GB2282931A - Flexible transducer array support - Google Patents
Flexible transducer array support Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2282931A GB2282931A GB9321410A GB9321410A GB2282931A GB 2282931 A GB2282931 A GB 2282931A GB 9321410 A GB9321410 A GB 9321410A GB 9321410 A GB9321410 A GB 9321410A GB 2282931 A GB2282931 A GB 2282931A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- electrodes
- component
- flexible support
- piezo electric
- plastics material
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 20
- 239000002305 electric material Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 18
- 229920003023 plastic Polymers 0.000 claims abstract description 15
- 239000004033 plastic Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 15
- 238000012360 testing method Methods 0.000 claims description 13
- 230000008878 coupling Effects 0.000 claims description 11
- 238000010168 coupling process Methods 0.000 claims description 11
- 238000005859 coupling reaction Methods 0.000 claims description 11
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims description 7
- 239000011159 matrix material Substances 0.000 claims description 6
- 238000010998 test method Methods 0.000 claims description 5
- 229920002457 flexible plastic Polymers 0.000 claims description 4
- 238000005452 bending Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000004020 conductor Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- 230000008569 process Effects 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000002344 surface layer Substances 0.000 abstract 1
- 239000010408 film Substances 0.000 description 20
- 238000007405 data analysis Methods 0.000 description 7
- 238000007689 inspection Methods 0.000 description 7
- 229910052751 metal Inorganic materials 0.000 description 5
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 5
- BQCADISMDOOEFD-UHFFFAOYSA-N Silver Chemical compound [Ag] BQCADISMDOOEFD-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 4
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 4
- 229910052709 silver Inorganic materials 0.000 description 4
- 239000004332 silver Substances 0.000 description 4
- 238000009434 installation Methods 0.000 description 3
- 239000000523 sample Substances 0.000 description 3
- 239000000853 adhesive Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000001070 adhesive effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000007797 corrosion Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000005260 corrosion Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000001514 detection method Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000002033 PVDF binder Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000004458 analytical method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000013459 approach Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000005540 biological transmission Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000013480 data collection Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000003822 epoxy resin Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000005530 etching Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000005284 excitation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000006870 function Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000002347 injection Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000007924 injection Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000003993 interaction Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000000737 periodic effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 229920003223 poly(pyromellitimide-1,4-diphenyl ether) Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 229920000647 polyepoxide Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 229920002981 polyvinylidene fluoride Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 238000012545 processing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004044 response Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000012216 screening Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000010409 thin film Substances 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
- H04R17/00—Piezoelectric transducers; Electrostrictive transducers
Landscapes
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Acoustics & Sound (AREA)
- Signal Processing (AREA)
- Investigating Or Analyzing Materials By The Use Of Ultrasonic Waves (AREA)
Abstract
Electrodes 12 with associated connecting strips 13 are embedded in or on a flexible support 11 of plastics material. The connecting strips 13 couple the electrodes 12 with a plug/socket connector 17. The electrodes 12 are provided with a surface layer of polymeric piezo electric material. The electrode array can be positioned in contact with a surface of any shape and ultrasonic signals generated by supplying electrical pulses to the electrodes 12. <IMAGE>
Description
Flexible Transducer Arrav Support The invention relates to a method of testing and a component for use in testing using an array of transducers such as for providing ultrasonic signals.
It is well known to carry out in-service tests of components such as metal pressure vessels and pipelines by positioning an ultrasonic transducer on the available surfaces and recording the echo signal responses when the test object is energised, typically by the injection of a brief transmission pulse of ultrasonic energy. There are other forms of testing which require application of a transducer to the exposed surface of the object under test such as, for example, for eddy current testing.
Positioning of the transducer and ensuring there is good coupling requires the attention of skilled operators. If, as is usual, a large area of object has to be tested, the transducer probe may have to be moved around and the results interpreted. Use of an array of transducers can enable a larger area to be tested at one position of a probe, but the problem of having to move the probe and maintain good coupling remains, since the size of the array will be limited by the variations in surface contour of the components which are to be tested.
It is also particularly desirable for in-service tests to compare results at a specific location from tests carried out at regular time intervals which may be months or years apart.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a component and method which facilitates testing of this type.
