Acoustic spectrometer apparatus and method for cavity geometry verification
OwnerHenry Alan Bobulskiinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The geometry of a cavity in a cast, molded or machined part is compared to that of a reference part. Measuring the amplitude or phase shift of an acoustic wave traveling through the sealed cavity, at a multiplicity of predetermined frequencies, forms an acoustic spectrum, unique to the geometry of the cavity. The acoustic spectrum of the part under test is compared to the acoustic spectrum obtained from the corresponding cavity in a reference part.
Claims18
An acoustic spectrometer for testing the geometry of a cavity within a cast, molded or machined part, said cavity having openings at two ends, comprising:
- a) airtight seals covering said openings in said cavity;
- b) an acoustic transmitter means in acoustic communication with a first end of said cavity, said acoustic transmitter transmitting an acoustic wave into said cavity;
- c) an acoustic receiver at a second end of said cavity, in acoustic communication with said cavity for receiving said acoustic wave conducted through said cavity and producing a received signal responsive to said acoustic wave;
- d) a variable frequency generator operatively connected to said acoustic transmitter whereby a generated signal is transformed into an acoustic wave by said acoustic transmitter;
- e) an amplitude detector responsive to said received signal producing an amplitude signal;
- f) a control means controlling the frequency of said variable frequency generator to a multiplicity of predetermined frequencies, said control means also responsive to said amplitude signal, producing an acoustic amplitude spectrum;
- and
- g) a means to compare said acoustic amplitude spectrum with an acoustic amplitude spectrum produced from a corresponding cavity in a similar part having known properties as reference spectrum.
An acoustic spectrometer for testing the geometry of a cavity within a cast, molded or machined part, said cavity having openings at two ends, comprising:
- a) airtight seals covering said openings in said cavity;
- b) an acoustic transmitter means in acoustic communication with a first end of said cavity, said acoustic transmitter transmitting an acoustic wave into said cavity;
- c) an acoustic receiver at a second end of said cavity, in acoustic communication with said cavity for receiving said acoustic wave conducted through said cavity and producing a received signal responsive to said acoustic wave;
- d) a variable frequency generator operatively connected to said acoustic transmitter whereby a generated signal is transformed into an acoustic wave by said acoustic transmitter;
- e) a phase detector responsive to said received signal and said variable frequency generator producing a phase signal;
- f) a control means controlling the frequency of said variable frequency generator to a multiplicity of predetermined frequencies, said control means also responsive to said phase signal, producing an acoustic phase spectrum;
- and
- g) a means to compare said acoustic phase spectrum with an acoustic phase spectrum produced from a corresponding cavity in a similar part having known properties as reference spectrum.
A method for testing the geometry of a cavity within a cast, molded or machined part, said cavity having openings at two ends, whereby the acoustic spectrum of acoustic waves conducted through the cavity to be tested are compared with the acoustic spectrum of a corresponding cavity in a similar part having known properties as reference spectrum, comprising:
- a) installing airtight seals over the openings of said cavity;
- b) introducing an acoustic wave of constant amplitude and frequency into a first end of said cavity;
- c) said acoustic wave being conducted throughout the cavity;
- d) receiving said acoustic wave at a second end of said cavity and converting said acoustic wave into a received signal;
- e) detecting the amplitude of said received signal;
- and
- f) performing steps b through e at a multiplicity of predetermined frequencies to form an acoustic spectrum.
A method for testing the geometry of a cavity within a cast, molded or machined part, said cavity having openings at two ends, whereby the acoustic spectrum of acoustic waves conducted through the cavity to be tested are compared with the acoustic spectrum of a corresponding cavity in a similar part having known properties as reference spectrum, comprising:
- a) installing airtight seals over the openings of said cavity;
- b) introducing an acoustic wave of constant amplitude and frequency into a first end of said cavity;
- c) said acoustic wave being conducted throughout the cavity;
- d) receiving said acoustic wave at a second end of said cavity and converting said acoustic wave into a received signal;
- e) detecting the phase difference between said received signal and said acoustic wave at said first end of said cavity;
- and
- f) performing steps b through e at a multiplicity of predetermined frequencies to form an acoustic spectrum.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.