# US 2014/0190262 A1 · Feeding device for an ultrasound inspection system

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- Number: US 2014/0190262 A1
- Document ID: US20140190262A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/811,311
- Filed: 2011-07-14
- Published: 2014-07-10
- Earliest claimed: 2010-07-21
- Assignees: GE Sensing & Inspection Technologies GmbH
- Inventors: Damian Meinert; Stephan Schmitz
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140190262A1

## CPC

- G01N 29/225: {Supports, positioning or alignment in moving situation}
- G01N 29/27: by moving the material relative to a stationary sensor
- G01N 2291/2634: cylindrical from outside
- G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q)

## Abstract

The invention relates to a feeding device for an ultrasound inspection system, with means for transporting a test object (7), in particular a pipe, into an ultrasound inspection chamber of the ultrasound inspection system, comprising at least one guiding unit (1) for the test object with at least one, preferably three, still more preferably six elastically biased counter bearings (2) resting against a jacket surface (8) of the test object (7) via a contact part (4) in order to guide the test object during transport.

## Claims

### Claim at position 1

-17. (canceled)

### Claim 18

A feeding device for an ultrasound inspection system with means for transporting a test object, in particular a pipe, into an ultrasound inspection chamber of the ultrasound inspection system, the feeding device comprising:
at least one guiding unit for the test object with at least three elastically biased counter bearings resting against a jacket surface of the test object via a contact part in order to guide the test object during transport,
wherein the counter bearing, as a means for elastically biasing it, comprises a rubber buffer and in that the rubber buffer exhibits a change of the cross section in the direction of the load.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The feeding device according to claim 18, wherein the several counter bearings are uniformly distributed in the circumferential direction of the jacket surface of the test object.

### Claim 20 (depends on 18)

The feeding device according to claim 18, wherein the contact part is substantially wedge-shaped.

### Claim 21 (depends on 18)

The feeding device according to claim 18, wherein the contact part is a double-wedge body.

### Claim 22 (depends on 21)

The feeding device according to claim 21, wherein the contact part is a non-symmetrical double-wedge body.

### Claim 23 (depends on 18)

The feeding device according to claim 18, wherein the contact part is made from metal.

### Claim 24 (depends on 18)

The feeding device according to claim 18, wherein the contact part is made from plastic.

### Claim 25 (depends on 18)

The feeding device according to claim 18, wherein the contact part has a hardness of at least 64 HRC.

### Claim 26 (depends on 18)

The feeding device according to claim 18, wherein the counter bearing has a damping means.

### Claim 27 (depends on 18)

The feeding device according to claim 18, wherein the counter bearing, as a means for elastically biasing it, comprises a spring.

### Claim 28 (depends on 18)

The feeding device according to claim 18, wherein the rubber buffer is configured to have a conical or parabolic shape.

### Claim 29

An ultrasound inspection system comprising:
a feeding device with means for transporting a test object, in particular a pipe, into an ultrasound inspection chamber of the ultrasound inspection system, the feeding device including:
at least one guiding unit for the test object with at least three elastically biased counter bearings resting against a jacket surface of the test object via a contact part in order to guide the test object during transport,
wherein the counter bearing, as a means for elastically biasing it, comprises a rubber buffer and in that the rubber buffer exhibits a change of the cross section in the direction of the load.

### Claim 30 (depends on 29)

The ultrasound inspection system according to claim 29, wherein the feeding device is located outside the ultrasound inspection chamber.

### Claim 31 (depends on 29)

The ultrasound inspection system according to claim 29, wherein a rubber collar is furthermore provided for sealing the ultrasound inspection chamber.

### Claim 32

A method for ultrasound inspection, the method comprising:
feeding a test object into an ultrasound inspection chamber of an ultrasound inspection system using a feeding device, and
inspecting the test object with ultrasound,
wherein the feeding device includes:
with means for transporting a test object, in particular a pipe, into an ultrasound inspection chamber of the ultrasound inspection system, and
at least one guiding unit for the test object with at least three elastically biased counter bearings resting against a jacket surface of the test object via a contact part in order to guide the test object during transport,
wherein the counter bearing, as a means for elastically biasing it, comprises a rubber buffer and in that the rubber buffer exhibits a change of the cross section in the direction of the load,

### Claim 33 (depends on 32)

The method according to claim 32, wherein the test object is a pipe with a cross-section changing in the longitudinal direction.

### Claim 34 (depends on 33)

The method according to claim 33, wherein the pipe is an upset end pipe.