Method and apparatus for testing the integrity of railroad locomotive wheels and railroad car wheels

摘要

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for the testing of railroad locomotive wheels and railroad car wheels using an ultrasonic probe and a probe holder that pivotally connects to the probe at a specially shaped yoke member. The probe has a pair of extension arms available in different lengths, such as four inches, seven inches, and fourteen inches long. These various handles in kit form enable a user to apply very even pressure to every portion of the inside and outside surfaces of the periphery of the wheel in the thickened peripheral portion of the wheel that is typically tested for defects. With the present invention, the user can pivotally position the handle or extension arm relative to the wear surface of the transducer notwithstanding the fact that the transducer must be positioned 360 degrees about the wheel and on both the inside and outside surfaces of the wheel as part of the testing procedure.