The invention provides, in one of its aspects, a component for use in testing comprising a flexible support of plastics material carrying a plurality of electrodes together with connecting strips fixed in or on the said plastics material for providing electrical coupling between the electrodes and a connection region of the flexible plastics material.
Preferably the flexible support of plastics material is in the form of a thin sheet having little or no bending resilience so that the sheet conforms readily to the shape of any object to which it is applied.
Preferably each electrode is at least partly covered by a thin layer of polymeric piezo electric material.
In a preferred construction of component the said flexible support of plastics material carrying electrodes and connecting strips thereon and the piezo electric material are in the form of thin sheets adhered together.
Preferably the thin sheet of piezo electric material is coated on both sides with a pattern of thin electrically conducting material arranged in isolated regions on one side positioned to be in electrical contact making abutment with the said electrodes on the flexible support, and in matching electrically interconnected regions on the other side to provide a common electrode, whereby localised ultrasonic pulses can be generated by electrical voltage drive pulses applied to a selected said isolated region relative to the said common electrode region via the respective connecting strip and electrode on the flexible support.
Alternatively, each electrode on the flexible support is separately covered with a thin piece of piezo electric material. However, in this case, provision has to be made for a return or common electrode connection to the side of the piezo electric material remote from the electrode on the flexible support to which it is attached.
Connection of electrical driver and detection circuitry to the component is facilitated by providing a standard in-line plug or socket connector clamped to the connection region of the flexible support so as to make electrical connection between selected connecting strips on the flexible support and corresponding selected pins or sockets of the connector.
The component, with its configuration, simplicity and relative cheapness of manufacture, lends itself to a method of use which involves more or less permanent attachment of one or a plurality of such components at strategically chosen positions in process plant where it is desired to maintain regular checks on the condition of the plant.
Commercially available driver/receiver electronics for ultrasonic flaw detection can be coupled, during a test run, in turn to each of the components via the plug or socket connector using a switchbox or custom designed electronics. Time of flight data for ultrasonic pulses can be established and recorded at each location defined by each electrode on the flexible supports of each component. The recorded data from inspections carried out at routine intervals can be monitored for changes in the time of flight data indicative of corrosion or other damage to the structure under inspection. Using components in accordance with the invention fixed permanently in position, one can be confident that precisely the same array of test positions is used each time the inspection is carried out.
The invention includes a method of testing comprising applying to an object a thin layer in one or more pieces of flexible piezo electric material having superimposed thereupon a layer of flexible support comprising plastics material carrying a matrix of electrodes in an array together with connecting strips fixed in or on the said plastics material for providing electrical coupling between the electrodes and a connection region of the flexible plastics material, so that the electrodes and the regions of piezo electric material contacted thereby form an array of ultrasonic transducers, connecting the electrodes via the said connection region to a corresponding connector output of a voltage pulse driver/receiver, and operating the driver/receiver so as to transmit and/or receive ultrasonic signals in the object via one or more transducers in the array.
A specific construction of component and a method embodying the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the drawings filed herewith in which:
Figure 1 is a plan view of a component,
Figure 2 is a view from below of the component shown in Figure 1 with a part removed,
Figure 3 is a plan view of this removed part, which is a thin strip of polymeric piezo electric material,
Figure 4 is a view from below of the part shown in
Figure 3,
Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view partly cut away of a component in position on a pipeline,
Figure 6 is a diagrammatic perspective view to illustrate a component and a pipeline to which it is to be attached,
Figure 7 is a plot of ultrasonic pulse amplitude against time to illustrate the typical signal pulse and echo sequence obtained in use of the component,
Figure 8 is a highly diagrammatic representation of an electrical circuit control system and data analysis unit and the method of connection to one or more components of the type shown in Figures 1 to 6 which we have given the name "fleximat",
Figure 9 is an electrical block diagram showing the components of a coupling head for connecting the control system and data analysis unit to the fleximat, and
Figure 10 is an electrical block diagram illustrating the essential components of a control system and data analysis unit.
Referring to Figure 1, there is shown a flexible film 11 of Kapton plastics material in which are embedded twelve thin rectangular electrodes 12, the underside surface marked 12a of which is exposed (see Figure 2).
