US 2013/0074601 A1 · APPARATUS FOR ULTRASONIC TRANSDUCER OR OTHER CONTACT SENSOR PLACEMENT AGAINST A TEST MATERIAL

Abstract

A spherical bearing provides a passive apparatus that enables a contact sensor that needs to self-align to the surface of a test object. In some embodiments, the contact sensor is a transducer. This self-alignment apparatus may be used in a measurement system for aligning the face of a contact transducer to the surface of a material to be measured. The spherical bearing may be dry or may be lubricated with a liquid or with pressurized air to minimize the bearing friction and enable the transducer to self-align. The upper portion of the spherical bearing is preferably attached to a spring-loaded piston. The transducer is preferably attached to the lower portion of the spherical bearing. The spring-loaded piston holds the spherical bearing portions together and centers the floating lower bearing portion after each measurement operation. A cowling preferably retains the lower bearing portion between measurements.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A positioning apparatus for aligning a contact sensor normal to a test surface of a test material, the positioning apparatus comprising:

a plunger housing having at least one bore;
a plunger slidably received in the bore of the housing;
a spherical bearing in the plunger housing comprising:
an upper spherical bearing portion coupled to the plunger and having an upper spherical bearing surface;
and
a lower spherical bearing portion having a lower spherical bearing surface with a shape complementary to a shape of the upper spherical bearing surface;
and
a contact sensor coupled to the lower spherical bearing surface and extending from the plunger housing;
and
wherein the plunger is biased toward the lower spherical bearing portion to bias the lower spherical bearing portion toward a centered position on the upper spherical bearing portion when the positioning apparatus is not in contact with the test surface.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Apparatus for ultrasonic transducer or other contact sensor placement against a test material

Life of this patent

Apparatus for ultrasonic transducer or other contact sensor placement against a test material

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20