US4212207A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ultrasonic tube inspection
Assignee: Shell USA Inc
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Filing: 1978-12-14
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Granted: 1980-07-15
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Expires: 1998-12-14
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for graphically displaying the measurements obtained with an ultrasonic inspection instrument of the pulse-echo type. The instrument is designed to inspect tubular members for primarily internal corrosion and display the results on the face of a cathode ray tube.
Inventors
- 👤 Joseph J. Conradi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 07:59
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N29/00; G01N29/04; G01N29/06; G01N29/0609; G01N29/0618; G01N29/0627; G01B; G01B17/00; G01B17/02; G01S; G01S15/00; G01S15/02; G01S15/06; G01S15/08; G01S7/00; G01S7/52; G01S7/52017; G01S7/52053; G01S7/52057; G01S7/5206; G01N2291/00; G01N2291/02; G01N2291/028; G01N2291/02854
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
166 words
An improved ultrasonic apparatus of the pulse echo type for inspecting tubular members where the apparatus includes means for directing a pulse of ultrasonic energy through the wall of the tubular member, said improvement comprising: means for producing a plurality of pulses spaced circumferentially around the tubular member; first circuit means disposed to detect the reflection of said ultrasonic energy from the inner and outer walls of the tubular member, a cathode ray tube, the horizontal sweep of said tube being triggered by the production of said pulses of ultrasonic energy and the beam intensity being turned on by the detection of the reflection from the inner wall and turned off by the detection of the reflection from the outer wall; and means for triggering a separate horizontal sweep of the cathode ray tube for each pulse of ultrasonic energy, each separate sweep being vertically spaced from the preceding sweep such that a rectilinear picture of the circumferential cross section of the tube wall is produced.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
166 words
An improved ultrasonic apparatus of the pulse echo type for inspecting tubular members where the apparatus includes means for directing a pulse of ultrasonic energy through the wall of the tubular member, said improvement comprising: means for producing a plurality of pulses spaced circumferentially around the tubular member; first circuit means disposed to detect the reflection of said ultrasonic energy from the inner and outer walls of the tubular member, a cathode ray tube, the horizontal sweep of said tube being triggered by the production of said pulses of ultrasonic energy and the beam intensity being turned on by the detection of the reflection from the inner wall and turned off by the detection of the reflection from the outer wall; and means for triggering a separate horizontal sweep of the cathode ray tube for each pulse of ultrasonic energy, each separate sweep being vertically spaced from the preceding sweep such that a rectilinear picture of the circumferential cross section of the tube wall is produced.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus of claim 1 and in addition, means for spacing the number of horizontal sweeps of said cathode ray tube corresponding to one complete scan of the wall of the tubular member to utilize the complete vertical dimension of the cathode ray tube.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 1 or 2 and in addition, means for delaying the initiation of the horizontal sweep of the cathode ray tube for a pre-set time period after production of said ultrasonic energy.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 1 or 2 and in addition, means for expanding the time interval between the reflections from the inner and outer walls to provide a longer bright interval for each horizontal sweep.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
50 words
The apparatus of claim 1 or 2 and in addition, a target disposed to reflect a part of said ultrasonic energy to provide a signal for synchronizing the vertical sweep of said cathode ray tube with said means for producing a plurality of pulses spaced circumferentially around the tubular member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
53 words
The apparatus of claim 1 or 2 and in addition, means for multiplying the time interval between the reflections from the inner and outer walls by the ratio of the velocity of sound in the material of the tubular member to that in a fluid used to transmit said pulse of ultrasonic energy.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus of claim 1 or 2 and in addition, means for multiplying the time interval between the reflections from the inner and outer walls by the ratio of the velocity of sound in a steel tubular member to that in water.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
50 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first circuit means produce bright lines on said cathode ray tube inconsistent with said rectilinear picture upon failing to detect said reflection of said ultrasonic energy, said circuit means also producing bright lines inconsistent with said rectilinear picture upon detecting a false reflection.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
124 words
An improved method for inspecting tubular members wherein a pulse of ultrasonic energy is directed through the wall of said tubular member, said improvement comprising: producing a plurality of pulses spaced circumferentially around said tubular member; detecting the reflection of said ultrasonic energy from the inner and outer walls of said tubular member; triggering the horizontal sweep of a cathode ray tube for each pulse of ultrasonic energy; vertically spacing each horizontal sweep from the preceding sweep; and, activating the beam intensity of said cathode ray tube by detecting the reflection from said inner wall and deactivating the beam intensity by detecting the reflection from said outer wall such that a rectilinear picture of the circumferential cross section of the tube wall is produced.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
124 words
An improved method for inspecting tubular members wherein a pulse of ultrasonic energy is directed through the wall of said tubular member, said improvement comprising: producing a plurality of pulses spaced circumferentially around said tubular member; detecting the reflection of said ultrasonic energy from the inner and outer walls of said tubular member; triggering the horizontal sweep of a cathode ray tube for each pulse of ultrasonic energy; vertically spacing each horizontal sweep from the preceding sweep; and, activating the beam intensity of said cathode ray tube by detecting the reflection from said inner wall and deactivating the beam intensity by detecting the reflection from said outer wall such that a rectilinear picture of the circumferential cross section of the tube wall is produced.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
Method according to claim 9, including utilizing the complete vertical dimension of said cathode ray tube by spacing said horizontal sweep thereon.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
Method according to claim 9, including delaying the initiation of said horizontal sweep for a preset time period after the production of said ultrasonic energy.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
Method according to claim 11, including expanding the time interval between the reflections from the inner and outer walls to provide a longer bright interval for each horizontal sweep.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
39 words
Method according to claim 9, including disposing a target to reflect a part of said ultrasonic energy for providing a signal to synchronize the vertical sweep of said cathode ray tube with the production of said plurality of pulses.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
45 words
Method according to claim 9, including multiplying the time interval between the reflections from said inner and outer walls by the ratio of the velocity in the material in the tubular member to that in a fluid used to transmit said pulses of ultrasonic energy.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
36 words
Method according to claim 9, including multiplying the time interval between the reflections from said inner and outer walls by the ratio of the velocity of sound in a steel tubular member to that in water.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
Method according to claim 9, including producing bright lines on said cathode ray tube inconsistent with said rectilinear picture when a reflection of said ultrasonic energy is missed.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
Method according to claim 9, including producing bright lines on said cathode ray tube inconsistent with said rectilinear picture when a false reflection is detected.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3636778A
Cited
US4008603A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1983-07-15 | 1984-01-14 | 1984-07-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-07-15 | 1988-01-14 | 1988-07-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-07-15 | 1992-01-14 | 1992-07-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |