Ultrasonic probe system for the bore-side inspection of tubes and welds therein

Patent · Tue Jul 26 00:00:00 EDT 1977

OSTI ID:862888

Cook, K Von ^[1]; Koerner, Dan W ^[1]

---

1. Clinton, TN

A probe system is provided for the bore-side inspection of tube-to-header welds and the like for small diameter tubes. The probe head of the system includes an ultrasonic transmitter-receiver transducer, a separate ultrasonic receiver, a reflector associated with the transducer to properly orient the ultrasonic signal with respect to a tube wall, a baffle to isolate the receiver from the transducer, and means for maintaining the probe head against the tube wall under investigation. Since the probe head must rotate to inspect along a helical path, special ultrasonic signal connections are employed. Through the use of the probe, flaws at either the inner or outer surfaces may be detected.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN
• Assignee: United States of America as represented by United States Energy (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 4037465
• Application Number: 05/743,371
• OSTI ID: 862888
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

/73/
associated
baffle
bore-side
bore-side inspection
connections
detected
diameter
diameter tube
diameter tubes
employed
flaws
head
helical
helical path
inner
inspect
inspection
investigation
isolate
maintaining
means
orient
outer
outer surface
outer surfaces
path
probe
probe head
properly
provided
receiver
reflector
respect
rotate
separate
signal
signal connection
signal connections
sonic signal
special
surfaces
therein
transducer
transmitter-receiver
tube
tube wall
tube-to-header
tubes
ultrasonic
ultrasonic probe
ultrasonic receiver
ultrasonic signal
ultrasonic transmitter
wall
welds