US 6,804,992 B2Granted

System and method for processing ultrasonic signals

AssigneeU-E Systems, Inc.

InventorsMark A. Goodman, William Bishop

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A system and method for eliminating confusion associated with checking valves, wherein additional test points are added to the measurement of a valve for ensuring the verification of the actual sources of leaks or turbulence. A base line measurement for the valve is established by measuring the level of ultrasonic sound at the two points upstream from the valve. The level of the ultrasound at two downstream points is then measured. The value of the ultrasound at the downstream test points is compared to the values of the ultrasound at the upstream test points. If the values of ultrasound at the downstream test points are higher than the values of the ultrasound at the upstream test points, then the valve is leaking. If the values of the ultrasound at the downstream test points are close to or lower than the values of the ultrasound at the upstream test points, then the valve is not leaking, i.e., the valve is good.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A method for processing ultrasonic signals to locate faulty components in a system having upstream and downstream locations using a portable ultrasonic measuring device, comprising the steps of:

performing a visual inspection of a device in the system to ensure that the component is closed;
measuring ultrasonic energy levels at multiple upstream locations at fixed distances from the device to establish baseline ultrasonic energy values for the component while the system is operational;
measuring ultrasonic energy at locations downstream from the device;
comparing a first measured downstream ultrasonic value to the baseline ultrasonic energy values;
measuring a second downstream ultrasonic energy if the first measured downstream ultrasonic energy value is greater than the baseline ultrasonic energy values;
comparing the second measured downstream ultrasonic energy to the first measured downstream ultrasonic energy;
and
removing a downstream source of ultrasonic energy if the second measured downstream ultrasonic energy is greater than the first measured downstream ultrasonic energy to determine whether the device is faulty.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 10/385,980Filed 11 Mar 2003 · continuation in part
Priority: 12 Nov 2002
Published: US 2004/0090866 A113 May 2004
Granted: 19 Oct 2004
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification9 codes

G01M 3/243
Using infrasonic, sonic or ultrasonic vibrations: for pipes
G01N 29/0609
Visualisation of the interior, e.g. acoustic microscopy: display arrangements, e.g. colour displays
G01N 29/44
Investigating or analysing materials by the use of ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves; Visualisation of the interior of objects by…
G01N 29/46
Processing the detected response signal , e.g. electronic circuits specially adapted therefor: by spectral analysis, e.g. Fourier analysis or…