Adapter for non-destructive testing equipment using electromagnetic radiation

Abstract

The present invention relates to an adapter (1) for a non-destructive testing device using electromagnetic radiation, the adapter (1) comprising a proximal portion (3) configured to be attached to a testing device, and a distal portion (5) including a contact element (7) which is a contact element (7) that forms a free end and is movable relative to the proximal portion (3), connected to a deformable portion by a ball-and-socket joint or pivot link, and having a rectangular parallelepiped shape, such that the distal portion (5) deforms when a force is applied to the contact element (7).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention generally relates to the field of devices and methods for non-destructive inspection using electromagnetic radiation, particularly non-destructive inspection by active thermography.

Background Art

[0002] Inspection by active thermography is a conventional non-destructive inspection technique. According to this technique, a part to be inspected is irradiated by a heat supply means such as a flash lamp, and a heat flow radiated from the part is acquired by a detector such as an infrared camera. Thereby, the diffusion of heat in the part after irradiation can be displayed. When there is a defect in the part, local heat contrast becomes apparent by the display of heat diffusion, and the presence of such a defect can be identified. The means for supplying heat by radiation can use various spectral regions such as the infrared region and the visible region.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0003] Active thermography inspection devices have many drawbacks. Parts of these devices that are arranged to contact the part are flat, whereas parts to be inspected generally have curvature or bulge, such as the fuselage of an aircraft with a convex shape or a petrochemical tank with a concave shape. In this situation, it is difficult to automatically move the device towards the part to be inspected because the part to be inspected may be damaged.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0004] One of the objectives of the present invention is to improve upon the aforementioned drawbacks by proposing an adapter for a non-destructive testing device using electromagnetic radiation, the adapter comprising a proximal portion configured to be attached to the testing device, and a distal portion including a contact element that forms a free end and is movably attached to the proximal portion such that the distal portion deforms when a force is applied to the contact element.

[0005] Such adapters are advantageously and optionally complemented by the following various features, which can be employed individually or in combination:

[0006] The contact elements have rounded or chamfered edges.

[0007] To mount the contact element so that it can move relative to the proximal portion, the deformable portion connected to the contact element is preferably a compression spring, a single-acting cylinder, or a double-acting cylinder.

[0008] The contact element is firmly connected to the deformable portion, and the contact element has a spherical shape.

[0009] The contact elements are connected to the deformable portion via ball-and-socket or pivot connections, and the contact elements have a rectangular parallelepiped shape.

[0010] The contact elements and the deformable portion form a first assembly, and the adapter comprises multiple assemblies.

[0011] The contact elements are arranged in pairs in a continuous sequence, and two consecutive contact elements are directly connected by an elastic element.

[0012] The elastic element is the first elastic element, and two consecutive contact elements are further directly connected by a second elastic element, and the first and second elastic elements are connected to the contact elements by being mounted in parallel.

[0013] The adapter extends axially from a proximal to a distal portion, and is hollow such that it has a cavity in the axial direction, which penetrates the proximal and distal portions and opens to the outside of the adapter, and the adapter is equipped with an optical isolation wall surrounding the cavity, the wall comprising an external portion that does not allow electromagnetic radiation to pass through and an internal portion that reflects electromagnetic radiation, and the electromagnetic radiation is used for non-destructive testing.

[0014] The optical isolation wall is deformable and preferably includes fabric, plastic material, accordion-like pleated sections, or sections configured to nest axially with one another.

[0015] The present invention also relates to a non-destructive testing system using electromagnetic radiation, comprising: a non-destructive testing device using electromagnetic radiation having a radiation source and a radiation detector; and an adapter as described above, the proximal portion of which is firmly fixed to the non-destructive testing device.

[0016] Finally, the present invention relates to a non-destructive testing method for a component using radiation, and includes the steps of: bringing a contact element of an inspection system into contact with the component; applying force to the contact element; and moving the contact element relative to the rest of the system under the action of the force, thereby deforming the system according to the shape of the component.

[0017] Such a method can be advantageously and optionally complemented by the following steps, which involve emitting radiation towards a component through an inspection system and obtaining the temporal response of thermal diffusion within the component through the inspection system. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0018] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description, but are purely illustrative and non-limiting, and should be read with reference to the accompanying drawings. [Figure 1] This is a schematic diagram of an adapter relating to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2]It is a schematic diagram of a part of the adapter shown in FIG. 1. [Figure 3] It is a schematic diagram of a non-destructive inspection system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] It is a schematic diagram of a non-destructive inspection system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0019] (Non-destructive inspection device using electromagnetic radiation) Referring to FIGS. 1, 3, and 4, a non-destructive inspection device 22 using electromagnetic radiation includes a radiation source 24 and a radiation detector 26.

[0020] The radiation source and the radiation detector are arranged inside a housing of the device that opens outward. The housing has an opening 23 of the device. The radiation source and the radiation detector are arranged facing the opening 23 of the device. This direction defines the front surface of the device 22. The opening 23 is, for example, a plane perpendicular to a first direction corresponding to the axial direction Δ in FIGS. 1, 3, and 4.

[0021] The radiation source 24 and the radiation detector 26 are directed outward of the device 22.

[0022] A flash lamp, an incandescent lamp, a halogen lamp, a laser diode, or an electrical element can be used as the radiation source 24.

[0023] The radiation source 24 is configured to emit radiation that propagates in a first direction away from the device 22. The emitted radiation passes through the opening 23.

[0024] An infrared camera, a visible camera, or a detector in another spectral region can be used as the radiation detector 26.

[0025] The radiation detector 26 is configured to detect radiation propagating in a first direction approaching the device 22. The received radiation then passes through the aperture 23. In particular, the radiation detector 26 can be centered on the first direction.

[0026] The control device 22 may be an active thermography type or a multispectral thermography type.

[0027] The non-destructive testing device 22 also includes a cowl 25 that covers the device except for the opening 23. The cowl 25 is made of plastic or metal and can block electromagnetic radiation from reaching the device from outside the opening 23.

[0028] The inspection device may include a cable passage 27 for supplying power to the radiation source 24 and the radiation detector 26, and for transmitting information measured by the radiation detector 26.

[0029] The cable passage 27 can be provided, for example, in the rear of the device 22, i.e., in the cowl 25 on the side opposite to the front of the device 22, which is partitioned by the opening 23.

[0030] Preferably, the device has a rectangular parallelepiped shape, and the opening is rectangular.

[0031] (Adapter for non-destructive testing equipment using electromagnetic radiation) Referring to Figure 1, the adapter 1 for the electromagnetic radiation nondestructive testing apparatus comprises a proximal portion 3 configured to be attached to the electromagnetic radiation nondestructive testing apparatus 22, and a distal portion 5 configured to contact the part to be inspected. The part to be inspected is not shown in the figure.

[0032] The adapter 1 extends axially Δ from the proximal portion 3 to the distal portion 5. When the proximal portion 3 is attached to the inspection device 22 and the distal portion 5 is brought into contact with the part to be inspected, the adapter is positioned between the inspection device 22 and the part to be inspected.

[0033] Preferably, the adapter has a rectangular parallelepiped shape, and the proximal portion 3 has a rectangular cross-section perpendicular to the axial direction Δ. The proximal portion 3 forms a rectangular frame that can be pressed against a non-destructive testing device.

[0034] The adapter 1 can be hollow, having a cavity 30 in the axial direction Δ. The cavity 30 penetrates the proximal portion 3 on one side and the distal portion 5 on the other side, opening to the outside of the adapter 1. In other words, the adapter 1 has a cavity 30 that penetrates in the axial direction Δ.

[0035] By attaching the proximal portion 3 to the non-destructive testing device 22, the cavity 30 can be aligned in a straight line with the opening 23, at which point the first direction and the axial direction Δ coincide. Radiation emitted from the radiation source 24 in the first direction, or radiation propagating in the first direction toward the radiation detector 26, can pass through the adapter 1 after leaving the radiation source 24 or before reaching the radiation detector 26.

[0036] Adapter 1 may also include an optical isolation wall 28 surrounding the cavity 30. In this way, radiation reaching the wall 28 is blocked.

[0037] The wall 28 extends around the axial direction Δ from the proximal portion 3 to the distal portion 5. In this way, if the adapter 1 is hollow, having a cavity 30, only radiation that passes through the cavity 30 without touching the wall 28 can pass through the adapter.

[0038] The adapter can consist of, for example, multiple rods, each attached to the proximal portion 3 and extending axially Δ around the cavity 30. The wall 28 or protective portion surrounds the multiple rods, allowing, for example, the formation of an axial tunnel with a rectangular cross-section that appears outside the adapter. The axial tunnel corresponds to the cavity 30. The multiple rods can consist of four rods, each attached to one of the corners of the rectangular shape of the proximal portion 3. The multiple rods may include other rods that are parallel to the previous rods and distributed along the four sides of the frame.

