All operating equipment and most leakage problems produce a broad range of sound. The high frequency ultrasonic components of these sounds are extremely short wave in nature, and a short wave signal tends to be fairly directional. The equipment is, therefore, used to isolate these signals from background noises and detect their exact location. In addition, as subtle changes begin to occur in mechanical equipment, the nature of ultrasound allows these potential warning signals to be detected early, before actual failure. Ultrasonic inspections can detect leaking gases or fluids and certain electrical and bearing faults, by utilising our ultrasonic detector products.

 

Airborne ultrasound instruments, often referred to as "ultrasonic translators", provide information two ways: qualitatively, due to the ability to "hear' ultrasounds through a noise isolating headphone, and quantitatively, via incremental readings on a meter. This is accomplished in most ultrasonic translators by an electronic process called "heterodyning", which accurately converts the ultrasounds sensed by the instrument into the audible range where users can hear and recognise them through headphones.

 

Although the ability to gauge intensity and view sonic patterns is important, it is equally important to be able to "hear" the ultrasounds produced by various equipment. That is precisely what makes these instruments so useful; they allow inspectors to confirm a diagnosis on the spot by being able to discriminate among various equipment sounds.