Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
  • G01N29/00—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves; Visualisation of the interior of objects by transmitting ultrasonic or sonic waves through the object
  • G01N29/22—Details, e.g. general constructional or apparatus details
  • G01N29/28—Details, e.g. general constructional or apparatus details providing acoustic coupling, e.g. water
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C23—COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; CHEMICAL SURFACE TREATMENT; DIFFUSION TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL; INHIBITING CORROSION OF METALLIC MATERIAL OR INCRUSTATION IN GENERAL
  • C23C—COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; SURFACE TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL BY DIFFUSION INTO THE SURFACE, BY CHEMICAL CONVERSION OR SUBSTITUTION; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL
  • C23C14/00—Coating by vacuum evaporation, by sputtering or by ion implantation of the coating forming material
  • C23C14/22—Coating by vacuum evaporation, by sputtering or by ion implantation of the coating forming material characterised by the process of coating
  • C23C14/34—Sputtering
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01H—MEASUREMENT OF MECHANICAL VIBRATIONS OR ULTRASONIC, SONIC OR INFRASONIC WAVES
  • G01H11/00—Measuring mechanical vibrations or ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves by detecting changes in electric or magnetic properties
  • G01H11/06—Measuring mechanical vibrations or ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves by detecting changes in electric or magnetic properties by electric means
  • G01H11/08—Measuring mechanical vibrations or ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves by detecting changes in electric or magnetic properties by electric means using piezoelectric devices
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
  • G01N2291/00—Indexing codes associated with group G01N29/00
  • G01N2291/26—Scanned objects
  • G01N2291/263—Surfaces
  • G01N2291/2638—Complex surfaces

