Patent ID: 8820166

Claim:
An inspection apparatus for inspecting a railway rail while traveling along the rail comprising: position means for determining a position of the inspection apparatus along the rail and providing position data, a profiler system configured to output profile data corresponding to a profile of the rail, a transducer assembly having a first ultrasonic phased array transducer directed toward the rail and configured to emit an ultrasonic beam into the rail and receive a return signal, and a system controller coupled to said position means to receive position data therefrom, coupled to said profiler system to receive profile data therefrom, and coupled to said transducer assembly, said system controller responsive to said profile data to energize said transducer assembly to emit said ultrasonic beam into the rail at a desired angle, said system controller responsive to said return signal, said profile data and said position data to present a two dimensional representation of the inspected rail, wherein each of the above steps is dynamically performed on or directed by a programmed computer.