There is disclosed a device for use in evaluating the integrity of soil behind a wall of an infrastructure. The device generally has a frame having a plurality of rests adapted to be received onto the wall during use; a hammer assembly having an actuator fixedly mounted to the frame and a hammer element having a head movably mounted to the frame, the actuator being actuatable to move the head to strike the wall while the plurality of rests hold the frame in a fixed position relative to the wall; and a sensor configured and adapted to sense vibrations of a portion of the wall resulting from the strike and to generate a vibration signal indicative thereof.

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).

An inspection probe (100) includes a Hall element (3) which detects the density of magnetic flux flowing in a magnetic circuit formed by a yoke (1), a magnet (2), and a magnetic pipe (P). A second outer circumferential surface (12a) of the yoke (1) is arranged to be located closer to the magnetic pipe (P) than a first outer circumferential surface (11a) of the yoke (1) is to the magnetic pipe (P).

An inspection probe (100) includes a Hall element (3) which detects the density of magnetic flux flowing in a magnetic circuit formed by a yoke (1), a magnet (2), and a magnetic pipe (P). A second outer circumferential surface (12a) of the yoke (1) is arranged to be located closer to the magnetic pipe (P) than a first outer circumferential surface (11a) of the yoke (1) is to the magnetic pipe (P).

A method of inspecting a ferromagnetic object includes positioning a plurality of magnetic field sensors proximate the ferromagnetic object and when a plurality of magnetic field sensors sense respective magnetic field values at respective different locations proximate at least one surface of the ferromagnetic object, causing the plurality of magnetic field sensors to generally traverse around the ferromagnetic object.

Methods of detecting carburization, nitriding or chromium depletion in a non- or weakly ferromagnetic test object using a permanent magnet having a magnet pull force equal to or greater than about 75N and measuring either the adhesive force to detach the magnet from the test object or the attractive force in which the magnet is being pulled towards the surface of the test object.

Methods of detecting carburization, nitriding or chromium depletion in a non- or weakly ferromagnetic test object using a permanent magnet having a magnet pull force equal to or greater than about 75N and measuring either the adhesive force to detach the magnet from the test object or the attractive force in which the magnet is being pulled towards the surface of the test object.

In a sheet member inspection method for a sheet member conveying apparatus configured to convey a sheet member with a tension, the sheet member conveying apparatus includes: a first support roller placed on an upstream side in a conveying direction of the sheet member and configured to support conveyance of the sheet member; a second support roller placed on a downstream side relative to the first support roller in the conveying direction and configured to support the conveyance of the sheet member; and a magnetic-force detection sensor placed on the downstream side relative to the first support roller in the conveying direction. The sheet member inspection method includes: applying a magnetic force to the sheet member by the first support roller; and inspecting, by the magnetic-force detection sensor, whether a magnetic object exists in the sheet member to which the magnetic force is applied by the first support roller.

Embodiments described herein provide magnetic permeability measurements of ferromagnetic wires. In one embodiment, an apparatus comprises a non-magnetic wire retainer having a circular groove that holds a ferromagnetic wire for measurement. The apparatus further comprises a magnetic field generator proximate to the non-magnetic wire retainer that provides a substantially uniform magnetic field along a circumference of the circular groove. The apparatus further comprises a force sensor mechanically coupled to the magnetic field generator that measures an attractive force between the magnetic field generator and the ferromagnetic wire for determining the magnetic permeability of the ferromagnetic wire.