US3929005A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ultrasonic inspection recess in heat exchanger and nuclear steam generator tubesheets
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1974-08-01
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Granted: 1975-12-30
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Expires: 1994-08-01
Abstract
Abstract A vessel with a butted weld seam is provided with an access slot in its surface at a selected distance from the weld seam. An ultrasonic probe engages with a wall of the slot which is aligned with the weld and signals generated by the probe cross the axis of the weld frontally without substantial reflection from adjacent vessel surfaces.
Inventors
- 👤 John K Parkinson
- 👤 Anthony Ruhe
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 21:50
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N29/00; G01N29/22; G01N29/26; G01N29/265; G01N2291/00; G01N2291/10; G01N2291/101; G01N2291/26; G01N2291/267; G01N2291/2675; G01N2291/269
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
141 words
An improved system for non-destructive ultrasonic testing of a vessel weld seam utilizing an ultrasonic probe for testing for possible defects in said weld seam of said vessel, wherein the improvement comprises: a vessel having a circumferentially extending exterior U-shaped access slot, said slot having a wall substantially aligned with the weld seam, said wall forming a working surface of the slot is engaged by said transducer for generating frontal ultrasonic signals which substantially uniformly cross an axis of the weld seam with substantially no reflection from adjacent surfaces, the ultrasonic transducer responsive to reflected signals from said weld seam which indicate possible weld seam defects, the transducer movable in said slot so as to permit a scanning of the entire weld seam said slot disposed about said vessel at a distance substantially uniform along the entire length of the weld.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
141 words
An improved system for non-destructive ultrasonic testing of a vessel weld seam utilizing an ultrasonic probe for testing for possible defects in said weld seam of said vessel, wherein the improvement comprises: a vessel having a circumferentially extending exterior U-shaped access slot, said slot having a wall substantially aligned with the weld seam, said wall forming a working surface of the slot is engaged by said transducer for generating frontal ultrasonic signals which substantially uniformly cross an axis of the weld seam with substantially no reflection from adjacent surfaces, the ultrasonic transducer responsive to reflected signals from said weld seam which indicate possible weld seam defects, the transducer movable in said slot so as to permit a scanning of the entire weld seam said slot disposed about said vessel at a distance substantially uniform along the entire length of the weld.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
The system as described in claim 1 wherein the wall of the slot aligned with the weld seam is sufficiently smooth to provide suitable working surface for ultrasonic coupling with the transducer and said transducer includes a fluid coupling with said wall.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
58 words
The system as described in claim 2 wherein recording means is coupled to an output of said ultrasonic detector for recording the response of the said transducer to reflected signals from the weld seam in accordance with its position along said slot whereby the seam is fingerprinted for comparison with in service tests conducted at a later time.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
129 words
A method of non-destructive ultrasonic testing of a weld seam in a vessel comprising the steps of: providing a U-shaped access slot in the vessel wall adjacent to the weld at a selected uniform distance from said seam and at a depth sufficient to receive an ultrasonic transducer probe, inserting said probe against a wall of said slot aligned with said seam, generating ultrasonic signals in said probe for setting up frontal wave patterns across said seam, receiving reflected signal from said weld seams indicative of a possible defect in said weld seam and analyzing said reflected signal to determine whether the reflected signal indicates a defect requiring correction moving the probe from one end of the slot to the other so as to scan the entire weld seam.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
129 words
A method of non-destructive ultrasonic testing of a weld seam in a vessel comprising the steps of: providing a U-shaped access slot in the vessel wall adjacent to the weld at a selected uniform distance from said seam and at a depth sufficient to receive an ultrasonic transducer probe, inserting said probe against a wall of said slot aligned with said seam, generating ultrasonic signals in said probe for setting up frontal wave patterns across said seam, receiving reflected signal from said weld seams indicative of a possible defect in said weld seam and analyzing said reflected signal to determine whether the reflected signal indicates a defect requiring correction moving the probe from one end of the slot to the other so as to scan the entire weld seam.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method as described in claim 4 including the step of: recording said reflected signals and periodically repeating the aforementioned testing during in service operation and comparing the results so as to predict a possible failure in the weld.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3066525A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-12-29 | 1979-06-30 | 1979-12-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-12-29 | 1983-06-30 | 1983-12-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-12-29 | 1987-06-30 | 1987-12-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |