Patent Application
20130283935
The subject matter disclosed herein relates to an apparatus, system, and method for attaching a sensing device to a target object.
Several industries (e.g., oil and gas, refinery, chemical, power generation) require the transport of fluid (e.g., liquids or gases) through pipes. Nondestructive testing systems can be placed on the outer surface of these pipes to monitor corrosion/erosion of the pipes, including corrosion/erosion on the interior of the pipe walls. One example of a nondestructive testing system used to monitor corrosion/erosion of a pipe is an ultrasonic testing system. When conducting ultrasonic testing of a pipe, an ultrasonic pulse is emitted from a probe coupled to the outer surface of the pipe and passed through the pipe. As the ultrasonic pulse passes into and through the pipe, various pulse reflections called echoes are reflected back to the probe as the pulse interacts with the outer surface of the pipe, internal structures, voids or occlusions within the pipe, and with the inner surface (or back wall) of the pipe. The echo signals can be displayed on a screen with echo amplitudes appearing as vertical traces and time of flight or distance as horizontal traces. By tracking the time difference between the transmission of the ultrasonic pulse and the receipt of the echoes, various characteristics of the pipe can be determined, including pipe thickness. If the thickness of the pipe at the location of the ultrasonic testing system decreases over time (e.g., as would be shown be a reduction in the time of flight of the back wall echo), this can be an indication of corrosion/erosion.
In some nondestructive testing systems, the probe or other sensing device is permanently coupled to the outer surface of the pipe to continuously monitor corrosion/erosion at that location. The sensing device is attached to the pipe using a coupling material that has sufficient adhesive properties to hold the sensing device in place after curing. While the coupling material is curing, the sensing device must be held in place either manually or through another mechanism.
The discussion above is merely provided for general background information and is not intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.
An apparatus, system, and method for attaching a sensing device to a target object. The apparatus includes one or more magnets that attach the apparatus to a target object. The sensing device is coupled to the target object with a coupling material and is held in place against the target object by the apparatus. An advantage that may be realized in the practice of some disclosed embodiments is that the apparatus facilitates attachment of the sensing device during the curing of the coupling material or eliminates the need for adhesive properties in the coupling material.
In one embodiment an apparatus is disclosed comprising a first layer comprising one or more magnet cavities, one or more magnets disposed within the one or more magnet cavities, and a second layer over the first layer encasing the one or more magnets.
In another embodiment a sensing system for inspecting a target object is disclosed. The sensing system comprises a sensing device comprising a first surface and a second surface, a coupling material between the first surface of the sensing device and the target object, and a mat magnetically coupled to the target object and contacting the second surface of the sensing device.
In yet another embodiment a method for attaching a sensing device to a target object is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of applying a coupling material between a surface of the sensing device and the target object, pressing the surface of the sensing device onto the target object, and placing a mat over the sensing device, the mat being magnetically coupled to the target object to retain the sensing device against the target object.
This brief description of the invention is intended only to provide a brief overview of subject matter disclosed herein according to one or more illustrative embodiments, and does not serve as a guide to interpreting the claims or to define or limit the scope of the invention, which is defined only by the appended claims. This brief description is provided to introduce an illustrative selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the detailed description. This brief description is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. The claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that solve any or all disadvantages noted in the background.
So that the manner in which the features of the invention can be understood, a detailed description of the invention may be had by reference to certain embodiments, some of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. It is to be noted, however, that the drawings illustrate only certain embodiments of this invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the scope of the invention encompasses other equally effective embodiments. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis generally being placed upon illustrating the features of certain embodiments of the invention. In the drawings, like numerals are used to indicate like parts throughout the various views. Thus, for further understanding of the invention, reference can be made to the following detailed description, read in connection with the drawings in which:
Referring now to the figures,
The sensing device 20, further contains a sensing element 26, such as in one embodiment, a piezoelectric element (e.g., a ceramic piezoelectric transducer). It will be understood that other types of sensing devices and sensing elements can be used. In one embodiment, the substrate is a flexible substrate that can conform to the shape of the target object 10. While the sensing device 20 is shown as being disposed along the length of the target object 10, it is understood that the sensing device 20 can also be disposed along the circumference of the target object 10.
A coupling material 30 is disposed between the front surface 24 of the sensing device 20 and the target object 10. The coupling material 30 transmits ultrasonic signals from the sensing element 26 to the target object 10. The coupling material 30 may be any suitable coupling material sufficient to transfer ultrasonic signals. In one embodiment the coupling material is also an adhesive, including, but not limited to, one-part thermosettings, heat cured thermosettings, moisture cured thermosettings, two-part thermosettings, thermoplastics, cold-flow adhesives, epoxies, urethanes, polyimides, cyanoacrylates, urethanes, acrylics, silicones or hot melt adhesives. The coupling material 30 may be applied to the front surface 24 of the sensing device 20 and/or directly to the surface of the target object 10.
As shown in
In another embodiment, the magnetic mat 100 remains during the operation of the sensing device 20. Since the magnetic mat 100 can hold the sensing device 20 stationary relative to the target object 10, the coupling material 30 need not be an adhesive.
The magnetic mat 100 has a front (first) surface 104 and back (second) surface 102. The front surface 104 of the magnetic mat 100 can have a smooth surface that is in contact with the back surface 22 of the sensing device 20. The magnetic mat 100 magnetically couples to the target object 10 to hold the sensing device 20 stationary relative to the target object 10. While a plurality of magnets 112 and cavities 110 are shown, it is understood that any number of magnets (including one) could be used to couple the magnetic mat to the target object. In one embodiment, the base (first) layer 108, the cover (second) layer 106 or both are made from a magnetic material, thereby eliminating the need for individual magnets 112. In another embodiment, the plurality of magnets 112 can be placed between two layers 106, 108 without the use of cavities 110.
The base layer 108 and the cover layer 106 are formed from flexible materials to conform to the shape of the target object 10. In one embodiment, the base layer 108 is a formable material to better conform to the shape of the sensing device 20. In one embodiment, the base layer 108 and the cover layer 106 are a suitable elastomeric material, such as a cured RTV silicon rubber.
In one embodiment, an elastomer is poured into a tool and allowed to cure to form the base layer 108. The tool is shaped to form the magnet cavities 110 in the base layer 108. Once cured, the magnets 112 are placed into the magnet cavities 110. While 18 square magnets and magnet cavities are shown in
Referring now to
This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal language of the claims.
