Patent ID: 9188567
Filing Date: 2015-11-17
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
1. A method for ultrasonically inspecting components with uneven surfaces, comprising: a. providing a fluid coupling of at least several ultrasonic wavelengths thick between a probe that contains an ultrasonic transducer and a component by immersing the component in liquid and providing a space between the transducer and component that allows an uneven surface on the component without contact between the transducer and component, the ultrasonic transducer comprising an array of small unfocused elements with each element producing substantial beam spread; b. measuring the two dimensional surface profile of the component as a function of encoded ultrasonic probe position, wherein measuring the two dimensional surface profile comprises the steps of: c. calculating signal processing parameters based on the measured surface profile, as a function of the encoded ultrasonic probe position, to eliminate ultrasonic beam distortion; and d. downloading the calculated signal processing parameters to the ultrasonic instrument, to a processing unit or to a data storage device.