Infrared imaging of ultrasonically excited subsurface defects in materials
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A thermal imaging system for detecting defects in a component, said system comprising:
- a sound source;
a thermal imaging camera directed towards the component and generating thermal images of the component; and
a controller electrically connected to the sound source and the camera, said controller causing the sound source to emit at least one pulse of a sound signal at a predetermined frequency and for a predetermined duration, and causing the camera to generate sequential images of the component, wherein the frequency of the sound signal has a substantially constant amplitude, and wherein vibrational energy from the sound source causes the defects in the component to heat up and be visible in the images generated by the camera.
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Abstract
A thermal imaging system for detecting cracks and defects in a component. An ultrasonic transducer is coupled to the specimen through a malleable coupler. Ultrasonic energy from the transducer causes the defects to heat up, which is detected by a thermal camera. The ultrasonic energy is in the form of a pulse where the frequency of the ultrasonic signal is substantially constant within the pulse. A control unit is employed to provide timing and control for the operation of the ultrasonic transducer and the camera.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. A thermal imaging system for detecting defects in a component, said system comprising:
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a sound source;
a thermal imaging camera directed towards the component and generating thermal images of the component; and
a controller electrically connected to the sound source and the camera, said controller causing the sound source to emit at least one pulse of a sound signal at a predetermined frequency and for a predetermined duration, and causing the camera to generate sequential images of the component, wherein the frequency of the sound signal has a substantially constant amplitude, and wherein vibrational energy from the sound source causes the defects in the component to heat up and be visible in the images generated by the camera. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 25)
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11. A defect detection system for detecting defects in a structure, said system comprising:
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a sound source for directing at least one pulse of a sound signal into the structure for a predetermined period of time, said signal having a predetermined frequency and a substantially constant amplitude;
a camera directed towards the structure and generating images of the structure when the source emits the sound signal; and
a controller connected to the source and the camera to provide timing signals therebetween, said controller being responsive to the images from the camera. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 26)
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19. A method of detecting defects in a structure, said method comprising the steps of:
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emitting at least one pulse of a sound signal into the structure to heat the defects, said signal having a predetermined frequency and a substantially constant amplitude; and
generating a sequence of thermal images of the structure prior to, during and after the emission of the sound signal. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 27)
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28. A defect detection system for detecting defects in a structure, said system comprising:
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a sound source;
a coupler positioned between and in contact with the structure and the sound source;
a thermal imaging camera directed towards the structure, and generating thermal images of the structure; and
a controller electrically coupled to the sound source and the camera, said controller causing the sound source to emit a sound signal at a predetermined frequency for a predetermined duration, the signal having a substantially constant amplituide, and causing the camera to generate sequential images of the structure, wherein the sound signal from the sound source causes the defects in the structure to heat up and be visible in the images generated by the camera. The limitation that the sound signal has a substantially constant amplitude was necessary to overcome any application of the prior art. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31)
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Specification