Each electrode 12 is electrically connected to a connecting strip 13 embedded in the flexible film 11 and leading to a connection region 14 at an edge of the film 11. Running parallel with each connecting strip 13 is a thinner screen strip 15 which extends around the periphery of the associated electrode 12. Further screening is provided by a matrix of thin conducting strips 16 embedded in the film 11 close to the underside.
It will be appreciated that the arrangement of the screen strips 15 and screen matrix 16 are such that they are electrically isolated by the plastics material of the flexible film 11 from the conducting strips 13 and electrodes 12.
A standard in line plug or socket connector 17 is clamped to the edge of the flexible film 11 at 14 and provides readily for appropriate electrical connection to the connecting strips 13, screen strips 15 and screen matrix 16.
Figures 3 and 4 show respectively the upper and lower surfaces of a thin film 18 of polymeric (Polyvinylidene fluoride) piezo electric material. Such material is available in a form in which the opposed surfaces are coated with an electrically conducting silver ink. This has been etched to provide on the upper surface a series of rectangular islands 19 which are electrically isolated from one another and positioned to correspond with the exposed surfaces 12a of the electrodes in the flexible film 11. Figure 4 shows the pattern etched into the silver ink on the underside of the piezo electric film 18 so as to provide a common electrode layer 21. It will be appreciated that if an electrical signal voltage pulse is applied to a selected one of the islands 19 relative to the common electrode layer 21, then a corresponding pressure pulse is generated by the piezo electric material in the region of the island 19.
The piezo electric film 18 is fixed with adhesive to the underside of the flexible film 11 so that the islands 19 are in contact with the exposed surfaces 12a of the electrodes 12. Connection to the common electrode layer 21 is made by folding under a small region at the end of the piezo electric film 18 so that a portion at 22 of the electrode layer 21 is brought into electrical contact at 23 with the screen matrix 16 in the flexible film 11.
Each electrode 12 has a hole extending through the centre from the top to the bottom surface of the flexible film 11. After fixing the piezo electric film 18 to the flexible film 11 with adhesive, these holes are filled with silver ink to provide good electrical contact between the electrodes 12 and the islands 19. This may be seen in Figure 5 in which the silver ink filling the holes through the electrodes 12 is marked at 24.
For use, the component as described with reference to Figures 1 to 5 can be fixed permanently to, for example, a metal pipeline 26 (see also Figure 6).
Attachment is conveniently by means of a layer of epoxy resin 25. A plurality of fleximats may be attached at chosen locations on the pipework of an installation so that periodic ultrasonic inspections can routinely be made.
Such inspections may be carried out by an operator carrying an ultrasonic drive/receive unit of a form readily commercially available, and a switchbox to connect in turn to each of the fleximats via the plug/socket connector 17.
However, we prefer to provide an arrangement in which all of the fleximats within an installation or a region of an installation are set up ready coupled via a coupling head 27 (Figure 8) to electrical buses 28 and 29 which provide respectively for radio frequency pulse signals (28) and control and power supply (29). A full inspection run is carried out from a central control system and data analysis unit 31 which is either permanently connected to the buses 28 and 29 or is connected to them at the time of the inspection.
Figure 9 shows in block diagram form the essential electrical components of the coupling head 27. Operation of a multiplexer 32 is controlled by signals on the power and control bus 29. when the coupling head 27 is selected by the appropriate coded signal from the control system, radio frequency pulses are fed via a pulser bypass 33 and distributed via the multiplexer to each electrode 12 in turn on the associated fleximat. The number of channels provided by the multiplexer will correspond to the number of electrodes 12 in the fleximat. In this example, there are twelve such electrodes, but it will be appreciated that any convenient number can be provided. Under control of the multiplexer 32, echo signals received back via each transducer are detected and amplified by pre-amplifier 34 and returned via the RF bus 28 to the central control system 31. An input protection circuit 35 protects the amplifier 34 from drive pulses.
The central control system and data analysis unit 31 essentially consists of a micro controller carrying out all supervisory, set up, data collection, data analysis and input/output functions. The appropriate fleximat is selected and excited via a multiplexer, pulses supplied and the returning echo amplified. The returning echo signal is converted to digital data using a flash analogue to digital converter and the resulting digital data is stored in a local memory for subsequent processing by the micro controller which can be set up to interpret the results and display chosen parameters.