[0039] It is necessary to ensure that the radiative exchange between the device and the component is isolated from the external environment, that is, that the energy radiated from the device toward the component is the only energy received by the component, and conversely, that the energy radiated from the component toward the device is the only energy received by the device. In particular, it is necessary to isolate the radiative exchange so as not to interfere with excitation and diffusion phenomena by the device, and signals obtained by the detector from diffusion within the component. It is also necessary to isolate the radiative exchange to avoid flashes that may blind the operator. For this purpose, the wall 28 may include an external portion 281 that does not transmit radiation, such as radiation emitted by a radiation source 24. The external portion 281 of the wall 28 can be made of an opaque cloth manufactured from nylon and cotton, or from polyamide and elastane, or from synthetic rubber.

[0040] Furthermore, the wall 28 may include an internal portion 282 that reflects radiation, such as radiation emitted by a radiation source 24. The internal portion 282 of the wall 28 may be made of gold-plated or silver-plated cladding.

[0041] (Contact element) The adapter 1 includes a contact element 7 that forms a free end. The contact element 7 is included in the distal portion 5 of the adapter. The contact element 7 is intended to make direct contact with the part to be inspected.

[0042] The contact element 7 is mounted so as to be movable relative to the proximal portion 3 that the distal portion 5 deforms when a force is applied to the contact element 7. In particular, when a force is applied in the axial direction Δ, the contact element 7 can move in this direction. At the point on the distal portion 5 occupied by the contact element 7, deformation of the distal portion 5 occurs. At this point, the length of the axial direction Δ of the distal portion 5 decreases or increases depending on whether the contact element 7 is closer to or further away from the proximal portion 3.

[0043] The adapter includes a contact element that is movably mounted relative to the proximal portion, and by applying force to the contact element, the distal portion can be deformed to press against the part under inspection. Since this deformation depends on the shape of the part, the adapter can better conform to the shape of the part. This makes it possible to automatically move the device toward the part under inspection without damaging the part under inspection. For example, adapter 1 includes a deformable portion 11 connected to the contact element 7 in order to mount the contact element 7 so that it can move relative to the proximal portion 3. For example, the deformable portion is first fixed to the proximal portion 3 and then fixed to the contact element 7. As the deformable portion 11 deforms, the distance between the contact element 7 and the proximal portion 3 changes, so that the contact element 7 can be movably mounted relative to the proximal portion 3.

[0044] The deformable portion 11 is particularly deformable in the axial direction Δ.

[0045] The deformable portion 11 is preferably selected from a compression spring, a single-acting cylinder, or a double-acting cylinder. The spring and cylinder are preferably oriented to deform in the axial direction Δ.

[0046] If the adapter consists of multiple rods, at least one rod can be selected to be deformable in the axial direction Δ. Contact elements can be attached to the ends of the rods.

[0047] Figures 1, 3, and 4 show the case of a deformable part in the form of a single-acting cylinder.

[0048] The deformable portion 11 can be attached to the contact element 7 fixedly, by pivot connection, or again by ball-and-socket connection.

[0049] In the first case, there is no significant movement between the deformable portion 11 and the contact element 7.

[0050] In the second case, a large motion, which is a rotational motion in one direction, is possible between the deformable part 11 and the contact element 7.

[0051] In the third case, a large rotational movement in three directions within space is possible between the deformable portion 11 and the contact element 7. This case is shown in Figure 2, where two contact elements 7 are each connected to the deformable portion 11 by ball-and-socket connections 13.

[0052] The contact elements may be made of Teflon, elastomer, or aluminum.

[0053] Contact elements can be obtained, for example, by 3D printing molten polymer threads such as polyethylene.

[0054] Advantageously, if the adapter includes a contact element that is mounted to move relative to the proximal portion, the adapter may include a deformable optical isolation wall 28. In particular, the wall 28 can be deformed in the axial direction Δ, that is, its length in the axial direction can be changed according to the stress applied to the wall 28. The wall 28 can be made shorter or longer in the axial direction. The deformation characteristics of the wall 28 are local, that is, for different angular positions defined around the axial direction Δ, the wall 28 can have different lengths in the axial direction Δ.

