| Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
|---|
| 324242000 | Plural sensors | 21 |
| 20080315871 | FLEXIBLE ARRAY PROBE FOR THE INSPECTION OF A CONTOURED SURFACE WITH VARYING CROSS-SECTIONAL GEOMETRY - A flexible array probe is disclosed suitable for use in the non-destructive testing and inspection of test pieces with varying cross-sectional geometries. Array elements—such as, but not limited to, eddy current sensors, piezoelectric sensor elements, and magnetic flux leakage sensors—are mounted on thin alignment fins and coupled together with pairs of pivot mechanisms along the axis of desired rotation. The pivot mechanisms allow rotation in exactly one dimension and force the flexible array probe to align its elements orthogonally to the surface of the structure under test. Alignment and coupling fixtures are also disclosed. | 12-25-2008 |
| 20090091318 | PHASED SCAN EDDY CURRENT ARRAY PROBE AND A PHASED SCANNING METHOD WHICH PROVIDE COMPLETE AND CONTINUOUS COVERAGE OF A TEST SURFACE WITHOUT MECHANICAL SCANNING - A phased scanning method and phased scan eddy current array probe suitable for in-situ eddy current inspection of a structure without mechanical scanning. Overlapping subsets of the sensor elements within the array probe are dynamically connected in series and sequentially scanned to simulate the mechanical motion of a conventional array probe along a test surface. An algorithm to effectively balance the scan data is provided which comprises obtaining a reference scan at the time of probe installation, storing the measurement data from this reference scan in a memory device located within the probe, subtracting this reference curve from the curve obtained by all subsequent measurement scans to produce an adjusted curve, and processing the resulting adjusted curve through a high pass filter. A technique for verifying sensor elements of an eddy current array probe after permanent or semi-permanent installation against a test structure is also provided. | 04-09-2009 |
| 20090115411 | FLEXIBLE EDDY CURRENT ARRAY PROBE AND METHODS OF ASSEMBLING THE SAME - A method of assembling an eddy current probe for use in nondestructive testing of a sample is described. The method includes positioning at least one substantially planar spiral drive coil within the eddy current probe, such that the drive coil is at least one of adjacent to and at least partially within a flexible material. The method further includes coupling at least one unpackaged solid-state magnetic field sensor to the at least one drive coil. | 05-07-2009 |
| 20090243605 | INTELLIGENT EDDY CURRENT ARRAY PROBE WITH EMBEDDED FIRING SEQUENCE MEMORY - An intelligent eddy current array probe comprising a plurality of coil elements and an embedded non-volatile memory element is disclosed. Prior to coupling the intelligent eddy current array probe to an NDI system, a data table describing a desired firing sequence for the array probe within a given inspection operation is created. This data table is then stored within the embedded non-volatile memory element of the intelligent eddy current array probe such that when the array probe is coupled to the NDI system, the elements of the NDI system can load and execute the stored firing sequence without operator intervention. In this way, a plurality of intelligent eddy current array probes, each with its own firing sequence, can be used interchangeably within a single NDI system without the need for mechanical adjustments to the NDI system. | 10-01-2009 |
| 20090267598 | DEVICE FOR INSPECTING TANGENTIAL RECESSES IN A ROTOR DISK - An inspection device for inspecting tangential recesses in a rotor disk by means of eddy currents. The device comprises a probe containing a plurality of sensors arranged to acquire a plurality of data series during a scan stroke, and the probe is mounted on moving equipment that is slidable in a support that is provided with two positioning members for co-operating with recesses neighboring the recess for inspection. | 10-29-2009 |
| 20090302836 | DEVICE FOR NON-DESTRUCTIVE TESTING OF A COMPONENT BY ANALYZING DISTIBUTION OF A LEAKAGE MAGNETIC FIELD - A device for non-destructive control of a component analyzes distribution of a leakage magnetic field emitted by the component when it is subjected to an exciting magnetic field, includes means for generating an exciting magnetic field inside the component to be tested, and means for detecting and measuring the distribution of the magnetic field. The set of means is integrated in a flexible housing to form a device in the form of a flexible coating for being fixed on a region of the surface of the component to be tested. The disclosed embodiments are useful for non-destructive testing of aircraft components, but may also be used in all industrial sectors where testing the integrity of components is important, such as the automotive, railway, marine or nuclear industry. | 12-10-2009 |
