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US 4,392,380 AGranted
High temperature pressure coupled ultrasonic waveguide
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
InventorMichael J. Caines
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A pressure coupled ultrasonic waveguide is provided to which one end may be attached a transducer and at the other end a high temperature material for continuous ultrasonic testing of the material. The ultrasonic signal is coupled from the waveguide into the material through a thin, dry copper foil.
Claims7
A device for ultrasonically monitoring the characteristics of a material comprising:
- a threaded waveguide;
- a transducer coupled to one end of the waveguide;
- a treated copper foil positioned between the material and the other end of the waveguide, wherein the treatment of said treated foil comprises annealing and polishing to render the foil soft and smooth;
- an adjustable holding fixture for positioning the waveguide against the foil and against the material;
- and
- force compensating means for maintaining substantially constant pressure against the waveguide and against the material during creep of said fixture wherein said force compensating means is positioned far enough away from the material so as not to be exposed to temperatures of such a high level as to cause relaxation of said force compensating means.
3 more elements
A device for ultrasonically monitoring the characteristics of a material comprising:
- a threaded waveguide;
- a transducer coupled to one end of the waveguide;
- a treated copper foil positioned between the material and the other end of the waveguide, wherein the treatment of said treated foil comprises annealing and polishing to render the foil soft and smooth;
- adjustable constant pressure means for poisitioning the foil between the material and the waveguide whereby an adjustable constant pressure is applied to the waveguide against the foil and against the material wherein the adjustable constant pressure means comprises:
- bolts;
- a saddle enclosing the material and having two threaded holes for receiving the bolts;
- spring washers;
- and
- a crossbar having two outer holes for receiving the bolts and a threaded center hole for receiving the threaded waveguide, the crossbar being coupled to the saddle by the bolts passing through the outer holes with the spring washers being positioned beetween the head end of the bolts and the crossbar, with tightening of the bolts, hereby exerting pressure forcing the waveguide against the material.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.