US3583213A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Nondestructive testing of conductive objects using ultrasonic waves
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1968-07-26
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Granted: 1971-06-08
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Expires: 1988-07-26
Abstract
Abstract An ultrasonic wave is excited in the surface of the object by direct electromagnetic excitation in the presence of a DC magnetic field having a major component perpendicular to the electric vector of the electromagnetic field at the surface. A coil energized with RF may be employed. The ultrasonic waves propagate generally perpendicularly to the surface. A similar coil and DC magnetic field detect the ultrasonic wave arriving at the object surface after passing through the object, and produce an RF signal varying with flaws or other inhomogeneities in the object. Pulsed RF is advantageously employed, and in such case a single coil may be used for both generating the ultrasonic waves and responding to reflections thereof from flaws in the object.
Inventors
- 👤 James R Houck
- 👤 Henry V Bohm
- 👤 Raymond Bowers
- 👤 William D Wallace
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 03:43
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N29/00; G01N29/22; G01N29/24; G01N29/2412; G01N2291/00; G01N2291/04; G01N2291/042; G01N2291/0421; G01N2291/0422
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
228 words
Ultrasonic testing apparatus for objects having conductive surfaces which comprises a. generating means for producing ultrasonic waves at a first conductive surface of a said object and detecting means for receiving ultrasonic waves transmitted through at least a portion of said object to a second conductive surface thereof, b. said generating and detecting means each including RF means electromagnetically coupled with respective first and second conductive surfaces, c. said generating RF means being adapted, when energized with an RF signal, to produce at said first conductive surface of the object an electromagnetic field having an electric vector direction, d. said detecting RF means being adapted, if it were energized with an RF signal, to produce at said second conductive surface of the object an electromagnetic field having an electric vector direction, e. means for producing at each of said conductive surfaces a DC magnetic field having a major component perpendicular to the respective electric vector direction, f. said generating means including means for applying an RF signal to the RF means thereof to produce ultrasonic waves initially propagating generally perpendicularly to the respective conductive surface of an object, g. said detecting means being responsive to the reception of ultrasonic waves at said second conductive surface to produce an RF signal representative thereof, h. said detecting means including means for producing an indication of the RF signal produced thereby.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
228 words
Ultrasonic testing apparatus for objects having conductive surfaces which comprises a. generating means for producing ultrasonic waves at a first conductive surface of a said object and detecting means for receiving ultrasonic waves transmitted through at least a portion of said object to a second conductive surface thereof, b. said generating and detecting means each including RF means electromagnetically coupled with respective first and second conductive surfaces, c. said generating RF means being adapted, when energized with an RF signal, to produce at said first conductive surface of the object an electromagnetic field having an electric vector direction, d. said detecting RF means being adapted, if it were energized with an RF signal, to produce at said second conductive surface of the object an electromagnetic field having an electric vector direction, e. means for producing at each of said conductive surfaces a DC magnetic field having a major component perpendicular to the respective electric vector direction, f. said generating means including means for applying an RF signal to the RF means thereof to produce ultrasonic waves initially propagating generally perpendicularly to the respective conductive surface of an object, g. said detecting means being responsive to the reception of ultrasonic waves at said second conductive surface to produce an RF signal representative thereof, h. said detecting means including means for producing an indication of the RF signal produced thereby.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus according to claim 12 in which said generating RF means and detecting RF means are spaced apart for the passage of a said object therebetween.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus according to claim 12 in which said major component Of the DC magnetic field is generally perpendicular to an object to be tested.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus according to claim 2 in which said generating RF means and detecting RF means are respective coils positioned with their axes in substantial alignment and approximately perpendicular to a line through the coils.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus according to claim 4 in which the sides of said coils facing a said object are substantially flat.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus according to claim 5 in which said major component of the DC magnetic field is perpendicular to said coil sides.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
167 words
Ultrasonic testing apparatus for objects having conductive surfaces which comprises a. generating and detecting means for producing ultrasonic waves at a conductive surface of a said object and detecting reflections thereof, b. said generating and detecting means including RF means electromagnetically coupled with said conductive surface, c. said RF means being adapted, when energized with an RF signal, to produce a first electromagnetic field at said conductive surface and, when energized with a like electromagnetic field at said surface, to produce a corresponding RF signal, d. and means for producing at said conductive surface a DC magnetic field having a major component perpendicular to the electric vector of said first electromagnet field, e. said generating and detecting means including means for applying a pulsed RF signal to said RF means to produce ultrasonic waves initially propagating generally perpendicularly to said conductive surface of an object and means for detecting representative RF signals from said RF means in response to said ultrasonic reflections and producing an indication thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
167 words
Ultrasonic testing apparatus for objects having conductive surfaces which comprises a. generating and detecting means for producing ultrasonic waves at a conductive surface of a said object and detecting reflections thereof, b. said generating and detecting means including RF means electromagnetically coupled with said conductive surface, c. said RF means being adapted, when energized with an RF signal, to produce a first electromagnetic field at said conductive surface and, when energized with a like electromagnetic field at said surface, to produce a corresponding RF signal, d. and means for producing at said conductive surface a DC magnetic field having a major component perpendicular to the electric vector of said first electromagnet field, e. said generating and detecting means including means for applying a pulsed RF signal to said RF means to produce ultrasonic waves initially propagating generally perpendicularly to said conductive surface of an object and means for detecting representative RF signals from said RF means in response to said ultrasonic reflections and producing an indication thereof.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus according to claim 7 in which said major component of the DC magnetic field is generally perpendicular to an object to be tested.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus according to claim 7 in which said RF means is a coil with the axis thereof extending laterally of the surface of an object to be tested.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus according to claim 9 in which the side of said coil facing an object to be tested is substantially flat.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus according to claim 10 in which said major component of the DC magnetic field is perpendicular to said coil side.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-06-07 | 1974-12-07 | 1975-06-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-06-07 | 1978-12-07 | 1979-06-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-06-07 | 1982-12-07 | 1983-06-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |