Patent ID: 7882742
Filing Date: 2011-02-08
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
1. In an ultrasonic testing device for detecting flaws in a railway rail having a rail head with a center line, a field side and a gauge side, the ultrasonic testing device comprising an engagement means mounted to be in rolling contact with the railway rail, at least one transducer mounted within the engagement means, means connected to the at least one transducer for providing electrical signals for generation of at least one acoustic beam, and means connected to the at least one transducer for receiving signals indicative of a reflected acoustic signal and outputting an electrical signal, and for processing the electrical signals to provide signals indicative of such flaws in such railway rail, wherein the improvement comprises: said at least one transducer mounted within said engagement means at a position closer to the field side of the railway rail than the gauge side of the railway rail at a first angle of between 10 and 30 degrees from generally parallel to the center line from the field side to the gauge side of the rail head, and at a second angle of between 60 and 80 degrees from vertical; wherein said acoustic beam generated by said at least one transducer enters the rail head on the field side of the center line and continues across the rail head to the gauge side of the center line; and wherein said at least one transducer receives signals indicative of a reflected acoustic signal from said acoustic beam and outputs an electrical signal for processing.