Aug. 18, 1953 F. H.

, HARDE El Al 2,649,550
REFLECTION ABSORBING ULTRASONIC WEDGE
Filed Oct. 26, l950

70
INVENTORS.
FRED. H. HARDE
ROBERT C. GOODMAN
HOWARD E. WAN VALKENBURG
BY // 23. 6. f
24% ArTORNEY?
Patented Aug. 18, 1953 2,649,550

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

2,649,550
REFLECTION ABSORBNG ULTRASONC
WEDGE
Fred H. Hardie, Danbury, Robert C. Goodman,
Bridgeport, and Howard E. Wan Walkenburg,
Danbury, Conn., assignors to Sperry Products,
Inc., Danbury, Conn., a corporation of New
York
Application October 26, 1950, Serial No. 192,262
8 Claims. (CI. 310-82)
1. 2
This invention relates to the inspection of The pulses are applied to a crystal is on one
objects by the transmission therein of ultraSonic Surface of a wedge f8 whose other surface
pulses which are reflected by reflecting Surfaces, 9 is in engagement with a surface of object iO.
such as internal defects, within the object. By Surface T is inclined with respect to surface 9
one method of inspection it has been found de at an angle 0 which is the angle of incidence at
sirable to transmit the ultrasonic pulses into the which the pulses will strike the object O. The
object at an angle of incidence greater than Zero, path of the pulse is illustrated by the arrows.
in other words, at an angle inclined to normal. Arrow 20 is the line of transmission of the pulse
To effect such transmission, an electro-acoustic O
Which, upon Striking object fo, is caused to enter
transducer in the form of a piezo-electric CryS the object and be refracted as shown by arrow
ital is mounted on one surface of a wedge which 2. The refracted beam will be reflected by any
has another surface, at an angle to the first internal reflecting Surface, such as fissure D, and
surface, in engagement with the object under the reflected pulse will strike the crystal to gen
test. An electrical pulse is generated and ap erate a Signal voltage. The signal voltage corre
plied to the crystal which then transmits a 5 Sponding to an internal reflecting surface in
mechanical pulse through the wedge and into the object can be indicated in any suitable man
object at an angle determined by the wedge angle. ner, aS, for instance, by applying it to the vertical
While most of the vibrations transmitted into plates 23 of an oscilloscope 24 whose sweep be
the wedge will pass through the wedge and into tween horizontal plates 25 may be synchronized
the object, some of the vibrations will be re 20 with the pulse generation by causing synchron
flected at the interface between the wedge and izer 5 to energize the sweep circuit generator 26.
object and will be reflected back to the crystal. The problem which this invention seeks to
The effect of these returned reflections will be to Solve arises from the fact that although most of
interfere with the received reflections from re the generated pulse energy enters the object
flecting surfaces within the object, thus obscur 25 along path 21, some of the pulse energy is re
ing the indications of the internal conditions in flected from the interface along the path indi
the object. cated by arrow 30. The latter energy is re
It is therefore the principal object of this flected from Wall 3 of the Wedge heretofore used
invention to provide a wedge which will have and finds its way back to the crystal along path
the property of attenuating the pulse reflections indicated by arrow 32. The receipt of this energy
caused by the interface between wedge and ob will generate a signal voltage in the same man
ject while permitting the pulse to travel into, and ner as the energy reflected back from defect ID,
be received from, the object with relatively little and will thus give rise to false indications of
attenuation. defects within object to as well as obscure the
Further objects and advantages of this inven- 3: 5 indications of true defects. By this invention
tion will become apparent in the following de means are provided for minimizing the effect of
tailed description thereof. internal reflections of the pulse in the wedge
In the accompanying drawings, Without affecting the transmission and reception
Fig. 1 is a front elevation, largely diagram of pulse energy between the crystal and the
matic, of a crystal and wedge applied to an ob 40 object.
