Southwest Research Institute

Jonathan Bartlett

Clinton Thwing

Sergey A Vinogradov

Adam C Cobb

Albert Joseph Parvin, Jr

Charles E Duffer

Erika Christine Laiche

Douglas R Earnest

Greg A Bustamante

David L Jones

A method of magnetostrictive (MS) guided wave testing of a ferromagnetic structure. One or more MS transmitters, each configured as a patch of ferromagnetic material, are acoustically coupled to the structure. Each MS transmitter is magnetized to produce a bias magnetic field in the patch. One or more MS receivers are acoustically coupled to the structure in a location remote from the MS transmitter(s). An alternating current (AC) is applied to the structure, thereby producing time-varying magnetic fields and MS vibrations in the MS transmitter(s) resulting in guided waves in the structure. MS response signals are received at the MS receiver(s), indicating whether the structure has any anomalies.

Magnetostrictive testing with wireless transmitter(s) and remote receiver(s)

A conforming eddy current testing (ECT) probe for performing eddy current testing when placed on the surface of a test object. An eddy current array is fabricated on a flexible substrate. A shape metal alloy (SMA) piece is manufactured to have an original shape that conforms to the surface of the test object, and then affixed to the substrate. The SMA piece has as much or more flexibility than the substrate, so that it can be manipulated into position. Just prior to testing, the SMA piece is actuated to revert to its original shape.

Flexible eddy current test probe using a shape-memory alloy for surface conformance

A guided wave probe for use in guided wave testing of plate structures. The probe comprises a cup having a flat or nearly flat bottom, and a guided wave sensor, such as a magnetostrictive sensor, placed in the bottom of the cup. The sensor and/or cup are coupled to the plate structure, such that ultrasonic energy from the sensor is transmitted to the cup and the plate surface. The sensor is incrementally rotated in the cup, and sensor data is acquired at each incremental position.

Omni-directional guided wave testing of plate structures using probe having rotating guided wave sensor

A method of tracking and reporting the velocity of a hand-held paint spray gun. The object to be painted is placed in a room having one or more fiducial walls. A camera is installed on the spray gun, with its field of view toward the one or more fiducial walls. As the object is painted, the camera detects fiducials, calculates their current position, and compares current positions to previous locations to determine movement and velocity. The current velocity is compared to a stored target velocity, and audible or visible feedback is provided to the spray gun operator.

Optical velocity tracking for paint spray gun

A flexible printed circuit board (PCB) magnetostrictive (MS) sensor comprising a first direct current (DC) bias PCB layer comprising a first plurality of conductive traces, a first alternating current (AC) PCB layer disposed on the first DC bias PCB layer, the first AC PCB layer comprising a first AC coil, a pocket PCB layer disposed on the first AC PCB layer, the pocket PCB layer to receive a strip of MS material, a second AC PCB layer disposed on the pocket PCB layer, the second AC PCB layer comprising a second AC coil, and a second DC bias PCB layer disposed on the second AC PCB layer, the second DC bias PCB layer comprising a second plurality of conductive traces. The traces from the first plurality of conductive traces are electrically coupled to traces from the second plurality of conductive traces.

Growing community of inventors

San Antonio, TX, United States of America

Jonathan Bartlett