Non-destructive thickness measurement systems and methods
AssigneeUnited States Pipe and Foundry Company
InventorKenneth J. Watts
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention generally relates to improved non-destructive thickness measurement systems and methods. Embodiments of the present invention utilize quarter wave resonant frequency to measure the thickness of high-temperature pipe walls. In one embodiment, an improved non-destructive thickness measurement system is provided that utilizes Gaussian white noise to produce maximum mechanical resonance in the pipe wall and laser vibrometers to detect the pipe wall's maximum displacement.
Claims20
A system for measuring thickness of an object having an outer surface and a temperature greater than approximately 1000 degrees F. comprising:
- a vibration application mechanism configured to apply a vibration to the object having a temperature greater than approximately 1000 degrees F.;
- a vibration monitoring device configured to gather displacement and frequency data for a discrete location on the outer surface of the object;
- and
- a data processing system configured to determine a resonant frequency of the object based at least in part on the displacement and frequency data gathered by the vibration monitoring device and to calculate the thickness of the object at the discrete location based at least in part on the resonant frequency.
A method for measuring thickness of an object having an outer surface and a temperature greater than approximately 1000 degrees F. comprising the steps of:
- applying a vibration to the object, wherein the vibration is Gaussian white noise;
- gathering displacement and frequency data for a discrete location on the outer surface of the object;
- determining the resonant frequency of the object based at least in part on the displacement and frequency data;
- and
- calculating the thickness of the object at the discrete location based at least in part on the resonant frequency.
A system for measuring thickness of an object having an outer surface comprising:
- a vibration application mechanism configured to apply a vibration to the object wherein the vibration comprises white noise having a predetermined frequency range;
- a vibration monitoring device configured to gather displacement and frequency data for a discrete location on the outer surface of the object;
- and
- a data processing system configured to determine a resonant frequency of the object based at least in part on the displacement and frequency data gathered by the vibration monitoring device and to calculate the thickness of the object at the discrete location based at least in part on the resonant frequency.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.