G01N29/2481

In-line inspection devices

The disclosed embodiments include in-line inspection devices, methods to perform in-line inspections of pipeline and protective casings, and methods to determine anomalies of pipeline and protective casings. The method includes deploying an in-line inspection device in a section of a pipeline enclosed by a protective casing. While the in-line inspection device is traveling along the pipeline, the method also includes transmitting, at a frequency, a transmitted signal toward the protective casing; and detecting a scattered signal scattered by the protective casing. The method further includes detecting a scattered signal scattered by the protective casing. The method further includes locating an anomaly of the protective casing based on the scattered signal.

ULTRASONIC IN-SITU AUTOMATIC DETECTION SYSTEM FOR CREEP CRACKS ON INNER WALL OF HYDROGEN PRODUCTION FURNACE TUBE
20220120713 · 2022-04-21 ·

An ultrasonic in-situ automatic detection system for creep cracks on an inner wall of a hydrogen production furnace tube. The system comprises a computer, a multi-channel ultrasonic system control circuit, a motor driver board, a coreless motor, and a tube crawling machine. Multi-channel piezoelectric transducers are arranged in a circumferential direction of the furnace tube. The computer is configured to send detection instructions to the multi-channel ultrasonic system control circuit through a wireless network; the multi-channel ultrasonic system control circuit is configured to control multiple channels to simultaneously excite the piezoelectric transducers, receive echo signals from the piezoelectric transducers and then send the echo signals back to the computer in a wireless mode; and the motor driver board is configured to drive the coreless motor to drive the tube crawling machine to move, receive motion parameters fed back by motor encoders, and send the motion parameters back to the computer.

IN-LINE INSPECTION DEVICES

The disclosed embodiments include in-line inspection devices, methods to perform in-line inspections of pipeline and protective casings, and methods to determine anomalies of pipeline and protective casings. The method includes deploying an in-line inspection device in a section of a pipeline enclosed by a protective casing. While the in-line inspection device is traveling along the pipeline, the method also includes transmitting, at a frequency, a transmitted signal toward the protective casing; and detecting a scattered signal scattered by the protective casing. The method further includes detecting a scattered signal scattered by the protective casing. The method further includes locating an anomaly of the protective casing based on the scattered signal.

WIRELESS SENSOR

A wireless ultrasound sensor 404 for non-destructive testing of a test object 502, the sensor comprising: an ultrasound transducer 406; a first induction coil 408, electrically coupled to the ultrasound transducer; a second induction coil 414, electrically coupled in parallel with the first induction coil; wherein the first and second induction coils are arranged to enable the transducer to be inductively operated by a remote device 504; and wherein the diameter of the second induction coil is greater than the diameter of the first induction coil.

Systems and methods for performing analog-to-digital conversion across multiple, spatially separated stages

The invention provides a signal processing system, for transferring analog signals from a probe to a remote processing unit. The system comprises a first ASIC at a probe, which is adapted to receive an analog probe signal. The first ASIC comprises an asynchronous sigma-delta modulator, wherein the asynchronous sigma-delta modulator is adapted to: receive the analog probe signal; and output a binary bit-stream. The system further comprises a second ASIC at the remote processing unit, adapted to receive the binary bit-stream. The asynchronous may further include a time gain function circuit, the first ASIC may further comprise a multiplexer, the second ASIC may further comprise a time-to-digital converter. The time to digital converter may be a pipelined time-to-digital converter.

System and method for acoustically detecting cross bores
11747496 · 2023-09-05 · ·

An assembly and method for detecting cross bores involving a sewer system and a gas pipe includes an acoustic generator placed within an interior of the sewer system and an acoustic receiver placed either within an interior of the gas pipe or in proximity to an end of the gas pipe. The acoustic generator generates an acoustic signal to transmit through the interior of a sewer pipe of the sewer system. A controller detects, in response to the acoustic receiver hearing the acoustic signal, a cross bore involving the sewer pipe and the gas pipe. A microphone may be placed within the interior of the sewer system at a location remote from the acoustic generator. In this case, the controller determines, in response to the acoustic receiver not hearing the acoustic signal and the microphone hearing the acoustic signal, that a cross bore involving the sewer pipe and the gas pipe is absent.

Ultrasonic in-situ automatic detection system for creep cracks on inner wall of hydrogen production furnace tube

An ultrasonic in-situ automatic detection system for creep cracks on an inner wall of a hydrogen production furnace tube. The system comprises a computer, a multi-channel ultrasonic system control circuit, a motor driver board, a coreless motor, and a tube crawling machine. Multi-channel piezoelectric transducers are arranged in a circumferential direction of the furnace tube. The computer is configured to send detection instructions to the multi-channel ultrasonic system control circuit through a wireless network; the multi-channel ultrasonic system control circuit is configured to control multiple channels to simultaneously excite the piezoelectric transducers, receive echo signals from the piezoelectric transducers and then send the echo signals back to the computer in a wireless mode; and the motor driver board is configured to drive the coreless motor to drive the tube crawling machine to move, receive motion parameters fed back by motor encoders, and send the motion parameters back to the computer.

Computer-implemented processing for non-destructive evaluation of wooden specimen
11619610 · 2023-04-04 · ·

Non-limiting examples of the present disclosure describe a non-destructive evaluation (NDE) application/service that is configured for NDE of a wooden specimen. The NDE application/service provides a user-friendly graphical user interface that enables inspectors to manage each phase of NDE of a wooden specimen through one or more computing devices. An exemplary NDE application/service is configured to analyze captured acoustic signal data (e.g., ultrasonic signal data) and transform that captured signal data into feature information that is used to more accurately assess the structural integrity of a wooden specimen. For instance, execution of a programmed NDE application/service employs a trained artificial intelligence (AI) classifier that evaluates waveform propagation (e.g., TOF and energy attenuation) through a wooden specimen to classify a condition and a quality the wooden specimen. An NDE report may be generated that provides an inspector with an assessment of the wooden specimen and/or a network of wooden specimen.

SURFACE ACOUSTIC WAVE SENSOR DEVICE FORMED ON A QUARTZ SUBSTRATE

An acoustic wave sensor device comprises a quartz material layer comprising a planar surface, a first interdigitated transducer formed over the planar surface of the quartz material layer, a first reflection structure formed over the planar surface of the quartz material layer, a second reflection structure formed over the planar surface of the quartz material layer, a first resonance cavity formed between the first interdigitated transducer and the first reflection structure and a second resonance cavity formed between the first interdigitated transducer and the second reflection structure. The planar surface of the quartz material layer is defined by a crystal cut of a quartz material of the quartz material layer with angles φ in the range of −14° to −24°, θ in the range of −25° to −45° and ψ in the range of +8° to +28°.

Swallowable, food-based, digestible wireless device for measuring gastric pH

Systems and methods are presented for a swallowable pH sensor made entirely of edible and digestible materials. A substrate is provided and an electrical circuit pattern is printed on a top surface of the substrate. The electrical circuit pattern includes a plurality of interdigitated electrodes and an antenna portion. The substrate is rolled into a cylindrical form such that the interdigitated electrodes are positioned on an outermost layer of the rolled substrate. The rolling of the substrate also causes the antenna portion of the electrical circuit pattern to form into a coil shape.