Motorized cuffing mechanism for ultrasound inspection

An ultrasonic inspection device for a pipe or tube comprising:

• an arcuate shaped first housing having an arcuate shaped first guide track, the arcuate shaped first housing having a first end and an opposite second end spaced from the first end;
• an arcuate shaped second housing having an arcuate shaped second guide track, the arcuate shaped second housing having a first end and an opposite second end spaced from the first end, wherein the arcuate shaped first and second housings are pivotally coupled to one another to allow the ultrasonic inspection device to move between an open position in which the second ends of the arcuate shaped first and second housings are spaced apart for receiving the pipe or tube and a closed position in which the second ends of arcuate shaped first and second housings are joined;
• a driving gear assembly coupled to the arcuate shaped second housing, the driving gear assembly including a driving gear powered by a gear driving motor, the driving gear rotating about a fixed axis;
• arcuate shaped first and second driven gears that travel within the arcuate shaped first and second guide tracks, formed within the arcuate shaped first and second housings, when the ultrasonic inspection device is in the closed position to permit the arcuate shaped first and second driven gears to be driven in a 360 degree path around the pipe or tube, the arcuate shaped first and second guide tracks being open along an outer edge of the arcuate shaped first and second housings;
• and
• an ultrasonic testing (UT) probe assembly fixedly attached to the arcuate shaped second driven gear and configured for direct contact with the pipe or tube for performing ultrasonic inspection of the pipe or tube, wherein the UT probe assembly passes through one of the arcuate shaped first and second housings depending on the location of the arcuate shaped second driven gear.