Magnetic flaw detector for use with ferromagnetic small diameter tubular goods using a second magnetic field to confine a first magnetic field

• US 5,293,117 A
• Filed: 05/14/1992
• Issued: 03/08/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Western Atlas International Incorporated (Northrop Grumman Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Western Atlas International Incorporated (Northrop Grumman Corporation)
• Inventors: Hwang, Jackson H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Snow, Walter E.
• Application Number:
  US07/882,810
• Time in Patent Office: 663 Days
• Field of Search: 324/219, 324/220, 324/221, 324/227, 324/232, 324/242
• US Class Current: 324/220
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/82 for investigating the presence of flaws

Abstract

A magnetic flaw detector for use in small-diameter tubular goods employs a second magnetic field to confine a first magnetic field to reside within a desired volumetric region in the wall of a specimen under test. A flux leakage detector and a variable reluctance sensor provide means for detecting and discriminating between defects on the inner and outer surfaces of the specimen.

Claims

1. A magnetic inspection probe for internal use for determining flaws in ferromagnetic tubular goods, comprising:

a first magnetizer element having poles of opposite polarity for establishing a magnetic circuit in a wall of a specimen under study, said wall having inner and outer surfaces;

a second magnetizer element having poles of opposite polarity for confining the magnetic field of the first magnetizer to a desired volumetric region in said wall;

said first magnetizer element being positioned between the poles of said second magnetizer element, like poles of said first and second magnetizer elements being juxtapositioned; and

sensor means positioned between the poles of said first magnetizer for detecting and discriminating between flaws on the inner surface and flaws on the outer surface of said specimen.

2. The magnetic inspection probe as defined by claim 1 wherein:

said sensor means includes

(a) means for measuring flux leakage from said wall, and

(b) means for measuring the reluctance of said magnetic circuit.

3. The magnetic inspection probe as defined in claim 2, wherein:

the poles of said second magnetizer element include prehensile pole pieces secured thereto.

5. The magnetic inspection probe as defined by claim 1 wherein:

said first and second magnetizer elements are permanent magnets.

4. A magnetic inspection tool for detecting defects in small-diameter ferromagnetic tubular goods having inner and outer wall surfaces, comprising:

a first magnetizer element means for establishing a magnetic flux in a portion of the wall of a specimen under inspection;

a second magnetizer means for magnetically bottling said magnetic flux field within a desired volumetric region within said wall;

sensor means for detecting and discriminating between defects occurring on said inner and outer wall surfaces;

said second magnetizer element means including a central permanently magnetized core that is terminated at each end by a prehensile pole piece;

means for resiliently supporting said first magnetizer element from said central core;

said sensor means including a flux leakage sensor means and a sensor means for measuring the reluctance across the bottled magnetic flux field, both said sensor means being mounted adjacent said first magnetizer means on said first magnetizer supporting means; and

means for radially expanding said means for resiliently supporting against the inner surface of said specimen.

6. The magnetic inspection tool as defined by claim 4, wherein:

said first and second magnetizers are permanent magnets.