×

Sludge measuring apparatus and ultrasonic probe assembly therefor

  • US 4,355,536 A
  • Filed: 10/02/1979
  • Issued: 10/26/1982
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/02/1979
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
Patent Images

1. Apparatus for ultrasonically measuring sludge accumulations between the tubes of a heat exchanger having a plurality of tubes straddling a central vertical aisle defined between vertical portions thereof, and contained within a vessel filled with water as a medium for propagating ultrasounds, comprising:

  • a probe carrier of elongated shape having rigidity in one plane and being bendable out of said plane;

    an ultrasonic probe head mounted at one end of said probe carrier;

    electrical conductors for said probe head carried by said probe carrier;

    an elongated support adapted to be mounted horizontally within said aisle and on said vessel;

    a carriage mounted for movement at successive positions along said elongated support;

    guider means on said carriage defining in the horizontal plane an L-shaped path between an entry and an exit thereof;

    said probe carrier being passed in said one plane and in a flexed condition across said entry and exit of said guider means into said L-shaped path;

    means for feeding said probe carrier forward through said guider means in relation to one of said carriage positions and for extending said probe head horizontally into a lane defined at 90 degrees to said aisle between adjacent vertical portions of tube for said one carriage position;

    said probe head being adapted to generate ultrasonic signals in said lane through said medium toward said sludge accumulations and to detect ultrasonic signals reflected back therefrom when positioned by said feeding means at a given distance inside said lane; and

    means connected at the other end of said probe carrier and to said electrical conductors for deriving an indication of the depth of said sludge accumulations in relation to successive said carriage positions and under the operation of said feeding means for each corresponding lane.

View all claims
  • 1 Assignment
Timeline View
Assignment View
    ×
    ×