Non-Contact Eddy Current Sensing of Internal Mechanical States in Workpieces

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This invention describes a device and method for detecting internal mechanical conditions within a workpiece by using an eddy current sensor system. The system employs excitation and receiver coils, multiple sensor elements arranged around the workpiece, and a data acquisition unit, allowing for non-contact and non-destructive measurement and analysis of the workpiece's internal properties.

Use CasesContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Quality control in manufacturing metal components
• Non-destructive testing (NDT) in aerospace, automotive, and construction industries
• Structural health monitoring of mechanical parts during operation
• Material research and development to analyze stress, strain, and internal flaws
• Inspection and maintenance of pipelines or other industrial equipment

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Provides non-contact and non-destructive assessment, preserving the integrity of the workpiece
• Allows for real-time and efficient detection of internal mechanical states or defects
• Increases accuracy and reliability by using multiple sensor elements and individual data channels
• Enables early detection of faults, reducing the risk of failure and associated costs
• Improves safety by identifying hidden defects before they lead to catastrophic failures

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Patent Abstract

The invention relates to a device and a method for detecting material-internal mechanical states of a workpiece, wherein the device comprises a data acquisition unit and an eddy current sensor with an excitation coil, a receiver coil and a signal generator, wherein the excitation coil is excited by means of the signal generator with an electrical signal for excitation, wherein the device has at least two sensor elements arranged radially in space around a longitudinal axis of the excitation coil and wherein each sensor element is connected to the data acquisition unit via its own sensor channel. The method according to the invention relates to the detection of material-internal states of a workpiece, wherein properties of a workpiece are detected in a contactless and non-destructive manner using an eddy current sensor with an excitation coil, a receiver coil and at least two sensor elements as well as a signal generator, wherein the magnetic field of the excitation coil at various locations around the circumference of the excitation coil is detected by sensor elements and its direction-dependent amplitude and phase position are determined, wherein the distance of each individual sensor element to the surface of the workpiece is determined individually and simultaneously detected by means of an attached data acquisition unit and passed on separately to signal processing and evaluated.