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Title: Internal temperature monitor for work pieces

Patent ·
OSTI ID:868849

A method and apparatus for measuring the internal temperature of a work piece comprises an excitation laser for generating laser pulses which are directed through a water cooled probe, and in an optical fiber, to a first surface of the work piece. The laser is of sufficient intensity to ablate the surface of the work piece, producing a displacement and a resulting ultrasonic pulse which propagates within the thickness of the work piece to an opposite surface. The ultrasonic pulse is reflected from the opposite surface and returns to the first surface to create a second displacement. A second continuous laser also shines its light through an optical fiber in the probe into the first surface and is used in conjunction with signal processing equipment to measure the time between the first and second displacements. This time is proportional to the time-of-flight of the ultrasonic pulse in the work piece which, with a known or detected thickness of the work piece, can be used to calculate the internal temperature of the work piece.

Research Organization:
Babcock and Wilcox Co., Alliance, OH (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
FC07-89ID12875
Assignee:
Babcock & Wilcox Company (New Orleans, LA)
Patent Number(s):
US 5226730
OSTI ID:
868849
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English