Back to results
US 4,275,597 AGranted
Ultrasonic beam scanning technique and apparatus
AssigneeSmithKline Instruments, Inc.
InventorsPhillipp J. Quedens, Ronald A. Haverl, Milton Stoller
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A beam of ultrasonic energy emitted from a stationary transducer is scanned through the use of a steerable mirror which is positioned in the path of the beam between the transducer and a target. The mounting means for the steerable mirror enables the beam of ultrasonic energy to be aimed as desired and the beam will preferably be scanned along a line and the scanning line may be shifted in a generally transverse direction to accomplish "Multiple plane" scanning.
Claims25
Apparatus for generating a scanning energy beam for non-destructive and non-invasive testing comprising:
- transducer means, said transducer means being responsive to electrical drive signals for generating ultrasonic energy, the thus generated ultrasonic energy being radiated in the form of a beam having an axis;
- reflector means positioned in the path of the beam of ultrasonic energy radiated from said transducer means whereby said energy will impinge upon a first surface of said reflector means thereby changing the direction of travel of the ultrasonic energy, an axis through the center of said reflector means intersecting the axis of said beam of ultrasonic energy;
- drive shaft means engaging a second side of said reflector means disposed oppositely to said first surface thereof;
- arm means, said arm means being coupled at a first end to said drive shaft means and being variable in length;
- means pivotally supporting said arm means adjacent the second end thereof, said supporting means permitting longitudinal movement of at least a portion of said arm means to vary the effective length thereof;
- first motor means;
- first cam means connected to said arm means and driven by said first motor means, said first cam means imparting a pivoting motion to said arm means;
- second motor means;
- and
- second cam means driven by said second motor means, said second cam means cooperating with said arm means to vary the longitudinal position of the first end thereof whereby said drive shaft means will move in a first direction in response to motion of said first cam means and will move in a second direction generally transverse to said first direction in response to movements of said second cam means.
7 more elements
Apparatus for generating a scanning energy beam for non-destructive and non-invasive testing comprising:
- transducer means, said transducer means generating ultrasonic energy in response to electrical stimulation, the ultrasonic energy being radiated from said transducer means in the form of a beam having an axis, said transducer means being steerable to cause the beam of ultrasonic energy to scan in accordance with a desired pattern;
- drive shaft means, said drive shaft means engaging said transducer means;
- first motor means, said first motor means including a motor having a rotatable output shaft;
- and
- first cam means coupling said first motor means motor output shaft to said drive shaft means at a point displaced from the point of engagement of said drive shaft means with said transducer means, said first cam means including:
- a pair of conjugate cams, said pair of cams being driven by said first motor means;
- a pair of cam follower means respectively associated with the cams of said conjugate pair;
- and
- arm means supporting said cam follower means, said arm means having a first and a second end and being mounted adjacent the first end thereof for motion about a pivot point in response to the motion of said cams, the second end of said arm means being connected to said drive shaft means whereby rotation of said first motor means motor output shaft will produce scanning of the beam of ultrasonic energy.
6 more elements
Apparatus for generating a scanning beam for non-destructive and non-invasive testing comprising:
- stationary transducer means, said transducer means being responsive to electrical drive signals for generating ultrasonic energy, the thus generated ultrasonic energy being radiated from a first face of said transducer means in the form of a beam having a symmetry axis which extends outwardly from said first face;
- reflector means positioned in the path of the beam of ultrasonic energy radiated from said stationary transducer means whereby said energy will impinge upon a first surface of said reflector means thereby changing the direction of travel of the ultrasonic energy, said reflector first surface having a center, an axis extending through the center of said reflector means and perpendicular to said first surface intersecting the axis of said beam of ultrasonic energy at an angle;
- bearing means affixed to said reflector means second surface, said bearing means including a hemispherical bearing surface, the axis of the beam and the axis through the center of said reflector means intersecting at the center of the sphere defined by said hemispherical bearing surface;
- housing means defining a complimentary bearing surface which cooperates with said bearing means hemispherical bearing surface;
- a first drive shaft engaging said bearing means;
- first motor means, said first motor means including a motor having a rotatable output shaft;
- and
- first cam means connected to said first drive shaft and driven by said first motor means, said first cam means imparting a pivoting motion to said first drive shaft to cause said reflector means to rotate about said intersection of said axes.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.