Method and apparatus for monitoring the operation of ultrasonic testing of tubes and bars

An apparatus for monitoring one or more transmit transducer probes and amplifiers in an ultrasonic pulse-echo immersion test apparatus used for testing workpieces, particularly tubes and round bars, comprising:

• electroacoustic probe means adapted to be energized cyclically for transmitting through a liquid coupling path an ultrasonic energy search pulse signal into a workpiece having a curved surface and for subsequently receiving reflection responsive echo signals and providing corresponding electrical output signals, such search signal being incident upon the workpiece surface at an angle deviating from normal to the workpiece surface for causing the search signal to propagate in the workpiece in a circumferential direction;
• pulse generating means coupled to said probe means for cyclically energizing said probe means;
• amplifying means coupled to said probe means for receiving and amplifying scatter responsive signals arising from the ultrasonic search signal being scattered and reflected at the curved surface of the workpiece and for receiving and amplifying defect responsive echo signals arising from the search signal intercepting a defect in the workpiece, and
• evaluating means coupled to said amplifying means for receiving said scatter responsive signals and providing an output signal when the scatter responsive signals fail to attain a predetermined signal amplitude.

An apparatus for monitoring one or more transmit transducer probes and amplifiers in an ultrasonic pulse-echo immersion test apparatus used for testing workpieces, particularly tubes and round bars, comprising:

• first electroacoustic probe means adapted to be energized cyclically during a first cycle and disposed for transmitting through a liquid coupling path an ultrasonic energy search pulse signal into a workpiece at a first location thereof, the workpiece having a curved surface, and for receiving subsequently reflection responsive echo signals and providing corresponding electrical output signals, such search signal being incident upon the workpiece surface at an angle deviating from normal to the workpiece surface for causing the search signal to propagate in the workpiece in a circumferential direction;
• second electroacoustic probe means disposed for receiving during said first cycle defect responsive echo signals from the workpiece arising from the search pulse transmitted by said first probe means intercepting a defect in the workpiece and providing defect responsive electrical output signals, and adapted during a second cycle to cyclically transmit through a liquid coupling path an ultrasonic energy search pulse signal into the workpiece at a second location and for receiving subsequently reflection responsive echo signals and providing corresponding electrical output signals, such search signal being incident upon the workpiece surface at an angle deviating from normal to the workpiece surface for causing the search signal to propagate in the workpiece in a circumferential direction;
• pulse generating means coupled to said first and said second probe means for cyclically energizing said first and said second probe means during the respective first and second cycles;
• first amplifying means coupled to said first probe means and operative for receiving and amplifying during said first cycle scatter responsive electrical signals responsive to said first probe means transmitting its respective search signal and providing a first amplified signal;
• second amplifying means coupled to said second probe means and operative for receiving and amplifying during said first cycle said defect responsive electrical output signals, and during said second cycle receiving and amplifying scatter responsive electrical signals responsive to said second probe means transmitting its respective search signal, and providing respectively a second and third amplified signal, and
• evaluating means coupled to said first and second amplifying means for receiving said first and third amplified signals and providing an output signal when either of said first or third amplified signals fails to attain a predetermined signal amplitude.

An apparatus for monitoring one or more transmit transducer probes and amplifiers in an ultrasonic pulse-echo immersion test apparatus used for testing workpieces, particularly tubes and round bars, comprising:

• a plurality of electroacoustic probe means disposed at approximately equidistant locations around the circumference of the workpiece adapted to be cyclically energized during respective cycles for transmitting through a liquid coupling path respective ultrasonic energy search pulse signal into the workpiece, the workpiece having a curved surface, and for receiving subsequently reflection responsive echo signals and providing corresponding electrical output signals, such search signal being incident upon the workpiece surface at an angle deviating from normal for causing the search signal to propagate in the workpiece in a circumferential direction;
• pulse generating means coupled to said plurality of probe means for cyclically energizing each of said probe means in predetermined sequence;
• amplifying means coupled to said plurality of probe means operative for receiving and amplifying scatter responsive signals arising from a respective probe means transmitting a search pulse signal and providing a first amplified signal responsive thereto, and receiving and amplifying defect responsive signals arising from a search pulse signal transmitted by a probe means other than from the probe means receiving the scatter responsive signals and providing a second amplified signal responsive thereto, and
• evaluating means coupled to said amplifying means for receiving said first amplified signals and providing an output signal when one of said first amplified fails to attain a predetermined signal amplitude.