Provision for operator interaction/manipulation via an external PC 35 can optionally be readily provided.
Figure 10 illustrates in block diagram form the components of a self contained control system appropriate for use by an operator who would manually connect this in turn to each fleximat 36 via a coupling head 37. The essential components of micro controller 38, associated key pad 39 and display 41, pulser 42, multiplexer 43, amplifier 44, flash analogue to digital converter 45, memory 46 and optional personal computer 47 with its associated display 48 all correspond closely with those referred to above in describing the essential operation of the arrangement having a central control system and data analysis unit 31.
As is well known, a drive ultrasonic pulse of the form shown at time = 0 in Figure 7 when applied at a surface of a component such as the metal pipeline 26 will result in an echo signal 51 reflected from the back surface 52 (see Figure 5) of the component. The delay T between the drive pulse and echo pulse is indicative of the thickness T of the metal of the pipeline 26. Thus, for example, changes in thickness caused by corrosion will show up over the passage of time. Also, a crack appearing in the metal in the path of an ultrasonic pulse will result in a reflection at some point between the drive pulse and back reflection echo 51 so that information about the appearance of such cracks and their extent can be derived from analysis of the echo signal data.
The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing example. It will be appreciated that it is possible in principle to provide directly for the excitation of selected regions in sequence of a polymeric piezo electric film by etching conducting films on the surfaces thereof into a pattern corresponding to the pattern of electrodes and conducting strips provided in the foregoing example on the flexible support film 11.
However, we have found that such an approach is less satisfactory for a number of reasons. In particular the flexible polymeric piezo electric film is not on its own sufficiently robust. Also, the passage of the drive pulse currents through conducting strips on the surface of piezo electric film tends to generate pressure pulses all along the length of the conducting strips. This generates a noise which interferes with the desired information derived from the pressure pulses generated at the island electrodes 19.
Claims (11)
1. A component for use in testing comprising a flexible support of plastics material carrying a plurality of electrodes together with connecting strips fixed in or on the said plastics material for providing electrical coupling between the electrodes and a connection region of the flexible plastics material.
2. A component as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the flexible support of plastics material is in the form of a thin sheet having little or no bending resilience so that the sheet conforms readily to the shape of any object to which it is applied.
3. A component as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein each electrode is at least partly covered by a thin layer of polymeric piezo electric material.
4. A component as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the said flexible support of plastics material carrying electrodes and connecting strips thereon and the piezo electric material are in the form of thin sheets adhered together.
5. A component as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the thin sheet of piezo electric material is coated on both sides with a pattern of thin electrically conducting material arranged in isolated regions on one side positioned to be in electrical contact making abutment with the said electrodes on the flexible support, and in matching but electrically interconnected regions on the other side to provide a common electrode, whereby localised ultrasonic pulses can be generated by electrical voltage drive pulses applied to a selected said isolated region relative to the said common electrode region via the respective connecting strip and electrode on the flexible support.
6. A component as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein each electrode on the flexible support is separately covered with a thin piece of piezo electric material, and a return or common electrode connection is provided on the side of the piezo electric material remote from the electrode on the flexible support to which it is attached.
7. A component as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein a standard in-line plug or socket connector is clamped to the connection region of the flexible support so as to make electrical connection between selected connecting strips on the flexible support and corresponding selected pins or sockets of the connector.
8. A method of testing using a component as claimed in any of the preceding claims, which method comprises the permanent attachment of one or a plurality of such components at strategically chosen positions in process plant where it is desired to maintain regular checks on the condition of the plant.
9. A method of testing comprising applying to an object a thin layer in one or more pieces of flexible piezo electric material having superimposed thereupon a layer of flexible support comprising plastics material carrying a matrix of electrodes in an array together with connecting strips fixed in or on the said plastics material for providing electrical coupling between the electrodes and a connection region of the flexible plastics material, so that the electrodes and the regions of piezo electric material contacted thereby form an array of ultrasonic transducers, connecting the electrodes via the said connection region to a corresponding connector output of a voltage pulse driver/receiver, and operating the driver/receiver so as to transmit and/or receive ultrasonic signals in the object via one or more transducers in the array.