[0055] The wall 28 can be made deformable by incorporating fabric, plastic material, pleated sections, particularly accordion-like pleated sections, or sections configured to nest with each other in the axial direction. Figure 4 shows an example of a wall including accordion-like pleated sections in the axial direction Δ. The accordion-like pleated sections, or sections configured to nest with each other in the axial direction, have sufficient mechanical clearance to allow the length of the axial direction Δ of the wall 28 to be different at different angular positions around the axial direction Δ.

[0056] The device may only be in partial contact with the component. When the device and component are in contact, a gap of more or less size is created between them. These gaps prevent the exchange between the device and the component from being isolated from the external environment. In other words, the energy emitted from the device to the component is not the only energy the component receives, and conversely, the energy emitted from the component to the device is not the only energy the device receives. This interferes with excitation by the device, diffusion phenomena, and signals obtained by the detector from diffusion within the component. Furthermore, flashes passing through the gaps can blind the operator.

[0057] An adapter comprising a contact element movably mounted to the proximal portion and a deformable optical isolation wall 28 allows for a reduction in the gap between the adapter and the part under inspection. The deformation causes the distal portion to deform the wall. The distal portion conforms to the shape of the part, and the adapter isolates radiative exchange between the device and the part from the external environment.

[0058] (Shape of contact elements) Advantageously, as shown in Figure 2, the contact element 7 has rounded or chamfered edges 9. Such edges make it possible to reduce and limit the damage caused to the part being inspected when the contact element 7 comes into contact with the part being inspected.

[0059] In the first embodiment, the contact element is spherical. Advantageously, the contact element has this shape when the deformable portion 11 is firmly connected to the contact element 7. In particular, the firm connection can be configured such that the deformable portion is aligned in a direction passing through the center of the sphere.

[0060] In the second embodiment, the contact element has a rectangular parallelepiped shape. In particular, the contact element can adopt a pad shape, as shown in Figure 2. This rectangular parallelepiped shape is defined by three distances: length, width, and depth. The length is greater than the width and is itself greater than the depth. Preferably, the pad is oriented such that the depth extends mainly in the axial direction Δ, the length and depth are orthogonal to each other, and the pad extends in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction Δ.

[0061] Advantageously, when the deformable portion 11 is connected to the contact element 7 by either a pivot connection or a ball-and-socket connection, the contact element has this rectangular parallelepiped shape. In this way, when the contact element 7 contacts the part under inspection, the pad is oriented to conform more closely to the shape of the part, i.e., to increase the contact area between the part and the pad.

[0062] The adapter can be configured so that the deformable portion is aligned in a direction that passes through the axis of rotation of the pivot connection or the center of rotation of the ball-and-socket connection. This improves contact stability and reduces the gap during contact. Advantageously, the pivot connection or ball-and-socket connection can be centered on the contact element 7.

[0063] (An assembly of multiple "deformable parts" and "contact elements") The adapter 1 may have multiple contact elements 7, each of which is mounted to be movable relative to the proximal portion 3.

[0064] All contact elements 7 can have the same shape, for example, a sphere or a rectangular parallelepiped. Alternatively, contact elements 7 can have different shapes.

[0065] Advantageously, each contact element 7 is mounted so as to be movable relative to the proximal portion 3 via a deformable portion 11. The adapter 1 comprises a plurality of deformable portions 11, each deformable portion 11 being associated with the contact element 7 to form an assembly of deformable portion 11 + contact element 7. The adapter 1 comprises a plurality of "deformable portion 11 + contact element 7" assemblies.

[0066] Various contact elements can be arranged in various ways, and in particular, they can be aligned around a closed perimeter. This closed perimeter determines the shape of the distal portion. The shape of this perimeter can be a polygon such as a square, diamond, rectangle, parallelogram, hexagon, or octagon, or it can be a circle or an ellipse. Figures 1, 3, and 4 show the case of a perimeter with a square shape.

[0067] Along this closed perimeter, contact elements can be distributed regularly. That is, the distance between two adjacent elements, i.e., two contact elements and their neighboring elements, is constant from one pair of adjacent contact elements to another pair of adjacent elements. Here, a constant distance should be understood as the distance at which the distance from one pair of adjacent contact elements to another pair of adjacent elements does not change by more than 5%. Adjacent elements can be defined as continuous if they are in contact with each other or nearly in contact.

