APPARATUS FOR NONDESTRUCTIVE MATERIALS TESTING OF CONTINUOUSLY ADVANCED WORKPIECES

• US 3,640,123 A
• Filed: 03/21/1969
• Issued: 02/08/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Helmut Pause, Herbert Vogt
• Original Assignee: Helmut Pause, Herbert Vogt
• Inventors: Vogt, Herbert, Pause, Helmut
• Primary Examiner(s): Ruehl, Charles A.
• Application Number:
  US04/809,240
• Time in Patent Office: 1,054 Days
• Field of Search: 73/67.5-67.9,69,71.5
• US Class Current: 73/633
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/27 by moving the material relative to a stationary sensor

Abstract

An apparatus for nondestructive materials testing of continuously advanced workpieces of preferably oblong shape. This apparatus has at least one holder, in order to support an ultrasonic transducer. The holder is mounted in the throughfeed section to transmit and receive, respectively, testing signals, to and from said workpiece. Further, pressure structure is provided for pressing the transducer against the workpiece, to provide a measurement coupling of the transducer with the workpiece, when latter is passing said transducer. The holder is provided with at least one funnel-type inlet throughfeed to adjust the direction of the workpiece with respect to the holder. There is at least one movably supported guide which is arranged ahead of the transducer holder. In order to guide the workpiece, when passing the transducer a spring structure is provided also for pushing the guide into the throughpassing space and against the throughpassing workpiece. The resilient structure is arranged around the perimeter of the guide in order to have an equal distribution of resilient forces on the guide.

Claims

1. In an apparatus for nondestructive testing of continuously advanced workpieces of elongated shape, the apparatus comprising at least one holder means, transducer means mounted in said holder means to transmit and receive, respectively, testing signals to and from said workpiece, a throughfeed section to receive the advanced workpiece, means for pressing the transducer means against the workpiece for coupling said transducer means with the workpiece, the throughfeed section having at least one funnel-shaped inlet and throughfeed means to adjust the direction of the front leading end of the workpiece having at least one movably supported structural guide means which is arranged ahead of said transducer holder means to guide the workpiece when passing the transducer means, resilient means for pushing the guide means into the throughpassing space and against the advancing workpiece, said resilient means being arranged around the perimeter of said guide means to have an equal distribution of resilient force.

2. The combination of claim 1 and wherein the transducer means are ultrasonic transducer means to transmit and receive an ultrasonic signal, respectively, to and from said workpiece.

3. The combination of claim 1 and wherein the structural guide means are situated next to and support the transducer holder means.

4. The combination of claim 1 and wherein the structural guide means are situated next to and guide the transducer holder means.

5. The combination of claim 1 and wherein the structural guide means is provided with inclined feed-in surfaces.

6. The combination of claim 1 and wherein at least one structural guide means has a plurality of parts.

7. The combination of claim 1 and wherein the throughfeed section has a funnel neck extending from said inlet and wherein the structural guide means or the transducer means is arranged in the funnel neck.

8. The combination of claim 1 and wherein the structural guide means is forcibly guided in radial bearings.

9. The combination of claim 1 and wherein the throughfeed section has a spring type suspension, and a metal frame means in which said suspension is located.

10. The combination of claim 1 and wherein the throughfeed section is suspended by a spring support which is divided into two sets, one set being arranged close to the inlet, and the other one close to an outlet of the throughfeed section, each set being separately positioned by the piece under test and being retained for the duration of specimen presence in the respective position.

11. The combination of claim 1 and wherein said guide means has opposed ends between which said holder means is arranged on said guide means.

12. The combination of claim 1 and wherein said throughfeed section has an outlet equipped with at least one funnel having an inlet end of increased cross section arrange at a side of said holder means remote from said guide means.