IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,638,420
Granted Patent B2
US 12,638,420 · App. 18/004,024 · Granted May 26, 2026

Ultrasonic testing device

Inventor: Wolfgang Lenglachner (Braunau am Inn, AT)
Assignee: FACC AG
G01N29/04B05B1/3402B05B13/0431G01N29/32G01N2291/0231
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,638,420
App. No.
18/004,024
Granted
May 26, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

The invention relates to an ultrasonic testing device and to a method for nondestructively testing a component, in particular a fiber-plastic composite component, having: an ultrasonic testing head; and a liquid nozzle with a liquid inlet, a liquid outlet, and an inner surface which tapers towards the liquid outlet, wherein the liquid nozzle has at least one liquid guiding rib which protrudes inwards into the sound chamber from the tapering inner surface of the liquid nozzle upstream of the ultrasonic testing head.

Claims (24)

1 . An ultrasonic testing device for non-destructively testing a component, having:

an ultrasonic testing head,

a liquid nozzle with a liquid inlet, a liquid outlet, and an inner surface which tapers towards the liquid outlet,

wherein

the liquid nozzle has multiple liquid-guiding ribs, which protrude inwards from the tapering inner surface of the liquid nozzle into a sound chamber in front of the ultrasonic testing head,

a height of the liquid-guiding ribs decreases towards the liquid outlet, and

the inner longitudinal edges of the liquid-guiding ribs run substantially parallel to one another.

2 . The ultrasonic testing device according to claim 1 , wherein the liquid-guiding rib extends from the tapering inner surface into an edge region on the front of the ultrasonic testing head, wherein a central region on the front of the ultrasonic testing head is free of the liquid-guiding rib.

3 . The ultrasonic testing device according to claim 1 , wherein inner longitudinal edges of the liquid-guiding ribs are arranged at a distance from one another, so that the liquid nozzle has a central region free of liquid-guiding ribs.

4 . The ultrasonic testing device according to claim 1 , wherein the liquid-guiding ribs are arranged at regular angular intervals in a circumferential direction on the tapering inner surface of the liquid nozzle.

5 . The ultrasonic testing device according to claim 1 , wherein the tapering inner surface of the liquid nozzle adjacent to the liquid outlet is free of liquid-guiding ribs.

6 . The ultrasonic testing device according to claim 1 , wherein the inner surface of the liquid nozzle is tapered according to a spline polynomial of degree 3 to 5.

7 . The ultrasonic testing device according to claim 1 , wherein the liquid nozzle has an axial extent of less than 60 mm from a center of the ultrasonic testing device to the liquid outlet.

8 . The ultrasonic testing device according to claim 1 , wherein a drive is provided to move the liquid nozzle, to rotate the liquid nozzle about its longitudinal axis and/or a transverse axis running perpendicular thereto.

9 . The ultrasonic testing device according to claim 1 , wherein the component is a fibre-reinforced plastic component.

10 . A testing system having a manipulation element, having a robot arm, on which a tool having an ultrasonic testing device is arranged, the device having an ultrasonic testing head, a liquid nozzle with a liquid inlet, a liquid outlet, and an inner surface which tapers towards the liquid outlet wherein the liquid nozzle has multiple liquid-guiding ribs which protrude inwards from the tapering inner surface of the liquid nozzle into a sound chamber in front of the ultrasonic testing head, wherein a height of the liquid-guiding ribs decreases towards the liquid outlet, and wherein the inner longitudinal edges of the liquid-guiding ribs run substantially parallel to one another.

11 . A method for non-destructively testing a component, having the steps of:

providing an ultrasonic testing device having an ultrasonic testing head, a liquid nozzle with a liquid inlet, a liquid outlet, and an inner surface which tapers towards the liquid outlet wherein the liquid nozzle has multiple liquid-guiding ribs which protrude inwards from the tapering inner surface of the liquid nozzle into a sound chamber in front of the ultrasonic testing head, wherein a height of the liquid-guiding ribs decreases towards the liquid outlet, and wherein the inner longitudinal edges of the liquid-guiding ribs run substantially parallel to one another,

generating ultrasonic waves using the ultrasonic testing head,

supplying a liquid flow into the liquid nozzle via the liquid inlet,

conducting the liquid flow along the inner surface of the liquid nozzle to the liquid outlet, wherein the liquid flow is guided with the aid of the liquid-guiding rib.

12 . The method according to claim 11 , comprising:

rotating the liquid nozzle, about its own axis, while the liquid flow is conducted along the inner surface of the liquid nozzle to the liquid outlet, so that the liquid flow is carried over the liquid-guiding rib during the rotary movement.

13 . The method according to claim 11 , wherein the component is a fibre-reinforced plastic component.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 18, 2023
From: LENGLACHNER, WOLFGANG
To: FACC AG
Reel/Frame 064639/0484 →
Priority Claims (1)
AT A 51048/2020 · Dec 1, 2020 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230314378A1 · Oct 5, 2023
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