The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 22, 1989
Filed:
Dec. 28, 1987
Robert S Evans, Lynchburg, VA (US);
Wayne M Latham, Lynchburg, VA (US);
Thomas Powers, Lynchburg, VA (US);
Michael O Robertson, Hurt, VA (US);
The Babcock & Wilcox Company, New Orleans, LA (US);
Abstract
A method for inspecting the surface of a workpiece for the presence of flaws using a ferrofluid as a penetrant which is applied to the surface of the workpiece and then scanning the surface of the workpiece with electrical detection means placed adjacent to the surface for providing responses indicative of the presence of flaws in the surface of the workpiece. If desired, a magnetic field can be used to induce the flow of the ferrofluid into any flaws prior to inspection, and for post-inspection cleanup as well. By the use of a ferrofluid, the sensitivity of the electrical detection means, advantageously of the eddy current type, is enhanced in typical applications, and also allows the use of an eddy current probe to inspect workpieces made of nonconductive and/or nonferromagnetic materials.