ULTRASONIC INSPECTION AND DEPLOYMENT APPARATUS

摘要

An ultrasonic inspection apparatus for the inspection of metal structures, especially installed pipes. The apparatus combines a specimen inspection transducer (43, 44) an acoustical velocity sensing transducer (42), and a surface profiling transducer (41), all in a scanning head (7). A bellows (54) attached to the scanning head contains a volume of oil (51) above the pipe surface (3), serving as acoustical couplant between the scanning head and the pipe. The scanning head is mounted on a scanning truck (1) which is mobile around a circular track (2) surrounding the pipe. The scanning truck has sufficient motors, gears, and position encoders to allow the scanning head six degrees of motion freedom. A computer (23) continually monitors acoustical velocity, and uses that parameter to process surface profiling and inspection data. The profiling data is used to automatically control scanning head position and alignment and to define a coordinate system used to identify and interpret inspection data. The apparatus is suitable for highly automated remote application in hostile environments, particularly high temperature and radiation areas.