Definitions

• the present invention relates to an ultrasonic probe for measuring the contact of an object and its method of manufacture.
• This ultrasonic probe is particularly suitable for non-destructive testing of objects of complex geometry, such as certain mechanical parts for example.
• the present invention applies in particular to the non-destructive testing of objects in the aeronautical, space, automobile, railway, ... Technological background
• Ultrasonic measurement systems are thus known which have the advantage of allowing structural checks directly on manufacturing sites.
• the present invention aims at overcoming these various drawbacks by proposing an ultrasonic measurement system for the non-destructive inspection of objects such as mechanical or structural parts, simple in its design and in its operating mode, allowing the measurement of at least a part of an object of complex geometry in a single scan.
• Another object of the present invention is a particularly simple and flexible manufacturing method of such an ultrasonic measurement system.
• the invention relates to an ultrasonic probe for measuring the contact of an object, said object having a non-regular surface.
• this ultrasound probe comprises ultrasonic sensors integral with a first face of a substrate, the opposite face of this substrate determining a measuring surface, this measurement surface having a shape which is the imprint of the surface of the object to be measured so as to conform to it when the surface of the object is brought into contact with said measuring surface.
• This ultrasonic probe thus operates in the field of ultrasonic reflection control where the same sensor acts as an ultrasonic wave emitter and receiver of ultrasonic waves reflected by the object to be analyzed, this sensor being coded in position.
• surface of the non-regular object means that this surface of the object has at least one angle.
• This surface of the object can thus have an L, V or U shape.
• this surface of the object to be measured is not a strictly flat surface or the outer surface of a cylinder, the latter being regular.
• the measurement surface of this ultrasound probe covers at least half of the total surface of the object to be measured, which makes it possible to measure in a single sweep the part of the object whose outer surface is in contact with the measuring surface of the probe.
• the measuring surface has a shape which is the footprint of the surface of the object to be measured to within manufacturing tolerances, being understood that it has been defined with respect to theoretical ribs of the object to be measured. .
• the substrate has a uniform thickness.
• the present invention also relates to the following features which should be considered in isolation or in all their technically possible combinations:
• said probe comprises a coupling element designed to provide acoustic impedance matching between said object and said probe, said coupling element comprising an envelope such as a membrane, defining an interior volume in which a liquid coupling medium is placed; .
• this liquid coupling medium is water or a coupling gel.
• this ultrasonic coupling gel is an aqueous gel comprising polyols such as that marketed by the company METALSCAN, rue Désiré Gilot, 71 1 00 Saint-Rémy under the name Couplant UT 5.
• this envelope has an acoustic impedance substantially equal to that of water, the latter being 1, 5x1 0 6 Pa.s / m.
• this envelope has an acoustic impedance which is equal to 1 5% close to that of water.
• said coupling element has a thickness less than or equal to 3 mm.
• said coupling element In addition to the acoustic impedance matching between the object to be measured and the ultrasonic probe, said coupling element also ensures the adjustment, or compliance, of the surface of the object to be measured with the measurement surface of the probe. ultrasonic, which allows to take into account possible deviations related in particular to the manufacturing tolerances of the object.
• said ultrasonic sensors form a network of piezoelectric ceramic sensors integral with this substrate.
• said substrate is a metal substrate, a polyimide substrate or a graphite / epoxy composite material.
• the metal substrate is made of aluminum, steel, stainless steel, titanium, nickel, copper or the like.
• this probe comprises an electronic means for processing the electrical signals supplied by the ultrasonic sensors when they receive ultrasound.
• the invention also relates to a method for manufacturing an ultrasound probe for ultrasonic testing of an object by contact, in which at least the following steps are carried out:
• steps b), c) and d) optionally repeating steps b), c) and d) to form a piezoelectric ceramic block comprising at least two ceramic coatings
• step c) said coating containing said dispersion is deposited uniformly to obtain an equal ceramic coating thickness on said support.
• the first coating containing said dispersion being deposited on the non-rough outer surface of the support the firing temperature of at least 100 ° C implemented in step d) for firing each ceramic coating ensures a final thickness of coating or uniform ceramic block.
• said coating or said piezoelectric ceramic block thus formed is polarized. This polarization can be obtained by a corona discharge process.
• the electrodes may be formed by a silver metallization paste.
• the present invention also relates to the following features which should be considered in isolation or in all their technically possible combinations:
• a coupling element intended to provide acoustic impedance matching between said object and said probe, said coupling element comprising an envelope defining an internal volume in which is placed a liquid coupling medium.
• this liquid coupling medium is water or a coupling gel.
• step f) several electrodes are produced on the surface of said coating or said piezoelectric ceramic block so as to form an array of piezoelectric sensors,
• these sensors are spaced equidistantly.
• said ceramic powder is maintained in a range of 30% to 50% by weight of said solution.
• This ceramic powder is advantageously selected from the group comprising BIT (Bismuth titanium composite), silica, alumina, silicon carbide, etc.
• the ceramic powder PZT marketed under the name Pz23 by Ferroperm Piezoceramics, DK-3490 Kvistgard, is particularly suitable for the present invention.
