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"Rail travel at high speeds is not possible because passengers, unable to breathe, would die of asphyxia."
Dionysius Lardner, Professor of Natural Philosophy and Astronomy at University College, London ; 1830
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8104350 | Automated thickness measurement device A transducer apparatus may include a slide housing, an inner housing, a member attached to the inner housing, a free-floating transducer housing, a transducer, and transducer springs. The inner housing may be moveably disposed within the slide housing. The member at... | 01/31/2012 |
| 7913564 | Ultrasonic scanning device with a hybrid controller An ultrasonic scanner includes an assembly mounted within a housing and pivoting between two positions. The assembly includes an ultrasonic module that generates an ultrasonic beam directed at a target, such a tissue and detecting the corresponding return beam. A wo... | 03/29/2011 |
| 7891248 | Apparatus for measuring wall thicknesses of objects An apparatus for measuring wall thicknesses of objects, includes a coordinate measuring machine that has a probe holder and an object support. The coordinate measuring machine is configured to provide relative movement between the probe holder and the object support... | 02/22/2011 |
| 7690260 | Method and system having ultrasonic sensor movable by translation device for ultrasonic profiling of weld samples A system for ultrasonic profiling of a weld sample includes a carriage movable in opposite first and second directions. An ultrasonic sensor is coupled to the carriage to move over the sample as the carriage moves. An encoder determines the position of the carriage ... | 04/06/2010 |
| 7640810 | Ultrasonic inspection apparatus, system, and method Improved apparatus, systems, and methods for inspecting a structure are provided that use a pedestal robot mounted on a rail system, a probe extension coupler, and an inspection probe capable of performing pulse echo ultrasonic inspection. A probe may also include s... | 01/05/2010 |
| 7640811 | Ultrasonic inspection apparatus, system, and method Improved apparatus, systems, and methods for inspecting a structure are provided that use a pedestal robot mounted on a rail system, a probe extension coupler, and an inspection probe capable of performing pulse echo ultrasonic inspection. A probe may also include s... | 01/05/2010 |
| 7448271 | Inspection system and associated method A system and method for inspecting a structure are provided. The system includes at least one non-destructive inspection (“NDI”) sensor capable of acquiring data indicative of at least a portion of the structure, and at least one positional sensor for acquiring ... | 11/11/2008 |
| 7448272 | System and method for inspecting spot weld A system and method for inspecting a spot weld on a workpiece. The system may include an actuator, an inspection assembly coupled to the actuator, and a controller electronically coupled to the inspection assembly. The inspection assembly may include an ultrasound d... | 11/11/2008 |
| 7421901 | Method of using ultrasound to inspect a part in immersion A method of inspecting a part in immersion using a focused beam of ultrasound waves oriented perpendicularly to the surface of the part, the method including, when the axis of the focused beam is close to an edge of the part, tilting the axis towards the edge relati... | 09/09/2008 |
| 7415882 | Methods and systems for inspection of composite assemblies An apparatus for the ultrasonic testing of internal areas of prefabricated composite assemblies as described. The composite assemblies have one or more internal areas formed therein. The apparatus includes at least one receive transducer, at least one transmit trans... | 08/26/2008 |
| 7395714 | Magnetically attracted inspecting apparatus and method using a ball bearing An apparatus and method for inspecting a structure are provided which include probes with sensing elements and are disposed proximate the opposite surfaces of a structure, where only one of the probes need be driven. A tracking probe may be magnetically coupled to a... | 07/08/2008 |
| 7337673 | Ultrasonic array probe apparatus, system, and method for traveling over holes and off edges of a structure Improved apparatus, systems, and methods for inspecting a structure are provided that use a probe with sled appendages and an axial braking system. The probe uses pulse echo ultrasonic signals to inspect the structure. The sled appendages permit the probe to contact... | 03/04/2008 |
| 7320249 | Magnetically attracted inspecting apparatus and method using a fluid bearing An apparatus and method for inspecting a structure are provided which include probes with sensing elements and are disposed proximate opposite surfaces of a structure, where only one of the probes need be driven. A tracking probe may be magnetically coupled to a dri... | 01/22/2008 |
