ULTRASONIC INSPECTION PROBE CARRIER SYSTEM FOR PERFORMING NON-DESTRUCTIVE TESTING

• US 20090314089A1
• Filed: 06/24/2008
• Published: 12/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Baker Hughes Holdings LLC (Baker Hughes Company)
• Original Assignee: Alstom Technology Ltd. (Alstom SA)
• Inventors: Brignac, Jacques L., Lucas, Robert E.
• Granted Patent: US 8,590,383 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/622
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/2634 cylindrical from outside
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/226 Handheld or portable devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/2462 Probes with waveguides, e.g. SAW devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/265 by moving the sensor relative to a stationary material
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/28 providing acoustic coupling , e.g. water impedance matching G10K11/02

Abstract

An ultrasonic probe carrier includes a base, a first side arm having a first end thereof attached to the base and a second end thereof extending outwardly from the base on one side of a tube, and a second side arm having a first end thereof attached to the base and a second end thereof extending outwardly from the base on an opposite side of the tube, at least a portion of the first and second side arms being biased towards each other to removably secure the carrier around at least a portion of a circumference of the tube. An ultrasonic probe is attached to the base, and the carrier and ultrasonic probe are rotatable around the tube to scan at least one of: the circumference of the tube and a weld disposed around the circumference of the tube.

Claims

1. A system for performing nondestructive testing on a tube, comprising:

an ultrasonic probe carrier including;

a base,

a first side arm having a first end thereof attached to the base and a second end thereof extending outwardly from the base on one side of a tube, and

a second side arm having a first end thereof attached to the base and a second end thereof extending outwardly from the base on an opposite side of the tube, at least a portion of the first and second side arms being biased towards each other to removably secure the carrier around at least a portion of a circumference of the tube; and

an ultrasonic probe attached to the base, wherein the carrier and ultrasonic probe are rotatable around the tube to scan at least one of the circumference of the tube and a weld disposed around the circumference of the tube.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a couplant tube attached to the base, the couplant tube being arranged to direct a couplant material proximate the probe.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

wheels disposed on each of the first and second side arms, the wheels having axes of rotation disposed generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the tube to facilitate the rotation of the carrier around the tube.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the wheels are magnetic.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the wheels on the first and second side arms are biased towards each other to removably secure the carrier around the portion of the circumference of the tube.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the wheels are biased towards each other by at least one of spring force and magnetic force.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

an encoder disposed on one of the side arms, wherein the encoder provides a signal indicative of a location of the probe relative to the tube.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the base has a depth substantially equal to the thickness of the probe such that the carrier rotates around the tube without interference from adjacent tubes.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a wave guide attached to the base, the wave guide directing ultrasonic signals from the probe in at least one of;

a direction generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the tube and a direction generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tube.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the wave guide is positioned proximate an end of the base.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the first and second side arms are pivotally attached to the base and are biased towards each other to removably secure the carrier around the portion of the circumference of the tube.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising at least one spring to bias the first and second side arms toward each other.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the arc of the base is open at an angle sufficient to accommodate tubes of different diameters.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the carrier is manually rotated around the circumference of the tube.

15. The system of claim 1, further comprising a motor coupled to the carrier to rotate the carrier around the circumference of the tube.