Ultrasonic array focussing apparatus and method
AssigneeAirbus Operations GmbH
InventorsAndrew Bbond-Thor, Richard Freemantell
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method is provided in which radiussed components are scanned by moving the focal point of a curved array into the component, whilst keeping the geometric focal point of the array coincident with that of the radiussed component.
Claims14
A method of scanning a curved engineering component comprising the steps of:
- providing a probe having a curved ultrasonic array having a plurality of elements arranged in a curved path having a geometric focal point,
- providing a control system configured to fire the elements of the array according to a predetermined focal law,
- providing a curved engineering component having a radius and centre of curvature, which centre of curvature is outside the component,
- aligning the geometric focal point of the array and the centre of curvature of the curved engineering component,
- using the control system to activate the elements of the array according to a focal law to move the focal point of the array away from the geometric focal point into the workpiece.
A method of scanning an engineering component according to 1, in which the curved path is a circle segment having a geometric focal point at the origin of the circle segment.
A method of scanning an engineering component according to 1, in which the workpiece comprises a radiused portion.
A method of scanning an engineering component according to 1 in which the ultrasonic array is flexible.
An engineering component inspection ultrasonic probe for inspection of radiused components comprising;
- a probe having a curved ultrasonic array having a plurality of elements arranged in a curved path having a geometric focal point,
- a control system configured to fire the elements of the array according to a predetermined focal law,
- which the control system is configured to activate the elements of the array according to a focal law to move the focal point of the array away from the geometric focal point into a workpiece.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.