IMMERSION ULTRASONIC TEST PART HOLDER, SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR NONDESTRUCTIVE EVALUATION
First Claim
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1. A part holder for ultrasonic testing of a part to be inspected that is immersed in a fluid, the part being inspected with an ultrasonic scanning probe, the part holder comprising:
- at least a first surface for holding of the part in a predetermined orientation relative to the ultrasonic scanning probe; and
a portion of the first and second support surfaces provided with a solid buffer material having acoustic properties approximately equal to the immersion fluid, the solid material separating a surface of the part from the first surface to reduce signal distortion caused by the first surface.
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Abstract
A part holder for immersion ultrasonic testing having a solid buffer material with acoustic properties that match the immersion fluid is disclosed. Test systems and methods are also disclosed.
22 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A part holder for ultrasonic testing of a part to be inspected that is immersed in a fluid, the part being inspected with an ultrasonic scanning probe, the part holder comprising:
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at least a first surface for holding of the part in a predetermined orientation relative to the ultrasonic scanning probe; and a portion of the first and second support surfaces provided with a solid buffer material having acoustic properties approximately equal to the immersion fluid, the solid material separating a surface of the part from the first surface to reduce signal distortion caused by the first surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An ultrasonic test system for the inspection of a variety of differently shaped parts, the test system comprising:
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an immersion tank constructed to be filled with an immersion fluid; a part holder in the immersion tank, the part holder comprising a plurality of surfaces for maintaining the part in a predetermined position within the tank, each of the surfaces being provided with a solid buffer material covering at least part of the respective part thereof, the solid buffer material defining raised support surfaces for the part and the solid buffer material having acoustic properties approximately equal to acoustic properties of the immersion fluid; and an ultrasonic probe movable along an outer surface of the part when the part is placed upon the raised support surfaces; wherein ultrasonic waves generated by the probe are passed first through the part and secondly through the solid buffer material to separate echoes from the part from echoes of the support surfaces. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of inspecting parts with an ultrasonic test system, the test system including an ultrasonic probe, an immersion tank and an immersion fluid in the tank, a part holder submerged in the immersion tank, the part holder having a plurality of separated surfaces thereon for accommodating a variety of parts to be inspected, the part holder being rotatable to selectively position the surfaces of the part holder relative to the ultrasonic probe, the method comprising:
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positioning a part upon at least two surfaces of the part holder; rotating the part to a desired position relative to the ultrasonic probe; utilizing the ultrasonic probe to generate a high frequency sound wave near a surface of the part; collecting return echoes of the part with the ultrasonic probe; and separating the return echoes of the part from the return echoes of the at least two surfaces of the part holder.
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19. The method of claim 19, wherein separating of the return echoes comprises:
providing the at least two surfaces with a solid material having acoustic properties approximately equal to the acoustic properties of the immersion fluid, the solid material extending between the surfaces of the part holder and the part, thereby creating an acoustic delay between a return echo of the part and a return echo of the part holder.
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20. The method of claim 20, wherein providing the at least two surfaces with dielectric material comprises applying strips of the solid material to the surfaces of the part holder.
Specification