초록 ▼

A phased array ultrasonic probe assembly includes, in an exemplary embodiment, a housing and a phased array transducer supported inside the housing. The housing includes a first side wall and an opposing second side wall, and a first end wall and an opposing second end wall. The first and second sid

A phased array ultrasonic probe assembly includes, in an exemplary embodiment, a housing and a phased array transducer supported inside the housing. The housing includes a first side wall and an opposing second side wall, and a first end wall and an opposing second end wall. The first and second side walls and the first and second end walls define a housing cavity in which the phased array transducer is positioned. The first and second side walls each have an inside surface that include a plurality of projections.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A phased array ultrasonic probe assembly comprising: a housing; and a phased array transducer supported inside said housing; said housing comprising: a first side wall and an opposing second side wall; a first end wall and an opposing second end wall, said first and second si

What is claimed is: 1. A phased array ultrasonic probe assembly comprising: a housing; and a phased array transducer supported inside said housing; said housing comprising: a first side wall and an opposing second side wall; a first end wall and an opposing second end wall, said first and second side walls and said first and second end walls defining a housing cavity in which said phased array transducer is positioned; a first flexible seal to seal a top of said housing cavity; and a second flexible seal to seal a bottom of said housing cavity; said first and said second side walls each having an inside surface comprising a plurality of projections. 2. A phased array ultrasonic probe assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first and said second end walls each have an inside surface comprising at least one projection. 3. A phased array ultrasonic probe assembly in accordance with claim 2 wherein said at least one projection of said first and said second end walls comprise an angled shaped projection. 4. A phased array ultrasonic probe assembly in accordance with claim 3 wherein said at least one angled shaped projection comprises a triangularly shaped projection. 5. A phased array ultrasonic probe assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first and second side wall projections comprise angled projections. 6. A phased array ultrasonic probe assembly in accordance with claim 5 wherein said plurality of angled projections comprise a plurality of saw tooth shaped projections. 7. A phased array ultrasonic probe assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein said phased array transducer is pivotably mounted in said housing. 8. A phased array ultrasonic probe assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein said housing further comprises a fluid inlet. 9. A phased array ultrasonic probe assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein said housing further comprises at least one vent. 10. A phased array ultrasonic probe assembly comprising: a housing; and a phased array transducer pivotably mounted inside said housing, said phased array transducer comprising a plurality of elements, said housing comprising: a first side wall and an opposing second side wall; a first end wall and an opposing second end wall, said first and second side walls and said first and second end walls defining a housing cavity in which said phased array transducer is positioned; a first flexible seal to seal a top of said housing cavity; and a second flexible seal to seal a bottom of said housing cavity; said first and said second side walls each having an inside surface comprising a plurality of projections. 11. A phased array ultrasonic probe assembly in accordance with claim 10 wherein said first and said second end walls each have an inside surface comprising at least one projection. 12. A phased array ultrasonic probe assembly in accordance with claim 11 wherein said at least one projection comprises a triangularly shaped projection. 13. A phased array ultrasonic probe assembly in accordance with claim 10 wherein said plurality of projections comprise a plurality of saw tooth shaped projections. 14. A phased array ultrasonic probe assembly in accordance with claim 10 wherein said housing further comprises a fluid inlet. 15. A method of inspecting a portion of a weld in a metal object using a phased array ultrasonic probe assembly, the probe assembly comprising a housing and a phased array transducer pivotably mounted inside the housing, the housing comprising a first side wall and an opposing second side wall, and a first end wall and an opposing second end wall, the first and second side walls and the first and second end walls defining a housing cavity in which the phased array transducer is positioned, the first and second side walls each having an inside surface comprising a plurality of projections, the housing further comprising a first flexible seal to seal a top of said housing cavity, and a second flexible seal to seal a bottom of said housing cavity, said method comprising: positioning the phased array ultrasonic probe assembly adjacent an outer surface of the portion of the weld to be inspected; adding a fluid to the housing cavity; and scanning the weld. 16. A method in accordance with claim 15 wherein the housing further comprises a fluid inlet, said adding a fluid to the housing cavity comprises flowing a fluid through the fluid inlet and into the housing cavity. 17. A method in accordance with claim 15 wherein said adding a fluid to the housing cavity comprises adding a fluid to the housing cavity so that the fluid fills the volume between a bottom surface of the phased array transducer and the outer surface of the weld. 18. A method in accordance with claim 15 further comprising pivoting the phased array transducer through a plurality of angles and scanning the weld at each transducer angle.