Measuring and testing – Probe or probe mounting
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-10
2001-10-30
Moller, Richard A. (Department: 2856)
Measuring and testing
Probe or probe mounting
Reexamination Certificate
active
06308585
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to ultrasonic transducers, and more specifically to a method and a device for attaching ultrasonic transducer to a member, such as a wall of a vessel, a beam or a conduit.
DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART
Ultrasonic transducers are used for introducing kinetic energy into a fluid, such as water contained in a metal vessel or a metal conduit. Typically, in such applications one or several transducers are attached to the outside of the vessel. Thus, the ultrasonic energy is transmitted through the wall onto which the transducer elements are mounted. Thereby, the wall acts as a vibrating member, vibrated by the transducer elements, to forward the energy to the fluid.
In addition to this, numerous other applications for ultrasonic transducers exist, such as in improving formation in paper machines by adding ultrasonic energy in the wire section of the paper machine, or for compacting concrete or pulverized material. For this kind of applications it is known to attach the transducer elements to a metal member, such as a beam.
Conventionally, when mounting an ultrasonic transducer to a wall or a beam member, a bottom ultrasonic energy emitting section of the transducer is secured to the wall or the beam by welding, screwing or by a bonding procedure using a suitable adhesive, such as an epoxy adhesive.
However, the ultrasonic vibrations generated by an ultrasonic transducer tend to degenerate the strength of a bonding, especially in the case of high-energy transducers. Furthermore, due to the low rigidity of the bonding material, as compared to the metal of the transducer and the member, the transmission efficiency through the bonding and the member is reduced.
In the case of welding the emitting body of an ultrasonic transducer to a member, a welded joint is sensitive to crack propagation emanating in an initial crack and propagating due to the vibration during use. Therefore, especially in the case of high-energy transducers combined with welding of weld sensitive steel alloys, there is a considerable risk for long-term failure in such welded joints.
Furthermore, although welding ideally should ensure an ultrasonic energy transmission through the member, e.g. through a wall, virtually without energy losses, the welding process makes the member uneven and dented which creates a risk that air is entrapped between the transducer and the surface of the member. In such a case considerable energy transmission losses could result. It should be noted that even in the case of high-energy transducers the wall thickness of the member has to be limited, typically to about 4 mm, since the combined thickness of the wall and the transducer emitting body becomes so large that the ultrasound energy transmission efficiency will be reduced due to the stiffness of the vibrating components.
In a case wherein the member is made of titanium, the process of welding is both difficult and expensive.
These known methods also have the disadvantage that an ultrasonic transducer cannot be easily replaced, for example after a malfunction.
It is also possible to attach an ultrasonic transducer to a member, such as the wall of a vessel, with bolts through the transducer emitting body and into the wall, but such a joint exhibits substantially the same disadvantages as described above except that it provides the possibility to replace the transducer in the case of a failure.
Therefore, there is a need for a method to attach ultrasonic transducer to a member such as a wall of a vessel or a beam that ensures highly efficient energy transfer as well as the possibility to replace a transducer.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In a first aspect, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method for mounting an ultrasonic transducer onto a supporting body, said method providing a secure long-term attachment of the transducer to the supporting body, while providing excellent transmission efficiency and easy replacement of the transducer.
This object is achieved with a method according to claim
1
of the appended claims.
In a second aspect, it is the object of the present invention to provide a coupling member for secure long-term attachment of an ultrasonic transducer to a supporting body, said coupling providing excellent transmission efficiency and easy replacement of the transducer.
This object is achieved with a device according to claim
15
of the appended claims.
Embodiments, advantages and scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention are given by way of illustration only. Various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.
Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail in the following, wherein the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limiting the present invention, and wherein
REFERENCES:
patent: 4173725 (1979-11-01), Asai et al.
Dahlberg Håkan
Nilsson Bo
Jenkens & Gilchrist P.C.
Moller Richard A.
Ultra Sonus AB
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