Method and apparatus for measuring surface contour on parts with elevated temperatures
The invention is directed to a method and apparatus for measuring the surface contour of a test piece, such as the bow of a radioactive fuel rod, which is completely immersed in water. The invention utilizes ultrasonic technology and is capable of measuring surface contours of test pieces which are at a higher temperature than the surrounding water. The presence of a test piece at a higher temperature adversely affects the distance measurements by causing thermal variations in the water near the surface of the test piece. The contour measurements depend upon a constant temperature of the water in the path of the ultrasonic wave to provide a constant acoustical velocity (the measurement is made by the time of flight measurement for an ultrasonic wave). Therefore, any variations of water temperature near the surface will introduce errors degrading the measurement. The present invention overcomes these problems by assuring that the supply of water through which the ultrasonic waves travel is at a predetermined and constant temperature. 3 figs.
- Research Organization:
- Bettis Atomic Power Lab., West Mifflin, PA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC11-76PN00014
- Assignee:
- Dept. of Energy
- Patent Number(s):
- PATENTS-US-A7531356
- Application Number:
- ON: DE92003662; PAN: 7-531,356
- OSTI ID:
- 10104416
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: PBD: 1990
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Method and apparatus for measuring surface contour on parts with elevated temperatures
Method and apparatus for measuring surface contour on parts with elevated temperatures