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Single mode ultrasonic inspection method and apparatus

  • US 5,189,915 A
  • Filed: 11/21/1990
  • Issued: 03/02/1993
  • Est. Priority Date: 11/21/1990
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A method of inspecting the volume of an object comprising the steps of:

  • (a) transmitting shear mode ultrasonic search signals into the mass of the object from an inspection surface thereof so that the search signals propagate along a plane extending substantially normal to the inspection surface, the search signals being transmitted with a source transducer;

    (b) detecting shear mode ultrasonic catch signals at at least one of a plurality of catch transducers aligned along the inspection surface on the plane along which the search signals propagate, the catch signals being produced as the search signals encounter discontinuities in the mass of the object and a portion of their energy is directed back toward the inspection surface, each catch transducer detecting shear mode ultrasonic catch signals produced within a substantially different depth range below the inspection surface;

    (c) determining the position of the source transducer and the catch transducers so that the shear mode ultrasonic search signals transmitted by the source transducer and the shear mode ultrasonic signals detected by the catch transducers may be correlated;

    (d) for each signal detected by one of the catch transducers, determining the time interval between the receipt of said catch signal and the transmission of the ultrasonic search signal from which said received catch signal is produced;

    (e) recording the shear mode ultrasonic catch signals detected at the catch transducers so that the catch signals may be analyzed to gain information regarding the acoustic discontinuities in the mass of the object to be inspected; and

    (f) recording the position of the source transducer and each catch transducer at each point that an ultrasonic signal is detected by one of the catch transducers.

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