SYSTEM FOR EVALUATING WELD QUALITY USING EDDY CURRENTS

摘要

Electromagnetic and eddy current techniques for fast automated real-time and near real-time inspection and monitoring systems for high production rate joining processes. An eddy current system, array and method for the fast examination of welds to detect anomalies such as missed seam (MS) and lack of penetration (LOP) the system, array and methods capable of detecting and sizing surface and slightly subsurface flaws at various orientations in connection with at least the first and second weld pass.

主权项

(1) An eddy current sensor system for approximating real-time monitoring of weld joining processes to detect defects in a weld, the sensor system comprising:
(a) a housing comprising a base, front and rear faces, and a support frame for retaining and supporting sensor exciter and sensor receiver elements, and comprising at least one alignment element; (b) at least one sensor exciter element comprising a coil wound around a ferrite core; (c) at least one sensor receiver array, the array comprising at least one sensor element comprising two orthogonally arranged receivers; (d) at least one cooling element; (e) an elevation system affixed to the housing at its base for supporting the housing on the surface of a welding substrate, and adapted for adjustable elevation of the housing; and (f) a controller system engageable with the sensor exciter and receiver elements to control the actuation of the sensor and receipt and transmission of data therefrom for analysis, (g) wherein one or more of the housing, the exciter and receiver elements, and the elevation system are rated for temperatures up to at least a preselected temperature.