Method for determining the wall thickness and the speed of sound in a tube from reflected and transmitted ultrasound pulses
First Claim
1. A method of determining the wall thickness of a tubular workpiece and the speed of sound within said tubular workpiece from a single set of recorded ultrasound data, said method comprising the steps of:
- configuring an acoustic couplant medium;
placing at least one ultrasonic transducer in acoustic communication with said couplant medium;
defining a transmission path in said acoustic couplant medium;
selectively disposing said tubular workpiece in said acoustic couplant medium such that said tubular workpiece is in said transmission path;
defining, along said transmission path, an acoustic discontinuity at each interface between a surface of said tubular workpiece and said acoustic couplant medium;
transmitting a plurality of ultrasound waves through said transmission path, at least one of said plurality of ultrasound waves being transmitted without the presence of said tubular workpiece in said transmission path;
receiving signals corresponding to;
said plurality of transmitted ultrasound waves that are reflected from at least one of said acoustic discontinuities; and
said plurality of transmitted ultrasound waves that traverse the substantial entirety of said transmission path;
recording time and amplitude data for each of said received signals;
calculating a speed of sound in said tubular workpiece based on said recorded time and amplitude data; and
calculating a thickness of each wall of said tubular workpiece based on said recorded time and amplitude data.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for the determining ultrasonic sound propagation speed and wall thickness of a tubular object. Time-domain and frequency-domain analyses are used, where the latter can determine acoustic dispersion if the specimen is made up of a dispersive material. Data is sensed from a series of transmitted ultrasonic waves, some of which are reflected. The data can be used to calculate speed of sound in the tube, as well as wall thickness. Inherent in the data is the speed of the ultrasonic wave; accordingly, correction for temperature variations in the tube is not required. The calculations based on measured speed of sound quantities produces more accurate results than in calculations where the speed of sound in the specimen is assumed.
49 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method of determining the wall thickness of a tubular workpiece and the speed of sound within said tubular workpiece from a single set of recorded ultrasound data, said method comprising the steps of:
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configuring an acoustic couplant medium;
placing at least one ultrasonic transducer in acoustic communication with said couplant medium;
defining a transmission path in said acoustic couplant medium;
selectively disposing said tubular workpiece in said acoustic couplant medium such that said tubular workpiece is in said transmission path;
defining, along said transmission path, an acoustic discontinuity at each interface between a surface of said tubular workpiece and said acoustic couplant medium;
transmitting a plurality of ultrasound waves through said transmission path, at least one of said plurality of ultrasound waves being transmitted without the presence of said tubular workpiece in said transmission path;
receiving signals corresponding to;
said plurality of transmitted ultrasound waves that are reflected from at least one of said acoustic discontinuities; and
said plurality of transmitted ultrasound waves that traverse the substantial entirety of said transmission path;
recording time and amplitude data for each of said received signals;
calculating a speed of sound in said tubular workpiece based on said recorded time and amplitude data; and
calculating a thickness of each wall of said tubular workpiece based on said recorded time and amplitude data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A system for determining the wall thickness of an object and the speed of sound within said object from a single set of recorded ultrasound data, said system comprising:
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an acoustic couplant medium with a transmission path defined therein, said acoustic couplant medium configured to selectively receive a tubular workpiece disposed in said transmission path such that each interface between a surface of said tubular workpiece and said acoustic couplant medium defines an acoustic discontinuity;
at least one ultrasonic transducer cooperative with said acoustic couplant medium, said transducer configured to transmit and receive signals, said received signals corresponding to time and amplitude data of ultrasound waves reflected from said acoustic discontinuities and transmitted ultrasound waves that traverse the substantial entirety of said transmission path;
signal receiving and recording apparatus operatively coupled to said transducer, said signal receiving and recording apparatus configured to;
calculate the speed of sound within said tubular workpiece based on said received signals; and
calculate the thickness of each wall of said tubular workpiece based on said received signals. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of determining the wall thickness of and speed of sound within a tubular workpiece, said method comprising the steps of:
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configuring an acoustic couplant medium;
placing at least one ultrasonic transducer in acoustic communication with said couplant medium;
transmitting an ultrasound wave through said acoustic couplant medium;
receiving said transmitted ultrasound wave;
recording data corresponding to said transmitted ultrasound wave;
placing said tubular workpiece in said acoustic couplant medium;
generating ultrasound waves within said acoustic couplant medium such that at least a portion of said waves are reflected back from at least one surface of said tubular workpiece while another portion of said waves are transmitted through said couplant medium and said tubular workpiece;
