US 12,352,564 B2
Ultrasonic device and method
Robert Andrew Dekker, Cambridge (CA); Robert Jeffrey Martin, Cambridge (CA); and Mitchel Lucas West, Cambridge (CA)
Assigned to BWXT Canada Ltd., Cambridge (CA)
Filed by BWXT Canada Ltd., Cambridge (CA)
Filed on Oct. 21, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/970,848.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/270,286, filed on Oct. 21, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0131625 A1, Apr. 27, 2023
Int. Cl. G01B 17/02 (2006.01)
CPC G01B 17/02 (2013.01) 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An ultrasonic device for scanning an object, the device comprising:
a collar configured for coupling to the object, the collar having an arcuate segment;
a carriage coupled to the collar, the carriage configured for displacement along the arcuate segment;
an ultrasonic probe unit coupled to the collar and comprising a wedge having a contoured face configured for maintaining conforming contact against a surface of the object, the ultrasonic probe unit configured to emit an ultrasonic beam for transmission through the contoured face of the wedge and into the object; and
a position locator coupled to the carriage, the position locator configured to record a position of the ultrasonic probe unit,
wherein the ultrasonic probe unit emits the ultrasonic beam at an incidence angle relative to the object,
further wherein the ultrasonic probe unit is configured to adjust the incidence angle using beam steering and the incidence angle is selected for reflecting the ultrasonic beam substantially normal to a back surface of the object.