G01N2291/051

Ultrasonic flow metering

Embodiments include a novel, easy to install, non-intrusive, ultrasonic water flow meter with a self-calibrating three-piezoelectric transducer configuration attached externally to a water pipe, that allows for accurate measurement of water flow, and can provide the flow data to a remote system for billing and further analysis. The water flow data can further be analyzed for water consumption by individual fixtures, in support of conservation and usage management efforts.

Wrinkle characterization and performance prediction for composite structures

Methods that provide wrinkle characterization and performance prediction for wrinkled composite structures using automated structural analysis. In accordance with some embodiments, the method combines the use of B-scan ultrasound data, automated optical measurement of wrinkles and geometry of cross-sections, and finite element analysis of wrinkled composite structure to provide the ability to assess the actual significance of a detected wrinkle relative to the intended performance of the structure. The disclosed method uses an ultrasonic inspection system that has been calibrated by correlating ultrasonic B-scan data acquired from reference standards with measurements of optical cross sections (e.g., micrographs) of those reference standards.

Inspection robot having a laser profiler

A system includes an inspection robot having an input sensor comprising a laser profiler and a plurality of wheels structured to engage a curved portion of an inspection surface, wherein the laser profiler is configured to provide laser profiler data of the inspection surface; a controller, comprising: a profiler data circuit structured to interpret the laser profiler data; determine a feature of interest is present at a location of the inspection surface in response to the laser profiler data; and wherein the feature of interest comprises a shape description of the inspection surface at the location of the feature of interest.

System, method, and apparatus to perform a surface inspection using real-time position information

A system includes an inspection robot for performing an inspection on an inspection surface with an inspection robot, the apparatus comprising a position definition circuit structured to determine an inspection robot position on the inspection surface; a data positioning circuit structured to interpret inspection data, and to correlate the inspection data to the inspection robot position on the inspection surface; and wherein the data positioning circuit is further structured to determine position informed inspection data in response to the correlating of the inspection data with the inspection robot position, wherein the position informed inspection data comprises absolute position data.

METHOD AND DEVICE FOR ANALYZING THE CONFORMITY OF AN INTERPOSITION MASTIC INTEGRAGED INTO A STRUCTURE, IN PARTICULAR OF AN AIRCRAFT
20220308017 · 2022-09-29 ·

A device (1) including an ultrasonic measuring unit (7) that sends an ultrasonic signal (S1) into a structure (2) and measures the amplitude of the ultrasonic signal (S2) reflected by the structure (2), a processing unit for determining the thickness of the interposition mastic (3) from the measurements of the ultrasonic measuring unit (7) and with the aid of a propagation model of the interposition mastic (3) which provides a thickness value of the interposition mastic (3) depending on the propagation time of the ultrasonic signal in the interposition mastic (3) as well as auxiliary data, and a processing unit for deducing a conformity or a lack of conformity of said interposition mastic (3) and the presence of cuttings from the thickness of the interposition mastic (3), the device (1) carrying out a conformity checking that is accurate, fast and reliable without having to disassemble the structure (2).

Method and assembly for determining the type of a fluid using ultrasound
11366081 · 2022-06-21 · ·

An assembly for determining a type of a fluid, the assembly configured to be mounted to a tank containing the fluid, comprises an ultrasound sending/receiving subassembly and a processor module. The ultrasound sending/receiving subassembly is configured to send a plurality of ultrasound signals into the fluid and receive the ultrasound signals reflected from the fluid. An ultrasound signal of the plurality of ultrasound signals has at least a first frequency and a second frequency different from the first frequency. The processor module is adapted to determine an attenuation of the ultrasound signal at the first frequency and at the second frequency.

System, method, and apparatus for acoustic inspection of a surface

A system includes an inspection robot comprising a plurality of sensor sleds; a plurality of ultra-sonic (UT) sensors; a couplant chamber mounted to each of the plurality of sleds, each couplant chamber comprising: a cone, the cone comprising a cone tip portion at an inspection surface end of the cone; a sensor mounting end opposite the cone tip portion; a couplant entry fluidly coupled to the cone at a position between the cone tip portion and the sensor mounting end; and wherein each of the UT sensors is mounted to the sensor mounting end of one of the couplant chambers.

SYSTEM, METHOD, AND APPARATUS FOR INSPECTING A SURFACE

A system includes an inspection robot having a plurality of input sensors, the plurality of input sensors distributed horizontally relative to an inspection surface and configured to provide inspection data of the inspection surface at selected horizontal positions; a controller, comprising: a position definition circuit structured to determine an inspection robot position of the inspection robot on the inspection surface; a data positioning circuit structured to interpret the inspection data, and to correlate the inspection data to the inspection robot position on the inspection surface; and wherein the data positioning circuit is further structured to determine position informed inspection data in response to the correlating of the inspection data with the inspection robot position.

DIGITAL TWIN OF AN AUTOMATED NON-DESTRUCTIVE ULTRASONIC TESTING SYSTEM
20220011269 · 2022-01-13 ·

Systems and methods are provided for generating a digital twin representation of an ultrasonic testing environment. In one aspect, probe position data received from one or more controllers and coordinate system data generated by one or more sensors can be used to generate a digital twin representation of an ultrasonic testing environment. In another aspect, generating the digital twin representation can include determining probe position measurements and a plurality of probe paths to be included in the digital twin representation. In one aspect the system can include a vision system to enable remote operation of the ultrasonic testing environment based on the generated digital twin representation.

Ultrasonic Flow Metering

Embodiments include a novel, easy to install, non-intrusive, ultrasonic water flow meter with a self-calibrating three-piezoelectric transducer configuration attached externally to a water pipe, that allows for accurate measurement of water flow, and can provide the flow data to a remote system for billing and further analysis. The water flow data can further be analyzed for water consumption by individual fixtures, in support of conservation and usage management efforts.