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:
Feb. 18, 1992
Filed:
Jul. 20, 1990
Clarence D John, Jr, Penns Hills Twp., Allegheny County, PA (US);
Richard S Wengewicz, Murrysville, PA (US);
Westinghouse Electric Corp., Pittsburgh, PA (US);
Abstract
An ultrasonic tube inspection system capable of rapid changeover for inspecting tubes of different diameter sizes includes a serial arrangement of multiple separate inspection stations. One inspection station is used to inspect for tube dimensions irrespective of the tube diameter size. The other inspection stations are used to inspect for flaws and are employed for different ones of the tube diameter sizes to be inspected. A set of ultrasonic transducer assemblies is supported at each inspection station. The transducer assemblies at the flaw inspection stations are in proper orientations corresponding to the diameter sizes of the particular tubes to be inspected at the respective inspection stations without the need for readjustment. The inspection stations contain quantities of liquid for coupling ultrasonic energy between the ultrasonic transducer assemblies and the tube passing through the inspection stations. Liquid level control stations are disposed at opposite ends of the serial arrangement of inspection stations and are connected in flow communication with the inspection stations for controlling liquid level in the inspection stations. Tube drive are disposed adjacent the liquid level control stations and are operable to drive the tubes through the control and inspection stations such that the tubes are aligned along a common centerline irrespective of which tube diameter size is being inspected.