Method and apparatus for identifying discontinuity in wall of ferrous object
AssigneeUnited States Pipe and Foundry Company
InventorKenneth J Watts
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for detecting a discontinuity in the wall of a ferrous object is disclosed, which utilize a bank of sensors where each sensor is configured to detect a difference in magnetic flux across a predefined area. Sets of readings from the sensors are converted to images, from which the existence and location of a discontinuity can be detected.
Claims17
A method of identifying a discontinuity in a wall of a ferrous object using a hank of sensors, each sensor configured to detect a difference in magnetic flux across a predefined area, comprising:
- with the bank of sensors spaced apart from the wall, storing a reading from each sensor ii a first array as a value representative of an ambient condition for that sensor;
- magnetizing said ferrous object;
- with the bank of sensors in close proximity to the wall, storing a reading from each sensor in a second array as a value associated with a predefined area of the wall corresponding to the sensor;
- converting the first and second array to a first and second image, respectively;
- generating a third image from a difference computed between the first and second images;
- and
- analyzing the third image to determine the existence of a discontinuity in the wall.
An apparatus for generating an image of a discontinuity in a wall of a ferrous object, comprising:
- a bank of sensors capable of being positioned relative to the wall in a first position away from the wall and in a second position in close proximity to the wall, each sensor configured to detect a difference in magnetic flux across a predefined area;
- a processor in operative communication with the sensor bank, the processor configured to:
- store a reading from each sensor, with the sensor bank in the first position, in a first array as a value representative of an ambient condition for that sensor;
- store a reading from each sensor, with the sensor bank in the second position, in a second array as a value associated with a predefined area of the wall corresponding to the sensor;
- convert the first and second array to a first and second image, respectively;
- generate a third image from a difference computed between the first and second images;
- and
- analyze the third image to determine the existence of a discontinuity in the wall.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.