Underwater inspection and communication apparatus
First Claim
1. A system for conducting ultrasonic inspection of a structure submerged below a water surface, comprising;
- a mobile subsurface unit comprising transducer means for transmitting bursts of high frequency sound waves through one surface of said structure and detecting reflections of said sound waves, and monitoring means for monitoring the magnitude of the sonic signals generated by manipulation of the transducer means over the surface of the structure, said transducer means being movable over the surface of said structure apart from the monitoring means; and
above-surface equipment comprising image-forming means for forming a visual image demonstrating the signals transmitted and detected by said transducer means;
connecting means, connected to said image-forming means and said transducer means, for conveying signals transmitted or detected by said transducer means to said image-forming means; and
image-transmitting means for transmitting the visual signal formed by the image-forming means to the monitoring means in said subsurface unit.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system for non-destructive underwater evaluation of structures comprises an ultrasonic testing means, such as a transducer, means for converting the output thereof into a visual signal, such as an oscilloscope, and means for conveying that visual signal to the underwater technician who is operating the ultrasonic testing means. The means for transmitting the visual signal may comprise an underwater television or other monitor, connected either to a television camera which photographs the output of the oscilloscope or other visual display device, or other means, such as an auxiliary cathode ray tube display device, can be hooked directly to the visual display device. Preferably recording means, such as a video tape recorder, is connected, together with the underwater monitor, to make a permanent record of the monitored signals. Most preferably, the underwater monitor is also attached or attachable to an underwater television camera, so that the inspection can be switched from visual to ultrasonic, or vice versa, at will. Preferably the system also permits direct visual communication between the underwater technician and the topside crew.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. A system for conducting ultrasonic inspection of a structure submerged below a water surface, comprising;
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a mobile subsurface unit comprising transducer means for transmitting bursts of high frequency sound waves through one surface of said structure and detecting reflections of said sound waves, and monitoring means for monitoring the magnitude of the sonic signals generated by manipulation of the transducer means over the surface of the structure, said transducer means being movable over the surface of said structure apart from the monitoring means; and above-surface equipment comprising image-forming means for forming a visual image demonstrating the signals transmitted and detected by said transducer means;
connecting means, connected to said image-forming means and said transducer means, for conveying signals transmitted or detected by said transducer means to said image-forming means; and
image-transmitting means for transmitting the visual signal formed by the image-forming means to the monitoring means in said subsurface unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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- 8. A method of ultrasonically testing a structure submerged beneath a water level, comprising placing an ultrasonic probe on a surface of said structure, converting the output of said ultrasonic probe into a visual image in an above surface ultrasonic testing apparatus, and duplicating said visual image at a location proximate the location of said ultrasonic probe, whereby the manipulator of said ultrasonic probe may observe the output of said probe as the probe is manipulated.
Specification