Provided is a coil former for producing an eddy current sensor having a winding head defining a longitudinal axis, in the outer surface of which winding head two circumferential grooves are formed and each extend along the entire circumference of the winding head around a winding core, wherein the circumferential grooves cross at the top side and the bottom side of the winding head at the longitudinal axis position and serve to hold a coil wire that is to be wound around the winding core in the manner of a cross-wound winding, and wherein the circumferential grooves are limited by holding webs, as seen in the circumferential direction, which holding webs extend in the longitudinal axis direction and project beyond the winding core in the direction of the two axial end regions of the coil former and in the radial direction.

A conforming eddy current testing (ECT) probe for performing eddy current testing when placed on the surface of a test object. An eddy current array is fabricated on a flexible substrate. A shape metal alloy (SMA) piece is manufactured to have an original shape that conforms to the surface of the test object, and then affixed to the substrate. The SMA piece has as much or more flexibility than the substrate, so that it can be manipulated into position. Just prior to testing, the SMA piece is actuated to revert to its original shape.

A method and system for inspecting a steel wheel or steel rim of an off the road vehicle is provided. A method and system for predictive modeling of health and remaining useful life of a steel wheel or steel rim of the off the road vehicle is also provided. The off the road vehicles include vehicles at remote locations such as mine sites.

A probe device for a rotating head has at least one support arm that is mounted so as to rotate around an axis of rotation, at least one probe that is joined to the support arm, and at least one spring element that can be supported on the rotating head and engages at the support arm and that is provided for exerting a force on the support arm, which, as a result of this force, experiences a torque with respect to the axis of rotation. The support arm has at least one mount, which is concentric with the axis of rotation, for the spring element, which, when arranged on the mount, is bent at least in part around the axis of rotation. As a consequence, centrifugal forces that act on the spring element when the rotating head is in operation have no influence on the tension of the spring element.

A probe device for a rotating head has at least one support arm that is mounted so as to rotate around an axis of rotation, at least one probe that is joined to the support arm, and at least one spring element that can be supported on the rotating head and engages at the support arm and that is provided for exerting a force on the support arm, which, as a result of this force, experiences a torque with respect to the axis of rotation. The support arm has at least one mount, which is concentric with the axis of rotation, for the spring element, which, when arranged on the mount, is bent at least in part around the axis of rotation. As a consequence, centrifugal forces that act on the spring element when the rotating head is in operation have no influence on the tension of the spring element.

A metal detection apparatus (9) is tested with a test device (7) having at least one test article (79), movable through a detection zone (60). The test article is moved through the detection zone along a first transfer axis (ca) and a first input signal is measured. A first threshold (th1) is determined, where an amplitude of the first input signal exceeds the first threshold (th1). Then, an identical test article is moved through the detection zone along a further transfer axis (ta; . . . ) and a further input signal is measured and a further threshold (th2; . . . ) is determined, where an amplitude of the further input signal exceeds the further threshold (th2; . . . ). The first or further threshold (th1; th2; . . . ) is selected in the signal processing path (4) whenever the test article is moved along the related transfer axis (ca; ta; . . . ).

A probe device for a rotating head has at least one support arm that is mounted so as to rotate around an axis of rotation, at least one probe that is joined to the support arm, and at least one spring element that can be supported on the rotating head and engages at the support arm and that is provided for exerting a force on the support arm, which, as a result of this force, experiences a torque with respect to the axis of rotation. The support arm has at least one mount, which is concentric with the axis of rotation, for the spring element, which, when arranged on the mount, is bent at least in part around the axis of rotation. As a consequence, centrifugal forces that act on the spring element when the rotating head is in operation have no influence on the tension of the spring element.

Some embodiments of the invention may include an eddy current nondestructive evaluation device. The eddy current nondestructive evaluation device may include a rotating body; a motor coupled with the rotating body such that the motor rotates the rotating body; a permanent magnet coupled with the rotating body; a pickup coil coupled with the rotating body; and an integrator circuit electrically coupled with the pickup coil that integrates a voltage from the pickup coil to produce integrated voltage data.

Provided is an information processing method and the like which are capable of appropriately estimating a state of a magnetic tube. In the information processing method, a computer executes processing of acquiring measurement data obtained by measuring magnetic characteristic values of a magnetic tube, and processing of estimating wall thickness information by inputting the acquired measurement data to a model trained for estimating the wall thickness information relating to the wall thickness of the magnetic tube in a case where the measurement data is input. Preferably, the magnetic characteristic values are measurement values measured by using an inspection probe including a magnet that generates a magnetic field, a yoke that is disposed on an opposite side of the magnetic tube with respect to the magnet, and a magnetic sensor that is disposed between the yoke and the magnetic tube and measures a magnetic flux density passing through the yoke, the magnet, and the magnetic tube, and is an output voltage of the magnetic sensor that becomes lower as the magnetic flux density is larger.

An eddy current testing apparatus and related methods for conducting non-destructive examination of heat exchanger tubes accessible via a heat exchanger tubesheet. The apparatus comprises a motor-driven drive pulley and one or more idler pulleys engageable with the test cable of the test probe to feed out or retract the cable and test head which are insertable into the heat exchanger tube under test. A support bracket of the apparatus includes manually-expandable tube clamps operated by an actuating lever. The clamps include a tubular securement sleeve with expandable portion for insertion into and releasably locking to an anchoring tube in tubesheet. This supports the apparatus from the tubesheet in a cantilevered manner. The idler pulley(s) may be mounted to a pivot arm movable between an inward position to press the cable into engagement with the drive pulley, and an outward position which releases the cable to facilitate setup or takedown.