10. A component substantially as herein described with reference to, and illustrated in, Figures 1 to 6 of the drawings filed herewith.
11. A method of testing substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 6 to 10 of the drawings filed herewith.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9321410A GB2282931B (en) | 1993-10-16 | 1993-10-16 | Flexible transducer array support |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9321410A GB2282931B (en) | 1993-10-16 | 1993-10-16 | Flexible transducer array support |
Publications (3)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB9321410D0 GB9321410D0 (en) | 1993-12-08 |
| GB2282931A true GB2282931A (en) | 1995-04-19 |
| GB2282931B GB2282931B (en) | 1997-11-12 |
Family
ID=10743695
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9321410A Expired - Fee Related GB2282931B (en) | 1993-10-16 | 1993-10-16 | Flexible transducer array support |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2282931B (en) |
Cited By (19)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO2001089723A1 (en) | 2000-05-22 | 2001-11-29 | Miwa Science Laboratory Inc. | Ultrasonic irradiation apparatus |
| WO2004079306A1 (en) * | 2003-03-04 | 2004-09-16 | Cidra Corporation | An apparatus having a multi-band sensor assembly for measuring a parameter of a fluid flow flowing within a pipe |
| WO2005012843A2 (en) * | 2003-08-01 | 2005-02-10 | Cidra Corporation | Method and apparatus for measuring parameters of a fluid flowing within a pipe using a configurable array of sensors |
| US7249525B1 (en) | 2005-06-22 | 2007-07-31 | Cidra Corporation | Apparatus for measuring parameters of a fluid in a lined pipe |
| US7308820B2 (en) | 2003-08-08 | 2007-12-18 | Cidra Corporation | Piezocable based sensor for measuring unsteady pressures inside a pipe |
| US7322251B2 (en) | 2003-08-01 | 2008-01-29 | Cidra Corporation | Method and apparatus for measuring a parameter of a high temperature fluid flowing within a pipe using an array of piezoelectric based flow sensors |
| US7330797B2 (en) | 2004-03-10 | 2008-02-12 | Cidra Corporation | Apparatus and method for measuring settlement of solids in a multiphase flow |
| US7343820B2 (en) | 2005-05-27 | 2008-03-18 | Cidra Corporation | Apparatus and method for fiscal measuring of an aerated fluid |
| US7367239B2 (en) | 2004-03-23 | 2008-05-06 | Cidra Corporation | Piezocable based sensor for measuring unsteady pressures inside a pipe |
| US7400985B2 (en) | 2002-11-12 | 2008-07-15 | Cidra Corporation | Apparatus having an array of clamp on piezoelectric film sensors for measuring parameters of a process flow within a pipe |
| US7454981B2 (en) | 2006-05-16 | 2008-11-25 | Expro Meters. Inc. | Apparatus and method for determining a parameter in a wet gas flow |
| US7503227B2 (en) | 2005-07-13 | 2009-03-17 | Cidra Corporate Services, Inc | Method and apparatus for measuring parameters of a fluid flow using an array of sensors |
| US7516024B2 (en) | 2004-03-10 | 2009-04-07 | Expro Meters. Inc. | Method and apparatus for measuring parameters of a stratified flow |
| US7603916B2 (en) | 2005-07-07 | 2009-10-20 | Expro Meters, Inc. | Wet gas metering using a differential pressure and a sonar based flow meter |
| US7882750B2 (en) | 2003-08-01 | 2011-02-08 | Cidra Corporate Services, Inc. | Method and apparatus for measuring parameters of a fluid flowing within a pipe using a configurable array of sensors |
| US7962293B2 (en) | 2005-03-10 | 2011-06-14 | Expro Meters, Inc. | Apparatus and method for providing a stratification metric of a multiphase fluid flowing within a pipe |
| EP2635901A4 (en) * | 2010-11-05 | 2015-08-26 | Nat Res Council Canada | Ultrasonic transducer assembly and system for monitoring structural integrity |
| EP2936140A1 (en) * | 2012-12-21 | 2015-10-28 | European Aeronautic Defence And Space Company Eads France | Reconfigurable device for checking a composite structure using ultrasound |
