System, method and apparatus for the ultrasonic inspection of liquid filled tubulars and vessels
First Claim
1. A portable Electromagnetic Acoustic Transducer (EMAT) system for linear externally inspecting non-rotating ferrous tubulars and tanks for flaws and thinning, comprising:
- a) a power supply;
b) a computer chassis electrically connected to said power supply;
c) a CRT and keypad electrically connected to said computer;
d) a control chassis electrically connected to said computer chassis;
e) at least one couplantless, self-propelled Electromagnetic Acoustic Transducer (EMAT) probe, having integral juxtaposed, convoluted transmitter and receiving coils, umbilically connected to said control chassis; and
f) a software program, having predetermined parameters for comparison with data being received from said EMAT probe and thereby determining flaws and thinning while scanning a tubular or tank.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention relates to an improved system, method and apparatus for the external ultrasonic inspection of fluidized tubulars and tanks. The apparatus utilizes couplantless, contactless, computer controlled, Electromagnetic Acoustic Transducer (EMAT) probes for the external, longitudinal, scanning process. Thereby, detecting thin spots and other flaws along the circumferential belts of a pipe or tank without the need to encircle the pipe or tank with an array of transducers. The invention discloses a method of operation whereby the probe detects flaws in welds and the pipe walls by launching and receiving simultaneous ultrasonic signals, circumferentially around a pipe, from the same transducer.
160 Citations
39 Claims
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1. A portable Electromagnetic Acoustic Transducer (EMAT) system for linear externally inspecting non-rotating ferrous tubulars and tanks for flaws and thinning, comprising:
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a) a power supply; b) a computer chassis electrically connected to said power supply; c) a CRT and keypad electrically connected to said computer; d) a control chassis electrically connected to said computer chassis; e) at least one couplantless, self-propelled Electromagnetic Acoustic Transducer (EMAT) probe, having integral juxtaposed, convoluted transmitter and receiving coils, umbilically connected to said control chassis; and f) a software program, having predetermined parameters for comparison with data being received from said EMAT probe and thereby determining flaws and thinning while scanning a tubular or tank. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A portable Electromagnetic Acoustic Transducer (EMAT) system and probe apparatus for externally inspecting ferrous tubulars and tanks for flaws and thinning said EMAT probe apparatus comprising:
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a) a carriage having a central body housing; b) an adjustable articulated frame, centrally attached, perpendicular to said central body housing; c) an Electromagnetic Acoustic Transducer vertically and horizontally adjustable, attached to the distal ends of said articulated frame; and d) a magnetic wheel disposed forwardly and in offset, rolling, alignment with each of said transducers. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A portable, magnetic acoustic transducer probe and system for inspecting operable piping systems for defects comprising:
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a) a movable carriage positionable externally on said pipe; b) means for moving said carriage along said pipe; c) a transducer means mounted on said carriage; d) a permanent magnet mounted on said transducer means so that the north pole of said magnet is held close to the surface of said pipe when said carriage is positioned on said pipe; e) interposed transmitter and receiver coils located on said transducer means having precise interfaced loops mounted between said permanent magnet and said pipe surface; f) a wear plate covering said coils attached to said transducer means held in springable, sliding, contact with said pipe; g) an electronic means located on said carriage for receiving and transmitting signals to and from said transducer coils; h) a controller means located remotely and connected electrically by an umbilical cord to said electronic means for controlling signals sent to said carriage; i) a data processor means for transmitting signal waves to said transducer coils and processing data received from said coils while scanning longitudinally along said pipe; j) a plurality of ultrasonic waves, induced magnetically into the wall of said pipe simultaneously in a clock-wise and counter-clockwise direction around the circumference of said pipe; and k) a software program loaded into said data processor having predetermined parameters for determining defects throughout said pipe wall by comparing shifts in the arrival times of said waves at a set point of incidence, amplitude of said signal, and comparison of echo signals during the interval between each round trip signal with that of a predetermined echo setting.
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36. A portable, magnetic acoustic transducer probe and system for inspecting operable piping systems for defects according to claim wherein said permanent magnet is a plurality of disks arranged in pairs and mounted so as only the north pole of each magnet is exposed to said coils.
- 37. A portable, magnetic acoustic transducer probe and system for inspecting operable piping systems for defects according to claim wherein said carriage has a plurality of said transducers.
Specification