ject, and illustrating the problem involved in this One Solution of the problem is disclosed in
invention. Fig. 2. This Solution consists essentially in pro
Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing One Viding a longer path for the reflections within
form of this invention. the wedge before such reflections strike the
Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing crystal. For this purpose the wedge is formed
another form of this invention. with walls which intercept the successive reflec
Referring first to Fig. 1, there is shown a SyS tions Within the wedge at such angles as to direct
term as heretofore employed and embodying the them away from the crystal. Thus instead of
problem which the present invention has Solved. Conventitional vertical surface 3. Which Will re
An object 0 is to be inspected for internal de flect beam 30 back to the crystal along path 32,
fects, such as fissure D, by means of ultraSonic there is provided a horizontal surface 40 designed
pulses. These pulses are generated periodically to refiect beam 30 away from the crystal along
by a pulse generator 2 which is periodically path Af. Another wall 42 is provided to inter
tripped by a synchronizer 5 energized from a cept the beam 41 at such angle as to direct its
suitable source of energy such as 60 cycle A, C, 55 reflection 43 away from the crystal. Beam 43
 2,649,550
3 4.
will in turn strike surface 40 at such angle that ing reflected within the Wedge from the interface
it will Once more be reflected away from the between wedge and object, said Wedge having a
crystal. Thus, the internally reflected beam 3 third surface adapted to intercept the internally
is caused to travel a much longer path than in reflected pulse energy at an angle to direct the
the conventional Wedge shown in Fig. 1, and in reflection away from the crystal, Said Wedge hav
So doing is greatly attenuated, when material of ing an additional surface adapted to intercept the
the proper attenuating properties is ennployed, pulse energy reflected from Said third Surface,
so that should it eventually return to the crystal said additional surface being so positioned as to
its energy will be dininished to the point where reflect the internally reflected pulse energy at an
it can no longer interfere With the true indica O angle to direct the reflection toward, but at a
tions of defectS. different level from, the crystal.
The form. Of invention. ShoWn in Fig.2 may re 4. In an ultrasonic inspection device in which
sult in a wedge of greater lateral dimension than ultrasonic pulses are transmitted into an object
desired for SOrne uses, and therefore the form and reflections of the pulse are received from
shown in Fig. 3 has been devised which will yield 15 reflecting Surfaces Within the object, comprising
the Sane result With a Smaller lateral dimen a piezo-electric crystal, a Wedge having one Sur
sion. The first internal reflection 30 impinges on face in engagement with a surface of the object,
a Surface 5 which is Sufficiently upright so as to the crystal engaging another surface of the Wedge
reflect the beam 30 back toward the crystal, but at an angle to the first surface, some of the pulse
the surface 5 is Spaced far enough away from 20 energy generated by the crystal being reflected
the crystal so that the reflected beam 5 will be Within the Wedge from the interface between
projected above the crystal. Beam 5 impinges wedge and object, said wedge having a third Sur
On a Surface 52 designed to continue to reflect the face adapted to intercept the internally reflected
beam 53 toward the crystal. However, between pulse energy at an angle to direct the reflection
the crystal and the returning beam 53' there is 25 away from the crystal, Said Wedge having addi
provided a surface 5A upon which beam 53 im tional surfaces adapted to intercept successively
pingeS SO that Said bean does not strike the crys the internally reflected pulse energy, each of
tal. In this manner, by turning the reflected Said additional Surfaces being So positioned as to
beam back on itself but on a higher vertical level reflect the internally reflected pulse energy at
than the crystal, the beam is caused to travel a 30 an angle to direct the reflection toward, but at a
longer path within a laterally shorter, but ver different level from, the crystal.
tically higher, Wedge than the one shown in 5. In an ultraSonic inspection device in Which
Fig. 2. ultraSonic pulses are transmitted into an object
Having described our invention, what we claim and reflections of the pulse are received from
and desire to Secure by Letters Patent is: 3 5 reflecting surfaces within the object, comprising
1. In an ultraSonic inspection device in which a piezo-electric crystal, a wedge having one sur
ultraSonic pulses are transmitted into an object face in engagement with a surface of the object,
and reflections of the pulse are received from the Crystal engaging another surface of the wedge
reflecting Surfaces within the object, comprising at an angle to the first surface, some of the pulse
a piezo-electric crystal, a Wedge having one Sur 40 energy generated by the crystal being reflected
face in engagement with a Surface of the object, within the wedge from the interface between
the crystal engaging another Surface of the wedge Wedge and object, said wedge having means for
at an angle to the first Surface, Some of the pulse attenuating the internally reflected pulse energy
energy generated by the crystal being reflected before it can return to the crystal, said last
within the wedge from the interface between 4. 5 named means comprising in said wedge an elon
Wedge and object, Said wedge having a third Sur gated path of travel for said internally reflected
face adapted to intercept the internally reflected pulse energy in a direction away from the crystal.