• said thin film deposition method is a spray deposition method
• each of said sensors is connected to an electronic means for processing the signals supplied by these sensors when they receive ultrasound, before step f), the thickness of said at least one ceramic coating is controlled so that the ceramic block thus obtained corresponds to the measurement frequencies of said probe,
• said object having a non-regular surface
• the inner surface of said support is conformed so that this internal surface is an imprint of the non-regular surface of the object to be measured.
• the present invention further relates to an installation for the non-destructive testing of ultrasonic parts.
• this installation comprises two ultrasonic measuring probes as described above, said probes being intended to fit at least one opposite face of this part, at least one of these probes being mobile so that these probes can be moved away. each other for positioning or removal of the piece to be measured and brought together to fully cover the surface of that piece for non-destructive testing in a single sweep, or in a single pass.
• this installation comprises, consequently, a means for conveying the workpiece to be measured and / or gripping this workpiece for placing it on the measuring surface of one of said ultrasonic measuring probes as well as means for moving the other ultrasonic probe relative to this ultrasonic probe receiving the piece to be measured.
• This non-destructive inspection facility can be part of a parts manufacturing line, ensuring simple and fast online control of these parts.
• FIG. 1 schematically represents an exploded view of an ultrasonic contact measurement probe according to a particular embodiment of the present invention
• FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the present invention for non-destructive testing of a structural part of an aircraft, DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
• Figure 1 shows schematically an exploded view, for the sake of clarity, of the various constituent elements of an ultrasonic probe contact measurement according to a particular embodiment of the present invention.
• This measurement probe comprises a substrate 10 made here of a metallic material such as aluminum, this substrate 10 having been shaped so that its inner surface 1 1 is the imprint, with manufacturing tolerances, of the outer surface of the substrate. part of a mechanical part to be measured.
• this part of the mechanical part of complex geometry is placed in direct contact with the inner surface 1 1 of the substrate 10 thus shaped, its outer surface matches the inner surface 1 1 of the substrate 10 to manufacturing tolerances.
• the conformation of the substrate 10 can be obtained by stamping.
• piezoelectric ceramic block 13 comprising several layers of piezoelectric ceramic, which have been successively formed.
• Each of these layers is obtained by a spraying method of a PZT sol / gel solution in which a piezoelectric ceramic powder (PZT) has been uniformly dispersed, the particles of which have a size typically between 1 and 80 ⁇ m, the coating thus uniformly deposited being fired at a temperature of at least 100 ° C by means of a source of hot air such as a heat gun.
• a source of hot air such as a heat gun.
• the sol / gel solution PZT acts as a binding agent for the ceramic powder to the corresponding surface on which the coating is deposited.
• each ceramic coating of the block 13 is typically between 1 ⁇ and 20 ⁇ , the total thickness of this piezoelectric ceramic block, which is equal or substantially equal over the entirety of this block, being determined so that the Ultrasonic probe operates at a center frequency typically between 1 and 30 MHz (high frequency) or typically between 20 and 50 kHz (low frequency).
• a center frequency typically between 1 and 30 MHz (high frequency) or typically between 20 and 50 kHz (low frequency).
• On the outer surface of this piezoelectric ceramic block 13 is placed a set of electrodes 14, these electrodes 14 being spaced regularly or not.
• the thickness of the ceramic block 13 between an electrode 14 and the substrate 10 defines an ultrasonic sensor.
• Each sensor of this ultrasonic probe is connected by a cable 16 to a multi-channel electronic means 17 which takes care of the supply.
• An analysis unit (not shown) connected to the multi-channel electronic means 17 analyzes the results measured by said ultrasonic sensors of the ultrasound probe.
• Figure 2 shows an embodiment of the present invention for non-destructive testing of a structural part 18 of an aircraft.
• This structural part 18 is curved so that it has a rounded portion 19 placed between two planar wings.
• the ultrasonic contact measurement system 20 implemented to control the quality of this structural part 18 has a measurement surface which is the imprint of the outer surface of this structural part 18 so as to conform to it when this surface outer part of the piece is brought into contact with this measuring surface.
• a coupling element 21 consisting of an envelope such as a membrane, delimiting an interior volume in which water is placed, is interposed between this outer surface and the measuring surface of the system 20.
• This coupling element 21 is intended to provide acoustic impedance matching between the workpiece and the measuring system 20.

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• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Analytical Chemistry (AREA)
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• Immunology (AREA)
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• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
• Organic Chemistry (AREA)
• Metallurgy (AREA)
• Investigating Or Analyzing Materials By The Use Of Ultrasonic Waves (AREA)

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• 2012
  • 2012-10-19 FR FR1259985A patent/FR2997190B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2013
  • 2013-10-18 WO PCT/EP2013/071829 patent/WO2014060574A1/fr not_active Ceased
  • 2013-10-18 US US14/433,642 patent/US9766212B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2013-10-18 EP EP13780342.5A patent/EP2909620A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2013-10-18 CN CN201380053928.XA patent/CN104755921B/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related

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