive bond interface between two fragments, a step of resolving said wave into its sinusoidal components in order to characterize a mode of breaking to be expected in the event of the adhesive bonding interface breaking in shear. | 06-12-2014 |
| 20140165730 | PORTABLE MATRIX PHASED ARRAY SPOT WELD INSPECTION SYSTEM - A portable system for non-destructively characterizing spot welds that includes at least one matrix phased array probe and a body, wherein the body is designed to be hand-held and further includes an ergonomically designed outer casing; at least one input for connecting to the at least one matrix phased array probe; ultrasonic phased array transmitting and receiving circuitry in electrical communication with the at least one input; a touch screen computer that further includes at least one data processor running software that includes at least one imaging algorithm for processing data received from the probe and generating color coded ultrasonic C-scan images of characterized welds; and at least one monitor for displaying the color coded ultrasonic C-scan images of the characterized welds in real time. | 06-19-2014 |
| 20140216158 | AIR COUPLED ULTRASONIC CONTACTLESS METHOD FOR NON-DESTRUCTIVE DETERMINATION OF DEFECTS IN LAMINATED STRUCTURES - There is an air coupled ultrasonic contactless method and an installation for non-destructive determination of defects in laminated structures with a width (W) and a multiplicity of n lamellas with intermediate N−1 bonding plants (B), whereas at least one transmitter (T) in a fixed transmitter distance (WTS) radiates ultrasound beams at multiple positions and at least one receiver (R) in a sensor distance (WSR) is receiving re-radiated ultrasound beams at multiple positions relative to the laminated structure (S). The method images the position and geometry of for example lamination defects and allows for inspection of laminated structure (S) of arbitrary height (H) and length (L), and an individual assessment of specific bonding planes (e.g. B1, B2, B3), as well in situations with constrained access to the faces of the sample parallel to the bonding planes. | 08-07-2014 |
| 20140260625 | ULTRASONIC INSPECTION METHOD - An ultrasonic inspection method for inspecting a first article. The method includes, in a first inspection process: measuring the distance between a first surface of the first article and a nominal axis at three or more measurement locations along the axis of the surface; using the measured distances to produce a mathematical model of the surface of the first article; transmitting an ultrasonic wave from a first side of the first article through the first surface of the first article at a plurality of inspection locations along the axis of the first surface, and receiving a transmitted waveform which has passed through at least part of the first article; using the model to normalise each transmitted waveform at each inspection location to the nominal axis; and identifying a signature signal from the normalised transmitted waveform at each inspection location. | 09-18-2014 |
| 20140283610 | ULTRASONIC INSPECTION DEVICE AND METHOD OF ULTRASONIC INSPECTION - An ultrasonic inspection device includes: a vibration generating section that irradiates laser beam onto a first member to generate ultrasonic vibration; a detecting section that detects the ultrasonic vibration propagated from the first to a second members via a welded portion; and an analyzing section that analyzes the propagated ultrasonic vibration detected by the detecting section. The analyzing section obtains at least one of frequency and wavelength of the ultrasonic vibration detected by the detecting section upon when a displacement in the second member in a thickness direction becomes maximum. The analyzing section obtains a cross sectional dimension of the welded portion from a correlated relationship of the cross sectional dimension of the welded portion obtained in advance at a position on a surface of the second member on the first member side and the at least one of the frequency and wavelength of the ultrasonic vibration. | 09-25-2014 |
| 20140318248 | AUTOMATIC FIRST ELEMENT SELECTION FOR PHASED ARRAY WELD INSPECTION - A method of selecting one element among a plurality of elements of a phased-array ultrasonic weld inspection arrangement during inspection of a weld to obtain optimum weld inspection coverage. The weld connects portions of material having a known thickness. The elements extend along an ultrasonic transmission wedge of the arrangement that supports the extent of the elements at a wedge angle relative to the welded material. The method includes utilizing material thickness, offset distance of an edge of the wedge from a weld centerline and number of elements within calculation that yields the selection. | 10-30-2014 |
