Claims:WE CLAIM:

1. A device to determine the axial resolution of angle beam ultrasonic transducer comprising a singly structured block, one side of which forms an edge and other side constitutes a surface connected by means of a tapered part, wherein said surface is integrated with a plurality of steps.

2. A device to determine the axial resolution of angle beam ultrasonic transducer as claimed in claim 1 wherein the side forming edge is having an angle corresponding to the refracted angle of the transducer.

3. A device to determine the axial resolution of angle beam ultrasonic transducer as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein said surface is substantially circular.

4. A device to determine the axial resolution of angle beam ultrasonic transducer as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein said plurality of steps are placed one above the other in a circular manner covering the whole circular surface.

5. A device to determine the axial resolution of angle beam ultrasonic transducer as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the steps are having depth of any value.
6. A device to determine the axial resolution of angle beam ultrasonic transducer as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein an angle beam probe is positioned against the edge of the device causing the sound beam to travel up to the steps thereby helping in evaluating the axial resolution of the angle probe by means of refraction of the beam at different depth.

7. A device to determine the axial resolution of angle beam ultrasonic transducer as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the block is preferably made of ultrasonically tested carbon steel of fine grain.

8. A device to determine the axial resolution of angle beam ultrasonic transducer as claimed in any of the preceding claims, which is having applications such as herein described.
, Description:A device to determine the axial resolution of angle beam ultrasonic transducer
FIELD OF INVENTION
[001] This invention relates to a device to determine the axial resolution of angle beam ultrasonic transducer. Said device is implemented so as to detect defects in materials and for evaluating the performance.

BACKGROUND/PRIOR ART OF INVENTION

[002] The Ultrasonic Testing is frequently used as a reliable method of non-destructive testing for all the areas of the industries. The advantage of the ultrasonic inspection is its ability in detection of planar defects. The resolving capability of the probe/ device decides the ability to detect and characterize the defect.

[003] The mechanism of finding the axial resolution for normal beam transducers is very simple because it requires just some planar reflections with variation of metal path. In contrast to the same, for finding the axial resolution of Angle Beam transducers the requirement constitutes variation of metal path along the probe angle.

[004] Now, reference may be made to the following patents.

[005] US5837880A:- It discloses compact ultrasonic calibration block having a unique shape incorporating an arcuate surface and a series of reflectors that enable discreet instrument measurement verifications in a relatively small area.

[006] Thus, the above proposes a light weight portable block for calibration of ultrasonic for finding the resolution of normal beam inspection in ultrasonic testing.

[007] US 5665893A:- It is pertinent to a reference block for determining the characteristics of individual ultrasonic transducers contained within right circular cylinder type ultrasonic probes, which are designed for performing ultrasonic inspections of components that can only be examined from within a center line access hole. The reference block is made from the same material as that of the right circular cylinder type components which will be examined using the ultrasonic probe being characterized and is designed with curved contact surfaces that specifically duplicate the surfaces of those components.

[008] Thus, the above talks about a block for calibration specifically for right circular cylindrical probe only.

[009] Thus, there is a requirement of devising a device to determine the axial resolution of angle beam ultrasonic transducer, which has been proposed by the present invention.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

[0010] An object of the present invention is to provide a device to determine the axial resolution of angle beam ultrasonic transducer which is simple in construction and efficient.

[0011] Another object of the present invention is to provide a device to determine the axial resolution of angle beam ultrasonic transducer in the pulse echo mode.

[0012] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a device to determine the axial resolution of angle beam ultrasonic transducer which measures the effect of pulse width.

[0013] Further object of the present invention is to provide a device to determine the axial resolution of angle beam ultrasonic transducer which determines maximum pulse width with respect to the various product applications.

[0014] Still further object of the present invention is to provide a device to determine the axial resolution of angle beam ultrasonic transducer which determines the effect of damping in axial resolution.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0015] According to this invention, there is provided a device to determine the axial resolution of angle beam ultrasonic transducer comprising a singly structured block, one side of which forms an edge and other side constitutes a surface connected by means of a tapered part, wherein said surface is integrated with a plurality of steps.

[0016] The side forming edge is having an angle corresponding to the refracted angle of the transducer.