| 20100085045 | Omnidirectional Eddy Current Array Probes and Methods of Use - Omnidirectional eddy current array probes for detecting flaws in a conductive test object generally includes semi-circular wave shaped continuous drive lines in two rows disposed in two layers that are multiplexed for omnidirectional inspection without blind spots. The semicircular wave shaped continuous drive lines are superimposed to form pseudo-circular drive lines, wherein each row of drive lines is offset laterally by a distance preferably equal to a quarter wavelength of the wave pattern. For only parallel and perpendicular flaws, the drive multiplexing is not needed and each row will have only one set of drive lines. In alternate embodiments, there can be square-shaped, oval shaped, rectangular-shaped or other shaped wave patterns as well. Also disclosed are methods for sensing surface flaws and compensating their response. | 04-08-2010 |
| 20120092005 | ROTARY EDDY CURRENT TESTING PROBE DEVICE - A rotary eddy current flaw detection probe device has a plurality of Θ-shaped eddy current flaw detection probes attached in a rotating disc for detecting flaws in all directions regardless of the flaw direction. Four Θ-shaped eddy current testing probes P | 04-19-2012 |
| 20130119979 | LEAKAGE FLUX PROBE FOR NON-DESTRUCTIVE LEAKAGE FLUX-TESTING OF BODIES CONSISTING OF MAGNETIZABLE MATERIAL - A leakage flux probe for non-destructive leakage flux-testing of bodies consisting of magnetizable material, in particular of pipes consisting of ferromagnetic steel, having a plurality of sensors disposed one behind the other in a straight line for detection of near-surface flaws in the body. In order to create a leakage flux probe for non-destructive leakage flux-testing of bodies consisting of magnetizable material, in particular of pipes consisting of ferromagnetic steel, which in a main testing direction has a broadened directional characteristic. At least two similar sensors are disposed and interconnected in a sensor package in a different angular orientation with respect to the main testing direction one above the other, one next to the other or one lying inside the other. The sensor packages disposed generally in a line one behind the other can be influenced individually by the generated leakage flux of an existing flaw. The individual sensors of the sensor package are spaced apart from each other by such a small spaced interval that the interconnected sensors of a sensor package are collectively influenced by the generated leakage flux of an existing flaw. | 05-16-2013 |
| 20130127452 | REMOTE ENVIRONMENT INSPECTION APPARATUS AND METHOD - An inspection tool for the non-destructive testing of a test component made of an electrically conductive material is described. The inspection tool employs movably mounted permanent magnets, which provides a means for generating a variable DC magnetic field within the test component, and eddy current probes so as to provide a means for performing a partial saturation eddy current test upon the test component. The eddy current probe preferably comprises an integrated magnetic field sensor which increases the accuracy and flexibility of the modes of operation of the described apparatus and methods. The described apparatus and methods are particularly suited for the inspection of tubular components that are often remotely located within the oil and gas exploration and production industries. | 05-23-2013 |
| 20130214771 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR INSPECTING STRUCTURES INCLUDING PIPES AND REINFORCED CONCRETE - Devices and methods for detecting defects in reinforced concrete using eddy current detection technology are disclosed. In one aspect, a method for detecting defects in reinforced concrete may include the steps of: providing a probe with a plurality of eddy current sensors disposed along a circumferential direction of the probe; inducing an eddy current in a reinforcing structure of the reinforced concrete with at least one of the plurality of eddy current sensors; and detecting a circumferential and longitudinal location of a defect in the reinforcing structure of the reinforced concrete with at least one of the plurality of eddy current sensors. | 08-22-2013 |
| 20140002072 | EDDY CURRENT ARRAY CONFIGURATION WITH REDUCED LENGTH AND THICKNESS | 01-02-2014 |
| 20140035568 | ASSEMBLY WITH A UNIVERSAL MANIPULATOR FOR INSPECTING DOVETAIL OF DIFFERENT SIZES - Disclosed is an ECA probes assembly capable of providing reliable and durable ECA inspections of dovetail slots without the use of an external guiding mechanism. The design combines a novel universal probe manipulator with a probe support suited for a wide range of probe supports which fit a rage of turbine disks. The probe support embodies a rigid yet expandable core, exerting a force pushing the array probe against the inner cavity of the dovetails. The pushing force is strategically located in critical areas of the dovetail leading to array probe to be self-guiding into the dovetail, and to provide optimum performance with consistent and stable lift-off. | 02-06-2014 |
