Southwest Research Institute

Battelle Development Corporation

Victor Equipment Company

Esab, North America, Inc.

William D Jolly

Gurvinder P Singh

Norman E Dixon

Jerry L Jackson

Wayne T Flach

Theodore L Allen, Jr

Steve A Cerwin

Method and apparatus for automated cutting of metal plates in which fuel and oxygen adjustments, as well as other parameters are controlled automatically responsive to temperature sensed at a plurality of points near where the cut is being made; for example, at the front shoulder of the kerf at the surface and behind the tip down in the kerf. Also disclosed are specific preferred embodiments, including the use of microprocessor, algorithms, programs and temperature sensor locations and connections.

Automated cutting of plate steel

An ultrasonic inspection system for inspecting objects, such as pipe, is disclosed which includes an ultrasonic inspection probe or search unit, and the usual ultrasonic transducers and electronics associated with the probe. The system also includes novel apparatus for continuously tracking and recording operation with respect to a reference point or area, on the object being inspected. For this purpose, the inspection probe includes one or more sources of radiant energy which are periodically actuated as the probe is moved about the object being inspected, and a plurality of receiving devices or microphones located at a fixed relationship with respect to the area being inspected or to a known reference point on the area, such as a weld. The location of the probe can be determined and recorded from information obtained by receipt of the signals from the source of radiant energy by two or more of the receiving devices. In order to permit the yaw of the inspection probe with respect to the centerline of the pipe to also be determined, and more accurately locate the inspection transducer of the probe at least two sources of radiant energy may be utilized at the inspection probe and the respective sources may be actuated at different time intervals to avoid interference between the tracking signals from the respective sources.

Ultrasonic inspection system including apparatus and method for tracking

A method for obtaining controlled depth, controlled area, and controlled phase polarization of a piezoelectric transducer element. A controlled phase bias voltage is applied to two generally opposing surfaces of the transducer element, and heat is then applied in a pulsed fashion to one of the two surfaces. By properly coordinating the phase of the bias voltage and the pulsed heating of the one surface, discrete layers of polarization may be created between the two surfaces, the phase, area and depth of the discrete layers being accurately controllable.

Method of producing transducers with phase, area and depth controlled

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San Antonio, TX, United States of America

William D Jolly