| 20140318249 | AUTO BEAM OPTIMIZATION FOR PHASED ARRAY WELD INSPECTION - A method of computing optimal beam numbers of a phased-array ultrasonic weld inspection arrangement. The arrangement is for inspecting a weld that is within an area of interest that has a known dimension and with the inspection arrangement being at a known offset distance from the weld. The selection is such that operation of the at least one element provides sufficient information data for weld analysis. The elements extend along an ultrasonic transmission wedge of the arrangement that supports the extent of the elements at a wedge angle relative to the welded material. The method includes utilizing the dimension of the weld area of interest and dimension of offset of the inspection arrangement from the weld within calculation that yields the selection of the at least one element. | 10-30-2014 |
| 20140318250 | METHOD FOR INSPECTING WELD PENETRATION DEPTH - In a butt-welded joint structure in which the entire peripheral edge or both end sides of the abutting surface are welded, first and second cutouts for determining insufficient penetration and determining excessive penetration are formed. After butt welding, ultrasound is beamed onto each of the first and second cutouts of the joint structure and the reflected wave is measured. The acceptability of the weld penetration depth is thus determined on the basis of both of the reflected waves. This determination is performed on the entire peripheral edge portion or both end side portions of the butted face between the welded materials, and the acceptability of the weld penetration depth of the corresponding portions is inspected. | 10-30-2014 |
| 20150082889 | POST-CRIMP INSPECTION DEVICE USING ULTRASONIC TRANSDUCER - A post-crimp inspection device includes first and second arms with an inspection zone being defined between the first and second arms and configured to receive a crimped terminal. At least one of the first and second arms is movable toward the crimped terminal during a testing phase. An ultrasonic transducer is coupled to the first arm. The ultrasonic transducer transmits acoustic signals toward the crimped terminal. A compliant member is positioned between the ultrasonic transducer and the crimped terminal. The ultrasonic transducer is ultrasonically coupled to the crimped terminal via the compliant member. The compliant member may conform to a contour of the terminal. The compliant member may receive, and be ultrasonically coupled to, crimped terminals that are crimped using different crimp tooling. | 03-26-2015 |
| 20150128709 | STRUCTURAL BOND INSPECTION - A method for determining the presence of damage in a structure includes applying energy to the structure to induce tension shockwaves in the structure. The method also includes detecting sound waves caused by the tension shockwaves using at least one acoustic emission sensor on the surface of the structure. Additionally, the method includes determining the presence of damage in the structure due to the applied energy based on detected sound waves. | 05-14-2015 |
| 20150308982 | ULTRASOUND METHOD AND DEVICE FOR INSPECTING THE BULK OF A WELD FOR THE PRESENCE OF DEFECTS - An ultrasound method and device for inspecting the bulk of a weld for the presence of defects are provided. The method includes a step of studying the weld metallurgically; a step of dividing the weld into a plurality of theoretical blocks and of jointly determining an elastic Hooke tensor for each theoretical block; a step of simulating by calculation the propagation of at least one incident ultrasound wave through the weld; a step of simulating at least one reference diffracted ultrasound wave; a step of emitting at least one incident ultrasound wave into the weld; a step of measuring each diffracted ultrasound wave; and a step of comparing each reference diffracted ultrasound wave with each measured diffracted ultrasound wave. | 10-29-2015 |
| 20150308984 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR ULTRASOUND INSPECTION OF WELDS, PARTICULARLY WELDS OF BLADES ON THE DISK OF A BLADED DISK - Method and device for ultrasound testing of welds, particularly for welds of blades on the blisk of a bladed disk. | 10-29-2015 |
| 20150330952 | Diagnostic System and Method for Testing Integrity of Stack During Ultrasonic Welding - A method for testing the integrity of a stack during ultrasonic welding, includes the steps of: (i) ultrasonically welding two or more work pieces with a stack, the stack including a convertor and a horn; (ii) measuring a frequency profile based on a vibration of the horn during the welding step; and (iii) comparing the measured frequency profile to a standard frequency profile to obtain an error rate, the error rate being indicative of a difference between the measured frequency profile and the standard frequency profile. A system employing the aforementioned method is also provided. | 11-19-2015 |