| 7313959 | Magnetically attracted apparatus, system, and method for remote bondline thickness measurement Apparatus, systems, and methods for inspecting a structure are provided which use magnetically coupled probes disposed proximate opposite surfaces of a structure to locate, move, position, and hold a pulse echo ultrasonic transducer of one of the probes for non-dest... | 01/01/2008 |
| 7313961 | Method and apparatus for inspecting a component A method for inspecting a gas turbine engine component includes positioning an ultrasonic probe assembly proximate to a surface of the component, wherein the ultrasonic probe assembly includes a body portion and an inspection bar, coupling the inspection bar to the ... | 01/01/2008 |
| 7305898 | Installation for non-destructive inspection of a part An installation for non-destructive inspection makes use simultaneously of sensors responsive to different physical characteristics. In an example, a sensor support, e.g. a kind of carriage having running wheels via which it comes into contact with the surface to be... | 12/11/2007 |
| 7302851 | Methods and apparatus for rotary machinery inspection A method of non-destructive evaluation (NDE) testing a component of an assembly is provided. The method includes positioning a transducer on a face of the component, transmitting ultrasonic waves into the component at a plurality of steering angles, receiving ultras... | 12/04/2007 |
| 7255678 | High frequency, high frame-rate ultrasound imaging system A system for producing an ultrasound image comprises a scan head having a transducer capable of generating ultrasound energy at a frequency of at least 20 megahertz (MHz), and a processor for receiving ultrasound energy and for generating an ultrasound image at a fr... | 08/14/2007 |
| 7246790 | Hoist System A hoist system for raising, lowering, or applying a pulling force to an object or equipment attached thereto. The hoist system has a hoist, a hoist adapter unit attached to the hoist, and a pull pin assembly. The hoist has a frame and a line, cable, or chain which i... | 07/24/2007 |
| 7240556 | Angle beam shear wave through-transmission ultrasonic testing apparatus and method Improved methods, systems, and apparatus for inspecting a structure using angle beam shear wave through-transmission ultrasonic signals involves positioning transducers at offset positions on opposing sides of the structure and permits inspection of the inside of th... | 07/10/2007 |
| 7231826 | Non-destructive inspection device for inspecting limited-access features of a structure There is provided a non-destructive inspection device having an actuating portion and at least one inspecting portion. The inspecting portion(s) are magnetically coupled to the actuating portion so that the inspecting portion(s) may be moved into limited-access area... | 06/19/2007 |
| 7228741 | Alignment compensator for magnetically attracted inspecting apparatus and method An apparatus and method aligning magnetically coupled inspection probes are provided. In this regard, a tracking probe may be magnetically coupled to a driven probe and move in coordination therewith. An alignment compensator for magnetically coupled inspection prob... | 06/12/2007 |
| 7201055 | Ultrasonic miniature air gap inspection crawler A miniature air gap inspection crawler. The miniature air gap inspection crawler may include a base, a linear drive mechanism and a circumferential drive mechanism such that either the linear drive mechanism or the circumferential drive mechanism may be employed, an... | 04/10/2007 |
| 7194908 | Device and method for ultrasonic inspection using profilometry data An ultrasonic testing assembly structured to examine a test object, wherein the test object has a surface, and the examination examines the structure of the test object under the surface as well as the profile of the surface. The ultrasonic testing assembly includes... | 03/27/2007 |
| 7181970 | Method and device for testing a component having a complex surface contour by means of ultrasound A method and a device for testing a structural component having a complex surface contour utilizing ultrasound, at least one ultrasonic head (UPK) being guided along the surface contour (OK) of the structural component (BT) by means of a manipulator (MM) having seve... | 02/27/2007 |
| 7134352 | Method and apparatus for examining obstructed welds A method and apparatus is provided for inspecting material arranged within an annular recess such as weld beads, particularly weld beads between the shroud, core plate and support structures within a boiling water nuclear reactor (BWR). The apparatus comprises a tra... | 11/14/2006 |
| 7131345 | Device for inspecting plant parts located under water A device for inspecting submersed plant parts is particularly suited for ultrasonic inspection of screws in the core baffle of a nuclear reactor pressure vessel. The device includes a remote-controlled underwater vehicle that is provided at its end face with a carri... | 11/07/2006 |
