Ultrasonic method and apparatus for measuring outside diameter and wall thickness of a tube and having temperature compensation
First Claim
1. An ultrasonic system for determining the outside diameter of a continuously moving cylindrical object, comprising:
- means for moving a cylindrical tubular object along an axis;
means containing a coupling medium for transferring ultrasonic energy to said object for use in obtaining data for the measurement of an outside diameter of said tubular object disposed substantially adjacent said coupling medium in said transferring means;
a plurality of transducer sensors fixedly mounted externally about the circumference of said tubular object in said transferring means and immersed in said coupling medium for producing ultrasonic energy upon activation thereof, said transducer sensors comprising at least a diametrically opposed pair of transducers mounted diametrically opposite each other relative to said tubular object for obtaining data for use in measuring the outside diameter of said object on a continuous basis;
circuit means operably connected to said transducers for producing electronic signals corresponding to the energy reflected to said transducers from said object and processing said signals to provide output signals representative of the outside diameter of said tubular object being measured; and
means operably connected to said transfer means in association with said coupling medium for compensating for temperature variation in said coupling medium, said compensating means further comprising means for taking a first measurement for providing a reference and means for taking subsequent measurements for determining changes in coupling medium temperature.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for measuring an outside diameter of a cylindrical object moving along an axis includes a plurality of fixed transducer pairs for providing a continuous outside diameter profile of the moving cylindrical object. The sensors are located in a holder enveloping the cylindrical object. Temperature compensation for changes in temperature in the coupling medium include a wire reflector in an ultrasonic path at a fixed distance from a face of the sensor. Various types of outputs, including a continuous profile of the cylindrical object are provided. A method of measuring the outside diameter of such cylindrical objects while moving is also disclosed.
49 Citations
17 Claims
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1. An ultrasonic system for determining the outside diameter of a continuously moving cylindrical object, comprising:
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means for moving a cylindrical tubular object along an axis; means containing a coupling medium for transferring ultrasonic energy to said object for use in obtaining data for the measurement of an outside diameter of said tubular object disposed substantially adjacent said coupling medium in said transferring means; a plurality of transducer sensors fixedly mounted externally about the circumference of said tubular object in said transferring means and immersed in said coupling medium for producing ultrasonic energy upon activation thereof, said transducer sensors comprising at least a diametrically opposed pair of transducers mounted diametrically opposite each other relative to said tubular object for obtaining data for use in measuring the outside diameter of said object on a continuous basis; circuit means operably connected to said transducers for producing electronic signals corresponding to the energy reflected to said transducers from said object and processing said signals to provide output signals representative of the outside diameter of said tubular object being measured; and means operably connected to said transfer means in association with said coupling medium for compensating for temperature variation in said coupling medium, said compensating means further comprising means for taking a first measurement for providing a reference and means for taking subsequent measurements for determining changes in coupling medium temperature. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A structural member structurally sized and adapted to envelop an axis along which a tubular member travels comprising:
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a sensor having a sensor front surface for emitting an ultrasonic pulse along an ultrasonic path to a focused spot at an outer surface of said tubular member; a coupling medium located intermediate said sensor front face and said outside surface of said tubular member; a wire reflector secured to said sensor holder at its opposed ends and having a portion of said wire located in said ultrasonic path; and means for providing an output pulse indicative of the time of flight of an ultrasonic pulse from said sensor front surface to said wire reflector for use as a reference and for providing subsequent output pulses indicative of the times of flight from said sensor front surface to said wire reflector, whereby said temperature compensation is obtained by comparing the times of flight taken at different times with said reference. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. A method for determining the outside diameter of a moving tubular member, comprising the steps of:
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passing a tubular member in a linear axial path of movement through an ultrasonic coupling medium; impinging ultrasonic energy through said medium on the exterior surface of said tubular member while said tubular member is moving to produce rejected pulses indicative of the outside diameter of said tubular member; converting said reflected pulses into electrical signals for processing to determine the outside diameter of said tubular member; providing a wire reflector member in said ultrasonic energy path at a fixed distance from a surface of an ultrasonic energy emitter; and measuring the time of flight of said ultrasonic energy to said wire reflector so that to provide a reference; and subsequently measuring said time of flight from said reflector to determine changes in coupling medium temperature. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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17. An ultrasonic system for determining the outside diameter of a continuously moving cylindrical object, comprising:
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means for moving a cylindrical tubular object along an axis; means containing a coupling medium for transferring ultrasonic energy to said object for use in obtaining data for the measurement of an outside diameter of said tubular object disposed substantially adjacent said coupling medium in said transferring means; a plurality of transducer sensors fixedly mounted externally about the circumference of said tubular object in said transferring means and immersed in said coupling medium for producing ultrasonic energy upon activation thereof, said transducer sensors comprising at least a diametrically opposed pair of transducers mounted diametrically opposite each other relative to said tubular object for obtaining data for use in measuring the outside diameter of said object on a continuous basis; and circuit means operably connected to said transducers for producing electronic signals corresponding to the energy reflected to said transducers from said object and processing said signals to provide output signals representative of the outside diameter of said tubular object being measured, wherein said circuit means includes means for averaging the time of flight from an opposed pair of sensors to calculate an external diameter of said moving tubular object to eliminate effects of object eccentricity, said circuit means further including means for performing a first measurement for providing a reference and means for performing subsequent measurements for determining changes in coupling medium temperature.
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Specification