US5031456A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for the detection of voids and corrosion damage by thermal treatment
Assignee: HAFA INTERNATIONAL Inc A CORP OF
•
Filing: 1989-08-04
•
Granted: 1991-07-16
•
Expires: 2009-08-04
Abstract
Abstract The present invention provides a method of detecting a void-related fault in a metal or metal alloy component. The method comprising filling the fault with a fluid, preferably liquid; treating the component and fluid so as to produce thermal-excitation in the component and fluid; and thereby cause a detectable acoustic signal. The detection of the signal detects the presence of a void-related fault. The invention also provides a method of locating and characterizing a void-related fault which comprises detection of the fault as described, measuring the parameters of the acoustic signal and the conditions for producing the signal, and correlating the parameters and conditions with the location and characteristics of the fault. The invention is particularly useful for the detection of microbiologically induced corrosion (MIC). The invention also concerns a method of evaluating a component for the severity of a void-related damage. The method comprises filling the void-related damage with a fluid (or maintaining the component in conditions so that the void-related damage is filled with the fluid); thermally treating the component and fluid so as to produce a detectable acoustic signal; evaluating parameters and conditions of the signal; and correlating the parameters and conditions with the severity of the damage.
Inventors
- 👤 Herbert H. Askwith
- 👤 Allen E. Wehrmeister
- 👤 Scott R. Clinton
- 👤 Richard P. Milke
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 23:04
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N29/00; G01N29/22; G01N29/24; G01N29/2418
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
114 words
A method of locating and characterizing a void-related fault filled with a fluid in an area of a component which comprises: a) connecting a plurality of sensors to the component in predetermined locations so as to be able to detect and measure acoustic signals produced in the area of the component; b) thermally treating the component in such an manner so as to produce a detectable acoustic signal at the void-related fault; c) simultaneously detecting and measuring the parameters of the detectable acoustic signal at each of the sensors; d) evaluating and correlating the parameters of the acoustic signals and the locations of the sensor with the location and characteristic of the void-related fault.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
114 words
A method of locating and characterizing a void-related fault filled with a fluid in an area of a component which comprises: a) connecting a plurality of sensors to the component in predetermined locations so as to be able to detect and measure acoustic signals produced in the area of the component; b) thermally treating the component in such an manner so as to produce a detectable acoustic signal at the void-related fault; c) simultaneously detecting and measuring the parameters of the detectable acoustic signal at each of the sensors; d) evaluating and correlating the parameters of the acoustic signals and the locations of the sensor with the location and characteristic of the void-related fault.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method of claim 1, wherein the component comprises a metal or metal alloy.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method of claim 2, wherein the metal or metal alloy is a carbon steel or a stainless steel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method of claim 1, wherein the component has two surfaces and wherein the treating of step (b) comprises creating a thermal gradient between the surfaces.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method of claim 4, wherein the void-related fault is a cavity having a passage to at least one surface.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method of claim 5, wherein the metal or metal alloy component is a piping wall, a vessel wall, or a tank wall.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
11 words
A method of claim 6, wherein the fluid is a liquid.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method of claim 7, wherein treating comprises heating one surface to produce a thermal gradient between the surfaces, the high temperature and thermal gradient being sufficient to boil the liquid in the cavity or passage.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method of claim 8, wherein the detectable acoustic signal comprises acoustic emissions caused by boiling of the liquid in the cavity or passage.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method of claim 9, wherein the cavity is caused by microbiologically induced corrosion (MIC).
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method of claim 10, wherein the characteristics of the fault comprise volume of the cavity and depth of the cavity from one of the surfaces.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
74 words
A method of evaluating a component for severity of void-related damage which comprises: (a) filling the void-related damage with a fluid; (b) thermally treating the component and fluid so as to produce a detectable acoustic signal; (c) measuring simultaneously the parameters of the acoustic signal at a plurality of monitoring points and evaluating the treatment conditions for producing the signal; and (d) correlating the parameters and conditions to determine the severity of the damage.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
74 words
A method of evaluating a component for severity of void-related damage which comprises: (a) filling the void-related damage with a fluid; (b) thermally treating the component and fluid so as to produce a detectable acoustic signal; (c) measuring simultaneously the parameters of the acoustic signal at a plurality of monitoring points and evaluating the treatment conditions for producing the signal; and (d) correlating the parameters and conditions to determine the severity of the damage.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method of claim 12, wherein the void-related damage comprises pores, cracks, or cavities caused by corrosion.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
10 words
A method of claim 13, wherein the corrosion is MIC-related.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method of claim 13, wherein treating is performed by heating the component to boil the fluid in the void-related damage and detecting acoustic emissions caused by the boiling.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method of claim 12, wherein the component comprises a metal or metal alloy.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method of claim 16, wherein the metal or metal alloy is a carbon steel or stainless steel.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3240674A
Cited
US3264863A
Cited
US3946600A
Cited
US4201092A
Cited
US4274288A
Cited
US4459851A
Cited
US4472971A
Cited
US4448062A
Cited
JPS58117447A
Cited
US4499769A
Cited
US4574615A
Cited
US4609994A
Cited
SU1265595A1
Cited
SU1280532A1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-07-15 | 1995-01-14 | 1995-07-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-07-15 | 1999-01-14 | 1999-07-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-07-15 | 2003-01-14 | 2003-07-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |