Patent ID: 8991258
Filing Date: 2015-03-31
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
1. An inspection arrangement for inspecting an elongate object having a plurality of planar side surfaces, the arrangement including: a housing providing an interior space within which inspection is to occur, the housing having an entrance and an exit that are aligned on an axis for respective movement of the object relative to the interior space; a plurality of ultrasonic sensor arrays disposed about the axis to direct ultrasonic sensory pluses within the housing, each sensor array having a plurality of ultrasonic sensors with each ultrasonic sensor being positioned to direct a respective ultrasonic sensory pulse in a respective direction within the interior space; a fluid delivery device for delivering a coupling fluid into the interior space, the coupling fluid engages the elongate object and transmits the ultrasonic sensory pluses to the elongate object; and a plurality of redirecting elements associated with the plurality of ultrasonic sensor arrays, the number of redirecting elements being equal to the number of planar side surfaces of the elongate object, each redirecting element positioned such that ultrasonic sensory pulses from the respective ultrasonic sensor array proceed through the respective redirecting element, each redirecting element for redirecting at least some of the ultrasonic sensory pulses to proceed along a different direction and including at least one surface redirecting at least some of the ultrasonic pulses such that the ultrasonic pulses emerge from the redirecting element and proceed along parallel directions toward a respective planar side surfaces of the elongate object.