Device for the ultrasound measuring of cylindrical test models

• US 7,140,253 B2
• Filed: 06/21/2004
• Issued: 11/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zumbach Electronic AG
• Original Assignee: Zumbach Electronic AG
• Inventors: Daleo, James, Naegeli, Sven, Merki, Hubert A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams, Hezron
• Assistant Examiner(s): SAINT SURIN, JACQUES M
• Application Number:
  US10/871,276
• Publication Number:
  US 20040255677A1
• Time in Patent Office: 890 Days
• Field of Search: 736/18, 736/22, 736/25, 736/26, 736/27, 73/18.6, 736/20, 736/23, 736/29, 736/32
• US Class Current: 73/620
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/02854 Length, thickness
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/044 Internal reflections (echoes), e.g. on walls or defects
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/2634 cylindrical from outside
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/07 by measuring propagation velocity or propagation time of acoustic waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/223 Supports, positioning or alignment in fixed situation mounting transducers per se G10K11/004

Abstract

A device is provided for the ultrasonic measuring of cylindrical test specimen, in particular tubes and hoses, wherein said device can be filled with water or submerged in a water bath and is provided with at least one ultrasonic measuring head secured on the device. The device is characterized by a cylindrical reference mandrel, the longitudinal axis of which at least essentially coincides with the measuring axis of the device, and at least one cylindrical auxiliary mandrel that extends parallel to the reference mandrel, can be moved to a position between the ultrasonic measuring head and the reference mandrel, and can also be removed from this position.

Claims

1. A device for ultrasonic measuring of a cylindrical test specimen located in a liquid medium, the device comprising:

at least one ultrasonic measuring head;

a cylindrical reference mandrel having a longitudinal axis that substantially coincides with the measuring axis of the device, the reference mandrel defining a fixed reference point with respect to the ultrasonic measuring head; and

at least one cylindrical auxiliary mandrel that extends substantially parallel to the reference mandrel, wherein the auxiliary mandrel is movable along a substantially circular path around the reference mandrel in order to be removably positionable between the ultrasonic measuring head and the reference mandrel.

2. The device according to claim 1, comprising at least two ultrasonic measuring heads.

3. The device according to claim 2, comprising an even number of ultrasonic measuring heads wherein the ultrasonic measuring heads are arranged in pairs located diametrically opposite each other relative to the measuring axis.

4. The device according to claim 2, wherein the auxiliary mandrel is positionable between each of the ultrasonic measuring heads and the reference mandrel.

5. The device according to claim 2, comprising at least one auxiliary mandrel for each of the at least two measuring heads.

6. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a holder for the test specimen, wherein the at least one reference mandrel is removable from the device.

7. The device according to claim 1, further comprising at least one of a signal processor or a computer associated with the at least one ultrasonic measuring head.

8. The device of claim 1, further comprising a pot adapted to hold the liquid medium.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is adapted to be submerged in the liquid medium.

10. A method of measuring a cylindrical specimen located in a liquid medium using an ultrasonic signal produced by at least one ultrasonic measuring head of a measurement device, the method comprising:

calibrating the measurement device using the following steps;

(a) measuring a first transmit time for an ultrasonic echo from the ultrasonic measuring head to a cylindrical reference mandrel located substantially coaxially with the measurement axis of the device;

(b) positioning a cylindrical auxiliary mandrel between the ultrasonic measuring head and the reference mandrel, and at a first known distance from the reference mandrel;

(c) measuring a second transmit time for an ultrasonic echo from the ultrasonic measuring head to the reference mandrel; and

(d) calculating the distance from the ultrasonic measuring head to the cylindrical reference mandrel based on the first transit time, the second transit time, and the first known distance; and

measuring the cylindrical specimen using the following steps;

(e) positioning the cylindrical specimen substantially coaxially around the reference mandrel;

(f) measuring a third transit time for an ultrasonic echo from the ultrasonic measuring head to a boundary surface of the specimen; and

(g) calculating a dimensional property of the specimen based on at least the third transit time.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein once steps (a)–

(d) have been carried out, only steps (e) to (g) need to be carried out to measure the cylindrical specimen.