# US 9,435,770 B2 · Method of making a flexible delay line, a flexible delay line and a transducer > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,435,770 B2 - Document ID: US9435770B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/706,559 - Filed: 2012-12-06 - Published: 2014-06-12 - Granted: 2016-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2012-12-06 - Assignees: General Electric Company - Applicants: General Electric Company - Inventors: Gary Austin Lamberton; Michael Rowe - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9435770B2 ## CPC - G01N 29/28: providing acoustic coupling {, e.g. water (impedance matching G10K11/02)} - G01N 29/2468: {Probes with delay lines} - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) ## Abstract A method of making a flexible delay line for a transducer, a flexible delay line, and a transducer are provided. The method includes providing a mold having a desired geometry, applying a flexible material to the mold, curing the flexible material in the mold, and removing the cured material from the mold. The cured material forms a flexible delay line having a geometry conforming to a face of the ultrasonic transducer. The flexible delay line for a transducer includes a flexible material having an aperture shaped to receive a face of the transducer. The flexible delay line is operable to conform to a flat or an irregular surface. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of making a flexible delay line for an ultrasonic transducer having a face comprising: providing a mold having a desired geometry; applying a flexible material to the mold; curing the flexible material in the mold; and removing the cured material from the mold, wherein the cured material forms the flexible delay line having a geometry conforming to the face of the ultrasonic transducer, the flexible delay line having an aperture shaped to receive and surround the face of the ultrasonic transducer with the face of the ultrasonic transducer directly attached to the flexible delay line, the flexible delay line being operable to conform to a flat or an irregular surface. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the step of curing is conducted under vacuum. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the desired geometry of the mold is the same shape as a face of the transducer. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the mold is flexible. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein the mold has two opposing openings for receiving the flexible material. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein the step of providing the mold includes placing one opening of the mold adjacent to a surface of a component to be inspected, the surface having a curvature. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein the flexible material is applied to the component in the flexible mold and adjacent to the surface of the component. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the thickness of the flexible delay line is about 12.7 millimeters to about 101.6 millimeters. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the flexible material is selected from the group consisting of a rapid curing two-part rubber-silicone and a rapid curing two-part rubber-siloxane-silicone. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the step of curing is less than 8 hours. ### Claim 11 A flexible delay line for a transducer comprising a flexible material having an aperture shaped to receive and surround a face of the transducer with the face of the transducer directly attached to the flexible delay line, wherein the flexible delay line is operable to conform to a flat or an irregular surface. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The flexible delay line of claim 11, wherein the irregular surface includes surfaces having curvatures, gaps, mismatches, or combinations thereof. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The flexible delay line of claim 11, wherein the flexible material is selected from a rapid curing two-part rubber-silicone and a rapid curing two-part rubber-siloxane-silicone. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The flexible delay line of claim 11, wherein the flexible delay line has a thickness of about 0.5 inches to about 4 inches. ### Claim 15 A transducer comprising: a face integrated with the transducer; and a flexible delay line for receiving the face, wherein the flexible delay line comprises a flexible material having an aperture shaped to receive and surround the face of the transducer with the face of the transducer directly attached to the flexible delay line, wherein the flexible delay line is operable to conform to a flat or an irregular surface. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The transducer of claim 15, wherein the flexible material is selected from the group consisting of a rapid curing two-part rubber-silicone and a rapid curing two-part rubber-siloxane-silicone. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The transducer of claim 15, wherein the flexible delay line has a thickness of about 0.5 inches to about 4 inches. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The transducer of claim 15, wherein the irregular surface includes surfaces having curvatures, gaps, mismatches, or combinations thereof.