# US 2021/0278370 A1 · Dry-coupled magnetostrictive guided wave scanning system and method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0278370 A1 - Document ID: US20210278370A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/189,631 - Filed: 2021-03-02 - Published: 2021-09-09 - Earliest claimed: 2020-03-04 - Assignees: FBS, Inc. - Applicants: FBS, Inc. - Inventors: Cody J. Borigo; Steven E. Owens; Russell Love - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210278370A1 ## CPC - G01N 27/82: for investigating the presence of flaws - G01N 29/265: by moving the sensor relative to a stationary material - G01B 21/22: for measuring angles or tapers; for testing the alignment of axes - G01N 29/0645: {Display representation or displayed parameters, e.g. A-, B- or C-Scan} - G01N 29/069: {Defect imaging, localisation and sizing using, e.g. time of flight diffraction [TOFD], synthetic aperture focusing technique [SAFT], Amplituden-Laufzeit-Ortskurven [ALOK] technique} - G01N 29/2412: {using the magnetostrictive properties of the material to be examined, e.g. electromagnetic acoustic transducers [EMAT]; (investigating the presence of flaws using eddy currents G01N27/90, magnetostrictive transducers B06B1/08, measuring magnetostrictive properties G01R33/18)} - G01N 29/262: {by electronic orientation or focusing, e.g. with phased arrays (phased arrays per se G10K11/34)} - G01N 2291/0425: Parallel to the surface, e.g. creep waves - G01N 2291/0427: Flexural waves, plate waves, e.g. Lamb waves, tuning fork, cantilever - 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) - G01B: MEASURING LENGTH, THICKNESS OR SIMILAR LINEAR DIMENSIONS; MEASURING ANGLES; MEASURING AREAS; MEASURING IRREGULARITIES OF SURFACES OR CONTOURS ## Abstract A system includes a scanner body, a sensor package, a magnet, an actuator mechanism, and a retention mechanism. The sensor package includes a ferromagnetic strip and a flexible coil configured to at least one of transmit and detect a guided wave. The magnet is for applying a biasing magnetic field to the ferromagnetic strip. The actuator mechanism is configured to provide a mechanical pressure coupling between the magnetostrictive strip and a structure, and the retention mechanism is configured to counteract a force applied by the actuator mechanism. A processor is in communication with the sensor package and is configured to record guided wave signals detected by the flexible sensor coil, record scanner body location data provided by a position encoder, and generate two-dimensional image data of an anomaly in the structure based on the guided wave signals and location data. Methods of use and operation also are disclosed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for non-destructive inspection of a structure, comprising: at least one scanner body for supporting a position encoder and at least one wheel, the position encoder configured to provide data on the location of the scanner body, wherein the at least one wheel is configured to be disposed on a surface of a structure and move the at least one scanner body relative to the structure; a sensor package comprising at least one ferromagnetic strip and at least one flexible coil, the at least one ferromagnetic strip configured to be disposed adjacent to at least one surface of the structure to be inspected, the at least one flexible sensor coil configured to at least one of transmit and detect a guided wave; at least one biasing magnet for applying a biasing magnetic field to said at least one ferromagnetic strip; an actuator mechanism configured to provide a mechanical pressure coupling between said at least one magnetostrictive strip and the structure; a retention mechanism configured to counteract a force applied by said actuator mechanism; and a processor in signal communication with the sensor package, the processor configured to: record guided wave signals detected by said at least one flexible sensor coil, record scanner body location data provided by said position encoder, and generate two-dimensional image data of an anomaly in the structure based on the guided wave signals detected by the at least one flexible sensor coil reflections and location data. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising an electronic pulser system configured to generate a time-varying current in said at least one flexible sensor coil to induce a time-varying magnetization in said at least one ferromagnetic strip in the presence of the biasing magnetic field to generate a guided wave in the structure. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor package includes a nonconductive mid-layer disposed adjacent to said sensor coil and an outer jacket layer disposed adjacent to said mid-layer. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor package includes at least one layer of aluminum foil configured to be disposed between the at least one ferromagnetic strip and the structure. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one flexible sensor coil comprises at least one of a flat-flexible cable and a flexible printed circuit board. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one flexible sensor coil is interchangeable to accommodate one or more coil designs that operate in a range of frequencies from 10 kHz to 2 MHz and with a range of apertures between 10 mm and 200 mm. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one biasing magnet comprises at least one of a permanent magnet and an electromagnet. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising a motor configured to rotate the at least one wheel in order to move the at least one scanner body across the structure. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein said at least one scanner body comprises a first scanner body and a second scanner body that are connected to each other, the first scanner body supporting said sensor package and the second scanner body supporting said motor. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein said retention mechanism includes at least one retention magnet configured to be disposed adjacent to at least one surface of the structure. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one cable or strap that is configured to wrap at least partially around the structure and is connected to said at least one scanner body. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein said actuator mechanism is configured to apply tension to said at least one cable or strap in order to apply force to said sensor package. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein said actuator mechanism is configured to be adjacent to said sensor package and comprises at least one of a pneumatic expandable bladder, a pneumatic membrane, a pneumatic linear actuator, a camming mechanism, and a screw-drive mechanism. ### Claim 14 A method for non-destructive inspection of a structure, comprising: disposing a scanning probe at a first scan location adjacent to the structure, the scanning probe comprising: at least one scanner body supporting at least one wheel and a position encoder, and a sensor package comprising at least one sensor coil and a ferromagnetic strip, an actuator mechanism, and a retention mechanism; applying a biasing magnetization to the ferromagnetic strip; applying coupling force, by means of the actuator mechanism, to generate mechanical coupling pressure between said ferromagnetic strip and the structure; applying a counteracting force to the at least one scanner body, by means of the retention mechanism, to maintain contact between said at least one scanner body and the structure; detecting reflected guided wave energy by means of said at least one sensor coil as the scanning probe is moved relative to said structure; and disengaging the actuator mechanism to remove the coupling force; moving the scanning probe in a first direction along the surface of the structure to a second scan location; and generating, by a processor, two-dimensional image data of an anomaly in the structure based on reflected guided wave energy and positional data received from the encoder. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, further comprising, prior to detecting reflected guided wave energy, generating a time-varying current in said at least one sensor coil to induce a time-varying magnetization in said ferromagnetic strip in the presence of the biasing magnetization to generate guided waves in the structure that propagate in a second direction that is different from the first direction. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein moving the scanning probe includes using a motor. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the generating includes using guided wave velocity and probe position data. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein generating two-dimensional image data using a synthetic aperture focusing technique. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein at least one of an aperture of said sensor coil and a spacing between scan locations is determined based on a diameter, a thickness, and a material of the structure and a number of flexural guided wave modes that exist in the structure within a predetermined range of frequencies. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the retention mechanism includes at least one retention magnet disposed adjacent to at least one surface of the structure.