| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|
| 20080315872 | Method and device for long-range torsional guided-wave inspection of piping with a partial excitation and detection around the pipe circumference - Sensor assemblies and methods are described that facilitate the use of a long-range torsional guided-wave inspection system for inspecting pipes, tubes, or other longitudinal cylindrical structures, with a partial excitation and detection around the pipe circumference. The sensor assemblies comprise a plate-type magnetostrictive sensor probe positioned beneath a compressible/expandable bladder and an inverted U-shaped frame that retain and position the sensor probe against the external wall of the pipe under inspection. Preferably, a magnetostrictive strip is positioned in direct contact with the pipe wall over which the plate magnetostrictive sensor probe is positioned. The probe is preferably curved to match the curvature of the external surface of the pipe. A pad may be positioned between the probe and the magnetostrictive strip to improve compliance with irregular pipe surfaces. The frame (and therefore the sensor assembly) is held in place by a belt that encircles the pipe and may be tensioned in order to pull the frame against the pipe, and through the compressive force associated with the bladder, direct the magnetostrictive sensor probe against the surface of the pipe or against the magnetostrictive strip positioned on the surface of the pipe. Methods are described for placement of the magnetostrictive strip and the positioning of the magnetostrictive sensor probe. | 12-25-2008 |
| 20090021253 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR LONG-RANGE GUIDED-WAVE INSPECTION OF FIRE SIDE OF WATERWALL TUBES IN BOILERS - Methods and devices for inspecting waterwall tubes for the detection of fire side damage over a long length of the tube are described. The system of the invention uses a magnetostrictive strip and a flat coil-type plate magnetostrictive sensor (MsS) that are held in place on the waterwall using a specially designed frame and an electromagnetic circuit. The magnetostrictive strip and plate type MsS are positioned against a tube in the waterwall using an elastomeric pad or a fluid filled bladder to achieve close contact and good mechanical coupling between the magnetostrictive strip and the tube surface. When current activated, the electromagnet holds the entire assembly in place and provides a DC bias magnetic field required for plate magnetostrictive sensor probe operation. Long-range guided-waves are pulsed into the tube and reflected signals are detected within the same sensor structure. The received signal data representative of a long section of the tube under investigation is then analyzed for the presence of anomalies and defects. When data acquisition for a particular tube or tube section is completed the electromagnet is turned off and the entire device is moved to the next tube in the waterwall. | 01-22-2009 |
| 20100052669 | Flexible Plate Magnetostrictive Sensor Probe for Guided-Wave Inspection of Structures - An economical, flexible, magnetostrictive sensor probe for use on planar and/or curved structural surfaces, for guided-wave volumetric inspection of the structure is described. The flexible plate MsS probe includes a flexible strip of magnetostrictive material that is adhered to the base of a generally flat, flexible, conductor coil assembly, preferably with an elastomeric adhesive (such as silicon) or with double sided tape. The conductor coil assembly has a core that is composed of a thin flexible strip of metal, a layer of an elastomeric material (such as rubber), and a thin permanent magnet circuit. The flexible core is surrounded (top, bottom, and on the longitudinal ends) by a flat flexible cable (FFC) that is folded and looped over the layers of the core. The exposed conductors at the ends of the FFC are shifted from each other by one conductor spacing and joined together so that the parallel conductors in the FFC form a flat, flexible, continuous coil. The entire probe assembly may be bent to match the curved contours of the surface of the structure under investigation. | 03-04-2010 |
| 20100052670 | Magnetostrictive Sensor Probe for Guided-Wave Inspection and Monitoring of Wire Ropes/Cables and Anchor Rods - An economical, flexible, magnetostrictive sensor (MsS) probe assembly for use on longitudinal cylindrical structures, for guided-wave, volumetric inspection of the structures is described. The paired flexible plate MsS probes each include a flexible strip of magnetostrictive material that is positioned and/or adhered to the base of a generally flat, flexible, conductor coil assembly, preferably with an elastomeric adhesive. The conductor coil assembly has a core composed of a thin flexible layer of metal and a thin bendable permanent magnet circuit. The flexible core is surrounded by a flat flexible cable (FFC) that is folded and looped over the layers of the core. The exposed conductors at the ends of the FFC are shifted from each other by one conductor spacing and joined together so that the parallel conductors in the FFC form a flat, flexible, continuous coil. The probe assemblies may preferably be utilized in pairs and conformed to match the curved contours of the cylindrical surface of the structure under investigation in a manner that is specifically tailored for wire rope, cable, and anchor rod type applications. | 03-04-2010 |
| 20110025317 | MsS PROBE FOR GUIDED-WAVE INSPECTION OF FUEL RODS - The present application discloses a magnetostrictive sensor (MsS) probe for guided-wave inspection of the entire length of a fuel rod. The probe includes a waveguide adapted to be clamped to a fuel rod, and an MsS adapted to generate guided waves into the waveguide such that the guided waves propagate down the waveguide into the fuel rod and back to the waveguide for detection by the MsS. | 02-03-2011 |
