General Electric Company

George Charles Sogoian

Charles Edward Baumgartner

Michael Kent Cueman

Young Jin Kim

Robert Stephen Lewandowski

Paul B Tuck

John J Kaehler

Douglas Glenn Wildes

Steven Robert Hayashi

Leonard W Niedrach

Robert Lee Cowan, Ii

Christopher James Kapusta

Kevin Matthew Durocher

Lowell Scott Smith

Bruno Hans Haider

Robert Gideon Wodnicki

William Hullinger Huber

David Martin Mills

Peter Louis Andresen

Reinhold Bruestle

Tunc Icoz

Steinar Bjaerum

Louis E Hibbs, Jr

Bahram Keramati

James Wilson Clark

Chester Frank Saj

Svein Bergstoel

Christopher Stephen Yetter

Stephen Royal Kaiser

An ultrasound acoustic assembly includes a number of ultrasound acoustic arrays, each array comprising an acoustic stack comprising a piezoelectric layer assembled with at least one acoustic impedance dematching layer and with a support layer. The acoustic stack defines a number of dicing kerfs and a number of acoustic elements, such that the dicing kerfs are formed between neighboring ones of the acoustic elements. The dicing kerfs extend through the piezoelectric layer and through the acoustic impedance dematching layer(s) but extend only partially through the support layer. The ultrasound acoustic assembly further includes a number of application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) die. Each ultrasound acoustic array is coupled to a respective ASIC die to form a respective acoustic-electric transducer module. Methods of manufacture are also provided.

Ultrasound acoustic assemblies and methods of manufacture

An ultrasound system is provided for imaging an object. The ultrasound system includes an ultrasound probe for acquiring ultrasound data and a cooling subsystem for actively removing heat from the ultrasound probe. The cooling subsystem includes a pump disposed within a reservoir containing a coolant and configured to circulate the coolant through the ultrasound probe via a conduit.

System and method for actively cooling an ultrasound probe

A method for manufacturing a multi-layer acoustic transducer with reduced total electrical impedance. The method is based on the bonding of two piezoelectric ceramic layers with confronting metallized surfaces to a thin electrical conductor, then electrically connecting the top and bottom surfaces to form a wrap-around electrode while a center conductor forms a second electrode. The total electrical impedance of a two-layer ceramic stack comprised of piezoelectric layers connected in this manner is one-fourth that of a solid ceramic element of the same size. This provides for better matching of the acoustic stack impedance to that of the electrical cable, increased penetration depth for imaging within the body, and improved acoustic element sensitivity.

Multi-layer ceramic acoustic transducer

Method for making multi-layer ceramic acoustic transducer

A metal cooling tube of a water-cooled nuclear reactor, having an inner surface thereof exposed to an aqueous cooling medium containing hydrogen peroxide. The cooling tube has its inner surface coated with matter selected from the group consisting of the element manganese, molybdenum, zinc, copper, cadmium for absorbing such hydrogen peroxide and then affecting decomposition of the hydrogen peroxide in the aqueous medium. In preferred embodiment such coating is manganese and oxides thereof. A method for lowering the electrochemical corrosion potential of a metal allow cooling tube exposed to an aqueous medium in a water-cooled nuclear reactor is also disclosed. Such method comprises the step of coating an inner surface of such tube with matter selected from the group of elements comprising manganese, molybdenum, zinc, copper, cadmium, so as to permit absorption and hydrogen peroxide in such aqueous medium and effect decomposition of hydrogen peroxide in such aqueous medium.

Catalytic hydrogen peroxide decomposer in water-cooled reactors

To determine electrical resistance of an ohmic contact between a flexible printed circuit and a metallized layer upon a substrate of piezoelectric material, the printed circuit is provided with two exposed metal pads, in close proximity to each other, and two electrical leads from each pad to locations on the printed circuit that are accessible for probing with a four-lead resistance meter. For measurement of contact resistance in process development and process capability studies, many sets of such pads, of a variety of sizes, may be combined into a single printed circuit. For in-process monitoring of transducer manufacturing, a small number of contact resistance measurement pads may be designed into production printed circuits.

Measurement of printed circuit-to-conductive substrate contact resistance

A method for reducing the corrosion potential of steel vessels and piping used in nuclear reactors, in particular steel vessels and piping carrying high temperature water and/or steam which has a concentration of oxygen therein. A metal hydride is added to the water, the hydrogen of such metal hydride combining with oxidizing agents, typically oxygen, present in the water to reduce the concentration of such oxidizing agents. In the preferred embodiment the metal of the metal hydride is a metal that is capable of reacting with oxygen to form a substantially non-water soluble and substantially electrically insulating compound on the surface of the steel, and in particular is one that may react with and become deposited or incorporated into a pre-existing thin oxide film layer on the surface of the steel to thereby render such thin oxide layer substantially non-electrically conducting.

Metal hydride addition for reducing corrosion potential of structural

A system and method for monitoring a pilger mill having a crankshaft driving rolls with a reciprocating motion to reduce a tube over a mandrel. A linear sensor coupled to the mandrel supplies a mandrel position signal. A rotary sensor coupled to the crankshaft supplies a crankshaft angle signal. A processor for combining the mandrel position signal and the crankshaft angle signal provides a mandrel motion signal characteristic of the tube reduction.

System for monitoring a pilger wall

An apparatus and method for aiming an ultrasonic transducer is disclosed. A tubular member having an axial bore with the transducer extending therein has an upper section, and a lower section with a threaded outer surface and an inner receiving surface. A ferrule assembly includes a compression nut mating with the threaded surface, and a ferrule biased by the compression nut against the receiving surface to form a waterproof seal with the transducer. A collar having a first annular section is detachably mounted coaxially on the tubular member. The first annular section extending to a second annular section having cut-outs suitable for providing access to manipulate the compression nut. The second annular section extending to a third annular section having a positioning members facing a section of the transducer extending from the tubular member.

Apparatus for aiming transducer in ultrasonic gauge

An ultrasonic gauging apparatus is disclosed suitable for dynamic ultrasonic gauging in the harsh environment of a tube forming operation. An ultrasonic transducer is positioned in a tubular member by a ferrule mount. The tubular member is attached to a platform having spring biasing that permits limited motion of the transducer while maintaining a preselect orientation of the transducer relative to the tube.

Dynamic ultrasonic gauge apparatus with a ferrule mounting to position a

A sintered polycrystalline diamond compact having an integral metallic heat sink bonded to and covering at least the outer diamond surface is used to increase compact life when the compact is used for material removal without a fluid coolant.

Sintered polycrystalline diamond compact construction with integral heat

Growing community of inventors

Glenville, NY, United States of America

George Charles Sogoian