[0068] When various contact elements are aligned along a closed outer circumference, this circumference becomes the distal circumference. Various deformable parts are advantageously oriented in the axial direction Δ and fixed to the proximal portion at fixed points distributed along the proximal circumference, which has the same shape as the distal circumference. When the contact elements are regularly distributed along the distal circumference, the mounting points are advantageously regularly distributed along the proximal circumference.

[0069] If the perimeter has a polygonal shape and thus defines a vertex, the two contact elements located at the vertex can be chamfered in a complementary manner and face each other, so as to define the vertex of the polygonal shape. Alternatively, referring to Figure 2, the contact element 7 located at the vertex can have a shape having two sub-parts 7A and 7B on either side of the vertex, where the first sub-part 7A defines an angle with respect to the second sub-part 7B, and this angle corresponds to the angular deviation of the perimeter at the vertex. In the example in Figure 2, this angle is a right angle.

[0070] When each contact element adopts the same rectangular parallelepiped shape, the length of each shape can be oriented along the outer circumference, and the width can be oriented perpendicular to the outer circumference.

[0071] It is possible to connect two adjacent contact elements with an elastic element. In this way, the movement of the contact elements 7 that come into contact with the part under inspection becomes interdependent.

[0072] When each contact element adopts the same rectangular parallelepiped shape, the contact elements can be advantageously arranged in pairs in a continuous manner, and two consecutive contact elements are directly connected by an elastic element 17. This auxiliary connection makes it possible to maintain the continuity of the outer circumference defined by the various contact elements 7.

[0073] Preferably, each pair of consecutive contact elements can be connected by two elastic elements 17 that are connected by being mounted in parallel to the contact elements. This connection between the two consecutive elements also makes it possible to prevent one contact element from rotating relative to the other contact element around the elastic elements.

[0074] If the adapter 1 includes multiple contact elements 7 and a deformable optical isolation wall 28 surrounding the cavity 30, the isolation wall 28 can be fixed to the outer edges of various contact elements. In this way, the intrusion of radiation into the adapter and the outflow of radiation to the outside of the adapter between the contact elements 7 and the proximal portion 3 are restricted.

[0075] (Non-destructive testing system for parts using radiation) A non-destructive testing system has also been proposed that includes an adapter 1, as described above, and a non-destructive testing device using electromagnetic radiation, as mentioned in the text. In such a non-destructive testing system using electromagnetic radiation, the proximal portion of the adapter 1 is firmly fixed to the non-destructive testing device 22.

[0076] This system can, advantageously, further include a carriage and a robotic arm associated with the control system, where the carriage supports the robotic arm and the robotic arm supports the non-destructive testing device. The robotic arm is configured to move and orient the device in space, so that the device can be precisely directed towards the part under inspection. The robotic arm can then press the inspection device against the part so as to deform the distal portion of the adapter, which in this way conforms to the shape of the part under inspection. Once the measurement is complete, the robotic arm can move the device to another part of the part under inspection and perform a second measurement.

[0077] (Non-destructive testing method for parts using radiation) The present invention further relates to this type of method, which includes the steps of bringing a contact element of an inspection system into contact with a part; applying a force to the contact element; and moving the contact element relative to the rest of the system under the action of the force, thereby deforming the system according to the shape of the part.

[0078] Advantageously, it is possible to use an adapter that includes multiple contact elements 7 whose number is fixed depending on the shape of the part being inspected.

[0079] The shape of the part to be inspected can be defined, in particular, by the average length L of the part and the average radius of curvature R of the part.

[0080] For this purpose, this method may include the step of determining the average length L and average radius of curvature R of a part. For example, the average radius of curvature R can be determined by determining the relative distance between the telemeter and the part using a telemeter or time-of-flight (ToF) camera. A robot can be used to determine the total length to be inspected.

[0081] The number of contact elements can be fixed according to the average length and average radius of curvature.

[0082] For example, if the mean radius of curvature decreases, or if the mean length increases, one may choose to increase the number of contact elements.

[0083] Such changes are particularly based on the ratio of the mean radius of curvature to the mean length, and when the ratio of the mean radius of curvature to the mean length decreases, it is possible to choose to increase the number of contact elements. In this way, the number of pads can be matched to the structure and shape of the part being inspected.

[0084] One method for determining the number of contact elements specifically involves the steps of determining the integer part of the ratio of the mean radius of curvature to the mean length, and determining the difference between the number 10 and the integer part, such that the number of contact elements in the adapter is equal to four times that difference.

