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US4313070A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Single crystal metal wedges for surface acoustic wave propagation

Assignee: United States Department of Energy
•
Filing: 1980-05-09
•
Granted: 1982-01-26
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Expires: 2000-05-09
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Abstract

Abstract An ultrasonic testing device has been developed to evaluate flaws and inhomogeneities in the near-surface region of a test material. A metal single crystal wedge is used to generate high frequency Rayleigh surface waves in the test material surface by conversion of a slow velocity, bulk acoustic mode in the wedge into a Rayleigh wave at the metal-wedge test material interface. Particular classes of metals have been found to provide the bulk acoustic modes necessary for production of a surface wave with extremely high frequency and angular collimation. The high frequency allows flaws and inhomogeneities to be examined with greater resolution. The high degree of angular collimation for the outgoing ultrasonic beam permits precision angular location of flaws and inhomogeneities in the test material surface.

Inventors

  • 👤 Edward S. Fisher

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-23 19:42
CPC Classifications
G; G10; G10K; G10K11/00; G10K11/36

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim 61 words
An acoustic wave source for introducing a Rayleigh wave into a test material comprising: a single crystal metal wedge which, with a transducer mounted thereon, is capable of exciting therein a bulk acoustic wave, said metal wedge having a bulk shear wave mode having a characteristic slow velocity less than a velocity of said Rayleigh wave introduced into the test material.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 61 words
An acoustic wave source for introducing a Rayleigh wave into a test material comprising: a single crystal metal wedge which, with a transducer mounted thereon, is capable of exciting therein a bulk acoustic wave, said metal wedge having a bulk shear wave mode having a characteristic slow velocity less than a velocity of said Rayleigh wave introduced into the test material.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 42 words
The device of claim 1, wherein said metal wedge is a metal selected from the group consisting of Ti, Zr, V, Nb, Ta, Au, Pd, Pb and single-phase transition metal alloys having a characteristic electron per atom ratio between 4.3 and 5.5.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 18 words
The device of claim 2, wherein said metal wedge generates a Rayleigh wave frequency greater than 30 MHz.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 23 words
The device of claim 3, wherein said metal wedge has a narrow width transmission edge, thereby producing a highly collimated Rayleigh wave beam.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 36 words
The device of claim 4 wherein said Rayleigh wave frequency and said narrow width transmission edge are chosen to yield an angular divergence of less than 5° of arc for said highly collimated Rayleigh wave beam.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2912854A Cited
US3515911A Cited
US3654500A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1985-01-25 1985-07-27 1986-01-26 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1989-01-25 1989-07-27 1990-01-26 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1993-01-25 1993-07-27 1994-01-26 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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