US3922907A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
In-bore turbine inspection device
Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp
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Filing: 1974-06-12
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Granted: 1975-12-02
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Expires: 1994-06-12
Abstract
Abstract An inspection device for detecting cracks or fissures within a rotor member. The device has a transducer element and a lens for focusing acoustic waves produced by the transducer in a predetermined narrow area within a longitudinal plane of the rotor.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael J Hurwitz
- 👤 James W Wonn
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 01:43
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N29/00; G01N29/22; G01N29/221; G01N29/04; G01N29/11; G01N2291/00; G01N2291/04; G01N2291/042; G01N2291/0428; G01N2291/044; G01N2291/10; G01N2291/102; G01N2291/26; G01N2291/263; G01N2291/2636; G01N2291/269; G01N2291/2693
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
263 words
A device for detecting cracks existing within the body of a test member, the member having an axis extending longitudinally therethrough, said device comprising: a base member having a casing attached thereon, a partition dividing said casing into a transmit compartment and a receive compartment, transducer means for producing high frequency acoustic energy, said transducer means including a transmit element for transmitting high frequency acoustic energy and a receive element for receiving high frequency acoustic energy, said transmit element being disposed within said transmit compartment within said casing, said receive element being disposed within said receive compartment within said casing, and, focus means for focusing said high frequency acoustic energy produced by said transducer means at a focus within said test member and in a plane containing said longitudinal axis, saiD focus means including a transmit lens element and a receive lens element, said transmit lens being mounted on said base member within said transmit compartment opposite said transmit element of said transducer means, said receive lens being mounted on said base member within said receive compartment opposite said receive element of said transducer means, said transmit compartment and said receive compartment each having a material disposed therein, said material being disposed between said elements of said transducer means and said lens elements of said focus means disposed in said transmit compartment and said receive compartments, said material exhibiting a characteristic such that the speed at which said acoustic energy travels through said material is less than the speed at which said acoustic energy travels through said focus means and said base member.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
263 words
A device for detecting cracks existing within the body of a test member, the member having an axis extending longitudinally therethrough, said device comprising: a base member having a casing attached thereon, a partition dividing said casing into a transmit compartment and a receive compartment, transducer means for producing high frequency acoustic energy, said transducer means including a transmit element for transmitting high frequency acoustic energy and a receive element for receiving high frequency acoustic energy, said transmit element being disposed within said transmit compartment within said casing, said receive element being disposed within said receive compartment within said casing, and, focus means for focusing said high frequency acoustic energy produced by said transducer means at a focus within said test member and in a plane containing said longitudinal axis, saiD focus means including a transmit lens element and a receive lens element, said transmit lens being mounted on said base member within said transmit compartment opposite said transmit element of said transducer means, said receive lens being mounted on said base member within said receive compartment opposite said receive element of said transducer means, said transmit compartment and said receive compartment each having a material disposed therein, said material being disposed between said elements of said transducer means and said lens elements of said focus means disposed in said transmit compartment and said receive compartments, said material exhibiting a characteristic such that the speed at which said acoustic energy travels through said material is less than the speed at which said acoustic energy travels through said focus means and said base member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The device of claim 1, wherein said material disposed within said transmit compartment and within said receive compartment is a fluorinated hydrocarbon material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The device of claim 1, wherein said material disposed within said transmit compartment and within said receive compartment is a chlorinated hydrocarbon material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The device of claim 1, wherein said material disposed within said transmit compartment and within said receive compartment is a silicone material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
64 words
The device of claim 1, wherein said test member has a bore with a predetermined radius of curvature, and wherein said base member has an external surface having a radius of curvature substantially equal to the radius of curvature of said bore, and further comprising, acoustic backing material disposed between said transmit element and said receive element of said transducer means and said casing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
54 words
The device of claim 1, wherein said base member is fabricated of a substance having substantially the same sound velocity and density as the substance used to fabricate said focus means, wherein said frequency range of said acoustic energy produced by said transducer means lies within the frequency band between 1 to 15 MHz.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
109 words
The device of claim 1, wherein said test member focuses said acoustic energy produced by said transducer means at a focus point located at a distance within said member functionally related to the geometry of said member and in a plane transverse to said longitudinal axis, said transmit lens and said receive lens focussing said acoustic energy produced by said transducer means at a focus point located a predetermined distance in said member in said plane containing said longitudinal axis, said predetermined distance in said member in said plane containing said longitudinal axis being different from said distance in said member in said plane transverse to said longitudinal axis.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
The device of claim 7, wherein, said device has a centerline extending through said partition, and, said focus point at which said acoustic energy is focussed within said longitudinal plane is axially displaced from said centerline of said device.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
109 words
The device of claim 1, wherein, said transmit lens has a radius of curvature and a focus point disposed a predetermined distance within said test member associated therewith, said receive lens has a radius of curvature and a focus point disposed a predetermined distance within said test member associated therewith, said radius of curvature of said transmit lens being equal to said radius of curvature of said receive lens whereby said focus point for said transmit lens occurs at a distance within said member in said longitudinal plane equal to the distance within said member in said longitudinal plane at which said focus point for said receive lens occurs.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
The device of claim 9 wherein said focus point of said transmit lens is axially coincident in said longitudinal plane with said focus point of said receive lens.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
88 words
The device of claim 9 wherein said device has a centerline extending through said partition, and wherein said focus point of said transmit lens is displaced axially from said centerline and is disposed radially adjacent to said receive lens, and said focus point of said receive lens is displaced axially from said centerline and is disposed radially adjacent to said transmit lens, whereby acoustic energy focussed by said transmit lens to said transmit focus point overlaps acoustic energy focussed by said receive lens to said receive focus point.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
110 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said transmit lens has a radius of curvature and a focus point disposed at a predetermined distance within said test member associated therewith, said receive lens has a radius of curvature and a focus point disposed a predetermined distance within said test member associated therewith, said radius of curvature of one of said lenses being different from the radius of curvature of the other of said lenses whereby said focus point for said first-mentioned lens occurs at a distance in said longitudinal plane within said member different from the distance in said longitudinal plane at which said focus point of said other lens occurs.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
91 words
The device of claim 12, wherein said device has a centerline extending through said partition, and wherein said focus point of said first-mentioned lens is displaced axially from said centerline and is disposed radially adjacent to said other of said lens, and said focus point of said other lens is displaced axially from said centerline and is disposed radially adjacent to said first-mentioned lens, and, whereby acoustic energy focussed by said first-mentioned lens to said first-mentioned focus point overlaps acoustic energy focussed by said other lens to said other focus point.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
The device of claim 1, wherein said transmit lens and said receive lens are interchangeably and removably mounted on said base member.
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) | 1978-12-01 | 1979-06-02 | 1979-12-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-12-01 | 1983-06-02 | 1983-12-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-12-01 | 1987-06-02 | 1987-12-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |