# US 2014/0190264 A1 · Method and apparatus for inspecting and monitoring pipe > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0190264 A1 - Document ID: US20140190264A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/735,192 - Filed: 2013-01-07 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-07 - Assignees: General Electric Company - Applicants: General Electric Company - Inventors: James Norman Barshinger; Mark Howard Feydo - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140190264A1 ## CPC - G01N 29/04: Analysing solids (using acoustic emission techniques G01N29/14) - G01N 29/043: {in the interior, e.g. by shear waves} - G01N 29/223: {Supports, positioning or alignment in fixed situation (mounting transducers per se G10K11/004)} - G01N 2291/0289: Internal structure, e.g. defects, grain size, texture - G01N 2291/2634: cylindrical from outside - G01N 2291/2636: cylindrical from inside - 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 An ultrasonic sensor assembly detects a characteristic of a pipe. The ultrasonic sensor assembly includes first and second transducer rings spaced apart along a length of the pipe. Each of the first and second transducer rings can transmit a first wave longitudinally along the pipe and receive a reflection of the transmitted first wave from the characteristic. The first transducer ring can use results related to the reflection of the transmitted first wave to guide a second wave along the pipe that is received by the second transducer ring. Methods of detecting a characteristic of the pipe are also provided. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An ultrasonic sensor assembly for detecting a characteristic of a pipe, the ultrasonic sensor assembly including: a first transducer ring attached to the pipe; and a second transducer ring attached to the pipe at a spaced location from the first transducer ring, each of the first and second transducer rings being configured to transmit a first wave longitudinally along the pipe and receive a reflection of the transmitted first wave from the characteristic, the first transducer ring further being configured to use results related to the reflection of the transmitted first wave to guide a second wave along the pipe that is received by the second transducer ring. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The ultrasonic sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein the first transducer ring and second transducer ring are spaced apart along the pipe to define an inspection region extending between the first transducer ring and the second transducer ring. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The ultrasonic sensor assembly of claim 2, wherein the characteristic of the pipe is positioned within the inspection region. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The ultrasonic sensor assembly of claim 3, wherein the first and second transducer rings are each configured to transmit the waves in a direction towards the inspection region. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The ultrasonic sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein the first and second transducer rings each include a plurality of transducers configured to transmit the waves. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The ultrasonic sensor assembly of claim 5, wherein the plurality of transducers are configured to transmit the waves at substantially the same time. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The ultrasonic sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein the first and second transducer rings are configured to detect a circumferential location of the characteristic. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The ultrasonic sensor assembly of claim 7, wherein the first and second transducer rings are configured to detect an longitudinal location of the characteristic. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The ultrasonic sensor assembly of claim 8, wherein the characteristic includes corrosion. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The ultrasonic sensor assembly of claim 8, wherein the characteristic includes a crack in the pipe. ### Claim 11 An ultrasonic sensor assembly for detecting a characteristic of a pipe, the ultrasonic sensor assembly including: a first transducer ring attached to the pipe; and a second transducer ring attached to the pipe at a spaced location from the first transducer ring, each of the first and second transducer rings being configured to transmit a first wave longitudinally along the pipe and receive a reflection of the transmitted first wave reflected from the characteristic, the first transducer ring further being configured to use results related to the reflection of the transmitted first wave to guide a second wave along the pipe that is received by the second transducer ring; wherein the waves received by the transducer rings are configured to be analyzed to detect a dimension and location of the characteristic of the pipe. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The ultrasonic sensor assembly of claim 11, wherein the location of the characteristic of the pipe includes a circumferential location of the characteristic. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The ultrasonic sensor assembly of claim 11, wherein the location of the characteristic of the pipe includes a longitudinal location of the characteristic. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The ultrasonic sensor assembly of claim 11, wherein the characteristic includes corrosion of the pipe. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The ultrasonic sensor assembly of claim 11, wherein the first transducer ring and second transducer ring are spaced apart along the pipe to define an inspection region extending between the first transducer ring and the second transducer ring, the characteristic of the pipe being positioned within the inspection region. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The ultrasonic sensor assembly of claim 15, wherein the first and second transducer rings are each configured to transmit the waves in a direction towards the inspection region. ### Claim 17 A method of detecting a characteristic of a pipe, the method including the steps of: providing an ultrasonic sensor assembly including first and second transducer rings attached to and spaced apart along a length of the pipe; transmitting one or more first waves into the pipe from each of the first and second transducer rings; receiving a reflection of the transmitted first wave reflected from the characteristic by the first and second transducer rings; transmitting one or more second waves into the pipe from the first transducer ring and receiving the one or more second waves with the second transducer ring; and detecting the characteristic of the pipe based on the waves received by each of the first and second transducer rings. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the step of detecting the characteristic of the pipe includes detecting a circumferential location of the characteristic. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the step of detecting the characteristic of the pipe includes detecting a longitudinal location of the characteristic. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the step of detecting the characteristic of the pipe includes detecting dimensions of the characteristic.