Measurement probe
AssigneeRenishaw PLC
InventorLiam Hall
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An ultrasound probe is described that comprises a transducer for transmitting and receiving ultrasound. The probe also includes a coupling element, such as a spherical ball of self-lubricating or hydrogel material, for contacting and acoustically coupling to an object to be inspected. The ultrasound probe also includes an analyser that is arranged to analyse the ultrasound signal received by the transducer and thereby determine if there is contact between the coupling element, and the surface of an object. The probe can thus be used for internal (ultrasound) inspection of objects as well as measuring the position of points on the surface of the object. The probe may be mountable to a coordinate measuring machine or other moveable platforms.
Claims18
A method for inspecting an object using an ultrasound inspection device carried by a coordinate positioning apparatus, the ultrasound inspection device comprising an ultrasound transducer and a coupling element for contacting and acoustically coupling to the object to be inspected, the coupling element comprising a self-lubricating material, the method comprising:
- a scanning step in which the coupling element of the ultrasound inspection device is moved along a path on a surface of the object by the coordinate positioning apparatus while ultrasound measurements are acquired,
- wherein deformation of the coupling element is determined during the scanning step to provide a measure of a height of the ultrasound inspection device above the surface of the object.
A method for inspecting an object using an ultrasound inspection device and a coordinate positioning apparatus comprising a rotary head having at least two rotary axes, the ultrasound inspection device being attached to the rotary head and comprising an ultrasound transducer and a coupling element, the coupling element comprising a self-lubricating material for contacting and acoustically coupling to the object to be inspected, the method comprising:
- a scanning step of moving the coupling element of the ultrasound inspection device along a path on a surface of the object while acquiring ultrasound measurements of the object;
- and
- a step of determining a deformation of the coupling element during the scanning step to provide a measure of a height of the ultrasound inspection device above the surface of the object.
A method for inspecting an object using an ultrasound inspection device carried by a coordinate positioning apparatus, the ultrasound inspection device comprising an ultrasound transducer and a coupling element for contacting and acoustically coupling to the object to be inspected, the coupling element comprising a self-lubricating material, the method comprising:
- a scanning step in which the coupling element of the ultrasound inspection device is moved along a path on a surface of the object by the coordinate positioning apparatus while ultrasound measurements are acquired;
- using the ultrasound inspection device in a pulse-echo mode;
- and
- measuring a speed of sound within the coupling element by analysing reflections from within the coupling element when the coupling element is subject to a plurality of different deformations.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.