Supersonic sensor head for supersonic non-destructive test apparatus
View Patent ↗A supersonic sensor head for a supersonic non-destructive test apparatus is disclosed. The supersonic sensor head includes a supersonic vibrator for transmitting and receiving supersonic waves, a holder having a base end and an opening end, and a soft gel material contact medium provided in the holder between the vibrator and a test object. The holder is coaxial with the vibrator so that the base end of the holder is in contact with a free end of the vibrator. By way of the contact medium, the supersonic vibrator indirectly contacts the test object. When a contact part of the contact medium is pressed against the test object, the vibrator comes into close contact with the contact medium, and the contact medium comes into close contact with the test object. The opening end of the holder restricts the deformation of the contact part of the contact medium.
1. A supersonic sensor head for a supersonic non-destructive test apparatus for measuring shapes of supersonic waves transmitted in a test object, comprising:
a supersonic vibrator for transmitting and receiving supersonic waves;
a tube-shaped holder having a base end and an opening end, the holder being coaxial with the supersonic vibrator so that the base end of the holder is in contact with a free end of the supersonic vibrator; and
a contact medium made of a soft gel material provided between the supersonic vibrator and the test object, so that the supersonic vibrator indirectly contacts the test object, the contact medium having a basal part and a contact part, and being contained in the holder, the basal part contacting the free end of the supersonic vibrator and the contact part protruding from the opening end of the holder, a pressure applied between the contact part of the contact medium and the test object urging the free end of the supersonic vibrator to closely contact the basal part of the contact medium, and the contact part of the contact medium to closely contact the test object,
wherein the tube-shaped holder has a diameter converging mechanism for regulating the inner diameter of the tube-shaped holder at the opening end thereof.
2. The supersonic sensor head for a supersonic non-destructive test apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the holder is approximately cone-shaped, the inner diameter of the cone decreasing from the base end to the opening end.
3. The supersonic sensor head for a supersonic non-destructive test apparatus as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the inner diameter of the holder at the opening end is approximately the same as a test diameter of the test object.
4. The supersonic sensor head for a supersonic non-destructive test apparatus as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the base end of the holder is detachably connected to the supersonic vibrator.
5. The supersonic sensor head for a supersonic non-destructive test apparatus as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the soft gel material is a silicone rubber.
6. The supersonic sensor head for a supersonic non-destructive test apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the inner diameter of the holder at the opening end is approximately the same as a test diameter of the test object.
7. The supersonic sensor head for a supersonic non-destructive test apparatus as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the base end of the holder is detachably connected to the supersonic vibrator.
8. The supersonic sensor head for a supersonic non-destructive test apparatus as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the soft gel material is a silicone rubber.
9. The supersonic sensor head for a supersonic non-destructive test apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the base end of the holder is detachably connected to the supersonic vibrator.
10. The supersonic sensor head for a supersonic non-destructive test apparatus as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the soft gel material is a silicone rubber.
11. The supersonic sensor head for a supersonic non-destructive test apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the soft gel material is a silicone rubber.
12. The supersonic sensor head for a supersonic non-destructive test apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the diameter converging mechanism enlarges and reduces the inner diameter of the tube-like holder at the opening end thereof.
13. The supersonic sensor head for a supersonic non-destructive test apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the tube-like holder has a slit extending in an axial direction of the tube-like holder.
14. The supersonic sensor head for a supersonic non-destructive test apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the tube-like holder has a base part and a regulating part.
15. The supersonic sensor head for a supersonic non-destructive test apparatus as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the diameter converging mechanism has an operation part, the operation part comprises:
a base portion contacting with the base part of the tube-like holder, and
a contact portion contacting with the regulating part of the tube-like holder.
16. The supersonic sensor head for a supersonic non-destructive test apparatus as claimed in claim 15 , wherein the contact portion moves in an axial direction of the tube-like holder.
17. The supersonic sensor head for a supersonic non-destructive test apparatus as claimed in claim 16 , wherein the contact portion moves in an axial direction of the tube-like holder by rotating the operation part.
18. The supersonic sensor head for a supersonic non-destructive test apparatus as claimed in claim 15 , wherein the base portion and the base part constitute a screw mechanism.
19. The supersonic sensor head for a supersonic non-destructive test apparatus as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the regulating part has a conical surface.
20. A method for conducting a supersonic non-destructive test for measuring shapes of supersonic waves transmitted in a test object, comprising:
providing a tube-shaped holder having a base end and an opening end, the holder being coaxial with the supersonic vibrator so that the base end of the holder is in contact with a free end of the supersonic vibrator;
positioning a contact medium made of a soft gel material between the supersonic vibrator and the test object, so that the supersonic vibrator indirectly contacts the test object, the contact medium having a basal part and a contact part, and being contained in the holder;
contacting the basal part with the free end of the supersonic vibrator and arranging the contact part to protrude from the opening end of the holder;
applying pressure between the contact part of the contact medium and the test object thereby urging the free end of the supersonic vibrator to closely contact the basal part of the contact medium, and the contact part of the contact medium to closely contact the test object, and
transmitting; and receiving supersonic waves from a supersonic vibrator,
wherein the tube-shaped holder has a diameter converging mechanism for regulating the inner diameter of the tube-shaped holder at the opening end thereof.