General Electric Company

Robert S Gilmore

John Broddus Deaton, Jr

Michael Francis Xavier Gigliotti

Homer H Glascock, Ii

Bernard Patrick Bewlay

Thomas James Batzinger

Lewis Jones Thomas, Iii

John D Young

David Michael Davenport

Michael F Gigliotti, Jr

Edward James Nieters

Harold F Webster

James Norman Barshinger

Frederick C Schoenig, Jr

Patrick Joseph Howard

Gregory Alan Mohr

Richard Eugene Klaassen

Thomas William Birdwell

Wei Li

James D Landry

Gerald B Nightingale

Mark A Joyce

John Erik Hershey

Thomas R Anthony

Canan Uslu Hardwicke

Stephen Daley Arthur

Daniel White Sexton

Nick Andrew Van Stralen

Bruno Hans Haider

Paul A Siemers

Richard Yung Chiao

Paul Kenneth Houpt

William Thomas Hatfield

Paul Leonard Dupree

Josef Robert Unternahrer

Phillip Randall Staver

William F Banholzer

William Taylor Lotshaw

Ram Kumar Upadhyay

Kevin P McAlea

Casmir R Trzaskos

Ralph Allen Hewes

Michael John Danyluk

Ronald A Kline

Mahari Tjahjadi

Donna C Hurley

Lee Cranford Perocchi

Robert S Thayer

Carl Lawrence Chalek

Michael Francis Gigliotti, Jr

Robert D Black

Michael Francis X Gigliotti, Jr

David Paul Lappas

Barbara J McKinley

David Charles Copley

Robert John McElligott

Dean S Matsumoto

John Alan Sutliff

Michael F X Gigliotti

John C McCloskey

James Jorgly Carroll

David Charles Franklin

Leo H Sherwin

The present disclosure provides for the application of a two-dimensional ultrasonic phased array (), formed of a plurality of transducers () arranged in a rectilinear pattern, for material and volumetric component testing. The two-dimensional array enables electronic adjustment of the focal properties and size of the aperture in both the azimuthal and elevational directions such that uniform and/or specified sound field characteristics can be obtained at any or all locations in the component being tested.

Two dimensional phased arrays for volumetric ultrasonic inspection and methods of use

A method for determining incipient mechanical failure of an object includes insonifying the object with ultrasonic energy at a selected fundamental frequency. Amplitude data is acquired from the insonified object at the fundamental frequency and at a second harmonic of the fundamental frequency, and a non-linear acoustic image is generated from the amplitude data at the fundamental frequency and the second harmonic frequency.

Inspection method and apparatus for determining incipient mechanical failure

A method and apparatus for cleaning internal channels in an article are presented, with the method comprising providing an article that comprises at least one internal channel. The at least one internal channel comprises at least one inlet port and at least one outlet port. The method further comprises providing a cleaning apparatus, and this cleaning apparatus comprises a cleaning fluid, a reservoir containing the cleaning fluid, a transmitter of vibrational energy projecting into the reservoir the transmitter comprising a transmitter tip and a source of vibrational energy coupled to the transmitter, with the vibrational energy comprising a frequency and a wavelength. The reservoir of the provided apparatus comprises an interface adapted to accommodate attachment of the reservoir to the article, and this interface comprises an orifice to allow fluid communication between the reservoir and the at least one internal channel of the article. The method further comprises attaching the article to the apparatus at the interface.

Apparatus and method for cleaning internal channels of an article

A system and method for determining at least one parameter related to a train traversing on a railway track is provided. The system comprises a sensor coupled to a detection location and configured for sensing acoustic signals at the detection location on the railway track and a processor coupled to the sensor and configured for analyzing a temporal progression of a frequency spectrum corresponding to the acoustic signals

Rail and train monitoring system and method

A method for inspecting a component includes exciting a number of transducers forming an array to produce an ultrasonic transmission beam (beam) focused into the component. The array and the component are separated by a standoff. A number of echo signals are generated using the transducers, and the echo signals are processed in a number of channels. The processing includes both dynamical focus and providing a dynamic aperture on receive, both of which compensate for refraction of the beam at the component/standoff interface. A single-turn inspection method includes: (a) positioning the array facing the component, (b) exciting the transducers, (c) generating a number of echo signals, (d) changing the relative angular orientation of the array and the component around an axis and repeating steps (b) and (c), and (e) processing the echo signals to form at least one processed echo signal.

Phased array ultrasonic inspection method for industrial applications

A method and apparatus for nondestructive testing a railroad rail is provided. The method includes locating at least one magnetic exciter adjacent to the rail, the at least one magnetic exciter includes an emitting end and a longitudinal axis extending perpendicularly through the emitting end, discharging the energy storage circuit through the at least one magnetic exciter such that only a magnetic pulse enters the rail at a location of the exciter, and controlling a shape of the magnetic pulse. The apparatus includes at least one magnetic exciter adjacent to a rail, a energy storage circuit electrically coupled to the at least one magnetic exciter the energy storage circuit is configured to supply a shaped current pulse to the at least one exciter, and a power source electrically coupled to the energy storage circuit.

Method and apparatus for inducing ultrasonic waves into railroad rails

A method for laser shock peening a surface is disclosed. A laser beam pulse from a laser apparatus is produced. The laser pulse has a cross-section taken perpendicular to the laser beam, a fluence profile across the cross-section. The pulse against an area on said surface. The fluence profile is controlled such that process induced defects are reduced.