[0017] Said surface is substantially circular.

[0018] Said plurality of steps are placed one above the other in a circular manner covering the whole circular surface.

[0019] The steps are having depth of any value.

[0020] An angle beam probe is positioned against the edge of the device causing the sound beam to travel up to the steps thereby helping in evaluating the axial resolution of the angle probe by means of refraction of the beam at different depth.

[0021] The block is preferably made of ultrasonically tested carbon steel of fine grain.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

[0022] Further objects and advantages of this invention will be more apparent from the ensuing description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of the exemplary embodiments and wherein:

Figure 1 shows: A device to determine the axial resolution of angle beam ultrasonic transducer according to present invention.
Figure 2 shows: The device of invention along with the probe positioned on one side thereof.
DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION WITH REFERENCE TO THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

[0023] Ultrasonic Testing is a vital technique for volumetric inspection of materials. The ability to characterize an indication is greatly dependent upon the axial resolution of transducers.

[0024] Thus, the defect detection and characterization capability is highly dependent upon the resolution of the probe. The axial resolution decides the capability of defect detection in subsequent layers of welds.

[0025] The present invention imparts teaching in respect of a device to determine the axial resolution of angle beam ultrasonic transducer. The device of the invention as illustrated in figure 1 constitutes a solid block, one side ‘A’ of which forms an edge i.e. it is having a cut section. The cut section is provided with an angle (?) corresponding to the refracted angle of the transducer. So that the sound beam travels at 90 degree along the longitudinal axis of the block towards the other side (B), which will assist in evaluation of axial resolution.

[0026] Other side (B) of the block forms a surface as shown. Both the sides (A, B) are connected by means of a tapered part (C). Thus, the tapered part (C) ends with the edge (A).

[0027] The surface (B) is substantially circular in this particular embodiment of invention, which may take any other shape readily apparent to a person skilled in the art. Said surface is provided with a plurality of steps (S) placed one above the other in a circular manner so as to cover the whole circular surface as best seen in the figure 1. The depth of each step may be same or different.

[0028] The circular side (B) of the device integrated with multitude of steps helps in finding resolution of the angle beam ultrasonic transducer by means of refraction of the beam at different depth, wherein the opposite side (A) is provided with a slope according to the refracted angle beam i.e. the device is unique for a given angle.

[0029] An angle beam probe (1) is positioned against the side (A) of the device as shown in the figure 2. The device side surface A is designed in such way that the sound beam will become perpendicular to the predefined steps on the other side of the block.

[0030] When an angle beam probe is placed on the side A, the sound beam will travel along the axis of the block, towards the steps on the side B and will be reflected. The axial resolution will be evaluated from the scan of the ultrasonic testing machine.

[0031] The novel device of the invention gives variation of metal path with a step of 1mm, which is the reference for finding the axial resolution of the transducers for a given refracted shear beam transducer. Here, the depth of 1mm is given for example without restricting scope of the invention to the same. Thus, any other numerical value is applicable to the invention.

[0032] The length of the metal path is fixed beyond near zone to avoid interference echoes. The length of the metal path can be varied based on the far surface resolution required on the product.

[0033] The device of invention can be made of ultrasonically tested carbon steel of fine grain without restricting scope of the invention to the same. Thus, other materials readily apparent to a person skilled in the art are understood to be within the purview of the invention.

[0034] The concept can be extended to any angle beam probe with change of step angle. The steps can be modified relying on the pulse width which can be useful in studying the effect of pulse width in axial resolution. With the help of device, maximum pulse width can be obtained which can be implemented without affecting the required sensitivity. The effect of damping on the axial resolution can also be studied. Based on the result, the minimum damping required for the expected resolution can also be found. The device can be employed for finding the far surface resolution of angle probes of any size.

[0035] Applications:-

- Determination of the axial resolution of angle beam ultrasonic transducers in the pulse echo mode
- Measures the effect of pulse width
- Determines maximum pulse width with respect to the various product application
- Finding the effect of damping in axial resolution.

[0036] It is to be noted that the present invention is susceptible to modifications, adaptations and changes by those skilled in the art. Such variant embodiments employing the concepts and features of this invention are intended to be within the scope of the present invention, which is further set forth under the following claims:-