Ultrasonic transducer
First Claim
1. An ultrasonic transducer device for measuring the thickness of a member comprising a piezoelectric element, means for biasing said piezoelectric element against the member whose thickness is to be measured, said biasing means comprising a sleeve having a recess provided in one end thereof and spacer means received within said recess in said sleeve, said spacer means operatively contacting said piezoelectric element, and means for producing a plurality of reference thicknesses, said reference thickness producing means being received within the member whose thickness is to be measured and being formed from a material having an acoustical velocity differing from the acoustic velocity of the member whose thickness is to be measured, said reference thickness producing means and a wear surface on said member intercepting signals produced by said piezoelectric element in response to actuation thereof and producing return signals differing in time relative to one another.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An ultrasonic piezoelectric transducer and a method for measuring and/or monitoring various physical properties of a member, in-situ, are disclosed. The transducer includes a sleeve which is received in a blind bore provided in the member, a piezoelectric element positioned within the blind bore, and an aligning spacer means interposed between the end of the sleeve and the piezoelectric element. By the application of appropriate voltage pulses to the piezoelectric element causing interrogating signals to be applied to the member, and the measurement of the time interval between the application of an interrogating signal and the receipt of a return signal from the member, various physical properties of the member and structural information regarding same can be determined.
35 Citations
12 Claims
- 1. An ultrasonic transducer device for measuring the thickness of a member comprising a piezoelectric element, means for biasing said piezoelectric element against the member whose thickness is to be measured, said biasing means comprising a sleeve having a recess provided in one end thereof and spacer means received within said recess in said sleeve, said spacer means operatively contacting said piezoelectric element, and means for producing a plurality of reference thicknesses, said reference thickness producing means being received within the member whose thickness is to be measured and being formed from a material having an acoustical velocity differing from the acoustic velocity of the member whose thickness is to be measured, said reference thickness producing means and a wear surface on said member intercepting signals produced by said piezoelectric element in response to actuation thereof and producing return signals differing in time relative to one another.
- 5. An ultrasonic transducer device for measuring the thickness of a member comprising, in combination, a piezoelectric element, a member whose thickness is to be measured, means for biasing said piezoelectric element against said member whose thickness is to be measured, said biasing means comprising a sleeve having a recess provided in one end thereof and spacer means received within said recess in said sleeve, said spacer means operatively contacting said piezoelectric element, and means for producing a plurality of reference thicknesses, said reference thickness producing means being received within said member whose thickness is to be measured and being formed from a material having an acoustic velocity that differs from the acoustic velocity of said member whose thickness is to be measured, said reference thickness producing means and a wear surface on said member intercepting signals produced by said piezoelectric element in response to actuation thereof and producing return signals differing in time relative to one another.
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9. A method for measuring the thickness of a member in-situ through the use of an ultrasonic transducer device comprising a piezoelectric element, means for biasing said piezoelectric element against the member whose thickness is to be measured, said biasing means comprising a sleeve having a recess provided in one end thereof and spacer means received within said recess in said sleeve, said spacer means operatively contacting said piezoelectric element, and means for producing a plurality of reference thicknesses, said reference thickness producing means being formed from a material having an acoustic velocity that differs from the acoustic velocity of the member whose thickness is to be measured, said method comprising the steps of:
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applying a pulse to said ultrasonic transducer device causing said piezoelectric element to transmit an interrogating signal into the member whose thickness is to be measured; receiving a return signal from at least one of the surfaces defining said reference thickness producing means and from the end of the member whose thickness is to be measured in response to said interrogating signal; processing said return signals to eliminate the effects thereon of any temperature gradients which exist in the member whose thickness is to be measured; and determining the thickness of the member from said processed return signals. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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11. A method for determining the position of a member through the use of an ultrasonic transducer device comprising a piezoelectric element, a reference member, means for biasing said piezoelectric element against a surface of said reference member, said biasing means comprising a sleeve having a recess provided in one end thereof and spacer means received within said recess in said sleeve, said spacer means operatively contacting said piezoelectric element, and means for producing a plurality of reference thicknesses, said reference thickness producing means being formed from material having an acoustic velocity that differs from the acoustic velocity of said reference member, said method comprising the steps of:
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locating said ultrasonic transducer device in proximity to the member whose position is to be determined; applying a pulse to said ultrasonic transducer device causing said piezoelectric element to transmit an interrogating signal into said reference member and into the member whose position is to be determined; receiving a return signal from at least one of the surfaces defining said reference thickness producing means and from the end of said reference member and from the member whose position is to be determined; processing said return signals to eliminate the return signal produced from said end of said reference member; and determining the position of the member from said processed return signals. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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Specification