pulse energy at an angle to direct the reflection 6. In an ultrasonic inspection device in which
away from the crystal. ultraSonic pulses are transmitted into an object
2. ln an ultraSonic inspection device in which and reflections of the pulse are received from
ultraSonic pulses are transmitted into an ob reflecting Surfaces within the object, comprising
ject and reflections of the pulse are received from a piezo-electricl crystal, a wedge having one SUm
reflecting Surfaces within the object, comprising face in engagement with a surface of the object,
a piezo-electric crystal, a wedge having One Sur the Crystal engaging another surface of the wedge
face in engagement with a surface of the ob 5 5 at an angle to the first surface, some of the
ject, the crystal engaging another Surface of the pulse energy generated by the crystal being re
wedge at an angle to the first surface, Some of flected within the wedge from the interface be
the pulse energy generated by the crystal being tween wage and object, and means for attenuat
reflected Within the wedge from the interface be ing the internally reflected pulse energy before
tween wedge and object, Said Wedge having a 60 it can return to the crystal, said last-named
plurality of additional surfaces adapted to in means comprising in Said Wedge an elongated
tercept successively the internally reflected pulse path of travel for said internally reflected pulse
energy, each of said additional surfaces being SO energy in a direction away from the crystal and
positioned as to reflect the internally reflected returning in a direction toward, but at a different
pulse energy at an angle to direct the reflection 65 level from, the Crystal.
away from the crystal. 7. In an ultraSonic inspection device in which
3. In an ultrasonic inspection device in which ultraSonic pulses are transmitted into an object
ultrasonic pulses are transmitted into an Ob and reflections of the pulse are received from
ject and reflections of the pulse are received reflecting surfaces within the object, comprising
from reflecting surfaces within the object, com a piezo-electric crystal, a wedge having one sur
prising a piezo-electric crystal, a Wedge having face in engagement with a surface of the object,
one surface in engagement with a surface of the the Crystal engaging another surface of the
object, the crystal engaging another Surface of Wedge at an angle to the first surface, some of
the wedge at an angle to the first Surface, Some the pulse energy generated by the crystal being
of the pulse energy generated by the crystal be reflected within the wedge from the interface
 2,649,550
5 6
between wedge and object, said wedge having a the energy reflected from the interface, the re
plurality of additional surfaces, one of said ad maining additional Surfaces being angularly po
ditional surfaces being positioned to receive all Sitioned with respect to Said first-named addi
of the energy reflected from the interface and tional surface so as to successively receive the re
to transmit said energy to another of said addi 5 flection of said energy from a preceding addi
tional Surfaces. tional Surface and transmit it to a Succeeding ad
8. In an ultraSonic inspection device in which ditional Surface.
ultraSOnic pulses are transmitted into an object FRED. H. HARDIE.
and reflections of the pulse are received from re ROBERT C. GOODMAN.
flecting surfaces within the object, comprising 0 HOWARD E. WAN WALKENBURG.
a piezo-electric crystal, a wedge having one sur
face in engagement with a surface of the object, References Cited in the file of this patent
the crystal engaging another Surface of the UNITED STATES PATENTS
wedge at an angle to the first surface, some of
the pulse energy generated by the crystal being s Number Name Date
reflected within the wedge from the interface be 2,525,861 Carlin ------------ Oct. 17, 1950
tween wedge and object, said wedge having a 2,602,101 Mesh -------------- July 1, 1952
plurality of additional Surfaces, one of said addi 2,602,102 Webb -------------- July 1, 1952
tional Surfaces being positioned to receive all of 2,628,335 Drale -------------- Feb. 10, 1953