| 20140035569 | WIRE ROPE FLAW DETECTOR - A wire rope flaw detector that is capable of accommodating a plurality of wire rope diameters and is inexpensive includes at least two magnetic sensor units that are integrated with a magnetizer and include planer coils placed opposite to each other with a magnetic circuit generated by the magnetizer in between, in the direction almost parallel to the magnetic circuit in a predetermined section of a wire rope. The detector further includes an adjuster capable of changing the distance between the at least two magnetic sensor units depending on the diameter of the wire rope. | 02-06-2014 |
| 20140139211 | MAGNETIC INSPECTION SYSTEMS FOR INSPECTION OF TARGET OBJECTS - Inspection systems provided herein include drive coils capable of being excited to generate a substantially uniform magnetic field about an object. The object includes a ferromagnetic adhesive adhered thereto. The inspection systems may also include an array of sensor coils adapted to detect the magnetic field from the drive coils after the magnetic field interacts with the ferromagnetic adhesive and to produce a voltage output corresponding to the detected magnetic field. | 05-22-2014 |
| 20140306699 | MAGNETIZING APPARATUS FOR MAGNETIC PARTICLE TESTING OF WHEEL - The present inventions provides a magnetizing apparatus | 10-16-2014 |
| 20140312891 | Eddy Current Inspection Probe Based on Magnetoresistive Sensors - A device and method of eddy current based nondestructive testing of tubular structures made of electrically conductive materials is disclosed. The device includes a plurality of excitation electromagnets having an axis of symmetry and magnetoresistive sensors having an easy axis for magnetic field sensing; wherein the magnetoresistive sensors are arranged in a circular array on a single plane with the easy axis aligned radially with respect to the circular pattern and wherein the electromagnets are arranged in a circular pattern on both sides of the plane with their axes of symmetry being arranged parallel to the plane and orthogonal to radii of the circular pattern on which the electromagnets are placed. | 10-23-2014 |
| 20140347043 | MONITORING ENGINE COMPONENTS - A method for monitoring local defects in a rotating engine component such as a gear uses one or more eddy current sensor(s) arranged to interact with the engine component as it is rotating during service. The eddy current sensor(s) may be carried by one or more teeth of a monitoring gear. A device is arranged to measure an output signal from the eddy current sensor(s) resulting from interaction with the rotating engine component. The output signal is processed so as to detect a change in shape of the output signal indicative of a local defect. | 11-27-2014 |
| 20150115945 | EDDY CURRENT SENSOR WITH LINEAR DRIVE CONDUCTOR - A multi-layer eddy current sensor includes a sense coil for detecting an eddy current, and a drive conductor for inducing the eddy current. The drive conductor comprises a substantially straight conducting portion that traverses the entire width of the sense coil. | 04-30-2015 |
| 20160084800 | EDDY CURRENT INSPECTION PROBE BASED ON MAGNETORESISTIVE SENSORS - A device and method of eddy current based nondestructive testing of tubular structures made of electrically conductive materials is disclosed. The device includes a plurality of excitation electromagnets sensors having an easy axis for magnetic field sensing; wherein the magnetoresistive sensors are arranged in a circular array on a single plane with the easy axis aligned radially with respect to the circular pattern and wherein the electromagnets are arranged in a circular pattern on both sides of the plane with their axes of symmetry being arranged parallel to the plane and orthogonal to radii of the circular pattern on which the electromagnets are placed. | 03-24-2016 |
| 20160103099 | EDDY CURRENT PIPELINE INSPECTION APPARATUS AND METHOD - Apparatuses and methods for inspecting a section of piping are disclosed. In one example embodiment, an apparatus includes first and second excitation coils, a plurality of magnetometers, and a data acquisition system. The first excitation coils are disposed at a first axial location and are energized and the second excitation coils are disposed at a second axial location and are energized. The plurality of magnetometers are disposed at an axial location between the first and second axial locations and are positioned to detect magnetic fields generated by eddy currents induced in the section of piping by the first and second excitation coils. The data acquisition system is operatively connected to receive output data from the plurality of magnetometers. | 04-14-2016 |
