Ultrasonic testing apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10416124-B2
Application number	US-201615356399-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 18, 2016
Priority date	Nov 19, 2015
Publication date	Sep 17, 2019
Grant date	Sep 17, 2019

Abstract

An apparatus for use in Ultrasonic testing, and a method of inspection or testing using the apparatus. The ultrasonic testing tool includes an elongate connector arranged between a transducer and a tip or contact head for contact with the component to be tested. The elongate connector carries soundwaves produced by the transducer between the transducer and the contact head.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method of inspecting a component, the method comprising the steps of:
spacing an ultrasonic transducer from a contact head, using an elongate connector arranged between the transducer and the contact head, wherein the elongate connector carries soundwaves produced by the transducer between the transducer and the contact head;
placing the contact head into contact with a surface of the component to be tested, where the component is annular and comprises at least one sharp edge;
transmitting a wavepacket signal from the transducer along the elongate connector and into the component to be tested to excite a flexural wave in the at least one sharp edge; and
monitoring for reflection of the signal from within the component using a detector; wherein
the contact head is placed into contact with the component adjacent the at least one sharp edge.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the detector monitors the deflection of an edge of the sharp edged component.

3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the detector is spaced from the contact head.

4. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the detector comprises a laser vibrometer.

5. The method according to claim 3 , wherein a defect is detected when the detector first detects an incident wave directly generated in the component by the signal from the transducer and subsequently detects a reflected wave of similar magnitude to the incident wave.

6. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the detector comprises a laser vibrometer.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the detector monitors an area that is no more than 1 mm wide.

8. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the step of transmitting coupling media to the interface between the contact head and the component to be tested.

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein, during inspection, the contact head is held in a fixed position on the component to be inspected.

10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the soundwaves comprise a signal with a frequency from 500 kHz to 2 MHz.

11. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the annular component is a seal fin.

12. An ultrasonic testing apparatus comprising:
a transducer,
a contact head, configured to contact a component being tested, wherein
the component is annular and comprises at least one sharp edge, and
the contact head is configured to contact the component being tested adjacent the at least one sharp edge, and

an elongate connector arranged between the transducer and the contact head to space the transducer from the component,
wherein the elongate connector carries soundwaves produced by the transducer between the transducer and the contact head such that a flexural wave is excited in the at least one sharp edge.

13. The ultrasonic testing apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein the contact head and/or the elongate connector comprise a damping or acoustic matching material.

Assignees

• Rolls Royce Plc

Inventors

• Jeketo Alejandro

Classifications

• G01N29/2418

  using optoacoustic interaction with the material, e.g. laser radiation, photoacoustics (photoacoustic cells G01N21/1702; measuring characteristics of vibrations by using radiation-sensitive means G01H9/00; acousto-optical conversion techniques for short-range imaging G01S15/8965; sound-producing devices using laser bundle G10K15/046) · CPC title

• G01N2291/0427

  Flexural waves, plate waves, e.g. Lamb waves, tuning fork, cantilever · CPC title

• G01N29/2462

  Probes with waveguides, e.g. SAW devices · CPC title

• G01N29/043 Primary

  in the interior, e.g. by shear waves · CPC title

• G01H1/00

  Measuring {characteristics of} vibrations in solids by using direct conduction to the detector (G01H9/00, G01H11/00 take precedence) · CPC title