Ultrasonic system for monitoring a weld operation
First Claim
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1. A system for monitoring a weld operation, comprising:
- a first structure and a second structure configured to be disposed on different sides of a target material;
an ultrasonic wave generator comprising two or more separate generating elements directly or indirectly coupled to the first structure and adapted to deliver a guided ultrasonic wave to the target material during the weld operation, wherein the two or more separate generating elements are at different angular orientations with respect to the first structure;
an ultrasonic receiver directly or indirectly coupled to the second structure and adapted to receive the guided ultrasonic wave propagated through the target material; and
a signal processor adapted to monitor a quality level of a weld by extracting a transmit time versus signal amplitude plot corresponding to a torsional ultrasonic mode by separating the torsional ultrasonic mode from the guided ultrasonic wave and by comparing the extracted plot to a reference transmit time versus amplitude plot that corresponds to an acceptable quality level.
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Abstract
A system for monitoring a weld operation is provided. The system includes an ultrasonic wave generator adapted to deliver an ultrasonic wave to a target material during the weld operation and an ultrasonic receiver adapted to receive the ultrasonic wave propagated through the target material. The system also includes a signal processor adapted to determine a quality level of a weld created during the weld operation by extracting data corresponding to a torsional mode from the ultrasonic wave and comparing the data to a profile that corresponds to an acceptable quality level.
27 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A system for monitoring a weld operation, comprising:
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a first structure and a second structure configured to be disposed on different sides of a target material; an ultrasonic wave generator comprising two or more separate generating elements directly or indirectly coupled to the first structure and adapted to deliver a guided ultrasonic wave to the target material during the weld operation, wherein the two or more separate generating elements are at different angular orientations with respect to the first structure; an ultrasonic receiver directly or indirectly coupled to the second structure and adapted to receive the guided ultrasonic wave propagated through the target material; and a signal processor adapted to monitor a quality level of a weld by extracting a transmit time versus signal amplitude plot corresponding to a torsional ultrasonic mode by separating the torsional ultrasonic mode from the guided ultrasonic wave and by comparing the extracted plot to a reference transmit time versus amplitude plot that corresponds to an acceptable quality level. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A system for monitoring a weld operation, comprising:
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an ultrasonic wave generator comprising two or more distinct generating elements directly or indirectly coupled to a first structure configured to be disposed on a first side of a target material and adapted to be excited out of phase to generate a guided ultrasonic wave, wherein the two or more distinct generating elements are at different angular orientations with respect to the first structure; an ultrasonic receiver directly or indirectly coupled to a second structure configured to be disposed on a second side of the target material opposite the first side and adapted to receive the guided ultrasonic wave propagated through the target material; and a signal processor adapted to monitor a quality level of a weld by extracting a transmit time versus signal amplitude plot corresponding to a torsional ultrasonic mode by separating the torsional ultrasonic mode from the guided ultrasonic wave and by comparing the extracted plot to a reference transmit time versus amplitude plot that corresponds to an acceptable quality level.
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Specification