SDI manufactures a range of bubbler, or irrigated transducer, systems. This type of system is usually product-specific, built for cases where full immersion isn't possible and the longer coupling distances of laminar-flow squirters aren't necessary. These relatively low-flow-volume systems are commonly specified for testing compressed gas cylinders, automotive components, metallic bar, and SDI's range of portable scanners.
An irrigated transducer housing maintains a water-filled chamber between the transducer and the part — coupling equivalent to full immersion, without a tank.
Automated Ultrasonic Heavy Duty Cylinder Inspection System
An automatic, multi-channel, high-resolution ultrasonic test system for heavy tube or bar inspection. The rotator system with irrigated transducer test head installs in-line with automatic load and unload stations, sorting chutes, and paint markers. The bridge-mounted multi-channel ultrasonic flaw detector is built for the accuracy and throughput speed a harsh operating environment demands, testing product from 3 in (75 mm) up to 8 in (325 mm) in diameter, with a standard bar length capacity of 15 ft and options for longer bars.
How it works
A floor-mounted sump supports a medium-duty rotator. Transducers mount in-line in a high-flow irrigated housing that rides in contact with the bar — the same housing design used extensively on SDI's compressed gas cylinder inspection systems, which run very heavy duty cycles on a variety of rough surfaces. The test head mounts on a bridge with a bar-follower assembly; a second test head can be added to cut scan time in half. Contoured shoes swap quickly to accommodate different bar diameters, and the bar is rotated while the transducer assembly traverses its full length under control of the system controller.
System components
| Test Station | Sump, rotator, bridge and system controls; steel frame, epoxy paint finish |
| Loading Station | Feed ramp with pneumatic part selector |
| Off Loader Station | Air-actuated lifting arms, reject stack routing, automatic defect marking |
| Defect Markers | Paint jet or felt tip, downstream of test station |
| Defect Logging | Computer-based tabular output of defect location and material length |
| Water Conditioning | Recirculation pump and filter; optional temperature control and de-airation |
| System Control | SDI-1830-UTB rack-mount industrial PC with optional touch screen |
Inspecting cylinders, bar, or automotive components?
SDI's engineers can spec a bubbler configuration to fit.