Ultrasonic Rail Flaw Detection

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=250 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="NTS Ultrasonics"><U><IMG SRC="0110c0c0.gif" border=0 width="12" height="12" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="NTS Ultrasonics"><U>Home</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="ultrasonic_instruments_for_ndt_and_rail_flaw_detection.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Ultrasonic Instruments for NDT"><U><IMG SRC="0110c0c0.gif" border=0 width="12" height="12" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="ultrasonic_instruments_for_ndt_and_rail_flaw_detection.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Ultrasonic Instruments for NDT"><U>Ultrasonic NDT</U></A></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="ultrasonic_instrumentation_for_measurement_and_process_control.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Ultrasonic Instrumentation for Measureme"><U><B><IMG SRC="0110c0c0.gif" border=0 width="12" height="12" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B> </B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="ultrasonic_instrumentation_for_measurement_and_process_control.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Ultrasonic Instrumentation for Measureme"><U>Ultrasonic Measurement</U></A></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>Ultrasonic Rail Flaw Detection</B></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="high_power_ultrasonoics_and_ultrasonic_cleaning.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="High Power Ultrasonics"><U><B><IMG SRC="0110c0c0.gif" border=0 width="12" height="12" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B> </B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="high_power_ultrasonoics_and_ultrasonic_cleaning.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="High Power Ultrasonics"><U>High Power Ultrasonics</U></A></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="past_projects.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Past Projects"><U><B><IMG SRC="0110c0c0.gif" border=0 width="12" height="12" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B> </B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="past_projects.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Past Projects"><U>Past Project</U></A><A HREF="past_projects.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Past Projects"><U>s</U></A></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="electronic_design_services.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Electronic Design Services"><U><IMG SRC="0110c0c0.gif" border=0 width="12" height="12" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="electronic_design_services.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Electronic Design Services"><U>Electronic Design</U></A></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="wheel_probes_and_test_rigs.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Ultrasonic wheel probes and other probe "><U><B><IMG SRC="0110c0c0.gif" border=0 width="12" height="12" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B> </B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="wheel_probes_and_test_rigs.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Ultrasonic wheel probes and other probe "><U>Probe</U></A><A HREF="wheel_probes_and_test_rigs.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Ultrasonic wheel probes and other probe "><U> Assemblies</U></A></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="consulting.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Consulting"><U><IMG SRC="0110c0c0.gif" border=0 width="12" height="12" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="consulting.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Consulting"><U>Consulting</U></A></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="about_us.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="About Us"><U><IMG SRC="0110c0c0.gif" border=0 width="12" height="12" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="about_us.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="About Us"><U>About us</U></A></FONT></div> </td> <td valign="top" BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="NTS Ultrasonics"><U><IMG SRC="005aa470.jpg" border=0 width="170" height="71" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A>                                                                  </div> <bR> <div> Perth, Western Australia. Ph/Fax (int): +61 8 9367 1578<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >         </FONT><B> For more information, contact:</B><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B> </B></FONT><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" > </FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="mailto:ntsu@amnet.net.au" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:ntsu@amnet.net.au"><U><B>ntsu@amnet.net.au</B></U></A></FONT></div> <div> <IMG SRC="007520a0.jpg" border=0 width="850" height="10" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> Ultrasonic Rail Flaw Detection</div> <div> <B> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="5" WIDTH="849" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#FFFFFF" BORDERCOLORDARK="#FFFFFF" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 314 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="07914170.gif" border=0 width="276" height="279" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>Railcheck Mk 1 ultrasonic rail tester</B></div> <bR> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="550"><div> <B> <A NAME="the_railcheck_mk_1_ultrasonic_rail"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B><B>The Railcheck Mk 1 ultrasonic rail tester</B></div> <bR> <div> The N.T.S. Ultrasonics Pty Ltd <B>Railcheck Mk 1</B> ultrasonic rail tester represents a new concept in portable ultrasonic rail inspection utilizing state of the art:</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">portable computing</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">USB based multi-channel ultrasonics and, </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">probe system with flexible configuration options.</div> <bR> <div> The <B>Railcheck Mk 1</B> ultrasonic rail tester allows track inspectors to intensively interrogate extended sections of track in ways not viable for manual inspection and in more detail than a single pass vehicle inspection.</div> <bR> <div> The <B>Railcheck Mk 1 </B>ultrasonic rail tester is complementary to both manual and vehicle based ultrasonic rail flaw detection. The system design provides the flexibility to implement conventional and new probe configurations to inspect extended sections of rail.