[0085] If E is an integer function and N is the number of contact elements, then the above step consists of the following calculation: N = 4 × (10 - E(R / L)).

[0086] Optionally, if the contact elements are arranged around a closed square perimeter, the number of contact elements per side of the square can be selected to be equal to 10-E(R / L).

[0087] In the special case where this integer part is 10 or greater, for example, eight contact elements are sufficient, consisting of one contact element for each side of the square and one contact element for each corner of the square.

[0088] Finally, the following steps can be added to the non-destructive testing method.

[0089] A step in which radiation is emitted towards the component via the inspection system.

[0090] A step of obtaining the temporal response of thermal diffusion within a component via an inspection system.

[0091] Further processing of the acquired images can also be performed to identify local thermal contrasts associated with defects in parts within the imaged region.

[0092] This method can be used to image a second region, and for this purpose, the system can be moved back from the part under inspection or moved from an already inspected region in order to inspect the second region of the part.

[0093] The steps previously described for imaging and analyzing the first region can also be applied to imaging and analyzing the second region.

[0094] Multiple regions can be imaged and analyzed sequentially. Since the part to be inspected can be divided into various regions that define its entire surface, the part can be completely scanned by imaging and analyzing these various regions.

[0095] A central control system can automate the system's movement and release and acquisition sequences. The central control system may consist, for example, a carriage and a robotic arm associated with the control system, as shown above.

Claims

1. An adapter (1) for a non-destructive testing device using electromagnetic radiation, wherein the adapter (1) is A proximal portion (3) configured to be attached to an inspection device, The distal portion (5) includes a contact element (7) which forms a free end and is movably attached to the proximal portion (3) such that the distal portion (5) deforms when a force is applied to the contact element (7), To attach the contact element (7) so that it can move relative to the proximal portion (3), a deformable portion (11) connected to the contact element (7) is provided, The deformable portion (11) is preferably a compression spring, a single-acting cylinder, or a double-acting cylinder. The contact element (7) is connected to the deformable portion via a ball-and-socket or pivot connection (13), and the contact element (7) has a rectangular parallelepiped shape.

2. The adapter according to claim 1, wherein the contact element (7) has a rounded or chamfered edge (9).

3. The adapter according to any one of claims 1 to 2, wherein the contact element (7) and the deformable portion (11) form a first assembly (15), and the adapter comprises a plurality of assemblies (15).

4. The adapter according to claim 3, wherein the contact elements are arranged in pairs in a continuous manner, and two continuous contact elements are directly connected by an elastic element (17).

5. The adapter according to claim 4, wherein the elastic element (17) is a first elastic element, the two consecutive contact elements are further directly connected by a second elastic element, and the first and second elastic elements are connected to the contact elements by being mounted in parallel.

6. The adapter according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the adapter extends along the axial direction (Δ) from the proximal portion (3) to the distal portion (5), the adapter is hollow such that it has a cavity (30) in the axial direction (Δ), the cavity (30) penetrates the proximal portion (3) and the distal portion (5) and opens to the outside of the adapter (1), the adapter (1) is provided with an optical isolation wall (28) surrounding the cavity (30), the wall (28) comprises an external portion (281) that does not allow electromagnetic radiation to pass through and an internal portion (282) that reflects electromagnetic radiation, and the electromagnetic radiation is used for the non-destructive testing.

7. The adapter according to claim 6, wherein the optical isolation wall (28) is deformable, and the wall preferably includes a cloth, a plastic material, an accordion-like pleated portion, or sections configured to nest with each other in the axial direction.

8. A non-destructive testing system (20) using electromagnetic radiation, A non-destructive testing device (22) using electromagnetic radiation, having a radiation source (24) and a radiation detector (26), The adapter (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7 is further comprising the proximal portion (3) being firmly fixed to the non-destructive testing device (22).

9. A non-destructive testing method using electromagnetic radiation, The steps include bringing the contact elements of the inspection system into contact with the above-mentioned parts, The steps include applying force to the contact element, The step includes moving the contact element relative to the rest of the system under the action of the above force, and deforming the system according to the shape of the part, The deformation includes the rotation of the contact element relative to the rest of the inspection system.

10. The inspection system involves the step of emitting radiation toward the component, A non-destructive testing method according to claim 9, comprising the step of obtaining a time response of thermal diffusion in the component through the inspection system.

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