Ultra sound probe for cylindrical body having reduced vertical clearance

Abstract

An especially designed probe carries preferably five transducers for the examination of a right circular cylinder flooded with water having limited vertical clearance from the point of required non destructive inspection. The probe includes a generally disc shaped body having a minimal vertical dimension and a radius slightly less than the radius of the right circular cylinder to be inspected. Insertion of the probe interior of the right circular cylinder occurs. At the periphery of the disc, there are disposed five interrogating acoustical transducers. These transducers are spaced from preselected staggered circumferential locations with respect to the right circular cylinder for examination of the water flooded cylinder with refracted rays. The respective transducers are disposed with disclosed angularities and spatial orientation from their point of intended inspection to satisfy Snell's law with respect to the diameter of the right circular cylinder being examined to enable all points on any given radius of the right circular cylinder to be acoustically interrogated. A process of interrogation is disclosed which includes mounting the disc on a rotatable shaft, elevating the disc on the shaft to an elevation having the point of required interrogation intersecting the disc. Upon rotation of the disc, each of the interrogating transducers rotates sequentially to the point of required acoustical interrogation for the desired non destructive acoustical interrogation of the right circular cylinder.