The invention relates to a sensor device (100) and a method for the detection of magnetic particles (1) in a sample chamber (2) with a contact surface (11). The sensor device (100) comprises a sensor unit (120, 130) for detecting magnetic particles (1) in a target region (TR) and/or in at least one reference region on the contact surface. Moreover, it comprises a magnetic field generator (140) for generating a magnetic field that shall guide magnetic particles to the contact surface. With the help of these components, an “auxiliary parameter” is determined that is related to the magnetic particles (1) and/or their movement but that is independent of binding processes taking place in the target region between magnetic particles and the contact surface. The auxiliary parameter may for example be related to the degree of mismatch between the positions reached by the magnetic particles (1) under the influence of a magnetic field and the target region (TR). The evaluation results can be used to validate and/or correct the measurements obtained in the target region (TR).

The invention relates to a system for evaluating the condition of a tire, the system comprising a first housing placed on the ground and a device for detecting the wear of a tire when the tire passes over said first housing, said system further comprising a first device for detecting the presence of a tire over the first housing, and electronic means for activating the wear detecting device during the detection of the presence of a tire by the presence detecting device.

The invention relates to a system for evaluating the condition of a tire, the system comprising a first housing placed on the ground and a device for detecting the wear of a tire when the tire passes over said first housing, said system further comprising a first device for detecting the presence of a tire over the first housing, and electronic means for activating the wear detecting device during the detection of the presence of a tire by the presence detecting device.

The present invention provides a way to increase the density of Hall effect sensors on a MFL inline inspection tool mounting the sensors on a first circuit board which overlies a second circuit board. Op amps for the sensors which condition and filter the analog signal from the sensors are mounted on the first circuit board. Microprocessors mounted on the second circuit board receive the analog signal from the op amp and translate it into a digital signal. Use of the stacked circuit boards doubles the amount of area to mount the sensors and their op amps and microprocessors while maintaining the same footprint. This results in being able to increase the number of Hall effect sensors in that footprint area. In other embodiments the number of layers of circuit boards may be increased beyond two.

The present invention provides a way to increase the density of Hall effect sensors on a MFL inline inspection tool mounting the sensors on a first circuit board which overlies a second circuit board. Op amps for the sensors which condition and filter the analog signal from the sensors are mounted on the first circuit board. Microprocessors mounted on the second circuit board receive the analog signal from the op amp and translate it into a digital signal. Use of the stacked circuit boards doubles the amount of area to mount the sensors and their op amps and microprocessors while maintaining the same footprint. This results in being able to increase the number of Hall effect sensors in that footprint area. In other embodiments the number of layers of circuit boards may be increased beyond two.

A method for discovering, identifying, and monitoring of mechanical defects in a ferromagnetic underground or underwater structure. A magnetic scanner portable device is used to inspect the ferromagnetic underground structure and identify at least one portion with a magnetic field anomaly. Sets of permanent magnetic scanner sensors to monitor the magnetic field anomaly are placed adjacent to the at least one portion of the underground structure. A calculation unit, coupled to the sets of permanent magnetic scanner sensors is used to collect and process data. A stress-deformed state (SDS) and a risk-factor (RF) of the at least one portion with the magnetic field anomaly is presented on a display unit, which is coupled to the calculation unit.

A method for discovering, identifying, and monitoring of mechanical defects in a ferromagnetic underground or underwater structure. A magnetic scanner portable device is used to inspect the ferromagnetic underground structure and identify at least one portion with a magnetic field anomaly. Sets of permanent magnetic scanner sensors to monitor the magnetic field anomaly are placed adjacent to the at least one portion of the underground structure. A calculation unit, coupled to the sets of permanent magnetic scanner sensors is used to collect and process data. A stress-deformed state (SDS) and a risk-factor (RF) of the at least one portion with the magnetic field anomaly is presented on a display unit, which is coupled to the calculation unit.

Device and method for checking fuel rods with IFBA, their zirconium diboride coating. The device includes a variable magnetic field generator and a magnetic field pickup device, arranged in the vicinity of the rod, as well as a control system for comparing both fields in order to measure the electric conductivity of the rod. The method includes the steps of: arranging the rod to be measured between the generator and the pickup device; generation of a variable magnetic field in the generator; picking-up of the magnetic field; comparison between the generated magnetic field and the picked-up one in order to quantify the electric conductivity of the rod; if the electric conductivity differs from a reference value, consider the rod for checking or recycling.

Device and method for checking fuel rods with IFBA, their zirconium diboride coating. The device includes a variable magnetic field generator and a magnetic field pickup device, arranged in the vicinity of the rod, as well as a control system for comparing both fields in order to measure the electric conductivity of the rod. The method includes the steps of: arranging the rod to be measured between the generator and the pickup device; generation of a variable magnetic field in the generator; picking-up of the magnetic field; comparison between the generated magnetic field and the picked-up one in order to quantify the electric conductivity of the rod; if the electric conductivity differs from a reference value, consider the rod for checking or recycling.

A stationary electromagnetic inspection (EMI) apparatus and method are disclosed which includes a base; a plurality of hydraulic clamping rollers, connected to that base, operable to move a test pipe forward and backward in a translational direction only; a transverse flaw detection module comprising a plurality of sensor arms each equipped with rows of magnetic sensor arrays arranged in a stagger manner along an axis of a test pipe; and a longitudinal flaw detection module comprising magnetizers and magnetic sensor arrays each respectively arranged orthogonal to one another.