초록 ▼

A scanning mechanism for oscillating a watercoupled ultrasonic transducer, over the surface of a part containing a strip weld and, positioning the ultrasonic transducer along orthogonal paths of travel (one parallel to and the other orthogonal to the strip weld) is disclosed. Position sensors formin

A scanning mechanism for oscillating a watercoupled ultrasonic transducer, over the surface of a part containing a strip weld and, positioning the ultrasonic transducer along orthogonal paths of travel (one parallel to and the other orthogonal to the strip weld) is disclosed. Position sensors forming part of the scanning mechanism continuously provide signals relating to the orthogonal and oscillatory position of the transducer. An ultrasonic beam emitted by the transducer enters the part and is reflected back and forth between the surfaces of the part, through the weld. Ultrasonic specular reflections (flaw echoes) created by flaws or faults in the weld travel back to the transducer. The “flaw echo”presence and position signals are applied to a monitor subsystem that simultaneously displays the position of the origin of flaw echoes, (and thus flaws), in two planes－one plane lying parallel to the reflecting surfaces of the part, and the other lying orthogonal to the reflecting surfaces and parallel to the strip weld. Preferably, the flaw displays are shaded in accordance with the magnitude of the received flaw echo signals. Further, a video recorder records the data being displayed for subsequent redisplay and analysis. The axis of oscillation of the transducer may coincide with the point where the ultrasonic beam enters the part, or it may lie on either side of the entry point. As an alternative arrangement, two transducers, one for transmission and the other for reception, are used to sense specular reflections that do not return to the transmitting transducer.

대표청구항 ▼

An ultrasonic weld inspection system for inspecting welded parts to determine the presence and location of flaws in elongate welds in said parts, said system comprising: (A) ultrasonic means for producing ultrasonic signals suitable for penetrating a welded part and being reflected back and forth be

An ultrasonic weld inspection system for inspecting welded parts to determine the presence and location of flaws in elongate welds in said parts, said system comprising: (A) ultrasonic means for producing ultrasonic signals suitable for penetrating a welded part and being reflected back and forth between opposing surfaces of said part and for receiving ultrasonic signals reflected by flaws in a weld in said part being inspected, said ultrasonic means including an ultrasonic transducer for directing said produced ultrasonic signals into said part in a direction such that said signals are reflected back and forth between opposing surfaces of said part and for receiving ultrasonic signals reflected by said weld flaws, said ultrasonic transducer adapted to be ultrasonically coupled by a film of liquid to and movable over one surface of said part; (B) mounting means for supporting a scAnning means on said one surface of said welded part along a line lying generally parallel to an elongate weld in said welded part; (C) scanning means mounted on said mounting means for: (1) supporting said ultrasonic transducer and continuously moving said ultrasonic transducer over said one surface of said part along a longitudinal axis lying generally parallel to said elongate weld in said part and about an oscillatory axis lying transverse to said one surface of said part such that said ultrasonic transducer is maintained ultrasonically coupled by said film of liquid to said one surface of said part over which said ultrasonic transducer is moved; and, (2) producing position signals related to the position of said transducer along said longitudinal axis and about said oscillatory axis, said scanning means including a scanning mechanism, said scanning mechanism comprising: (a) an elongated track mounted on said mounting means so as to lie along said longitudinal axis; (b) a translation carriage mounted on said elongated track; (c) first movement means for moving said translation carriage along said elongated track; and, (d) first position sensing means for sensing the position of said translation carriage along said elongated track; (e) transducer support means mounted on said translation carriage for supporting said transducer; (f) a shaft rotatably mounted on said transducer support means so as to lie along an axis orthogonal to said one surface of said welded part, the axis of said shaft forming said oscillatory axis, said transducer affixed to one end of said shaft so as to lie on the surface of a part when said mounting means supports said elongated track on said one surface of a part; (g) second movement means connected to said shaft for oscillating said shaft; and, (h) second position sensing means for sensing the oscillatory position of said shaft as said shaft is oscillated by said second movement means; and, (D) a display system connected to: said ultrasonic means for receiving flaw presence signals related to the receipt of said ultrasonic signals by said ultrasonic means and to said scanning means for receiving said position signals, said display system producing at least one display depicting the presence and location of flaws projected into a plane lying generally parallel to said elongate weld.