Ultrasonic pipe inspection system

An ultrasonic pipe inspection system comprising:

• an inspection body having
• means for moving a test piece of a substantially circular section through said inspection body;
• a probe holder rotatably mounted in said inspection body and having a substantially cylindrical inner wall;
• a nozzle block rotatably disposed in said inspection body together with said probe holder and including an axial bore, said nozzle block having a plurality of radial nozzle openings and cooperating with said probe holder to define an annular space therebetween;
• a water source for providing water, said water being supplied to said annular space and injected to the test piece while the test piece is passing through said axial bore of said nozzle block;
• and
• a plurality of probes held in place by said probe holder, said plurality of probes being adapted to transmit ultrasonic waves into the test piece through said radial nozzle openings so as to detect flaws therein;
• said plurality of probes extending radially from the inner wall of said probe holder toward said plurality of corresponding nozzle openings.

An ultrasonic pipe inspection system comprising:

• first means for defining an annular chamber, said first means including a hollow inner cylinder, and an outer cylinder connected to said inner cylinder and having an inner wall, said inner cylinder including a radial opening;
• second means for feeding a couplant to said annular chamber;
• third means for rotating said inner and outer cylinders together;
• and
• fourth means for transmitting ultrasonic waves to a test piece of a substantially circular section while the test piece is passing axially through said inner cylinder;
• said fourth means being mounted to the inner wall of said cylinder.