| 7117741 | Method and device for ultrasonic vibration detection during high-performance machining Dynamic vibration monitoring of a cutting tool or workpiece is provided by propagating an ultrasonic carrier beam in a stream of fluid flowing from a probe chamber, which includes a transducer, to the cutting tool or workpiece target area. The modulated ultrasonic b... | 10/10/2006 |
| 7093491 | Apparatus and methods for automated turbine component inspections An inspection system, in an exemplary embodiment, includes at least two base members spaced apart from each other, a support arm mounted to each base member, a linear track extending between and supported by the support arms, and a transport member coupled to the li... | 08/22/2006 |
| 7080557 | Method and apparatus for inspecting a tubular using acoustic signals A method and apparatus for acoustically inspecting a tubular member is presented. In particular a method for inspecting coiled tubing using ultrasound is presented. The method includes contacting a tubular with a coupling material, transmitting an acoustic signal, r... | 07/25/2006 |
| 6981417 | Scanning acoustic micro imaging method and apparatus for non-rectangular bounded files Method and implementing apparatus useful in acquiring data on acoustic features within a sample provides a pulsed acoustic probe and a stage system for effecting relative movement between the sample and the probe. The stage system is commanded such that the probe in... | 01/03/2006 |
| 6969821 | Airfoil qualification system and method A method for qualifying airfoil blades includes securing an airfoil blade into a fixture, taking digital measurements of the airfoil blade, comparing the digital measurements of the airfoil blade with measurements of a target model, calculating deviations between th... | 11/29/2005 |
| 6945114 | Laser-air, hybrid, ultrasonic testing of railroad tracks Formed Laser Sources (FLS) using pulsed laser light for generation of ultrasonic stress waves are combined with air-coupled detection of ultrasound to provide for the hybrid non-contact, dynamic and remote ultrasonic testing of structural materials, especially railr... | 09/20/2005 |
| 6936106 | Integrated paint quality control system An integrated paint quality control (IPQC) system for feedback control of paint process for painting vehicle bodies includes a film thickness sensor system for measuring paint film thickness of the painted bodies. The IPQC system also includes a control system commu... | 08/30/2005 |
| 6920791 | Ultrasound monitoring of overlapping welded joints between sheets In a method and a device for the ultrasonic monitoring of overlapping welded joints between a first sheet and a second sheet pulses are irradiated at an angle of between 15 and 80° into the first sheet by a first rotating probe head. The rotating probe head is arra... | 07/26/2005 |
| 6904818 | Internal riser inspection device An internal inspection unit for pipe has ultrasonic transducers that inspect weld volume, weld root, and wall thickness. The ultrasonic transducers are mounted to a portion of the inspection unit that is rotatable, but no more than one full revolution. One of the un... | 06/14/2005 |
| 6826961 | Dynamically configurable ultrasound transducer with integral bias regulation and command and control circuitry A dynamically configurable ultrasound transducer element and related circuits and methods. The transducer may comprise an array of capacitive transducer elements, a row decoder coupled to said array of capacitive transducer elements, a column decoder coupled to said... | 12/07/2004 |
| 6766693 | Averaged guided wave inspection technology for ribbon cable Averaged guided wave inspection method for a throttle cable is disclosed. Access to the engine end of the throttle cable is obtained and a transducer is applied to an end of the ribbon cable. The transducer generates an ultrasonic guided wave in the cable. The ultra... | 07/27/2004 |
| 6722202 | Method and apparatus for inspecting a structure utilizing magnetically attracted probes An apparatus and method for inspecting a structure are provided in which probes including respective sensing elements, such as ultrasonic transducers, are disposed proximate the opposed surfaces of a structure, but only one of the probes need be driven. In this rega... | 04/20/2004 |
| 6571633 | Remote laser beam delivery system and method for use with a gantry positioning system for ultrasonic testing purposes A system and method for delivering a laser beam from a remote laser source through a gantry positioning system for performing ultrasonic testing on a test object. The invention provides for closed-loop error correction of a laser beam delivered through th... | 06/03/2003 |
