Eddy current probe
An eddy current instrument for non-destructive testing of a tubular metallic object, the instrument comprising a probe head with probe coils and probe coil signal conditioning and analog to digital conversion electronics and a probe connector module with a processor and probe coil excitation signal generation electronics. The probe connector processor is configured to interface to an external computing device, which may be a personal computer. The probe head and probe connector module may be connected by a rigid shaft or by a flexible coupling.
1. An eddy current sensor instrument for non-destructive inspection of a tubular metal object comprising:
a probe head comprising a plurality of probe coils, an input amplifier and an analog to digital convertor;
a probe connector module comprising a signal processor, a digital to analog convertor and a drive amplifier; and
a probe head to probe connector module interface for physically and electrically connecting said probe head to said probe connector module;
wherein said probe connector module is configured to:
connect to a processing device for transmitting probe coil data to the processing device,
receive eddy current instrument configuration information from the processing device, wherein the eddy current instrument configuration information comprises:
information identifying a probe excitation waveform, frequency and amplitude,
information assigning first ones of the plurality of probe coils as excitation coils and second ones of the plurality of probe coils as sensing coils, and
information identifying an excitation and sensing sequence, and generate, via the signal processor, analog drive signals to drive the drive amplifier to supply analog excitation signals to the excitation coils,
wherein the excitation coils are configured to receive the analog excitation signals, and generate an eddy current on the tubular metal object,
wherein the input amplifier is configured to amplify signals associated with the eddy current sensed by the sensing coils,
wherein the analog to digital convertor is configured to receive the amplified signals, convert the amplified signals to digital signals, and forward the digital signals to the signal processor, and
wherein said probe head, said probe connector module and said probe head to probe connector module interface are configured for placement inside the tubular metal object under inspection.
2. The eddy current sensor instrument of claim 1 , wherein said probe head to probe connector module interface comprises a rigid shaft.
3. The eddy current sensor instrument of claim 1 , wherein said probe head to probe connector module interface comprises a flexible coupling.
4. The eddy current sensor instrument of claim 1 , wherein the second ones of the plurality of probe coils act as current sensors.
5. An eddy current sensor instrument for non-destructive inspection of a tubular metal object comprising:
a probe head comprising a plurality of probe coils, an input amplifier and an analog to digital convertor; and
a probe connector module comprising a signal processor, a digital to analog convertor and a drive amplifier;
wherein said probe connector module is configured to:
connect to a processing device for transmitting digital probe coil data to the processing device, and for receiving eddy current instrument configuration information from the processing device, wherein the eddy current instrument configuration information comprises:
information identifying a probe excitation waveform, frequency and amplitude,
information identifying an excitation and sensing sequence, and
information assigning first ones of the plurality of probe coils as excitation coils and second ones of the plurality of probe coils as sensing coils, and
generate, via the signal processor, analog drive signals to drive the drive amplifier to supply analog excitation signals to the excitation coils,
wherein the excitation coils are configured to receive the analog excitation signals, and generate an eddy current on the tubular metal object,
wherein the input amplifier is configured to amplify signals associated with the eddy current sensed by the sensing coils,
wherein the analog to digital convertor is configured to receive the amplified signals, convert the amplified signals to digital signals, and forward the digital signals to the signal processor, and
wherein said probe head and said probe connector module are configured for placement inside the tubular metal object under inspection.
6. The eddy current sensor instrument of claim 5 , further comprising a probe head to probe connector module interface comprising a rigid shaft.
7. The eddy current sensor instrument of claim 5 , further comprising a probe head to probe connector module interface comprising a flexible coupling.
8. The eddy current sensor instrument of claim 5 , further comprising separate probe excitation coils and current sensors.
9. The eddy current sensor instrument of claim 8 , wherein said current sensors are coils or solid state sensors.
10. An eddy current sensor instrument for non-destructive inspection of a tubular metal object comprising:
a probe head comprising a plurality of probe coils, an input amplifier connected to said probe coils and an analog to digital convertor connected to an output of said input amplifier; and
a probe connector module comprising a signal processor, a digital to analog convertor and a drive amplifier;
wherein said probe connector module is configured to:
connect to a processing device for transmitting digital probe coil data from said analog to digital convertor to the processing device,
receive eddy current instrument configuration information from the processing device, wherein the eddy current instrument configuration information comprises:
information identifying a probe excitation waveform, frequency and amplitude, and
information identifying an excitation and sensing sequence, and information assigning first ones of the plurality of probe coils as excitation coils and second ones of the plurality of probe coils as sensing coils, and
generate, via the signal processor, analog drive signals to drive the drive amplifier to supply analog excitation signals to the excitation coils,
wherein the excitation coils are configured to receive the analog excitation signals and generate an eddy current on the tubular metal object,
wherein the input amplifier is configured to amplify signals associated with the eddy current sensed by the sensing coils,
wherein the analog to digital convertor is configured to receive the amplified signals, convert the amplified signals to digital signals, and forward the digital signals to the signal processor, and
wherein said probe head and said probe connector module are configured for placement inside the tubular metal object under inspection.
11. The eddy current sensor instrument of claim 10 , further comprising a probe head to probe connector module interface comprising a rigid shaft.
12. The eddy current sensor instrument of claim 10 , further comprising a probe head to probe connector module interface comprising a flexible coupling.
13. The eddy current sensor instrument of claim 10 , further comprising separate probe excitation coils and current sensors.
14. The eddy current sensor instrument of claim 13 , wherein said current sensors are coils or solid state sensors.