| 20150346164 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF DYNAMIC GATING IN NON-DESTRUCTIVE WELD INSPECTION - A phased array ultrasonic inspection system configured for weld inspection includes a data analysis process with automated and optimized gating to take into account the actual distance between a phased array probe and a weld line. The system embodies a weld tracking module and a dynamic gating module. The tracking module produces dynamically corrected overlays of the weld line based on the echo signals, the dynamically corrected overlays having a series of offsets from the corresponding initial overlays. The dynamic gating module purposefully positions a plurality of data analysis gates to filter out noise signals caused by sources unrelated to the weld, and to provide dynamic target gating adjusted by at least part of the offset. | 12-03-2015 |
| 20150369779 | WELDING STATE INSPECTION METHOD - A welding state inspection method for ultrasonic-welded plate-like members includes the steps of measuring energy that has been transmitted to an anvil when ultrasonic-welding a plurality of plate-like members stacked on the anvil while pressing a horn that vibrates against the plate-like members; and determining a quality of a welding state of the plate-like members on the basis of the energy measured in the measuring step. | 12-24-2015 |
| 20160033452 | Fixed Value Residual Stress Test Block And Manufacturing And Preservation Method Thereof - A fixed value residual stress test block, comprising a main body ( | 02-04-2016 |
| 20160103101 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ANALYSIS OF FIBRE REINFORCED COMPOSITES - A system for analyzing fiber reinforced composite including: an ultrasonic transmitter configured to provide ultra-sonic pulses to the fiber reinforced composite; an ultrasonic receiver configured to receive ultrasonic signal data related to the ultrasonic pulses; a filter module configured to filter the ultrasonic signal data; a signal processing module configured to process the filtered ultrasonic signal data; an analysis module configured to analyze the processed ultrasonic signal data by: calculating a characteristic value based on the ultrasonic signal data; comparing the characteristic value to a baseline established for the characteristic value; and determining a percentage of design strength based on the comparison; and an output module configured to output the percentage of design strength. | 04-14-2016 |
| 20160139081 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR A NONDESTRUCTIVE TESTING OF METAL FUSION WELDS AT THIN-WALLED PIPES - The invention relates to a system for the nondestructive testing of metal fusion welds at thin-walled pipes having a maximum wall thickness of 6 mm. It is formed with at least one test probe for the emission and detection of soundwaves as well as with at least one adjustment body which is composed of a material which is the same or a material having at least approximately the same acoustic properties as the respective pipe to be tested. The outline dimensions and the diameters/thicknesses of the adjustment body are at least approximately the same as those of the respective pipe to be tested. A plurality of blind bores each having different lengths/depths starting from their openings to their bases are formed in the adjustment body. | 05-19-2016 |
| 20160139082 | Ultrasonic NDT Inspection System - A method and system for the ultrasonic non-destructive testing of joints in plastic pipesusing A-scans. Ahand-held ultrasonic transducer is used to perform an A-scan and a comparison made on a response from the interface region of the jointused to determine a quality of the joint. Levels of result can providea binary outputto give an indicationof whether or not a defect is present in thejoint. Comparison techniques are described. Tests for coupling efficiency and performance are described making the system useable by an unskilled technician.The system finds application in fault detection on electro-fusion welds in plastic pipe joints. | 05-19-2016 |
| 20160169840 | MATRIX PHASED ARRAY SYSTEM FOR INSPECTION OF BRAZED WELDS | 06-16-2016 |
| 20160178582 | MATERIAL INSPECTION DEVICE | 06-23-2016 |
| 20160252482 | ULTRASONIC INSPECTION DEVICE FOR SMALL BORE PIPES | 09-01-2016 |
| 20180024098 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR JOINT INSPECTION | 01-25-2018 |
