GB2133545A

GB2133545A - Ultrasonic testing apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2133545A
Application number: GB08400252A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stephen Geoffrey Drake
Original assignee: OILFIELD INSPECTION SERVICES
Current assignee: OILFIELD INSPECTION SERVICES
Priority date: 1983-01-13
Filing date: 1984-01-06
Publication date: 1984-07-25
Also published as: GB8400252D0

Abstract

Ultrasonic testing apparatus comprises an ultrasonic probe or probes 11 (e.g. carried by a diver 10) and an ultrasonic testing set 12 (e.g. on the surface) connected to the probe or probes by a cable or cables, said testing set producing an analogue signal and being provided with analogue/digital converter means 14 and with means for displaying 15 and/or recording the output from the converter means. Preferably, the output from said analogue/digital converter means is fed both to display means carried by a diver 16 and to display and/or recording means on the surface. A television camera 17 may be provided to observe the operations of the diver on monitor 18. The ultrasonic testing set 12, analogue/digital converter 14 and displays 15, 18 are preferably within a common housing. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Ultrasonic testing apparatus The present invention is concerned with ultrasonic testing apparatus.

Ultrasonic inspection of articles, e.g. to measure thickness and detect faults such as fractures and undesired inclusions, is well known. It normally involves the use of a probe or probes to direct ultrasonic waves into an article being tested and to receive reflections of the waves, and a testing set which transmits signals to and receives signals from the probe or probes, interprets the signals and provides a visual display showing the interpretation in analogue form. It is known to provide a probe or probes connected by a cable or cables to a testing set so as to facilitate ultrasonic testing of articles in locations which are difficult of access.For example, a diver may carry a probe or probes, which may be very light and small in volume compared with a testing set, underwater and use it or them to send signals through the cable or cables to a testing set on the surface where an observer watches the display from the testing set.

According to the present invention, ultrasonic testing apparatus comprises an ultrasonic probe or ultrasonic probes and an ultrasonic testing set connected to the probe or probes by a cable or cables, said testing set producing an analogue signal and being provided with analogue/digital converter means and with means for displaying and/or recording the output from the converter means.

Said analogue/digital converter means preferably comprises an analogue/digital converter receiving an analogue display amplitude signal from the testing set, an analogue/digital converter receiving a position synchronisation signal from the testing set, a memory receiving the outputs from said converters and a timer conditioning the operation of said memory, the output from the memory being fed to said displaying and/or recording means.

It is known to provide a television camera observing the analogue display on a screen of an ultrasonic testing set, which camera is linked to a monitor screen carried by a diver who also carries and operates the ultrasonic probe or probes. According to an optional but preferred feature of the present invention, the output from said analogue/digital converter means is fed to a display means at a location distant from the testing set. Thus, the output from the analogue/digital converter means may be fed both to display means carried by an underwater diver and to display and/or recording means on the water surface.

Preferably, a television camera is provided to observe the operation of the probe or probes, which camera is connected to provide a display on a monitor screen at the same location as the testing set. Desirably a single unit contains the testing set, a screen for displaying the observations of the television camera, and a screen for displaying the output from the analogue/digital converter means.

The invention further provides a method of ultrasonic testing in which signals from an ultrasonic probe or ultrasonic probes (e.g.

carried by an underwater diver) are fed to an ultrasonic testing set at a location distant from the probe or probes (e.g. on the surface), analogue signals from the testing set are converted into digital signals, and the digital signals are fed to display and/or recording means at said distant location and/or to display means adjacent to the probe or probes.

The following is a description, by way of example, of an embodiment of the invention, reference being made to the accompanying schematic drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows an ultrasonic testing apparatus in accordance with the invention, and Figure 2 is a block diagram of the conversion circuit of the apparatus of Fig. 1.

In Fig. 1, a diver 10 carries ultrasonic probes 11 connected by cables to an ultrasonic testing set 1 2 on the water surface 1 3.

The anlogue signals produced by the testing set 1 2 are fed into a digital scan converter 14. The output signals from the scan converters are fed to a display screen 1 5 on the surface and, through a cable, to a monitor screen 1 6 carried by or adjacent to the diver.

Digital displays indicating the findings of the probe are therefore available both to observers on the surface and to the diver. A television camera 1 7 carried by or adjacent to the diver is connected by a cable to a display screen 1 8 on the surface so that observers on the surface can see the operations of the diver.

As shown in Fig. 2, a displayed probe amplitude signal and a position synchronisations signal from the ultrasonic testing set are fed into the digital scan converter 14. The displayed probe amplitude signal is fed into an analogue/digital converter 1 9 and the position synchronisation signal is fed into an analogue/digital converter 20. The outputs from the analogue/digital converters 1 9 and 20 are combined and fed into a memory 21 which also receives an input from a timer 22.

The output from the memory 21 is supplied to a video driver and sync. adder 23. The output from 23 is supplied to the display screen 1 5 and the monitor screen 1 6.

The ultrasonic testing set 12, the digital scan converter 14, the display screen 1 5 and the display screen 1 8 are preferably all contained in a single casing which may therefore provide a portable unit.

Advantages of the system hereinbefore described are 1. The system does not require a camera to observe the ultrasonic test set display screen. Non-linearities and low abberations can therefore be eliminated. A more compact and rugged package can also be produced.

2. The system is independent of ultrasonic test set focus and brightness and once set up requires little calibration and does not suffer from electron tube ageing.

3. The digital scan store can provide a wide range of scan output rates and the ultrasonic data can be permitted to meet all known T.V. scanning standards as well as telemetry and V.D.U. data link speeds.

4. The ultrasonic data can be frozen at any time for detailed analysis.

Claims

1. Ultrasonic testing apparatus comprising an ultrasonic probe or ultrasonic probes and an ultrasonic testing set connected to the probe or probes by a cable or cables, said testing set producing an analogue signal and being provided with analogue/digital converter means and with means for displaying and/or recording the output from the converter means.

2. Ultrasonic testing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said analogue/digital converter means comprises an analogue/digital converter receiving an analogue display amplitude signal from the testing set, an analogue/ digital converter receiving a position synchronisation signal from the testing set, a memory receiving the outputs from said converters and a timer conditioning the operation of said memory, the output from the memory being fed to said displaying and/or recording means.

3. Ultrasonic testing apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the output from said analogue/digital converter means is fed to a display means at a location distant from the testing set.

4. Ultrasonic testing apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein a television camera is provided to observe the operation of the probe or probes, which camera is connected to provide a display on a monitor screen at the same location as the testing set.

5. Ultrasonic testing apparatus according to claim 4 wherein a single unit contains the testing set, a screen for displaying the observations of the television camera, and a screen for displaying the output from the analogue/ digital converter means.

6. A method of ultrasonic testing in which signals from an ultrasonic probe or ultrasonic probes are fed to an ultrasonic testing set at a location distant from the probe or probes, analogue signals from the testing set are converted into digital signals, and the digital signals are fed to display and/or recording means at said distant location and/or to display means adjacent to the probe or probes.

7. A method according to claim 6 wherein the probe or probes are carried by an underwater diver and the testing set is on the surface.

8. Ultrasonic testing apparatus substantially as herein before described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

9. A method of ultrasonic testing substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.