Patent ID: 7240556

Claim:
A non-destructive inspection apparatus for inspecting a structure, comprising: a first probe configured for traveling over a first surface of the structure under inspection, the first probe comprising: at least one magnetic coupling device; and at least one shear wave transducer capable of transmitting ultrasonic signals into the first surface of the structure for inspecting the structure as the first probe is moved over the first surface of the structure, wherein the ultrasonic signals are transmitted into the structure as a shear wave at an angle to the first surface; and a second probe configured for traveling over a second surface of the structure for through transmission inspection, the second probe comprising: at least one magnetic coupling device for magnetically coupling the second probe with the first probe, wherein the magnetic attraction of the magnetic coupling holds the first and second probes against the first and second surfaces of the structure, respectively, and wherein the first and second probes cooperate by the magnetic coupling to move in a leader-follower format; and at least one shear wave transducer capable of receiving ultrasonic signals transmitted as a shear wave at an angle through the structure from the shear wave transducer of the first probe, wherein the first and second probes are further configured to hold the shear wave transducers at offset positions to permit inspection using angle beam shear wave ultrasonic signals.