Method for detecting multiple types of corrosion
First Claim
1. A method for detecting corrosion conditions of a corrodible metal article in a corrosive environment which comprises:
- a) placing a corrosion sensor into the corrosive environment, which corrosion sensor comprises;
i) a metal probe comprised of a metal which is substantially identical to that of the corrodible metal article; and
ii) a transducer element attached to said probe, which transducer element is capable of projecting and receiving ultrasonic or radio frequency signals through the probe;
b) projecting ultrasonic or radio frequency signals from the transducer element through the probe; and
c) receiving reflected ultrasonic or radio frequency signals with the transducer element, which reflected ultrasonic or radio frequency signals are reflected by corroded areas of the probe, and generating an electrical response signal to the reflected ultrasonic or radio frequency signals, which indicates a corrosion condition of the probe.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A corrosion sensor and method for its use to detect and determine the, type, location, size and growth rate of corrosion of metals and the like in a corrosive environment. The corrosion sensor can distinguish between different types of corrosion such as uniform corrosion, pitting, crevice, and stress corrosion cracking. The sensor detects corrosion conditions of a corrodible metal article in a corrosive environment. It has a metal probe comprised of a metal which is substantially identical to that of the corrodible metal article and a transducer element attached to said probe, which is capable of projecting and receiving ultrasonic or radio frequency signals through the probe. The received signals indicate corrosion of the probe and hence the corrodible metal article.
56 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method for detecting corrosion conditions of a corrodible metal article in a corrosive environment which comprises:
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a) placing a corrosion sensor into the corrosive environment, which corrosion sensor comprises;
i) a metal probe comprised of a metal which is substantially identical to that of the corrodible metal article; and
ii) a transducer element attached to said probe, which transducer element is capable of projecting and receiving ultrasonic or radio frequency signals through the probe;
b) projecting ultrasonic or radio frequency signals from the transducer element through the probe; and
c) receiving reflected ultrasonic or radio frequency signals with the transducer element, which reflected ultrasonic or radio frequency signals are reflected by corroded areas of the probe, and generating an electrical response signal to the reflected ultrasonic or radio frequency signals, which indicates a corrosion condition of the probe. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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17. A method for detecting corrosion conditions of a corrodible metal article in a corrosive environment which comprises:
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a) placing a corrosion sensor into the corrosive environment, which corrosion sensor comprises;
i) a metal probe having an elliptical or circular cross section, which probe is comprised of a metal which is substantially identical to that of the corrodible metal article;
ii) a metal crevice ring attached around the probe; and
iii) a transducer element attached to said probe, which transducer element is capable of projecting and receiving ultrasonic or radio frequency signals through the probe;
b) projecting ultrasonic or radio frequency signals from the transducer element through the probe;
c) receiving reflected ultrasonic or radio frequency signals with the transducer element, which reflected ultrasonic or radio frequency signals are reflected by corroded areas of the probe, and generating an electrical response signal to the reflected ultrasonic or radio frequency signals, which indicates a corrosion condition of the probe;
d) collecting a series of electrical response signals with a computer processor electrically connected to the transducer element; and
e) determining a corrosion condition of the probe and the corrodible article from the series of electrical response signals.
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18. A corrosion sensor for detecting corrosion conditions of a corrodible metal article in a corrosive environment, which corrosion sensor comprises:
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a) a metal probe comprised of a metal which is substantially identical to that of the corrodible metal article to be tested; and
b) a transducer element attached to said probe, which transducer element is capable of projecting and receiving ultrasonic or radio frequency signals through the probe.
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Specification