# US 11,112,386 B2 · Ultrasonic testing method, system, program, and storage medium

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- Number: US 11,112,386 B2
- Document ID: US11112386B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/414,842
- Filed: 2019-05-17
- Published: 2019-11-21
- Granted: 2021-09-07
- Earliest claimed: 2018-05-21
- Assignees: Mitsubishi Power, Ltd.
- Applicants: Mitsubishi Power, Ltd.
- Inventors: Yutaka Suzuki
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11112386B2

## CPC

- G01N 29/262: {by electronic orientation or focusing, e.g. with phased arrays (phased arrays per se G10K11/34)}
- G01N 29/043: {in the interior, e.g. by shear waves}
- G01N 2291/0289: Internal structure, e.g. defects, grain size, texture
- G01N 2291/2693: Rotor or turbine parts
- G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q)

## Abstract

A sensor 30 including a plurality of elements 31 is divided into a plurality of regions 1 and 2. A UT device 20 is connected to each region of the sensor 30 via a switch 40. At least one region of the sensor 30 used for UT is selected for each flaw detection point according to a positional relation of the flaw detection point to the sensor 30. The UT device is connected to the selected at least one region of the sensor 30 by the switch 40. For a flaw detection point for which one region is selected, UT is performed by using the selected one region. For a flaw detection point for which a plurality of regions are selected, a necessary number of times of ultrasonic testing are performed according to a number of the regions by using the selected plurality of regions, and the results are subjected to addition processing.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An ultrasonic testing method comprising:
providing: i) a phased array ultrasonic testing device, ii) a switch connected to the phased array ultrasonic testing device, iii) an array sensor installed on an object under inspection, the array sensor including a plurality of ultrasonic elements, and iv) a controller configured to control the phased array ultrasonic device and the switch;
dividing the array sensor including a plurality of ultrasonic elements into a plurality of regions;
connecting the phased array ultrasonic testing device to each region of the array sensor via the switch;
selecting at least one region of the array sensor used for an ultrasonic testing from the plurality of regions for each flaw detection point according to a positional relation of the flaw detection point to the array sensor by the controller;
connecting the phased array ultrasonic testing device to the selected at least one region of the array sensor by controlling the switch with the controller;
for a flaw detection point for which one region is selected, performing the ultrasonic testing by using only the selected one region by controlling the phased array ultrasonic testing device and the switch with the controller; and
for a flaw detection point for which a plurality of regions are selected, performing the necessary number of times of ultrasonic testing according to a number of the regions by using only the selected plurality of regions, and adding strength signals of received reflected waves, by controlling the phased array ultrasonic testing device and the switch with the controller.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The ultrasonic testing method according to claim 1, wherein
a plurality of ultrasonic elements that transmit an ultrasonic wave in same timing in the ultrasonic testing performed for one flaw detection point are connected to a same terminal of the phased array ultrasonic testing device.

### Claim 3

An ultrasonic testing system comprising:
a phased array ultrasonic testing device;
a switch connected to the phased array ultrasonic testing device;
an array sensor installed on an object under inspection, the array sensor including a plurality of ultrasonic elements; and
a controller configured to control the phased array ultrasonic testing device and the switch;
the array sensor being divided into a plurality of regions,
the phased array ultrasonic testing device being connected to each region of the array sensor via the switch,
the controller being configured to,
select at least one region of the array sensor used for an ultrasonic testing from the plurality of regions for each flaw detection point according to a positional relation of the flaw detection point to the array sensor,
connect the phased array ultrasonic testing device to the selected at least one region of the array sensor by the switch,
for a flaw detection point for which one region is selected, perform the ultrasonic testing by using only the selected one region by controlling the phased array ultrasonic testing device and the switch, and
for a flaw detection point for which a plurality of regions are selected, perform a necessary number of times of the ultrasonic testing according to a number of the regions by using only the selected plurality of regions, and add strength signals of received reflected waves, by separately controlling the phased array ultrasonic testing device and the switch.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The ultrasonic testing system according to claim 3, wherein
a plurality of ultrasonic elements that transmit an ultrasonic wave in same timing in the ultrasonic testing performed for one flaw detection point are connected to a same terminal of the phased array ultrasonic testing device.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The ultrasonic testing system according to claim 3, further comprising:
a monitor configured to display the selected at least one region.