The invention relates to novel processes for determining the quality of an uncrosslinked rubber mixture by means of ultrasound and to an apparatus suitable for this purpose.

A system for monitoring the condition of elongate structural elements, for example, railway rails, and a method of designing and manufacturing the system is disclosed. The method includes identifying and selecting suitable modes of propagation and signal frequencies that can be expected to travel large distances through an elongate structural element; designing a transducer that will excite the selected mode at the selected frequency; numerically modelling the transducer as attached to the elongate structural element; validating the transducer design by analyzing a harmonic response of the selected mode of propagation to excitation by the transducer, and manufacturing one or more transducers for use in the system.

A system for monitoring the condition of elongate structural elements, for example, railway rails, and a method of designing and manufacturing the system is disclosed. The method includes identifying and selecting suitable modes of propagation and signal frequencies that can be expected to travel large distances through an elongate structural element; designing a transducer that will excite the selected mode at the selected frequency; numerically modelling the transducer as attached to the elongate structural element; validating the transducer design by analyzing a harmonic response of the selected mode of propagation to excitation by the transducer, and manufacturing one or more transducers for use in the system.

The method comprising the following steps: a) Providing a first bath of a liquid metal (1) comprising aluminium with a content X and magnesium with a content Y, the magnesium content Y being different to zero, b) Immersing at least partially a sonotrode (3) formed from a material inert to liquid aluminium, in the first bath of liquid metal (1), and c) Applying power ultrasounds to the sonotrode (3) so as to excite the liquid metal (1) until wetting (5) of the sonotrode (3) by the liquid metal (1) is obtained. d) Cooling the first liquid metal (1) of the first bath until solidification of the first liquid metal (1) around the sonotrode (3) is obtained, generating an intimate bond (6) between the sonotrode (3) and the solidified first liquid metal (1) having a bonding strength substantially equal to that of brazing between two metals. e) Machining the solidified first metal (1) in the form of a flange (7) configured for the attachment of a mechanical amplifier and/or of a transducer (4).

The method comprising the following steps: a) Providing a first bath of a liquid metal (1) comprising aluminium with a content X and magnesium with a content Y, the magnesium content Y being different to zero, b) Immersing at least partially a sonotrode (3) formed from a material inert to liquid aluminium, in the first bath of liquid metal (1), and c) Applying power ultrasounds to the sonotrode (3) so as to excite the liquid metal (1) until wetting (5) of the sonotrode (3) by the liquid metal (1) is obtained. d) Cooling the first liquid metal (1) of the first bath until solidification of the first liquid metal (1) around the sonotrode (3) is obtained, generating an intimate bond (6) between the sonotrode (3) and the solidified first liquid metal (1) having a bonding strength substantially equal to that of brazing between two metals. e) Machining the solidified first metal (1) in the form of a flange (7) configured for the attachment of a mechanical amplifier and/or of a transducer (4).

In an embodiment, a probe device includes a portion having a curved surface and a plurality of tiles variously coupled to the curved surface. The tiles each include a plurality of piezoelectric transducer elements and a base adjoining and supporting the plurality of piezoelectric transducer elements. The probe device further comprises curved lens portions each coupled to a respective one of the plurality of tiles, wherein for each of the tiles, the plurality of piezoelectric transducer elements of the tile are to propagate a wave toward the respective curved lens portion. In another embodiment, the probe device further comprises a sheath material surrounding the curved lens portions.

In an embodiment, a probe device includes a portion having a curved surface and a plurality of tiles variously coupled to the curved surface. The tiles each include a plurality of piezoelectric transducer elements and a base adjoining and supporting the plurality of piezoelectric transducer elements. The probe device further comprises curved lens portions each coupled to a respective one of the plurality of tiles, wherein for each of the tiles, the plurality of piezoelectric transducer elements of the tile are to propagate a wave toward the respective curved lens portion. In another embodiment, the probe device further comprises a sheath material surrounding the curved lens portions.

A fluidic component for generating an ultrasound signal is provided. The fluidic component includes a flow chamber, which can be flowed through by a fluid flow, which enters the flow chamber through an inlet opening of the flow chamber and exits from the flow chamber through an outlet opening of the flow chamber. The fluidic component has at least one device for forming an oscillation of the fluid flow at the outlet opening, the oscillation taking place in an oscillation plane, a separation device, which is designed to separate off a part from the oscillating fluid flow. The separation device includes an inlet opening, through which the oscillating fluid flow enters the separation device, and at least one first outlet opening and at least one second outlet opening, through each of which a part of the oscillating fluid flow exits.

A fluidic component for generating an ultrasound signal is provided. The fluidic component includes a flow chamber, which can be flowed through by a fluid flow, which enters the flow chamber through an inlet opening of the flow chamber and exits from the flow chamber through an outlet opening of the flow chamber. The fluidic component has at least one device for forming an oscillation of the fluid flow at the outlet opening, the oscillation taking place in an oscillation plane, a separation device, which is designed to separate off a part from the oscillating fluid flow. The separation device includes an inlet opening, through which the oscillating fluid flow enters the separation device, and at least one first outlet opening and at least one second outlet opening, through each of which a part of the oscillating fluid flow exits.

Aspects provide for in-situ monitoring of a structure, such as a portion of an in-operation vehicle, by a patch and controller by transmitting, at a first time, a first signal from a first transceiver of a plurality of transceivers in contact with the structure; receiving the first signal carried in the structure at a second transceiver of the plurality of transceivers at a known distance from the first transceiver; determining a baseline signal characteristic of the first signal as received at the second transceiver; transmitting, at a second time, a second signal from the first transceiver; receiving the second signal carried in the structure at the second transceiver; determining a diagnostic signal characteristic of the second signal as received at the second transceiver; and in response to determining that a difference between the baseline signal characteristic and the diagnostic signal characteristic exceeds a threshold, generating an alert.