Ultrasound coupling material and method of use

• US 10,641,740 B2
• Filed: 01/09/2018
• Issued: 05/05/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sensor Networks, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sensor Networks, Inc.
• Inventors: Barshinger, James, Anderson, Jeffrey
• Primary Examiner(s): Saint Surin, Jacques M
• Application Number:
  US15/866,162
• Publication Number:
  US 20180196011A1
• Time in Patent Office: 847 Days
• Field of Search: 73592
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 17/02 for measuring thickness
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 2210/58 Wireless transmission of information between a sensor or probe and a control or evaluation unit
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/0258 Structural degradation, e.g. fatigue of composites, ageing of oils
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/02854 Length, thickness
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/044 Internal reflections (echoes), e.g. on walls or defects
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/106 one or more transducer arrays
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/2634 cylindrical from outside
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/07 by measuring propagation velocity or propagation time of acoustic waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/223 Supports, positioning or alignment in fixed situation mounting transducers per se G10K11/004
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/2437 Piezoelectric probes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/28 providing acoustic coupling , e.g. water impedance matching G10K11/02

Abstract

A method of releasably adhering an ultrasonic sensor to a structure, the structure having an operating temperature range, the method comprising: applying a coupling agent between the structure and the sensor at an installation temperature, the coupling agent having a glass transition temperature (Tg) below the operating temperature range and below the installation temperature, the coupling agent being in a viscous/viscoelastic state over the operating temperature range; and urging the sensor against the structure with the coupling agent therebetween such that the sensor adheres to the structure.

Claims

1. A method of releasably adhering an ultrasonic sensor to a structure, said structure having an operating temperature range, said method comprising:

applying a coupling agent between said structure and said sensor at an installation temperature, said coupling agent having a glass transition temperature (Tg) below said operating temperature range and below said installation temperature, said coupling agent being in a viscous/viscoelastic state over said operating temperature range; and

urging said sensor against said structure with said coupling agent therebetween such that said sensor adheres to said structure.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

removing said sensor from said structure by pulling said sensor away from said structure at a temperature below said operating range at which said coupling agent has a surface tension no greater than 40 mN/m.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said coupling agent has a surface tension of less than 40 mN/m above said Tg.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said Tg is substantially below said operating range.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said Tg is at least 50°

C. below said operating range.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said Tg is less than −

20°

C.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said Tg is less than −

60°

C.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said coupling agent has a melting temperature Tm, and said Tm is greater than said operating range.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said coupling agent is a polymer.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyalkanedienes, polyalkenes and polysiloxanes.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyisoprene, poly(1 butylene), poly(1-pentylene), poly(1-ethyl-1-butylene), poly (1-butyl-1-butylene), poly(1-heptyl-1-butylene), polyisobutene, poly(oxydimethylsilylene)(=polydimethylsiloxane), and poly(oxymethylphenylsilylene).

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyisobutene and poly(oxydimethylsilylene).

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said polymer is selected from the group consisting of Stopaq CZ™

paste, Stopaq CZH™

paste, Stopaq CZHT™

paste, and Viscotag™

viscopaste.