Ultrasonic thickness measuring instrument
AssigneeKrautkramer-Branson, Incorporated
InventorRichard J. Pittaro
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A programmable ultrasonic thickness and acoustic velocity measuring instrument is provided which includes automatic zeroing (calibrating) means, automatic temperature compensation and high temperature warning means, automatic probe identification means, means for automatically correcting the measurement readings for probe characteristics, means for storing and displaying of the minimum wall thickness during a predetermined time interval, and means for providing a display indicative of the difference between a measured thickness and a preprogrammed value.
Claims12
A dual-element ultrasonic probe comprising in combination a pair of elongated plastic coupling means arranged in substantially parallel juxtaposition in slightly spaced acoustically isolated relation, each of said coupling means acting as a delay line for ultrasonic signals passing therethrough between respective oppositely disposed end surfaces, each such coupling means having a respective electroacoustic transducer element coupled to a respective first end surface and the opposite second end surfaces of both coupling means adapted to be coupled for simultaneous acoustic contact with a workpiece, the improvement comprising:
- one of said coupling means characterized by length L having a reflector disposed at a longitudinal distance X from its second end surface for partially reflecting ultrasonic signals transmitted from its respective first end surface disposed transducer element, and
- the other coupling means characterized by length equal to L-2X.
A pulse-echo ultrasonic measuring instrument comprising:
- a first coupling means having a first end and a frontal surface end, the distance between said first end and said frontal surface end being L and further having a reflector disposed therein at a distance X from its frontal surface end;
- a second coupling means having a first end and a frontal surface end, the distance between said first end and said frontal surface end being a distance L-2X;
- an acoustical barrier separating said first coupling means and said second coupling means;
- a first transducer element coupled to said first end of said first coupling means for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic energy signals;
- a second transducer element coupled to said first end of said second coupling means for receiving ultrasonic energy signals;
- pulse generating means coupled to said first transducer element for providing a transmit pulse for causing said first element to transmit an ultrasonic search pulse into and through said first coupling means and into a workpiece;
- said first transducer element receiving an ultrasonic echo signal reflected from said reflector and converting said echo signal to a first electrical signal;
- said second transducer element receiving an ultrasonic echo signal reflected from an acoustic discontinuity in the workpiece and converting said echo signal to a second electrical signal;
- receiver means coupled to said first and second transducer elements for receiving said first and second electrical signals and providing respective first and second echo responsive electrical signals responsive thereto;
- evaluation means coupled to said receiver means and said pulse generating means for receiving said first and second echo responsive electrical signals and said transmit pulse and calculating properties of the workpiece based upon the receipt of said first and second echo responsive electrical signals;
- microprocessor means coupled to said evaluation means for controlling said evaluation means and providing preprogrammed data thereto in order to perform said calculating, and
- display means coupled to said evaluation means for displaying said property of the workpiece.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.