Laser shock peening method and apparatus

A titanium article for an ultrasonic inspection is provided in which the titanium article can be ultrasonic inspected for determining its acceptability in for microstructurally sensitive applications. The ultrasonic inspection method comprises providing a titanium article, directing ultrasonic energy of ultrasonic inspection to the titanium article; scattering reflected energy in the titanium article; determining an amount of noise generated by the ultrasonic inspection of the titanium article; and characterizing the titanium article as acceptable if the amount of noise as a function of ultrasonic frequency or wavelength is characteristic of predominantly Rayleigh scattering and the magnitude of the noise is less than a pre-determined noise level. The titanium article comprises an uniform-fine grain microstructure. The uniform-fine grain microstructure generates predominantly Rayleigh scattering when undergoing ultrasonic inspection. The invention also sets forth a method of forming a titanium article. The method of forming comprises providing a uniform fine grain titanium material by a processes selected from forging and heat treating a billet of conventional titanium material into the titanium article.

Titanium articles and structures for ultrasonic inspection methods and systems

An ultrasonic probe and method for noninvasively monitoring materials processing in screw driven extruders. The noninvasive probe includes at least one ultrasonic transducer operable to transmit an ultrasonic signal on a signal path intersecting an inner sidewall of a barrel of the extruder and material between the inner sidewall of the barrel and an outer surface of a screw within the barrel. Information about the state of the material intersected by the ultrasonic signal is ascertainable from an elapsed time between reception of a first reflection of the ultrasonic signal and reception of a second reflection of the ultrasonic signal. The first reflection results when the ultrasonic signal exits the inner sidewall of the barrel and the second reflection results when the ultrasonic signal reaches one of the outer surface of the screw and partially solid material.

Ultrasonic probe and method for monitoring materials processing in screw driven extruders

An ultrasonic inspection method for inspecting titanium material is provided. The ultrasonic inspection method is capable of detecting critical flaws in the titanium material that may limit titanium material applications. The ultrasonic inspection method comprises fixing at least one of frequency or acoustic entity size of the titanium material as a constant for the ultrasonic inspecting; wherein the frequency that is fixed is selected based on the size of the flaws deemed critical for mechanical performance&mdash;including fatigue performance&mdash;in the titanium material, and the grain size that is fixed selected based on the size of the flaws deemed critical for mechanical performance&mdash;including fatigue performance&mdash;in the titanium material; ultrasonic inspecting the titanium material in which the step of ultrasonic inspecting the titanium material generates scattering from microstructural characteristics and features of the titanium material; detecting generated scattering; characterizing the type of detected scattering; and determining if the titanium material comprises critical flaws based on the type of scattering. If the scattering comprises predominantly Rayleigh scattering, the step of determining determines that the titanium material comprises uniform-fine grain titanium, however, if the scattering comprises Rayleigh scattering and other types of scattering, the step of determining determines that the titanium material may comprise critical flaws that may limit applications of the titanium material. The invention also provides a system for implementing the method, as embodied by the invention.

Ultrasonic inspection method and system for detecting critical flaws

A method for inspecting a titanium-based alloy that comprises alpha phase grains to detect flaws in the titanium-based alloy, the titanium-based alloy comprises an alpha phase that is provided by thermomechanically processing the alloy to provide a microstructure which comprises the alpha phase that defines an average grain size and a crystallographic orientation of the grains of the alpha phase that is highly randomized. The method comprises ultrasonically inspecting the titanium-based alloy using an ultrasonic beam, the ultrasonic beam comprising a cross-sectional area that is less than the average grain size of the alpha phase in the titanium-based alloy; and determining flaws based on the step of ultrasonic inspecting.

Titanium-based alloys having improved inspection characteristics for ultrasonic examination, and related processes

An ultrasonic inspection method for determining acceptability of material for microstructurally sensitive applications comprises providing a material, directing ultrasonic energy of ultrasonic inspection to the material; scattering reflected energy in the material; determining an amount of noise generated by the ultrasonic inspection; and characterizing the material as acceptable if the amount of noise corresponds to a pre-determined noise level. The invention also sets forth a system for implementing the method, as embodied by the invention.

Ultrasonic inspection method and system

An exemplary apparatus for determining the thicknesses of individual layers in a multilayer article comprises an ultrasonic transducer coupled to the multilayer article with a buffer rod of similar acoustic properties, a pulser-receiver-amplifier which generates ultrasonic waves to produce discernible, time resolved pulse echoes, a digitizing oscilloscope which may be used to view the received pulse echoes, and a computer for controlling data acquisition and analysis. The computer is programmed to execute the exemplary method, which comprises the steps of selecting a center frequency of a transducer such that respective pulse echoes produced at the interfaces between layers of the multilayer article each have a common distinguishing feature with a signal to noise ratio greater than or equal to a predetermined value, and the pulse echoes are resolved in time; determining a transit time correction factor for the layer of the multilayer article based on an actual transit time measured with the transducer adjacent to the layer and an apparent transit time measured with the transducer not adjacent to the layer; propagating a pulse through the multilayer article to produce pulse echoes at the interfaces between the layers of the multilayer article; determining a measured transit time of the pulse through the layer based on the pulse echoes at the interfaces of the layer; and calculating a thickness of the layer based on the measured transit time and the transit time correction factor.

Method and apparatus for thickness determination in multilayer articles

A method and apparatus are provided for simultaneously measuring the anisotropic orientation and the thickness of an article. The apparatus comprises a transducer assembly which propagates longitudinal and transverse waves through the article and which receives reflections of the waves. A processor is provided to measure respective transit times of the longitudinal and shear waves propagated through the article and to calculate respective predicted transit times of the longitudinal and shear waves based on an estimated thickness, an estimated anisotropic orientation, and an elasticity of the article. The processor adjusts the estimated thickness and the estimated anisotropic orientation to reduce the difference between the measured transit times and the respective predicted transit times of the longitudinal and shear waves.

Method and apparatus for measurement of orientation in an anisotropic

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Burnt Hills, NY, United States of America

Robert S Gilmore