Roy D Felkner

US Patent:

55855652, Dec 17, 1996

Filed:

Feb 16, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/389569

Inventors:

James D. Glascock - Houston TX
Roy D. Felkner - Richmond TX
Gene M. Holmes - Houston TX

Assignee:

Tuboscope Vetco International, Inc. - Houston TX

International Classification:

G01N 2904

US Classification:

73644

Abstract:

A transducer assembly and method for the ultrasonic inspection of tubing. An elastic membrane is used to form a reservoir of ultrasonic fluid coupled to ultrasonic transducers with the membrane conforming to the surface of the tubing being inspected. Guide wheels maintain the membrane out-of-contact with the tubing during relative rotational movement of the assembly and tubing during inspection. Water is introduced between the membrane and the tubing to provide ultrasonic coupling of the tubing to the transducers through the fluid of the reservoir.