Ultrasonic probe deployment device for increased wave transmission and rapid area scan inspections
| DWPI Title: Portable ultrasonic probe deployment device e.g. pitch-catch ultrasonic probe deployment device, for inspecting material located on inspection surface in automobile design, has membrane permitting flow of water from chamber |
| Abstract: An ultrasonic probe deployment device in which an ultrasound-transmitting liquid forms the portion of the ultrasonic wave path in contact with the surface being inspected (i.e., the inspection surface). A seal constrains flow of the liquid, for example preventing the liquid from surging out and flooding the inspection surface. The seal is not rigid and conforms to variations in the shape and unevenness of the inspection surface, thus forming a seal (although possibly a leaky seal) around the liquid. The probe preferably is held in place to produce optimum ultrasonic focus on the area of interest. Use of encoders can facilitate the production of C-scan area maps of the material being inspected. |
| Use: Portable ultrasonic probe deployment device e.g. pitch-catch ultrasonic probe deployment device, for inspecting a material located on an inspection surface in an automobile design. |
| Advantage: The device with a seal constrains flow of the liquid for preventing liquid from gushing out and flooding the inspection surface. The seal is not rigid and conforms to variations in shape and unevenness of the inspection surface, thus forming a seal around the liquid and comprises a compliant gasket subjected to a pre-determined amount of compression for maximizing effectiveness. The device has a housing that is shaped and sized small enough to follow surface contours and to inspect tight areas like narrow flanges and corners, where the housing is portable so that the housing can be moved either manually or robotically. |
| Novelty: The device (100) has a cavity (160) created within a main housing (110), and a seal extending along a portion of an ultrasonic wave path (126) that includes an inspection site (128). A permeable membrane is attached to the bottom side between the housing and the seal and dividing the cavity into a non-contact chamber (162) and a contact chamber (164) contained by the seal. A water supply port is connected to the non-contact chamber for supplying water to the non-contact chamber. The permeable membrane permits flow of water from the non-contact chamber to the contact chamber. |
| Filed: 9/20/2011 |
| Application Number: US13237520A |
| Tech ID: SD 10649.1 |
| This invention was made with Government support under Contract No. DE-NA0003525 awarded by the United States Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration. The Government has certain rights in the invention. |
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