Patent ID: 8225669

Claim:
A method for ultrasonic testing, comprising: placing an ultrasonic probe in a liquid bath inside of a pressure vessel having a nonpermeable elastomeric diaphragm stretched across an opening of the pressure vessel such that the ultrasonic probe is suspended over the diaphragm with liquid between the ultrasonic probe and the diaphragm; wherein the ultrasonic probe is placed inside the pressure vessel through a probe feed-through opening comprising a sealed bearing assembly to allow for electrical connections to the probe to be passed into the pressure vessel while maintaining pressure; positioning a test piece proximate or adjacent to the elastomeric diaphragm, wherein the step of positioning comprises using a stable lift platform which lifts the test piece into the diaphragm of the pressure vessel; applying pressure within the pressure vessel to bring the elastomeric diaphragm towards the test piece; conducting ultrasonic testing of the test piece using the ultrasonic probe.