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 371 WIDTH="276"><div> <B>Specifications:</B></div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">8 ultrasonic channels (parallel operation)</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">6 sliding probe assemblies</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">1 assembly with manually <B>adjustable lateral offset </B>(to field or gauge sides)</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">40 Ah battery pack allowing 5-8 hours continuous use (depends on computer selection)</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">7 litres of coupling water for over 1 hour continuous testing</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">1 mm sample spacing</div> <bR> <div> <B>Features:</B></div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">A, B scan displays of data</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Self-aligning probes</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Reports exported to word processor</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Instrument setups saved </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Easy to learn user interface</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Software design avoids data loss due to poor time gate design and poor processing algorithms</div> <bR> <bR> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="550"><div> <B>Areas of application:</B></div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Flaw detection on localized areas of track</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Inspection in busy areas with limited access time for testing vehicles</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Auditing of vehicle based flaw detection</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Defect monitoring</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Inspections using new ultrasonic probe configurations</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Research</div> <bR> <div> <B>Standard configuration:</B></div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Ultrasonic beams: 0, 45 forward and reverse, 70/straight forward and reverse, 70/offset 15 degrees to gauge and field sides forward and reverse (note: 38 degrees can be supplied instead of 45 degrees).</div> <bR> <div> <B>Alternate configuration 1:</B></div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">As for standard configuration but with special <B>multi-mode probes</B> optimized for upper head flaw detection. Note - this configuration can still detect bolt hole cracks.</div> <bR> <div> Other alternate configurations can be implemented on request.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Auxiliary probe:</B></div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">An auxiliary probe can be used for quantifying gauge corner cracking when placed in the <B>lateral offset probe</B> position. The probe can be used with either the standard or alternate probe configurations.</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></B></div> <bR> <div> Training can be provided for users of the <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >Railcheck Mk 1 ultrasonic </FONT>rail tester.</div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="859" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 20 ><NOBR><div> <B> <A NAME="the_minicheck_mk_1_ultrasonic_probe"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B><B>The Minicheck Mk 1 ultrasonic probe carrier</B></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="377"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="20" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="377" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP ROWSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 281 WIDTH="471"><div> The N.T.S. Ultrasonics Pty Ltd <B>Minicheck Mk 1 ultrasonic probe carrier</B> provides rail inspectors with a flexible and convenient carriage for applying ultrasonic transducers to the rail head for various ultrasonic rail flaw detection inspection tasks:</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Up to two transducers on the running surface</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Up to two miniature transducers applied to the field side of the rail head</div> <bR> <div> This combination of transducers and locations allows the inspector to carry out various pulse-echo and pitch-catch ultrasonic tests.</div> <bR> <div> The Minicheck Mk 1 ultrasonic probe carrier is compatible with third party portable ultrasonic flaw detectors (with appropriate carrying straps) and with NTS Ultrasonics instrumentation.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Areas of application:</B></div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Flaw detection on localized areas of track</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Inspection in busy areas with limited access time for testing vehicles </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Auditing of vehicle based flaw detection </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Defect monitoring </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Inspections using new ultrasonic probe configurations </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Research </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Side probes allow for detection of cracks under shelling and TOFD configurations</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" ><B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c80000ff00.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Note:</B></FONT> the Minicheck does not include a flaw detector or the transducers. These must be purchased separately. Any poratble flaw detector with carry strap accessories can be used.</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="07f44f30.jpg" border=0 width="324" height="243" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <B>Minicheck Mk1 probe carrier</B></div> <div> Showing carriage, handle, coupling water container and probes</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="377"><div> <B>Specifications </B>(subject to change)<B>:</B></div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Carries up to 4 transducers: </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">2 on running surface </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">2 on field side </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">5 litres of coupling water </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Allows fitting of a rotary position encoder </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Can accept off-the-shelf commercial transducers (e.g. GE WB and MWB series) </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Simple adjustment for different head widths </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Length extension for setting up pitch-catch weld inspection</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" ><B>For more information, contact: </B></FONT> <A HREF="mailto:ntsu@amnet.net.au" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:ntsu@amnet.net.au"><U><B>ntsu@amnet.net.au</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> Updated 29 July, 2008, 2:00 pm</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="NTS Ultrasonics"><U>Home</U></A> | <A HREF="ultrasonic_instruments_for_ndt_and_rail_flaw_detection.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Ultrasonic Instruments for NDT"><U>Ultrasonic NDT</U></A> | <A HREF="ultrasonic_instrumentation_for_measurement_and_process_control.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Ultrasonic Instrumentation for Measureme"><U>Ultrasonic measurement</U></A> | <A HREF="high_power_ultrasonoics_and_ultrasonic_cleaning.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="High Power Ultrasonics"><U>High Power Ultrasonics</U></A> | <A HREF="past_projects.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Past Projects"><U>Past projects</U></A> | <A HREF="electronic_design_services.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Electronic Design Services"><U>Electronic design</U></A> | <A HREF="wheel_probes_and_test_rigs.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Ultrasonic wheel probes and other probe "><U>Probe</U></A><A HREF="wheel_probes_and_test_rigs.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Ultrasonic wheel probes and other probe "><U> Assemblies</U></A> | <A HREF="consulting.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Consulting"><U>Consulting</U></A> | <A HREF="about_us.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="About Us"><U>About us</U></A></div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>