Method and apparatus for fluorescent magnetic particle and fluorescent liquid penetrant testing
OwnerCharles Harris Mazel, Lawrence Goldberginventors
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Abstract
The invention includes a method and apparatus for viewing fluorescent indicating materials for performing fluorescent magnetic particle testing and fluorescent liquid penetrant testing. In this method of nondestructive testing, the invention replaces ultraviolet light with the combination of a source of blue light that is substantially or entirely devoid of ultraviolet radiation and a yellow barrier filter. The method uses fluorescent indicating materials currently commercially available and originally designed for use with ultraviolet light sources.
Claims20
A method of nondestructive testing comprising:
- providing a source of blue light;
- matching a barrier filter with the source of blue light so that the barrier filter blocks substantially all blue light emitted by the source of blue light;
- selecting a fluorescent indicating material designed to be excited using ultraviolet light, wherein said fluorescent indicating material also fluoresces using the source of blue light;
- applying the fluorescent indicating material to a test surface;
- illuminating the test surface with the source of blue light thereby causing the fluorescent indicating material to fluoresce;
- filtering reflected blue light from the test surface using the barrier filter;
- and
- detecting faults on the test surface from fluorescing indications.
A method for illuminating and viewing fluorescent indicating materials used in fluorescent magnetic particle and fluorescent liquid penetrant testing comprising:
- providing an intense source of blue light;
- providing a barrier filter that blocks blue light from said source of blue light;
- selecting a fluorescent indicating material designed to be excited using ultraviolet light;
- applying the fluorescent indicating materials to a body;
- exciting the fluorescent indicating materials on the body using the source of blue light;
- filtering reflected blue light using the barrier filter;
- and
- observing faults on the body in the forms of fluorescing indications.
A method of nondestructive testing comprising:
- selecting a commercially available fluorescent indicating material manufactured to be excited using ultraviolet light, wherein said fluorescent indicating material also fluoresces using blue light;
- selecting a source of blue light that causes the fluorescent indicating material to fluoresce, wherein the source of blue light is one or more light-emitting diodes;
- providing a portable housing for said source of blue light;
- matching a yellow barrier filter with the source of blue light so that the yellow barrier filter blocks substantially all blue light emitted by the source of blue light;
- applying fluorescent indicating materials to a test region of a surface;
- directing the source of blue light to the test region of the surface thereby causing the fluorescent indicating materials to fluoresce;
- filtering reflected blue light from the region using the yellow barrier filter, thereby enabling fluorescent indications to be seen with high contrast;
- and
- detecting faults on the test surface from fluorescing indications.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.