receiving signals reflected from at least one surface of said tubular workpiece; and
receiving signals transmitted through said couplant medium and said tubular workpiece;
recording data corresponding to said signals;
calculating a speed of sound in said tubular workpiece based on said recorded data; and
calculating a thickness of each wall of said tubular workpiece based on said recorded data. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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16. A method of determining the wall thickness of and speed of sound within a hollow workpiece, said method comprising the steps of:
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configuring an acoustic couplant medium;
placing at least one ultrasonic transducer in acoustic communication with said couplant medium;
defining a transmission path in said acoustic couplant medium;
selectively disposing said hollow workpiece in said acoustic couplant medium such that said hollow workpiece is in said transmission path;
defining, along said transmission path, an acoustic discontinuity at each interface between a surface of said hollow workpiece and said acoustic couplant medium;
transmitting a plurality of ultrasound waves through said transmission path, at least one of said plurality of ultrasound waves being transmitted without the presence of said hollow workpiece in said transmission path;
receiving signals corresponding to;
said plurality of transmitted ultrasound waves that are reflected from at least one acoustic discontinuity; and
said plurality of transmitted ultrasound waves that traverse the substantial entirety of said transmission path;
recording data for each of said received signals;
calculating a speed of sound in said hollow workpiece based on said recorded data; and
calculating a thickness of each wall of said hollow workpiece based on said recorded data. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. A method of determining the wall thickness of a tubular workpiece and the speed of sound within said tubular workpiece, said method comprising the steps of:
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configuring an acoustic couplant medium;
placing at least one ultrasonic transducer within said couplant medium;
defining a transmission path in said acoustic couplant medium;
transmitting a first ultrasound pulse along said transmission path when said tubular workpiece is disposed therein such that at least a portion of said first ultrasound pulse echoes off at least one surface of said tubular workpiece;
transmitting a second ultrasound pulse along said transmission path in a substantially opposite direction relative to said first pulse when said tubular workpiece is disposed therein such that at least a portion of said second ultrasound pulse echoes off at least one surface of said tubular workpiece;
transmitting a third ultrasound pulse along said transmission path when said tubular workpiece is disposed therein such that at least a portion of said third ultrasound pulse passes through the substantial entirety of both said tubular workpiece and said acoustic couplant medium;
transmitting a fourth ultrasound pulse along said transmission path when said tubular workpiece is not disposed therein such that at least a portion of said fourth ultrasound pulse passes diametrically through the substantial entirety of said acoustic couplant medium;
detecting echo signals corresponding to said transmitted first and second ultrasound pulses, and signals corresponding to said transmitted third and fourth ultrasound pulses;
recording time and amplitude data for said detected signals;
calculating a speed of sound in said tubular workpiece based on said recorded time and amplitude data; and
calculating a thickness of each wall of said tubular workpiece based on said recorded time and amplitude data. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method of determining the wall thickness of a tube and speed of sound within said tube, said method comprising the steps of:
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selectively disposing said tube in an acoustic couplant medium;
placing at least one ultrasonic transducer within said couplant medium;
defining a transmission path in said acoustic couplant medium;
defining, along said transmission path, an acoustic discontinuity at each interface between a surface of said tube and said acoustic couplant medium;
generating a plurality of ultrasound waves at least one of which is generated without the presence of said tube in said transmission path;
recording data corresponding to the portion of said plurality of ultrasound waves that reflects off the first of said acoustic discontinuities encountered along said transmission path;
recording data corresponding to the portion of said plurality of ultrasound waves that reflects off the second of said acoustic discontinuities encountered along said transmission path;
recording data corresponding to the portion of said plurality of ultrasound waves that reflects off the third of said acoustic discontinuities encountered along said transmission path;
recording data corresponding to the portion of said plurality of ultrasound waves that reflects off the fourth of said acoustic discontinuities encountered along said transmission path;
recording data corresponding to the portion of said plurality of ultrasound waves that passes through said tubular member and across the substantial entirety of said transmission path;
recording data corresponding to the portion of said plurality of ultrasound waves that passes across the substantial entirety of said transmission path when said tubular member is not disposed therein;
calculating a speed of sound in said tube based on said recorded data; and
calculating a thickness of each wall of said tube based on said recorded data.
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Specification