US 12,449,404 B2
Ultrasonic patch transducer for monitoring the condition of a structural asset
Ke Wang, Naperville, IL (US); Alexander S. Chernyshov, Satellite Beach, FL (US); Mariusz Kloza, Orlando, FL (US); Sascha Schieke, Geneva, IL (US); and Dumitru Rosca, Naperville, IL (US)
Assigned to Molex, LLC, Lisle, IL (US)
Appl. No. 17/771,762
Filed by Molex, LLC, Lisle, IL (US)
PCT Filed Oct. 23, 2020, PCT No. PCT/US2020/057025
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Apr. 25, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/081307, PCT Pub. Date Apr. 29, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/925,885, filed on Oct. 25, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0373515 A1, Nov. 24, 2022
Int. Cl. G01N 29/22 (2006.01); G01M 3/24 (2006.01); G01N 29/04 (2006.01); G01N 29/24 (2006.01); G01N 29/32 (2006.01)
CPC G01N 29/223 (2013.01) [G01M 3/243 (2013.01); G01N 29/04 (2013.01); G01N 29/2475 (2013.01); G01N 29/326 (2013.01); G01N 2291/0234 (2013.01); G01N 2291/2634 (2013.01)] 21 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An ultrasonic patch transducer configured to be secured to an outer surface of a structural asset, the ultrasonic patch transducer comprising:
an elongated housing having a length greater than a width, the elongated housing defining a centerline extending lengthwise between a first end of the elongated housing and a second end of the elongated housing;
a single-element piezoelectric element within the elongated housing and positioned along the centerline; and
at least two magnets within the elongated housing and positioned along the centerline,
wherein the at least two magnets are configured to cause the elongated housing to be self-aligning to be positioned such that the length and the width of the elongated housing extend perpendicular to each other along a tangent plane of the structural asset and secure the ultrasonic patch transducer to the structural asset such that the centerline of the elongated housing is aligned with a direction of flow of the structural asset.