CRYOGENIC TRANSITION DETECTION
First Claim
1. A method of detecting the transformation of retained austenite into martensite in a manufactured product comprising:
- incrementally reducing the temperature of the product to near cryogenic temperatures according to a predetermined temperature curve and measuring a characteristic of the product during each increment;
recording the characteristic measurements as a function of temperature;
determining the transition based upon successive characteristic measurements.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A non-destructive test using cryogenic temperatures is capable of detecting defects in materials that result from residual stress from manufacturing and from retained austenite. The subject materials or parts that are subjected to cryogenic temperatures approaching and below ˜−300° F., −184° C., 89° K, thereby causing permanent deformations or characteristic changes in the material if excessive residual stress, retained austenite or discontinuities exist. To determine the extent of changes, a first metric of the subject material is determined, the material is then subjected to cryogenic cooling thereby triggering any deformation or characteristic changes. Subsequent to the cryogenic cooling, the subject material may be returned to a second temperature whereby a second metric representing based on the same characteristic of the subject material is determined. The comparison of the first and second metrics reveals the deformation or change resultant from the defect. In addition characteristic changes in the subject material during cryogenic cooling may be use to detect the phase transition of the retained austenite to martensite.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of detecting the transformation of retained austenite into martensite in a manufactured product comprising:
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incrementally reducing the temperature of the product to near cryogenic temperatures according to a predetermined temperature curve and measuring a characteristic of the product during each increment; recording the characteristic measurements as a function of temperature; determining the transition based upon successive characteristic measurements. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for detecting a defect in a manufactured item comprising:
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determining at least one characteristic of the manufactured item at first temperature; cooling the manufactured item to near cryogenic temperatures according to a initial temperature time cycle; during the cooling, monitoring the manufactured item for emissions resultant from phase transition; recording the emissions, as a function of temperature or time; adjusting the initial temperature time cycle as a function of the emissions to form an adjusted temperature time cycle; controlling the temperature of the manufacture item as a function of the adjusted temperature time cycle; determining a second metric representing the at least one characteristic of the manufacture item at a second temperature subsequent to the near-cryogenic cooling; comparing the first metric with the second metric; and
,detecting the defect based upon the comparison. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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12. A method of detecting a material transformation comprising:
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incrementally reducing the temperature of the product to near cryogenic temperatures according to a predetermined temperature curve and measuring a characteristic of the product during each increment; recording the characteristic measurements as a function of temperature; filtering successive characteristic measurements determining the material transformation based upon the filter successive characteristic measurements. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification