IP Library › Granted Patent US 12680979
Granted Patent B2
US 12680979 · App. 18/379,989 · Granted Jul 14, 2026

Eddy current probe assembly

Inventors: Zhong Ouyang (Glastonbury, CT); Kim B. Harmon (Bolton, CT); Nigel D. Sawyers-Abbott (South Glastonbury, CT)
Assignee: RTX Corporation
G01N27/9006
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12680979
App. No.
18/379,989
Granted
Jul 14, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

An eddy current probe assembly includes an eddy current probe extending along a center axis between and to a probe end and a distal end. The eddy current probe includes a first drive coil, a second drive coil, a first differential sense coil, and a second differential sense coil. Each of the first drive coil, the second drive coil, the first differential sense coil, and the second differential sense coil is disposed at the probe end and the center axis. The first drive coil, the second drive coil, the first differential sense coil, and the second differential sense coil are arranged circumferentially about the center axis with the first drive coil disposed circumferentially between and circumferentially adjacent the first differential sense coil and the second differential sense coil and the second drive coil disposed circumferentially between and circumferentially adjacent the first differential sense coil and the second differential sense coil.

Claims (32)

1 . An eddy current probe assembly comprising:

an eddy current probe extending along a center axis between and to a probe end and a distal end, the eddy current probe includes a first drive coil, a second drive coil, a first differential sense coil, and a second differential sense coil, each of the first drive coil, the second drive coil, the first differential sense coil, and the second differential sense coil is disposed at the probe end and the center axis, and the first drive coil, the second drive coil, the first differential sense coil, and the second differential sense coil are arranged circumferentially about the center axis with the first drive coil disposed circumferentially between and circumferentially adjacent the first differential sense coil and the second differential sense coil and the second drive coil disposed circumferentially between and circumferentially adjacent the first differential sense coil and the second differential sense coil;

wherein the eddy current probe further includes a first spacer body and a second spacer body, the first spacer body extends from the first differential sense coil to the distal end, and the second spacer body extends from the second differential sense coil to the distal end; and

wherein the first spacer body and the second spacer body are formed, wholly or in substantial part, by a non-conductive material.

2 . The eddy current probe assembly of claim 1 , wherein each of the first drive coil and the second drive coil has a first length, and the first length extends from the probe end to the distal end.

3 . The eddy current probe assembly of claim 2 , wherein each of the first differential sense coil and the second differential sense coil has a second length, and the second length is less than the first length.

4 . The eddy current probe assembly of claim 3 , wherein the second length is less than one quarter of the first length.

5 . The eddy current probe assembly of claim 1 , wherein each of the first drive coil, the second drive coil, the first differential sense coil, and the second differential sense coil includes a first side, a second side, and an outer diameter side.

6 . The eddy current probe assembly of claim 5 , wherein the first side intersects the second side at the center axis.

7 . The eddy current probe assembly of claim 5 , wherein the first side and the second side are orthogonal.

8 . The eddy current probe assembly of claim 1 , wherein the eddy current probe further includes a plurality of conductive cores, and each core of the plurality of conductive cores is disposed within a respective one of the first drive coil, the second drive coil, the first differential sense coil, and the second differential sense coil.

9 . The eddy current probe assembly of claim 8 , wherein each of the conductive cores extends from the probe end to the distal end.

10 . The eddy current probe assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a controller including a processor in communication with a non-transitory memory storing instructions, which instructions when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:

measure a first output voltage of the first differential sense coil and a second output voltage of the second differential sense coil.

11 . The eddy current probe assembly of claim 10 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to direct a first electrical current flow through the first drive coil and a second electrical current flow through the second drive coil.

12 . The eddy current probe assembly of claim 11 , wherein the first electrical current flow has a first circumferential direction, the second electrical current flow has a second circumferential direction, and the first circumferential direction is opposite the second circumferential direction.

13 . An eddy current probe assembly comprising:

an eddy current probe extending along a center axis between and to a probe end and a distal end, the eddy current probe includes a first drive coil, a second drive coil, a first differential sense coil, and a second differential sense coil, and each of the first drive coil, the second drive coil, the first differential sense coil, and the second differential sense coil is disposed at the probe end and the center axis; and

a controller including a processor in communication with a non-transitory memory storing instructions, which instructions when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:

direct a first electrical current flow through the first drive coil and a second electrical current flow through the second drive coil; and

measure a first output voltage of the first differential sense coil and a second output voltage of the second differential sense coil;

wherein the eddy current probe further includes a first spacer body and a second spacer body, the first spacer body extends from the first differential sense coil to the distal end, and the second spacer body extends from the second differential sense coil to the distal end; and

wherein the first spacer body and the second spacer body are formed, wholly or in substantial part, by a non-conductive material.

14 . The eddy current probe assembly of claim 13 , wherein each of the first drive coil, the second drive coil, the first differential sense coil, and the second differential sense coil includes a first side, a second side, and an outer diameter side.

15 . The eddy current probe assembly of claim 14 , wherein the first side intersects the second side at the center axis.

16 . The eddy current probe assembly of claim 14 , wherein the first side of the first drive coil is disposed at the first differential sense coil and the second side of the first drive coil is disposed at the second differential sense coil.

17 . An eddy current probe assembly comprising:

an eddy current probe extending along a center axis between and to a probe end and a distal end, the eddy current probe has a probe outer diameter side extending circumferentially about the center axis, the probe outer diameter side extends between and to the probe end and the distal end, the eddy current probe includes a first drive coil, a second drive coil, a first differential sense coil, and a second differential sense coil, each of the first drive coil, the second drive coil, the first differential sense coil, and the second differential sense coil includes a first side, a second side, and a coil outer diameter side, the first side intersects the second side at the center axis, and the coil outer diameter side forms the probe outer diameter side,

wherein the eddy current probe further includes a first spacer body and a second spacer body, the first spacer body extends from the first differential sense coil to the distal end, and the second spacer body extends from the second differential sense coil to the distal end; and

wherein the first spacer body and the second spacer body are formed, wholly or in substantial part, by a non-conductive material.

18 . The eddy current probe assembly of claim 17 , wherein each of the first drive coil and the second drive coil has a first length, and the first length extends from the probe end to the distal end.

19 . The eddy current probe assembly of claim 18 , wherein each of the first differential sense coil and the second differential sense coil has a second length, and the second length is less than the first length.