Methods and apparatus for detecting cracks in welds
First Claim
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1. A method of inspecting a portion of a weld between at least two materials, said method comprising:
- pivotably mounting at least one ultrasonic phased array probe within a probe housing, the probe housing comprising a plurality of sides, an open top end and an open bottom end, the plurality of sides defining a housing cavity, each ultrasonic phased array probe comprising at least one transducer having a plurality of elements, the at least one ultrasonic phased array probe pivotable within the probe housing;
attaching the probe housing to an outer surface of the portion of the weld so that the outer surface of the portion of the weld acts as a bottom end of the housing cavity;
filling at least a portion of the housing cavity with a liquid so that the liquid is in contact with the outer surface of the portion of the weld; and
scanning the weld with the at least one ultrasonic phased array probe.
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Abstract
A method of inspecting a portion of a weld between at least two materials includes mounting at least one ultrasonic phased array probe including at least one transducer having a plurality of elements within a housing containing a liquid therein, attaching the housing adjacent to an outer surface of the portion of the weld such that the liquid is adjacent to the outer surface of the portion of the weld, and scanning the weld with the at least one ultrasonic phased array probe.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method of inspecting a portion of a weld between at least two materials, said method comprising:
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pivotably mounting at least one ultrasonic phased array probe within a probe housing, the probe housing comprising a plurality of sides, an open top end and an open bottom end, the plurality of sides defining a housing cavity, each ultrasonic phased array probe comprising at least one transducer having a plurality of elements, the at least one ultrasonic phased array probe pivotable within the probe housing; attaching the probe housing to an outer surface of the portion of the weld so that the outer surface of the portion of the weld acts as a bottom end of the housing cavity; filling at least a portion of the housing cavity with a liquid so that the liquid is in contact with the outer surface of the portion of the weld; and scanning the weld with the at least one ultrasonic phased array probe. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of inspecting a portion of at least two pipes coupled by a weld within a nuclear reactor pressure vehicle, said method comprising:
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pivotably mounting at least one ultrasonic phased array probe within a probe housing, the probe housing comprising a plurality of sides, an open top end and an open bottom end, the plurality of sides defining a housing cavity, the at least one ultrasonic phased array probe includes at least one transducer having a plurality of elements, and the probe housing is configured to position the at least one ultrasonic phased array probe at a predetermined location on the weld, the at least one ultrasonic phased array probe pivotable within the probe housing; attaching the probe housing to an outer surface of the at least two pipes such that the portion of the weld to be inspected is positioned therein, the outer surface of the of the at least two pipes acts as a bottom end of the housing cavity; filling at least a portion of the housing cavity with a liquid so that the liquid is in contact with the outer surface of the of the at least two pipes; and scanning the portion of the weld with the at least one ultrasonic phased array probe, wherein the probe emits a steerable ultrasonic beam. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification