JP2015521740A - Ultrasonic testing apparatus and assembly method - Google Patents

Abstract

The present application provides an ultrasonic test apparatus. An ultrasonic test apparatus includes a conical backing and an ultrasonic transducer assembly disposed on the conical backing. The ultrasonic transducer assembly comprises a printed circuit board having a number of separate transducer elements. [Selection] Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates generally to ultrasonic devices used in non-destructive testing, and more particularly to an ultrasonic testing device having a conical array of discrete transducer elements with a gap in between and an assembly method thereof. .

  Non-destructive inspection, such as ultrasonic testing, can be used to inspect various types of materials and parts. Specifically, ultrasonic testing is a suitable method for detecting material properties such as internal defects and / or thickness in most types of materials that carry sound. Such acoustically conductive materials include most metals or other types of substantially rigid materials. In general, such defects or characteristics can be detected with a high degree of accuracy, generally based on changes in the reflection of sound waves at the interface of the components.

  Ultrasonic testing of a shaft or rod with a hole may require the use of a conical array for testing under a specific angle of incidence. In creating a conical array, a number of transducer elements can be placed around the circumference to ensure that the direction of rotation is completely covered. In addition, due to the phase capability, several transducer elements with a width in a given wavelength range are required. However, placement of transducer elements can be time consuming because the elements must be manually placed and mounted. In addition, substrate materials can be used to contact a large number of elements to a linear array, but such substrates are not adaptable to conical array configurations.

  Accordingly, an improved ultrasonic testing apparatus and method of assembly using a conical array is desired. Preferably, such a conical array can accommodate multiple transducer elements through the use of flexible printed circuit board material while avoiding the time and expense required for manual assembly.

US Patent Application Publication No. 2008/236286

  In one exemplary embodiment, an ultrasonic test apparatus is provided. An ultrasonic test apparatus can comprise a conical backing and an ultrasonic transducer assembly disposed on the conical backing. The ultrasonic transducer assembly can comprise a printed circuit board having a number of separate transducer elements.

  In a further exemplary embodiment, a method for assembling an ultrasonic test apparatus is provided. The method includes attaching at least one transducer to a printed circuit board, placing a plurality of separate transducer elements on the printed circuit board, attaching the printed circuit board to a backing, and the separate Folding transducer elements onto the backing into a conical array.

  In a further exemplary embodiment, an ultrasonic test apparatus is provided. An ultrasonic test apparatus for generating a backing configured as a conical array, a printed circuit board disposed on the backing, and a plurality of separate ultrasound waves attached to the printed circuit board Means.

  These and other features and improvements of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon review of the following detailed description in conjunction with the several figures and appended claims. .

1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an ultrasound device configured as a conical array. FIG. It is a side view of the ultrasonic device of FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an ultrasound device configured as a conical array that may be described herein. FIG. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of an ultrasonic transducer assembly that can be used in the ultrasonic device of FIG. 3 prior to separation cutting. FIG. 4 is a schematic view of an ultrasonic transducer assembly that can be used in the ultrasonic apparatus of FIG. 3 after separation cutting. FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view of the conical array of FIG. 2 having an ultrasonic transducer assembly. It is a flowchart of the process of the assembly in this specification.

  Referring now to the drawings, wherein like numerals refer to like components throughout the several views, FIGS. 1 and 2 show the ultrasonic testing apparatus 10. The ultrasonic test apparatus 10 can be configured as a conical array 15. The conical array 15 includes a backing 20 having a substantially conical shape. Further, the ultrasonic testing apparatus 10 includes several transducers 25. A transducer 25 can be placed around the backing 20 of the conical array 15. The transducer 25 is typically manually placed and glued to the backing 20. The use of the conical array 15 allows the propagation of acoustic waves by the transducer 25 at the desired angle of incidence. The ultrasonic test apparatus 10 can be inserted into the tube in a manner similar to that described above to test the wall of the tube 30.

  FIG. 3 shows an example of an ultrasonic testing apparatus 100 as described herein. The ultrasonic test apparatus 100 can be configured as a conical array 110. The conical array 110 includes a backing 120 having a substantially conical shape. The conical backing 120 can be made of any type of material that does not interfere with the ultrasound generated at this location. The ultrasonic test apparatus 100 and the conical backing 120 can have any size. Here, other components and other configurations can also be used.

  The ultrasonic testing apparatus 100 can further include an ultrasonic transducer assembly 130. The ultrasonic transducer assembly 130 can include a printed circuit board 140 disposed on a conical backing 120. The substrate 140 may be any type of thin film flexible printed circuit material such as, but not limited to, polyimide film and electrodeposited copper foil. Non-metallic materials can also be used. The transducer 150 can be attached to the printed circuit board 140. The transducer 150 may be any type of piezoelectric element that converts electrical energy into sound waves. In addition, several individual transducers 150 can be applied to the printed circuit board 140. Here, other components and other configurations can also be used.

  To accommodate the shape of the conical array 110, the transducer 150 of the ultrasonic transducer assembly 130 can have several separation cuts 160 performed on the transducer 150. Separation cut 160 can be formed manually or can be formed by automated methods such as laser cutting, die cutting, and other techniques. Once the separation cut 160 is complete, several separate transducer elements 170 are left with a gap 180 in between. Separation cut 160 can continue past printed circuit board 140 past transducer 150. A separate transducer element 170 with a gap 180 in between can be expanded as shown in FIG. Here, any number of separation cuts 160 and separate transducer elements 170 can be used. The discrete transducer elements 170 and the gaps 180 between them can have any size, shape, or configuration, and may vary depending on the size, shape, and configuration of the conical backing 120. It is also possible to apply the separation cutting unit 160 to the printed circuit board 140 having the plurality of transducers 150. Other components and other configurations can also be used.

  Each separate transducer element 170 can communicate with a conductor 190. The conductor 190 can then communicate with the connector / solder terminal 200 or the like. The conductor 190 and connector / solder terminal may be conventional designs. A printed circuit board 140 having the separate transducer elements 170 of the ultrasonic transducer assembly 130 can then be attached to the backing 120 of the conical array 110, as shown in FIG. A separate transducer element 170 can be folded outside (or inside) the conical backing 120 to form a conical configuration of elements. In this way, the ultrasonic transducer assembly 130 can accommodate the entire circumference of the conical array 110. The connector / solder terminal 200 can be communicated to the control unit in a conventional manner.

  FIG. 7 shows a flow diagram of a higher order process that can be used to generate the ultrasonic testing apparatus 100. In a first step 210, the transducer 150 can be attached to the printed circuit board 140. In a second step 220, the separation cut 160 can be applied to the transducer 150, and the separation cut 160 can be arranged to form a separate transducer element 170 with a gap 180 therebetween. Alternatively, in an alternative first step 230, several individual transducers 150 can be attached to the printed circuit board 140. In an alternative second step 240, the separation cut 160 can be applied to the printed circuit board 140, and the separation cut 160 can be arranged to form a separate transducer element 170 with a gap 180 therebetween. In either example, the conductor 190 can be connected to a separate transducer element 170 in the third step 250. In a fourth step 260, the printed circuit board 140 can be attached to the backing 120. In a fifth step 270, a separate transducer element 170 can be folded into the backing 120 to complete the ultrasonic test apparatus 100. These steps may be performed in a different order. It is also possible here to use further steps.

  In this way, the ultrasonic test apparatus 100 provides a conical array 110 with an ultrasonic transducer assembly 130, but does not require several transducers 150 to be individually placed and glued or otherwise attached. . Rather, separate transducer elements 170 having a gap 180 therebetween, so that the separation cut 160 adapts to the shape of the conical array 110 by folding the separate transducer elements 170 around the conical backing 120. Produce. Similarly, the separation cutting unit 160 to the printed circuit board 140 can be adapted to a plurality of individual transducers 150. In this way, the ultrasonic test apparatus 100 can be assembled as a phased array in less time and less effort than known ultrasonic apparatuses typically used in conical arrays.

  It will be apparent that the foregoing is only relevant to certain embodiments of the invention. Here, a person skilled in the art can make numerous changes and modifications without departing from the overall technical idea and technical scope of the present invention defined by the following claims and their equivalents. It is.

10, 100 Ultrasonic testing apparatus 15, 110 Array 20, 120 Backing 25, 150 Transducer 30 Tube 130 Ultrasonic transducer assembly 140 Printed circuit board 160 Separation cutting part 170 Transducer element 180 Clearance 190 Conductor 200 Soldering terminal 210 First Step 220 Second Step 230 First Step 240 Second Step 250 Third Step 260 Fourth Step 270 Fifth Step

Claims (20)

A conical backing (120);
An ultrasonic transducer assembly (130) disposed on the backing (120);
The ultrasonic testing apparatus (100), wherein the ultrasonic transducer assembly (130) comprises a printed circuit board (140) having a plurality of separate transducer elements (170).   The ultrasonic testing apparatus (100) of claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic transducer assembly (130) is arranged as a conical array (110) on the conical backing (120).   The ultrasonic testing apparatus (100) of claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic transducer assembly (130) comprises a plurality of gaps (180) between the plurality of discrete transducer elements (170).   The ultrasonic test apparatus (100) of claim 3, wherein the plurality of gaps (180) extend into the printed circuit board (140).   The ultrasonic test apparatus (100) of claim 1, wherein the printed circuit board (140) comprises a metal foil.   The ultrasonic test apparatus (100) of claim 5, wherein the metal foil comprises an electrodeposited copper foil.   The ultrasonic testing apparatus (100) of claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic transducer assembly (130) comprises a plurality of conductors (190) in communication with the plurality of separate transducer elements (170).   The ultrasonic testing apparatus (100) according to claim 1, wherein the conical backing (120) is configured in accordance with a predetermined incident angle.   The ultrasonic testing apparatus (100) of claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic transducer assembly (130) comprises a phased array of the plurality of discrete transducer elements (170).   The ultrasonic testing apparatus (100) of claim 1, wherein the plurality of discrete transducer elements (170) are not fixedly attached to the conical backing (120). A method of assembling an ultrasonic test apparatus (100), comprising:
Attaching at least one transducer to a printed circuit board (140);
Placing a plurality of separate transducer elements (170) on the printed circuit board (140);
Attaching the printed circuit board (140) to a backing (120);
Folding the plurality of discrete transducer elements (170) onto the backing (120) into a conical array.   The method of claim 11, wherein disposing the plurality of discrete transducer elements (170) comprises cutting the at least one transducer.   The method of claim 11, wherein disposing the plurality of separate transducer elements (170) comprises cutting the at least one transducer and the printed circuit board (140).   The method of claim 11, wherein positioning the plurality of discrete transducer elements (170) comprises attaching a plurality of previous transducers to the printed circuit board (140).   The method of claim 14, wherein disposing the plurality of separate transducer elements (170) comprises cutting the printed circuit board (140).   The method of claim 11, wherein positioning the plurality of separate transducer elements (170) comprises forming a plurality of gaps (180) between the plurality of separate transducer elements (170). .   The method of claim 11, wherein attaching the printed circuit board (140) to a backing (120) comprises attaching the printed circuit board (140) to a conical backing (120). The method of claim 11, further comprising connecting a connector to each of the separate transducer elements (170). The method of claim 11, further comprising connecting each of the connectors to a terminal. A backing (120) configured as a conical array;
A printed circuit board (140) disposed on the backing (120);
Means for generating a plurality of separate ultrasonic waves attached to said printed circuit board (140).