| DE102014221495A1 (en) * | 2014-10-23 | 2016-04-28 | Robert Bosch Gmbh | Ultrasonic transducer, ultrasonic flowmeter and method of manufacturing an ultrasonic transducer |
Families Citing this family (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US8061186B2 (en) | 2008-03-26 | 2011-11-22 | Expro Meters, Inc. | System and method for providing a compositional measurement of a mixture having entrained gas |
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| US4322877A (en) * | 1978-09-20 | 1982-04-06 | Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company | Method of making piezoelectric polymeric acoustic transducer |
| GB2086582A (en) * | 1977-07-27 | 1982-05-12 | List Hans | A transducer for measurement of mechanical values on hollow pipes |
| US4376302A (en) * | 1978-04-13 | 1983-03-08 | The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy | Piezoelectric polymer hydrophone |
| EP0165886A2 (en) * | 1984-06-14 | 1985-12-27 | NGK Spark Plug Co. Ltd. | Sheet-like piezoelectric element |
| US4701659A (en) * | 1984-09-26 | 1987-10-20 | Terumo Corp. | Piezoelectric ultrasonic transducer with flexible electrodes adhered using an adhesive having anisotropic electrical conductivity |
| EP0528279A1 (en) * | 1991-08-09 | 1993-02-24 | Kureha Kagaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha | Flexible piezoelectric device |
Family Cites Families (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB9225898D0 (en) * | 1992-12-11 | 1993-02-03 | Univ Strathclyde | Ultrasonic transducer |
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1993
- 1993-10-16 GB GB9321410A patent/GB2282931B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
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| GB2086582A (en) * | 1977-07-27 | 1982-05-12 | List Hans | A transducer for measurement of mechanical values on hollow pipes |
| US4376302A (en) * | 1978-04-13 | 1983-03-08 | The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy | Piezoelectric polymer hydrophone |
| US4322877A (en) * | 1978-09-20 | 1982-04-06 | Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company | Method of making piezoelectric polymeric acoustic transducer |
| EP0165886A2 (en) * | 1984-06-14 | 1985-12-27 | NGK Spark Plug Co. Ltd. | Sheet-like piezoelectric element |
| US4701659A (en) * | 1984-09-26 | 1987-10-20 | Terumo Corp. | Piezoelectric ultrasonic transducer with flexible electrodes adhered using an adhesive having anisotropic electrical conductivity |
| EP0528279A1 (en) * | 1991-08-09 | 1993-02-24 | Kureha Kagaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha | Flexible piezoelectric device |
Cited By (29)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US7399284B2 (en) | 2000-05-22 | 2008-07-15 | Miwa Science Laboratory Inc. | Ultrasonic irradiation apparatus |
| EP1312423A1 (en) * | 2000-05-22 | 2003-05-21 | Miwa Science Laboratory Inc. | Ultrasonic irradiation apparatus |
| WO2001089723A1 (en) | 2000-05-22 | 2001-11-29 | Miwa Science Laboratory Inc. | Ultrasonic irradiation apparatus |
| EP1312423A4 (en) * | 2000-05-22 | 2005-08-31 | Miwa Science Lab Inc | Ultrasonic irradiation apparatus |
| US7400985B2 (en) | 2002-11-12 | 2008-07-15 | Cidra Corporation | Apparatus having an array of clamp on piezoelectric film sensors for measuring parameters of a process flow within a pipe |
| WO2004079306A1 (en) * | 2003-03-04 | 2004-09-16 | Cidra Corporation | An apparatus having a multi-band sensor assembly for measuring a parameter of a fluid flow flowing within a pipe |
| CN100480639C (en) * | 2003-03-04 | 2009-04-22 | 塞德拉公司 | An apparatus having a multi-band sensor assembly for measuring a parameter of a fluid flow flowing within a pipe |
| US7146864B2 (en) | 2003-03-04 | 2006-12-12 | Cidra Corporation | Apparatus having a multi-band sensor assembly for measuring a parameter of a fluid flow flowing within a pipe |
