# US 4,392,380 A · High temperature pressure coupled ultrasonic waveguide

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- Number: US 4,392,380 A
- Document ID: US4392380A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 06/233,354
- Filed: 1981-02-11
- Granted: 1983-07-12
- Earliest claimed: 1981-02-11
- Assignees: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
- Inventors: Michael J. Caines
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4392380A

## CPC

- G10K 11/24: for conducting sound through solid bodies, e.g. wires
- B06B 3/00: Methods or apparatus specially adapted for transmitting mechanical vibrations of infrasonic, sonic, or ultrasonic frequency
- G01N 29/28: providing acoustic coupling {, e.g. water (impedance matching G10K11/02)}
- G10K: SOUND-PRODUCING DEVICES; METHODS OR DEVICES FOR PROTECTING AGAINST, OR FOR DAMPING, NOISE OR OTHER ACOUSTIC WAVES IN GENERAL; ACOUSTICS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B06B: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR GENERATING OR TRANSMITTING MECHANICAL VIBRATIONS OF INFRASONIC, SONIC, OR ULTRASONIC FREQUENCY, {e.g.} FOR PERFORMING MECHANICAL WORK IN GENERAL (for particular applications, see the relevant subclasses, e.g. B07B1/40, B23Q17/12, B24B31/06; measurement of mechanical vibrations G01H; in direction finding, locating, distance or velocity measuring G01S; {generating seismic energy G01V1/02}; control of mechanical vibrations in general G05D; sound-producing devices, e.g. bells, sirens, whistles G10K, {e.g. methods or devices for transmitting, conducting, or directing sound in general G10K11/00}; generation of electrical oscillations H03B; electromechanical resonators in general H03H; electromechanical transducers {for communication techniques, e.g. microphones, speakers} H04R)
- 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)

## 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.

## Claims

### Claim 1

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.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1 wherein the copper foil is thick enough for mechanical coupling to fill in voids without attenuating an ultrasonic signal.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1 wherein the copper foil is annealed after being positioned between the material and the waveguide.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1 wherein the threaded waveguide is made of 304 stainless steel.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1 wherein the adjustable holding fixture comprises:
bolts;
a saddle enclosing the material and having two threaded holes for receiving the bolts;
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;
and wherein the force compensating means comprise spring washers positioned between the head ends of the bolts and the crossbar;
whereby tightening of the bolts exerts pressure forcing the waveguide against the material.

### Claim 6

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.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The device of claim 6 wherein the threaded waveguide and the adjustable constant pressure means are made of 304 stainless steel.