Monarch Instrument AG-500 - Manual (Page 3)

General Principal of Operation
The UltraPro AG-500 operates on the principle of detecting high frequency ultrasonic waves that are
created by turbulence or friction from all moving parts, liquids and gases. These ”sounds” reside far above
the range of the human ear and tend to be highly directional. This directional aspect of ultrasonic waves
allows one to isolate a suspect signature sound from other background noises and detect its exact location.
Ultrasonic leak detection is very useful in preventive maintenance, trouble-shooting, quality control and
diagnostics in the automotive, industrial, manufacturing and process industries.
General Applications
1. Air/Vacuum Leaks Both vacuum and compressed air leaks create an energy packet or
wave front, which can result in an ultrasonic emission with a
differential of 1 psi and/or a hole down to 0.005”.
2. Gas and liquid turbulence Turbulence associated with internal/external valve leaks, cavitation,
and blockages in liquid and air/gas lines.
3. Electrical discharge Electrical discharge associated with insulation breakdown, tracking,
corona, and arcing.
4. Mechanical wear Condition of mechanical wear in bearings, injectors, valves and
race assemblies, shafts, and gears. Also accurate indication of
proper lubrication in anti-friction bearings.
5. Sound generation Can be used in conjunction with Tone Generators to detect
container cracks and leaks in seals, window/door seals and tanks.
(The Tone Generator is matched to UltraPro peak response.)
Why Use Ultrasonic Listening Devices?
The human ear only hears about 1/3 of the existing spectrum of sound. Actually most of us are
capable of detecting nothing above the 12,000 to 14,000 cycles per second level, depending upon age
and other factors. Ultrasound is in the 20,000 to 43,000 cycles per second range. For a leak to happen
there must be an opening in the system that carries a gas or fluid. As the hole is rarely uniform, the
jagged edges cause the escaping liquid or gas into random circular motions or turbulence. This
turbulence is what the UltraPro detects. It is commonly known that faults, malfunctions, and/or
flaws in mechanical, electrical, and pneumatic devices, as well as manufactured container type
objects, start as small defects or leaks. The physical size of these defects is of such relatively small
size the sounds that they produce are above the range of human hearing and are not detectable aurally.
Since these sounds are above the normal level of hearing, the UltraPro AG-500 is required to
transform or convert the ultrasound to an audible level. The UltraPro AG-500 incorporates a process
whereby the audible signal bears a close likeness to the natural incoming sample. We call this process
“Sound Signature Technology”; the result is a gas leak sounds like a “hiss” and a defective bearing
sounds like a “clicking or chatter”.
The UltraPro AG-500 uses a technology called heterodyning to convert the ultrasonic range into the
audible range. Since this unit is tuned to listen to the ultrasonic range, it is unaffected by everyday
sounds such as wind, voices, and traffic which can further mask the technician’s ability to listen for
a potential problem. The UltraPro AG-500 also incorporates AGC (Automatic Gain Control),
which allows one to study ultrasonic sounds associated with the roar of a valve leak or literally the
blink of an eye. AGC stops the need for high/low sensitivity switches by allowing the internal
circuitry to seek the optimum level of gain for the given situation. This allows the UltraPro AG-500
total ease-of-use and immediate application without having to fiddle with knobs or seeking correct
settings. The UltraPro AG-500 was designed to be extremely effective yet easy to use, allowing the
technician to concentrate on analyzing the problem and not on the operation of the instrument.
1
OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS
Safety Precautions
While the UltraPro AG-500 allows you to focus on diagnosing a problem in a fast and effective
manner, never lose awarness of your surroundings.
• The UltraPro AG-500 and probes are an extension of your hand. Keep a safe distance from
moving parts and electrical areas.
• Never over reach or de-stabilize your footing while using the UltraPro AG-500.
• Always be aware of the headphone cord when near moving parts.
• Never use the air or contact probes as a lever, pry bar, or for other unintended purposes.
• Never use the contact probe for diagnosing electrical problems.
Basic Operational Procedures
Note: Please read all safety precautions above before proceeding.
The UltraPro AG-500 ultrasonic detector is simple to use. No Calibration or training is required.
Use the following steps:
1. Plug the headphones into the jack on the bottom of the Receiver. Do not place the
headphones on before you turn on the power.
2. Select the air or contact probe as needed (see Using Air or Contact Probes section).
3. Turn the rotary knob clockwise to “on” and watch for the LED bar to settle to the bottom
position.
4. Place the headphones on and adjust the volume until you can just hear the background
noise (hiss). Please note that increasing the volume does not increase the unit’s detection
sensitivity. Setting the volume control too high can lead to operator fatigue.
5. When using the air probe, point the probe in the direction of your free hand while lightly
rubbing your forefinger and thumb together 2+ feet away. The response should be the
sound of sandpaper on wood. You can vary the distance and increase/decrease the level of
volume accordingly. While performing this test, familiarize yourself with the directional
sensitivity of the probe while sweeping the probe past your fingers at various distances.
6. When using the contact probe, adjust the sensitivity while lightly rubbing your finger along
the tip of the rod.
Scanning Techniques
Using LED Graph on Receiver and/or HeadphonesFor Locating Leaks
Depending on the amount of ultrasonic signature being detected, use either the level of intensity
on the LED graph and/or the audible amount of sound through the headphones. As you get
closer to the problem decrease the volume. As the sound gets louder, repeat the process until
you have pinpointed the location. Please note that the volume control is independent of the bar
graph intensity during an inspection. With minute leaks, the LED bar graph may not move up
from the first position. In this situation, use the audible signal as discussed above.
4