Measurement probe
AssigneeRenishaw PLC
InventorLiam HALL
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An ultrasound probe is described that comprises a transducer for transmitting and receiving ultrasound. The probe also includes a coupling element, such as a spherical ball of self-lubricating or hydrogel material, for contacting and acoustically coupling to an object to be inspected. The ultrasound probe also includes an analyser that is arranged to analyse the ultrasound signal received by the transducer and thereby determine if there is contact between the coupling element, and the surface of an object. The probe can thus be used for internal (ultrasound) inspection of objects as well as measuring the position of points on the surface of the object. The probe may be mountable to a coordinate measuring machine or other moveable platforms.
Claims20
A method for inspecting an object using an ultrasound inspection device carried by a coordinate positioning apparatus, the ultrasound inspection device comprising an ultrasound transducer and a coupling element for contacting and acoustically coupling to the object to be inspected, the coupling element comprising a self-lubricating material, the method comprising:
- a scanning step in which the coupling element of the ultrasound inspection device is scanned along a path on a surface of the object by the coordinate positioning apparatus while ultrasound measurements are acquired.
A method for inspecting an object using an ultrasound inspection device and a coordinate positioning apparatus comprising a rotary head having at least two rotary axes, the ultrasound inspection device being attached to the rotary head and comprising an ultrasound transducer and a coupling element, the coupling element comprising a self-lubricating material for contacting and acoustically coupling to the object to be inspected, the method comprising:
- a scanning step of scanning the coupling element of the ultrasound inspection device along a path on a surface of the object while acquiring ultrasound measurements of the object.
A method for inspecting an object using an ultrasound inspection device carried by a coordinate positioning apparatus, the ultrasound inspection device comprising an ultrasound transducer and a coupling element for contacting and acoustically coupling to the object to be inspected, the coupling element comprising a self-lubricating material, the method comprising:
- a scanning step of scanning the coupling element of the ultrasound inspection device along a path on a surface of the object, and
- using acoustic energy reflected from the coupling element to assess a physical condition of the coupling element.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.