| US7882750B2 (en) | 2003-08-01 | 2011-02-08 | Cidra Corporate Services, Inc. | Method and apparatus for measuring parameters of a fluid flowing within a pipe using a configurable array of sensors |
| WO2005012843A3 (en) * | 2003-08-01 | 2005-03-31 | Cidra Corp | Method and apparatus for measuring parameters of a fluid flowing within a pipe using a configurable array of sensors |
| US7322251B2 (en) | 2003-08-01 | 2008-01-29 | Cidra Corporation | Method and apparatus for measuring a parameter of a high temperature fluid flowing within a pipe using an array of piezoelectric based flow sensors |
| US8336393B2 (en) | 2003-08-01 | 2012-12-25 | Cidra Corporate Services Inc. | Method and apparatus for measuring parameters of a fluid flowing within a pipe using a configurable array of sensors |
| WO2005012843A2 (en) * | 2003-08-01 | 2005-02-10 | Cidra Corporation | Method and apparatus for measuring parameters of a fluid flowing within a pipe using a configurable array of sensors |
| US7253742B2 (en) | 2003-08-01 | 2007-08-07 | Cidra Corporation | Method and apparatus for measuring parameters of a fluid flowing within a pipe using a configurable array of sensors |
| US7308820B2 (en) | 2003-08-08 | 2007-12-18 | Cidra Corporation | Piezocable based sensor for measuring unsteady pressures inside a pipe |
| US7330797B2 (en) | 2004-03-10 | 2008-02-12 | Cidra Corporation | Apparatus and method for measuring settlement of solids in a multiphase flow |
| US7516024B2 (en) | 2004-03-10 | 2009-04-07 | Expro Meters. Inc. | Method and apparatus for measuring parameters of a stratified flow |
| US7367239B2 (en) | 2004-03-23 | 2008-05-06 | Cidra Corporation | Piezocable based sensor for measuring unsteady pressures inside a pipe |
| US7962293B2 (en) | 2005-03-10 | 2011-06-14 | Expro Meters, Inc. | Apparatus and method for providing a stratification metric of a multiphase fluid flowing within a pipe |
| US7343820B2 (en) | 2005-05-27 | 2008-03-18 | Cidra Corporation | Apparatus and method for fiscal measuring of an aerated fluid |
| US7249525B1 (en) | 2005-06-22 | 2007-07-31 | Cidra Corporation | Apparatus for measuring parameters of a fluid in a lined pipe |
| US7603916B2 (en) | 2005-07-07 | 2009-10-20 | Expro Meters, Inc. | Wet gas metering using a differential pressure and a sonar based flow meter |
| US7503227B2 (en) | 2005-07-13 | 2009-03-17 | Cidra Corporate Services, Inc | Method and apparatus for measuring parameters of a fluid flow using an array of sensors |
| US7454981B2 (en) | 2006-05-16 | 2008-11-25 | Expro Meters. Inc. | Apparatus and method for determining a parameter in a wet gas flow |
| EP2635901A4 (en) * | 2010-11-05 | 2015-08-26 | Nat Res Council Canada | Ultrasonic transducer assembly and system for monitoring structural integrity |
| US9618481B2 (en) | 2010-11-05 | 2017-04-11 | National Research Council Of Canada | Ultrasonic transducer assembly and system for monitoring structural integrity |
| US10458955B2 (en) | 2010-11-05 | 2019-10-29 | National Research Council Of Canada | Ultrasonic transducer assembly and system for monitoring structural integrity |
| EP2936140A1 (en) * | 2012-12-21 | 2015-10-28 | European Aeronautic Defence And Space Company Eads France | Reconfigurable device for checking a composite structure using ultrasound |
| DE102014221495A1 (en) * | 2014-10-23 | 2016-04-28 | Robert Bosch Gmbh | Ultrasonic transducer, ultrasonic flowmeter and method of manufacturing an ultrasonic transducer |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB2282931B (en) | 1997-11-12 |
| GB9321410D0 (en) | 1993-12-08 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 732E | Amendments to the register in respect of changes of name or changes affecting rights (sect. 32/1977) | ||
| PCNP | Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee |
Effective date: 20031016 |