Low profile encircling ultrasonic probe for the inspection of in-situ piping in immersion mode

An ultrasonic probe for encircling the perimeter of a target component to be ultrasonically tested, the probe comprising:

• a base having a first arcuate inner surface for partly encircling a target component perimeter;
• at least one jaw pivotally mounted to the base at one end of the first arcuate inner surface, at a joint, said jaw having a second arcuate inner surface for partly encircling a target component perimeter, said jaw having a closed position wherein the first and second arcuate inner surfaces form a continuous closed loop for encircling a target component perimeter, and an open position for admitting a target component between the jaw and the base;
• a set of front seals connected to and extending along a front portion of the first and second arcuate inner surfaces for forming a continuous front seal for sealing engagement against a target component perimeter in the closed position of the jaw;
• a set of rear seals connected to and extending along a rear portion of the first and second arcuate inner surfaces for forming a continuous rear seal for sealing engagement against a target component perimeter in the closed position of the jaw;
• said front and rear seals being spaced from each other to form an annular coupling fluid chamber between the arcuate inner surfaces and an outer surface of a target component perimeter when a target component is encircled by the arcuate inner surface and the jaw is in its closed position;
• the base having at least one coupling fluid passage opening into the first arcuate inner surface for supplying coupling fluid into the coupling fluid chamber;
• an arcuate set of ultrasonic transducers connected along at least one of the arcuate inner surfaces for transmitting ultrasonic signals to the coupling fluid chamber;
• and
• a circuit connected to each set of ultrasonic transducers for electrically connecting each set of ultrasonic transducers to ultrasonic processing electronics for ultrasonically testing a target component.

An ultrasonic probe for encircling the perimeter of a target component to be ultrasonically tested, the probe comprising:

• a base having a first arcuate inner surface for partly encircling a target component perimeter;
• a pair of jaws pivotally mounted to the base at respective opposite ends of the first arcuate inner surface, at a pair of respective joints, said jaws having respective second and third arcuate inner surfaces each for partly encircling a target component perimeter, said jaws having a closed position wherein the first, second and third arcuate inner surfaces form a continuous closed loop for encircling a target component perimeter, and an open position for admitting a target component between the jaws;
• a set of front seals connected to and extending along a front portion of the first, second and third arcuate inner surfaces for forming a continuous front seal for sealing engagement against a target component perimeter in the closed position of the jaws;
• a set of rear seals connected to and extending along a rear portion of the first, second and third arcuate inner surfaces for forming a continuous rear seal for sealing engagement against a target component perimeter in the closed position of the jaws;
• said front and rear seals being spaced from each other to form an annular coupling fluid chamber between the arcuate inner surfaces and an outer surface of a target component perimeter when a target component is encircled by the arcuate inner surface and the jaws are in their closed position;
• the base having at least one coupling fluid passage opening into the first arcuate inner surface for supplying coupling fluid into the coupling fluid chamber;
• an arcuate set of ultrasonic transducers connected along at least one of the arcuate inner surfaces for transmitting ultrasonic signals to the coupling fluid chamber;
• and
• a circuit connected to each set of ultrasonic transducers for electrically connecting each set of ultrasonic transducers to ultrasonic processing electronics for ultrasonically testing a target component;
• each jaw having a short arcuate side and a long arcuate side spaced one of forwardly and rearwardly of the short arcuate side, the sets of front and rear seals each including respective short and long seals extending along the arcuate inner surfaces of the jaws and on the short and long sides of the jaws.