An eddy probe is provided for identifying non-homogeneous objects in a material. The probe includes a power supply, an oscillator to produce electrical excitation powered by said power supply, a plurality of eddy current detectors, each detector measuring eddy current density, a marker disposed adjacent said plurality for indicating a location on the material in response to a maximum of the eddy current density, and a housing for containing the power supply, oscillator, detectors and marker. The plurality can be two or three detectors. The marker can include a drill bit disposed adjacent the detectors, a transmission connecting to the drill bit; and an electric motor connecting to the transmission and powered by the power supply for rotating the drill bit.

An eddy probe is provided for identifying non-homogeneous objects in a material. The probe includes a power supply, an oscillator to produce electrical excitation powered by said power supply, a plurality of eddy current detectors, each detector measuring eddy current density, a marker disposed adjacent said plurality for indicating a location on the material in response to a maximum of the eddy current density, and a housing for containing the power supply, oscillator, detectors and marker. The plurality can be two or three detectors. The marker can include a drill bit disposed adjacent the detectors, a transmission connecting to the drill bit; and an electric motor connecting to the transmission and powered by the power supply for rotating the drill bit.

The steel plate material property testing device determining a material property of a surface of the steel plate by generating the eddy current in the steel plate includes: an eddy current tester disposed so as to face the steel plate; and a frame to which the eddy current tester is fixed, in which the eddy current tester includes: a coil disposed so as to form an alternating-current (AC) magnetic field in only one direction; an AC power supply unit connected to the coil; a sensor unit connected to the coil; and a material property determination unit connected to the sensor unit and determining the material property of the steel plate based on a measured signal obtained through the sensor unit.

The steel plate material property testing device determining a material property of a surface of the steel plate by generating the eddy current in the steel plate includes: an eddy current tester disposed so as to face the steel plate; and a frame to which the eddy current tester is fixed, in which the eddy current tester includes: a coil disposed so as to form an alternating-current (AC) magnetic field in only one direction; an AC power supply unit connected to the coil; a sensor unit connected to the coil; and a material property determination unit connected to the sensor unit and determining the material property of the steel plate based on a measured signal obtained through the sensor unit.

A wire rope inspection system is provided with: an excitation unit configured to apply a magnetic flux to a wire rope that is an inspection target; a detection unit configured to detect a magnetic flux of the wire rope to which the magnetic flux has been applied by the excitation unit; a detachable unit configured to be detachably mounted to a stationary unit fixed in proximity to the wire rope, the detachable unit being provided with at least the detection unit; and a positioning mechanism configured to position the detachable unit with reference to the stationary unit such that the detection unit is arranged at a predetermined position with reference to the wire rope.

A wire rope inspection system is provided with: an excitation unit configured to apply a magnetic flux to a wire rope that is an inspection target; a detection unit configured to detect a magnetic flux of the wire rope to which the magnetic flux has been applied by the excitation unit; a detachable unit configured to be detachably mounted to a stationary unit fixed in proximity to the wire rope, the detachable unit being provided with at least the detection unit; and a positioning mechanism configured to position the detachable unit with reference to the stationary unit such that the detection unit is arranged at a predetermined position with reference to the wire rope.

An apparatus includes a pipe crawler (100). The pipe crawler (100) includes one or more drive wheels (308) capable of moving along and around a pipe, and one or more instruments coupled to the one or more drive wheels (308). An instrument includes one or more of a sensor instrument and a maintenance instrument. The pipe crawler (100) includes a retention mechanism (4) that retains the one or more drive wheels (308) against an outer surface of the pipe. The retention mechanism (104) provides adjustable positions for the one or more drive wheels (308) for disposing the one or more drive wheels (308) against the outer surface of the pipe. The apparatus includes a controller (302) that communicates with the one or more drive wheels (308) to move the one or more drive wheels (308) on the outer surface of the pipe, and that operates the one or more instruments.

An apparatus includes a pipe crawler (100). The pipe crawler (100) includes one or more drive wheels (308) capable of moving along and around a pipe, and one or more instruments coupled to the one or more drive wheels (308). An instrument includes one or more of a sensor instrument and a maintenance instrument. The pipe crawler (100) includes a retention mechanism (4) that retains the one or more drive wheels (308) against an outer surface of the pipe. The retention mechanism (104) provides adjustable positions for the one or more drive wheels (308) for disposing the one or more drive wheels (308) against the outer surface of the pipe. The apparatus includes a controller (302) that communicates with the one or more drive wheels (308) to move the one or more drive wheels (308) on the outer surface of the pipe, and that operates the one or more instruments.

A method of inspecting metallic container components (10) provides indexing a container component (10) produced from a metallic material into axial alignment with a probe (110). The probe (110) has a coil (176) produced from an electrical conductor. An alternating current (183) is applied to the coil (176) wherein a first magnetic field (184) is generated. An eddy current (188) develops in the container component (10) in response to the first magnetic field (184). A second magnetic field (192) is generated in response to the eddy current (188). Changes in an impedance amplitude and phase angle in the coil (176) are measured. A determination of the fitness for use of the container component (10) is made based on the measured changes in the impedance amplitude and phase angle in the coil (176).

A system and method are provided for performing a hole inspection performance study. Specimens for the performance study are made from a reconfigurable set of inspection plates. Each plate includes multiple test holes which are located symmetrically. The plates may be of various thicknesses and materials. Each test hole may or may not have a feature such as a crack or machining notch. Such features may be located at various positions of the hole, such as at an edge, within the bore, and at various circumferential positions. A specimen is formed by stacking two or more plates and securing the stack together with an alignment tool. A variety of specimens may be formed by using different combinations of inspection plates and flipping and rotating the member plates. A hole inspection system is disclosed as well as an inspection procedure and data processing algorithm for inspecting each hole.