NONDESTRUCTIVE TEST DEVICE USING RADIATION TO DETECT FLAWS IN MATERIALS

• US 3,766,387 A
• Filed: 07/11/1972
• Issued: 10/16/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Emil M. Bergh, Howard Heffan, John W. Mauch, Walter J. Sawick
• Original Assignee: Emil M. Bergh, Howard Heffan, John W. Mauch, Walter J. Sawick
• Inventors: Mauch, John W., Sawick, Walter J., Heffan, Howard, Bergh, Emil M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Borchelt, Archie R.
• Application Number:
  US05/270,780
• Time in Patent Office: 462 Days
• Field of Search: 250/83.3D
• US Class Current: 378/58
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 23/16 the material being a moving sheet or film
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 23/18 Investigating the presence of flaws defects or foreign matter

Abstract

A nondestructive test device for detecting flaws such as boundary separation between the liner and propellant of missile motors and the like. The device includes a rotatable table upon which the motor to be tested is mounted. A horizontal movement carriage is mounted on a vertical movement carriage. Mounted upon the horizontal movement carriage is a radiation source and a detector. The source emits radiation that passes through the motor and is received by the detector. The motor is rotated and defects cause an increase in radiation received by the detector resulting in a deviation from the normal signal. This detected deviation is electronically processed and recorded. A radiation absorber, a rotating slotted helix for providing a radiation window, and a helix angulation control are employed to provide the necessary controls and desired information.

Claims

1. A nondestructive testing device for testing a member for defects comprising:

a. first means for mounting said member;

b. a radiation source;

c. a detector;

d. said radiation source emitting radiation for passing through said member;

e. said detector positioned for receiving radiation passing through said member;

f. contour following means for moving said radiation source and detector such that the radiation source and detector about follow the contour of said member;

g. second means for moving said radiation source and detector in the vertical direction; and

h. third means for moving said radiation source and said detector in the horizontal direction.

2. The device of claim 1 including:

a. fourth means operatively connected to said radiation source for selectively absorbing discrete amounts of radiation output of said radiation source.

3. The device of claim 1 including:

a. fifth means operatively connected to said detector for selectively absorbing discrete amounts of the radiation input to said detector.

4. The device of claim 1 including:

a. sixth means for controlling said second means to move vertically in discrete steps and for controlling said third means to move horizontally in discrete steps.

5. The device of claim 2 wherein:

a. said first means is a rotatable table;

b. said second means comprises a first platform and means for moving said first platform in the vertical direction;

c. said third means comprising a second platform and means for moving said second platform in the horizontal direction; and

d. said second platform being slidably mounted on said first platform.

6. The device of claim 5 including:

a. a follower operatively connected to said second platform for following the contour of said member; and

b. bias means operatively connected to said first and second platforms for biasing said follower against said member.

7. The device of claim 5 wherein:

a. said fourth means is a radiation absorbing device that introduces a wedge into the radiation beam; and

b. said fifth means comprises a rotatable plate having a plurality of progressively changing radiation absorbing means that are selectively positioned in front of said detector.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein:

a. said detector comprises a cylinder having a helical slot formed therein;

b. a radiation detector device positioned within said cylinder;

c. means for rotating said cylinder about its longitudinal axis; and

d. means for rotating said radiation detector and cylinder about an axis perpendicular to said longitudinal axis.