Method of inspecting a component and an apparatus for inspecting a component
First Claim
1. A method of ultrasonically inspecting a component comprising transmitting an ultrasonic signal from a first ultrasonic transducer into a component having rotational symmetry, detecting the reflected, or transmitted, ultrasonic signal by a second ultrasonic transducer, producing relative rotation between the rotationally symmetrical component and the first and second transducers, producing relative radial motion between the rotationally symmetrical component and the first and second transducers to scan the whole of a surface of the rotationally symmetrical component, storing and analysing all the detected ultrasonic signal, analysing the detected ultrasonic signal by monitoring for ultrasonic signals having an amplitude above a predetermined amplitude and not having rotational symmetry, detecting a defect in the component by detecting a cluster of pixels above the predetermined amplitude, providing an indication that any detected ultrasonic signals above the predetermined amplitude and not having rotational symmetry is a potential defect in the component and providing a permanent record of the ultrasonic inspection in terms of response level, defect position and defect depth.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for ultrasonically inspecting a component comprises a first ultrasonic transducer for transmitting an ultrasonic signal into a component having rotational symmetry and a second ultrasonic transducer for detecting the reflected, or transmitted, ultrasonic signal. A motor and a turntable produce relative rotation between the rotationally symmetrical component and the first and second transducers. Motors, a carriage and tracks on a frame provide relative radial motion between the rotationally symmetrical component and the first and second transducers to scan the whole of a surface of the rotationally symmetrical component. An ultrasonic signal analyzer analyses the detected ultrasonic signal by monitoring for ultrasonic signals having an amplitude above a predetermined amplitude and not having rotational symmetry and a display provides an indication that any detected ultrasonic signals above the predetermined amplitude and not having rotational symmetry is a potential flaw in the component.
47 Citations
23 Claims
- 1. A method of ultrasonically inspecting a component comprising transmitting an ultrasonic signal from a first ultrasonic transducer into a component having rotational symmetry, detecting the reflected, or transmitted, ultrasonic signal by a second ultrasonic transducer, producing relative rotation between the rotationally symmetrical component and the first and second transducers, producing relative radial motion between the rotationally symmetrical component and the first and second transducers to scan the whole of a surface of the rotationally symmetrical component, storing and analysing all the detected ultrasonic signal, analysing the detected ultrasonic signal by monitoring for ultrasonic signals having an amplitude above a predetermined amplitude and not having rotational symmetry, detecting a defect in the component by detecting a cluster of pixels above the predetermined amplitude, providing an indication that any detected ultrasonic signals above the predetermined amplitude and not having rotational symmetry is a potential defect in the component and providing a permanent record of the ultrasonic inspection in terms of response level, defect position and defect depth.
- 13. An apparatus for ultrasonically inspecting a component comprising a first ultrasonic transducer for transmitting an ultrasonic signal into a component having rotational symmetry, a second ultrasonic transducer for detecting the reflected, or transmitted, ultrasonic signal, means to produce relative rotation between the rotationally symmetrical component and the first and second transducers, means to produce relative radial motion between the rotationally symmetrical component and the first and second transducers to scan the whole of a surface of the rotationally symmetrical component, means to store and analyse all the detected ultrasonic signals, means to analyse the detected ultrasonic signal by monitoring for ultrasonic signals having an amplitude above a predetermined amplitude and not having rotational symmetry, means to detect a defect by detecting a cluster of pixels above the predetermined amplitude, means to provide an indication that any detected ultrasonic signals above the predetermined amplitude and not having rotational symmetry is a potential defect in the component and means to provide a permanent record of the ultrasonic inspection in terms of response level, defect position and defect depth.
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22. A method of ultrasonically inspecting a component comprising transmitting an ultrasonic signal from a first ultrasonic transducer into a component having rotational symmetry, detecting the reflected, or transmitted, ultrasonic signal by a second ultrasonic transducer, producing relative rotation at a constant speed between the rotationally symmetrical component and the first and second transducers, producing relative radial motion between the rotationally symmetrical component and the first and second transducers to scan the whole of a surface of the rotationally symmetrical component, storing and analysing all the detected ultrasonic signal, analysing the detected ultrasonic signal by monitoring for signals having an amplitude above a predetermined amplitude and not having rotational symmetry, providing an indication that any detected ultrasonic signals above the predetermined amplitude and not having rotational symmetry is a potential defect in the component and providing a permanent record of the ultrasonic inspection in terms of response level, defect position and defect depth.
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23. An apparatus for ultrasonically inspecting a component comprising a first ultrasonic transducer for transmitting an ultrasonic signal into a component having rotational symmetry, a second ultrasonic transducer for detecting the reflected, or transmitted, signal, means to produce relative rotation at a constant speed between the rotationally symmetrical component and the first and second transducers, means to produce relative radial motion between the rotationally symmetrical component and the first and second transducers to scan the whole of a surface of the rotationally symmetrical component, means to store and analyse all the detected ultrasonic signal, means to analyse the detected ultrasonic signal by monitoring for ultrasonic signals having an amplitude above a predetermined amplitude and not having rotational symmetry, means to provide an indication that any detected ultrasonic signals above the predetermined amplitude and not having rotational symmetry is a potential defect in the component and means to provide a permanent record of the ultrasonic inspection in terms of response level, defect position and defect depth.
Specification