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US3603136A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Ultrasonic measurement of material nodularity
Assignee: Motors Liquidation Co
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Filing: 1969-11-25
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Granted: 1971-09-07
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Expires: 1989-11-25
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for determining the percent nodularity of a workpiece as a function of the speed of ultrasonic sound through the workpiece. According to a first embodiment this is achieved by positioning the workpiece at a predetermined distance from an electroacoustic transducer and in a second embodiment by positioning the casting between two electroacoustic transducers which are spaced at a predetermined distance. DC voltage signals relating the time between the generation of the ultrasonic impulses and the detection of back reflection impulses by the electroacoustic transducers are combined by a signal-generating circuit in accordance with an empirical relationship so as to generate a DC voltage output signal proportional to the percent nodularity of the workpiece.
Inventors
- 👤 Milton J Diamond
- 👤 Robert H Lutch
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 17:31
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N29/00; G01N29/04; G01N29/07
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
211 words
Apparatus for determining the percent nodularity of a workpiece having first and the generation substantially opposed surfaces comprising, in combination, ultrasonic impulse generating and detecting means including an ultrasonic generator and an electroacoustic transducer positioned adjacent the first surface and at a predetermined distance from the second surface both for generating an ultrasonic impulse directed so as to enter the workpiece through the first surface and leave the workpiece through the second surface, the passage of the ultrasonic impulse through the first and second surfaces producing first and second back reflection impulses, respectively, and for detecting the first and second back reflection impulses, first signalgenerating means responsive to the ultrasonic impulse generating and detecting means for generating a first signal in accordance with the time between the generation of the ultrasonic impulse and the detection of the first back reflection impulse, second signal-generating means responsive to the ultrasonic impulse generating and detecting means for generating a second signal in accordance with the time between the detection of the first back reflection and the detection of the second back reflection, and output signal-generating means responsive to the first and second signals for generating an output signal indicative of the percent nodularity of the workpiece in accordance with the first and second signals.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
211 words
Apparatus for determining the percent nodularity of a workpiece having first and the generation substantially opposed surfaces comprising, in combination, ultrasonic impulse generating and detecting means including an ultrasonic generator and an electroacoustic transducer positioned adjacent the first surface and at a predetermined distance from the second surface both for generating an ultrasonic impulse directed so as to enter the workpiece through the first surface and leave the workpiece through the second surface, the passage of the ultrasonic impulse through the first and second surfaces producing first and second back reflection impulses, respectively, and for detecting the first and second back reflection impulses, first signalgenerating means responsive to the ultrasonic impulse generating and detecting means for generating a first signal in accordance with the time between the generation of the ultrasonic impulse and the detection of the first back reflection impulse, second signal-generating means responsive to the ultrasonic impulse generating and detecting means for generating a second signal in accordance with the time between the detection of the first back reflection and the detection of the second back reflection, and output signal-generating means responsive to the first and second signals for generating an output signal indicative of the percent nodularity of the workpiece in accordance with the first and second signals.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
193 words
The method of determining the percent nodularity of a workpiece having first and second substantially opposed surfaces comprising the steps of positioning an electroacoustic transducer adjacent the first surface and at a predetermined distance from the second surface, stimulating the electroacoustic transducer with an ultrasonic generator whereby the electroacoustic transducer generates at least one ultrasonic impulse directed at the workpiece so as to enter the workpiece through the first surface and leave the workpiece through the second surface, the passage of the ultrasonic impulse through the first and second surfaces causing first and second back reflection impulses, respectively, detecting the first and second back reflection impulses produced by the ultrasonic impulse entering and leaving the workpiece, generating a first signal indicative of the time between the generation of the ultrasonic impulse and the detection of the first back reflection impulse, generating a second signal indicative of the time between the detection of the first back reflection impulse and the detection of the second back reflection impulse, and generating an output signal indicative of the percent nodularity of the workpiece by combining the first and second signals in accordance with a known empirical relationship.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
193 words
The method of determining the percent nodularity of a workpiece having first and second substantially opposed surfaces comprising the steps of positioning an electroacoustic transducer adjacent the first surface and at a predetermined distance from the second surface, stimulating the electroacoustic transducer with an ultrasonic generator whereby the electroacoustic transducer generates at least one ultrasonic impulse directed at the workpiece so as to enter the workpiece through the first surface and leave the workpiece through the second surface, the passage of the ultrasonic impulse through the first and second surfaces causing first and second back reflection impulses, respectively, detecting the first and second back reflection impulses produced by the ultrasonic impulse entering and leaving the workpiece, generating a first signal indicative of the time between the generation of the ultrasonic impulse and the detection of the first back reflection impulse, generating a second signal indicative of the time between the detection of the first back reflection impulse and the detection of the second back reflection impulse, and generating an output signal indicative of the percent nodularity of the workpiece by combining the first and second signals in accordance with a known empirical relationship.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
332 words
The method of determining the percent nodularity of a workpiece having first and second substantially opposed surfaces comprising the steps of positioning first and second electroacoustic transducers at a predetermined distance from each other for generating ultrasonic impulses directed at the workpiece and for detecting the back reflection impulses produced by the ultrasonic impulses entering and leaving the workpiece, placing the workpiece between the first and second electroacoustic transducers so as to position the first surface adjacent the first electroacoustic transducer and the second surface adjacent the second electroacoustic transducer, stimulating the first electroacoustic transducer with an ultrasonic generator whereby the first electroacoustic transducer generates a first ultrasonic impulse directed so as to enter the workpiece through the first surface and to leave the workpiece through the second surface, the passage of the first ultrasonic impulse through the first and second surfaces producing first and second back reflection impulses, respectively, detecting the first back reflection impulse with the first electroacoustic transducer, generating a first signal indicative of time between the generation of the first ultrasonic impulse and the detection of the first back reflection impulse, detecting the second back reflection impulse with the first electroacoustic transducer, generating a second signal indicative of the time between the detection of the first back reflection impulse and the detection of the second back reflection impulse, stimulating the second electroacoustic transducer with an ultrasonic generator whereby the second electroacoustic transducer generates a second ultrasonic impulse directed so as to enter the workpiece through the second surface, the passage of the second ultrasonic impulse through the second surface producing a third back reflection impulse, detecting the third back reflection with the second electroacoustic transducer, generating a third signal indicative of the time between the generation of the second ultrasonic impulse and the detection of the third back reflection impulse, and generating an output signal indicative of the present nodularity of the workpiece by combining the first, second, and third signals in accordance with a known empirical relationship.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
332 words
The method of determining the percent nodularity of a workpiece having first and second substantially opposed surfaces comprising the steps of positioning first and second electroacoustic transducers at a predetermined distance from each other for generating ultrasonic impulses directed at the workpiece and for detecting the back reflection impulses produced by the ultrasonic impulses entering and leaving the workpiece, placing the workpiece between the first and second electroacoustic transducers so as to position the first surface adjacent the first electroacoustic transducer and the second surface adjacent the second electroacoustic transducer, stimulating the first electroacoustic transducer with an ultrasonic generator whereby the first electroacoustic transducer generates a first ultrasonic impulse directed so as to enter the workpiece through the first surface and to leave the workpiece through the second surface, the passage of the first ultrasonic impulse through the first and second surfaces producing first and second back reflection impulses, respectively, detecting the first back reflection impulse with the first electroacoustic transducer, generating a first signal indicative of time between the generation of the first ultrasonic impulse and the detection of the first back reflection impulse, detecting the second back reflection impulse with the first electroacoustic transducer, generating a second signal indicative of the time between the detection of the first back reflection impulse and the detection of the second back reflection impulse, stimulating the second electroacoustic transducer with an ultrasonic generator whereby the second electroacoustic transducer generates a second ultrasonic impulse directed so as to enter the workpiece through the second surface, the passage of the second ultrasonic impulse through the second surface producing a third back reflection impulse, detecting the third back reflection with the second electroacoustic transducer, generating a third signal indicative of the time between the generation of the second ultrasonic impulse and the detection of the third back reflection impulse, and generating an output signal indicative of the present nodularity of the workpiece by combining the first, second, and third signals in accordance with a known empirical relationship.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
304 words
Apparatus for determining the percent nodularity of a workpiece having first and second substantially opposed surfaces comprising, in combination, first ultrasonic impulse generating and detecting means including a first ultrasonic generator and a first electroacoustic transducer positioned adjacent the first surface for generating a first ultrasonic impulse directed so as to pass through the first and second surfaces, the passage of the first ultrasonic impulse through the first and second surfaces producing first and second back reflection impulses, respectively, and for detecting the first and second back reflection impulses; second ultrasonic impulse generating and detecting means including a second ultrasonic generator and a second electroacoustic transducer positioned adjacent the second surface both for generating a second ultrasonic impulse directed so as to pass through the second surface, the passage of the second ultrasonic impulse through the second surface causing a third back reflection impulse, and for detecting the third back reflection impulse; first signal-generating means responsive to the first ultrasonic impulse generating and detecting means for generating a first signal indicative of the time between the generation of the first ultrasonic impulse and the detection of the first back reflection impulse; second signal-generating means responsive to the first ultrasonic impulse generating and detecting means for generating a second signal indicative of the time between the detection of the first back reflection impulse and the detection of the second back reflection impulse; third signal-generating means responsive to the second ultrasonic impulse generating and detecting means for generating a third signal indicative of the time between the generation of the second ultrasonic impulse and the detection of the third back reflection impulse; and output signal-generating means responsive to the first, second and third signals for generating an output signal indicative of the percent nodularity of the workpiece in accordance with the first, second and third signals.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
304 words
Apparatus for determining the percent nodularity of a workpiece having first and second substantially opposed surfaces comprising, in combination, first ultrasonic impulse generating and detecting means including a first ultrasonic generator and a first electroacoustic transducer positioned adjacent the first surface for generating a first ultrasonic impulse directed so as to pass through the first and second surfaces, the passage of the first ultrasonic impulse through the first and second surfaces producing first and second back reflection impulses, respectively, and for detecting the first and second back reflection impulses; second ultrasonic impulse generating and detecting means including a second ultrasonic generator and a second electroacoustic transducer positioned adjacent the second surface both for generating a second ultrasonic impulse directed so as to pass through the second surface, the passage of the second ultrasonic impulse through the second surface causing a third back reflection impulse, and for detecting the third back reflection impulse; first signal-generating means responsive to the first ultrasonic impulse generating and detecting means for generating a first signal indicative of the time between the generation of the first ultrasonic impulse and the detection of the first back reflection impulse; second signal-generating means responsive to the first ultrasonic impulse generating and detecting means for generating a second signal indicative of the time between the detection of the first back reflection impulse and the detection of the second back reflection impulse; third signal-generating means responsive to the second ultrasonic impulse generating and detecting means for generating a third signal indicative of the time between the generation of the second ultrasonic impulse and the detection of the third back reflection impulse; and output signal-generating means responsive to the first, second and third signals for generating an output signal indicative of the percent nodularity of the workpiece in accordance with the first, second and third signals.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-09-06 | 1975-03-08 | 1975-09-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-09-06 | 1979-03-08 | 1979-09-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-09-06 | 1983-03-08 | 1983-09-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |