System and method for non-destructive testing of railroad rails using ultrasonic apparatuses mounted within fluid-filled tires maintained at constant temperatures
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A tire comprising:
- at least one ultrasonic transducer suspended within the tire; and
a heat exchanger suspended within the tire,wherein the tire is substantially filled with a liquid, andwherein the heat exchanger is adapted to receive a flow of a heat transfer medium from an external source for regulating a temperature of the liquid.
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Abstract
A rolling search unit including an ultrasonic device and a heat exchanger mounted within a fluid-filled tire may be utilized to perform ultrasonic testing on an underlying railroad rail. The ultrasonic device may transmit or receive ultrasonic beams into or from the railroad rail, and the heat exchanger may be utilized to maintain the temperature of the fluid within the tire at a preferred level or within a preferred range. In such a manner, the results of testing obtained using the rolling search unit may be standardized regardless of the ambient temperature in the environment where the testing is being performed, and regardless of any heat gained or lost by the rolling search unit during operation.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A tire comprising:
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at least one ultrasonic transducer suspended within the tire; and a heat exchanger suspended within the tire, wherein the tire is substantially filled with a liquid, and wherein the heat exchanger is adapted to receive a flow of a heat transfer medium from an external source for regulating a temperature of the liquid. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A tire substantially filled with a liquid, wherein the tire comprises:
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an ultrasonic device mounted within the tire and at least partially suspended in the liquid, the ultrasonic device being adapted to transmit or receive ultrasonic signals through the liquid in the tire, a heat exchanger mounted within the tire and at least partially suspended in the liquid, an external heat transfer apparatus outside of the tire, wherein the heat exchanger within the tire is in fluid communication with the external heat transfer apparatus for regulating the temperature of liquid in the tire through which the ultrasonic signals are transmitted or received. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
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10. An inspection method comprising:
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providing a tire filled with a liquid; mounting an ultrasonic transducer within the tire for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic signals through the liquid in the tire; placing the tire in rolling contact with a surface of an object to be inspected; and maintaining the liquid in the tire at a predetermined temperature. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification