CA1171556A - Tube wall thickness measurement - Google Patents

Abstract

Abstract Each of two collimator members used in radiation beam scanning equipment for tube wall thickness measurement comprises two parts with surfaces defining a slit through which the radiation beam passes. The equipment includes an aligning ruler including a straight bar member both ends of which are precisely machined for forming ruling surfaces that fit the surfaces of the collimator members defining the slit. The ruler is placed in a position along a predetermined line parallel to the axis of the radiation beam. Each collimator part is placed such that the surfaces defining the slit are just in contact with the respective ruling surfaces of the ruler so that the collimators are thereby properly aligned. Thereafter the ruler is removed. The result is improved accuracy.

Description

BACKGROUND
This application is a division of application - Serial No. 380,132 filed June 18, 1981, and relates to a method of aligning two collimator members used in radiation beam scanning equipment for gauging the wall thickness of a tubular object, such as a seamless steel pipe, in a non-contacting manner by the use of radiation.
When a beam of radiation, such as a ga~na-ray, passes through a material the intensity of the radiation beam generally decreases with the distance/ due to absorption or scattering of the beam in the material. The intensity of the radiation beam may be considered as the number of photons or radiation particles, and more specifically as the number of counts indicatèd by a radiation detector, and may be expressed as:

N = NOe where N denotes the intensity of the radiation beam, No is an initial value of the intensity at a position before the beam enters the material, e is the base of the natural logarithm, ~ is an absorption coeficient, and x is the length of the transit path of the radiation beam across the material layer. The absorption coefficient ~ is a value determined by the energy of the gamma ray and by the type of material being measured. For example, if the radiation source is caesium 137 having a gamma ray energy of 0.622 MeV and the material is iron, the coefficient is approximately 0.06 [l/mm].

More precisely, the above Equation (1) indicates an idealized formula, if the transit path length x is larger, it is modified and expressed as:

NOBe -~x _________________ ~2) where B is a regeneratio~ factor. ~t may be e~pressed ~- also as:

N = NOe ~x, ~ _ ~(x) where ~ is variable. To enable the prior art to be described with the aid of diagrams~ the figures of the drawings will first be listed.
Figure 1 is an illustration showing the known general principle of tube wall thickness measurement using a radiation beam;
Figure 2 is ~ schematic illustration of a typical collimator assembly used to narrow down a radiation beam;
Figure 3 is an illustration of the first embodi-ment of the present invention with a graph associated therewith diagrammatically representing a set of data stored in a memory portion of a computer;
Figure 4 is a graph similar to the graph in Figure 3;
Figure 5 is a perspective view of measuring equipment substantially sim~lar to a conventional

2~ apparatus but having a larger collimator slit (i.e., a larger radiation beam thickness ~y);
Figure 6 is a schematic ill~stration of the measuring equipment illustrated in Figure 5 and its associated electronic circuit in accordance with the present invention;
Figure 6a is a char~ of pulse and operation sequences of the circuit illustrated in Figure 6;

5;S6 .
Figure 7 is an illustration similar to the illustra-tion in Fiqure 3 relating to the second embodiment of the present invention;
Figures 8, 9a and 9b are similar to the qraph illus-trated in Figure 4 relating to the third embodiment of thepresent invention Figures 10 and 11 are diagrammatic illustrations of a set of intensity-vs.~time data stored in a main memory portion of a computer in the fourth embodiment of the present invention Figures lOa and lla are diagrammatic illustrations of a set of position vs. time data stored in a subsidiary memory portion of a cvmputer in the fourth embodiment of the present invention;
l; Figures 12 and 12a are diagrammatic illustrations for the fifth embodiment of the present invention similar to those illustrated in ~ig~res 11 and lla;
- Figures 13 and 13b are diagrammatic illustrations for the sixth embodiment of the invention similar to those illustrated in Figures 11 and lla;
Figure 13a is a diagrammatic illustration of a speed changing mode in the embodiment illustrated in Figures 13 and 13b;
Figure 14 is a modification of the measurinq equip-ment and electr~nic circuit ill~strated in Figure 6 applica-ble alternatively to the fourth and fifth embodiments of the present invention;
Figure 15 is a schematic illustration of the measur-ing equipment of the seventh embodiment of the present inven-tion;

55~;

,. , Figure 15 is a perspective view of a typical tuhu-lar object with feed and pinch rolls;
~ igure 17 is a typical photoelectrical position detection device used in connection with the seven~h embodi-ment of the present invention;
Figures 18a, l~b and 18c are schematic illustra-tions to the position-setting operation of the equipment illustrated in Figure 15;
Figures l9a and l9b are diagrammatic illustrations for the seventh embodiment of the present invention similar to the illustrations in Figures 11 and lla, wherein the radia-tion beam scanning e~uipment is used only for detecting ~he inner peripheral tube surface;
Figure l9c is a diagrammatic illustration of a set of data of photoelectrically detected outer peripheral sur-face positions in the seventh embodiment of the present inven-tion;
Figures 20a, 20b and 20c are schematic illustra-tions showing the relative positions of a radiation beam with respect to a rotating or longitudinally moving tube body relating to the seventh embodiment of the present inven-tion;
Figure 21 is an illustration of the eighth embodi-ment of the present invention;
?5 Figure 22 is an illustration of the ninth embodi-ment of the present invention:
Figures 23 and 23a are illustrations of a modifica-tion of the invention applicable when the lateral movement of the radiation beam across the tube and the axial direction of the radiation beam are not perpendicular to each other;

-- 4, --Figures 24a-30 are illustrations of a device for improved collimator alignment in accordance with the present invention;
Figure 24a is a perspective view of a two-part collimator member showing the two parts thereof connected;
Figure 24b is a perspective view of the collimator of Figure 24a with the two parts thereof separated;
Figure 25a is a perspective view ~f an aligning ruler;
Figure 25b is a top view of the allgning ruler illustrated in Figure 25a;
Figure 26 is a perspective view of two collimators and the ruler assembled on a frame;
Fiqure 26a is a partial view of the assembly illus-trated in Figure 26 at an intermediate stage during assembly;
Figure 27 is a side elevational view of the assem-bly illustrated in Figure 26;
Figure 28 is a perspective view similar to the view illustrated in Figure 26 showing an alternative embodi-ment;
Figures 29a and 29b are illustrations of anotheralternative embodiment of the aligning ruler;
Figure 30 is still another alternative embodiment of the ruler.
2~ A method of gauging the wall thickness of a steel pipe using radiation is known and ~llustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. The tube l the wall thickness of which is to be gauged is presumed to have true cylindrical and coaxial outer and inner peripheral surfaces having respective radii Rl and R2. A gamma ray beam 2 is used to scan the tube l by moving in the direction lateral to the axis of the tube l.

The y~axis is set to coincide with the direction of the lateral movement of the gamma ray beam, and the y-coordinate is zero at the position corresponding to the cen-ter of the tube 1. The length of the path of the gamma ray beam across the tube wall is denoted as x, and N is the detected intensity of the gamma ray beam after it transit~
the pipe. The axis of the radiation beam is perpendicular to the y-axis. The value of x is thus expressed as:
IYI ~ R1 X - O
R1 > I Y I _ R~ x = 2~2l-Y2 R2 _ IYI ~ O : x = 2(~R~-y2- ~ ) The value of N is expressed as:
IYI _ Rl : N = No ~1 ~ IYI _ R2 : N - NOexp(-2~R~-y2) 1~ R2 ~ IYI ~ O N = NOexp(-2~R~-y~ - ~R~-y2) If the positions of the inflection points Sl(y=Rl) and S2(y=R2), or S3(y--R2) and S4~y=-Rl) of the curve showing the value of detected radiation beam intensity N can be deter-mined, the examined tube wall thickness H may be expressed ,0 as the difference between them in the y-coordinate.
The ahove known method o gauging the tube wall thickness includes finding a point of minimum attenuation of radiation transmission where the radiation beam tangentially contacts the outer peripheral surface of the tube, and a ~5 point of maximum attenuation of radiation transmission where the beam tangentially contacts the inner peripheral surface of the tube. The distance therebetween is the ~ube wall thickness.
It is a disadvantage of this known method, however, that determining accurate positions of the points Sl and S2 or S~ and S4 requires a fairly long time. Also, inaccurate results may be obtained because it is not easy to determine the inflection points of the variation of detected radiation intensity during actual measuring operations.
To form sharp inflection points a very high reso-lution of the radiation beam is needed, which requires a radiation beam narrowed by a collimator assembl~ into as thin a beam as possibleO With reference to Figure 2, the gamma ray from a source 3 passes through a slit having a thi~kness ~y of the first collimator member 5 near the so~rce 3, to form a sector-shaped beam 2a. The slit of the second collimator member 5a near the detector 4 narrows the beam 2a into a thin beam having thickness of ~y. However, reducing the radiation beam thickness also reduces the radia-tion energy reaching the detector 4 per unit of time. Accord-ingly, a fairly long time is required for the measurement operation, during which time the measuring system ~i.e. the radiation beam generat~ng device and the detector) must be at a standstill in relation to the tube being exami~ed.
2C Also, the indication of the detected radiation (except in X-ray measurement) generally is inevitably accom-panied by error, referred to as a statistic noise, the value of which is proportional to ~, where N deno~es indication of detected radiation. That is:
the error = ~
the ln~lcation N ~N
Consequently, the larger the indication of detected radiation N, the smaller the relative error becomes. It is, therefore, necessary to have the amount o-~ radiation energy ~'7~.5~6 reaching the detector greater than a certain minimum value to obtain an accurate measurement. For example, where a tube being examined has a wall thickness of 20mm and a resolu-tion of O.lmm is needed in its measurement, it is necessary ; to have more than 200 measuring points.
A collimator, as referred to above, includes a massive radiation shield formed, for example, of lead 50mm or lOOmm thick. Assuming a straight hole is bored through the shield having a diameter of 0.5mm through which the radi-ation beam passes (although this may be smaller than thesmallest practicable diameter in a lead shield), and assuming the radiation source is caesium 137, the distance between the source and the detector is 600mm, and the detection ef-ficiency is 50~, then the radiation energy No reaching the detector with no absorption material interposed ~etween the source on ~he detector is approximately 6a3 cps (counts per second). To lower the statistic noise below about 1/500, the amount oE radiation energy required to reach the detector is more than about 2 5x105 counts. Consequently, about 6 ~0 minutes is spent for one step of the measurement o~eration at each measuring point. Therefore, a complete process for obtaining a single value of the tube wall thickness compris-ing 200 measuring points requires about 20 hours.
As described above, the known method i5 imprac-'5 tical for actual tube wall thickness measurement, particu-larly in industrial processes for manufacturing lon~ contin-uous tubular products, such as seamless steel pipes where a quick, on-line thickness measurement is required, If X-rays are used instead of gamma rays, there is no statistic noise problem. However, X-rays result in a low ~l7~5i5i~
detection efficiency, so that a relatively long time is required for the measurement operation to determine sharp inflection points.
The present invention consists of a method of aligning two collimator members used in radiation beam scanning equipment for tube wall thickness measurement, each of the collimator members comprising two parts with surfaces defining a slit through which the radiation beam passes, wherein the equipment comprises an aligning ruler including a straight bar member both ends of which are precisely machined and forming ruling surfaces which fit the surfaces of the collimator members defining the slit, the method further comprising the steps of placing the ruler in a position along a predetermined line parallel to the axis of the radiation beam, placing each collimator part such that the surfaces defining the slit are just in contact with the respective ruling surfaces of the ruler so that the collimators are thereby properly aligned, and thereafter removing the ruler.
DE~AILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
Fig. 3 is an illustration of the first embodiment of the present invention. A gamma ray beam 2 having a thickness 4y scans a tube 1, is moved laterally at a constant speed v in the direction of arrow A across the tube 1. The inten~ity of the gamma ray beam 2 after it transits the tube is indicated by a radiation detector (not illustrated) and plotted in a conceptual graph in a memory portion of a computer, the ordinate representing the indication of the detected radiation, and the abscissa representing the position of the center line of the gamma ray beam 2 moving laterally across the tube. Thus, a graph line K is obtained.

g~5~i~

The detector may be either analog or digital. If analog, it produces a contin~ously varying output; if digital, it produces a non-continuous but gradually varying output.
Preferably, the detector output is led to integrating means, which may be a counter if the detector output is digital, which integrates the detector output over a pre~etermined fragmental period of time (or quantization period) T.
The quantized indication I of detected radiation is obtained per each period of time T, the gamma ray beam 2 shifting its position laterally by a distance of vT for each period of time T. That auantized value is plotted on the ass~1mption that it occurs at the instant when the gamma ray beam 2 has moved by a certain percentage within the particu-lar fragmental period of time T, for example, on the assump-tion that the quantized indication I o~ detected radiation is obtained at the middle point of each lateral displacement of the gamma ray beam 2 within the fragmental period of time T.
Thus the graph line X is obtained.
The line ~ begins with a irst straight portion ~0 before the gamma ray beam 2 contacts the outer peripheral surface of the tube 1. There next appears a first inflection ~L7~6 ~. "
portion, followed by a second curved and drooping portion, a second inflection portion, and then a third curved and rising portion. The very beginning of the first inflection portion is an ideal inflection point and indicates that the right edge (in Fig. 3) of the gamma ray beam 2 has just contacted the outer peripheral surface of the tube 1. This ideal point El is the position of the center of the gamma ray beam 2 at this in~tant in time.
The very beginning of the second inflection portion also is an ideal inflection point and indicates that the right edge o the gamma ray beam 2 has just contacted the inner peripheral surface of the ~ube 1. Ideal point E2 is the position of the center line of the gamma ray beam 2 at the very beginning of the second inflection portion. Rl' iS and R2' are the respective coordinates of the ideal points El and E2 on the abscissa. The difference between the coordinates Rl' and R2' is the wall thickness of the tube 1.
(The broken line following the point E2 shows a result which would be generated if the tube 1 were solid rather than hollow.
Fig. 4 is a graph line identical to the line X in ~ig. 3 and will be used to further describe the first embod-iment of the invention. The lateral movement of the radia-tion beam is at a constant speed during the effective mea-surement operation~ A relatively narrow portion "a" of the curve following the point El where the plotting begins to generate a first sudden variation in the increment o the detezted radiation is analyzed electronically and approximated by a first e~uation. (The variation in increment may be understood as a secondary differential, if the measurement 5~

is analog and no quantiæation takes place). h relatively wide portion "b" of the curve preceding the point E2 where the plotting begins to generate a second sudden variation in the increment of detected radiation is analyzed and approxi-mated by a second equation. Also, a relatively narrow por-tion "c" of the curve following the point E2 is analyzed and approximated by a third equation. Suppose the first approx-imate equation is quadratic and represented by:
I = Ay ~ By + C
while the second and third approximate equations are repre-sented by:
I = exp(ay2 + by + c) and 2 I = exp(dy + ey + f) respectively. The coefficients A, B, C, a, b, c, d, e and f can be determined algebraically, or by using the method of least ~quares, from the measured data being plotted.
The point El resides where the curve "a" starts from a flat straight line. Therefore, the y-coordinate Rl' of the point El can be obtained by differentiating the first approximate e~uation with y, and solving an equation of the differential being eaual to zero. That is, the value of y, which satisfies ~y - 0, is Rl'. In a coordinate system where y=0 at the center of the tube 1, a relation IR1~ + ~Y + vT

2~ holds, where Rl is the outer radius of the tube 1, and pro-vided that each quantized value of detected radiation being plotted occurs at the middle point of that lateral displace-ment of the gamma ray beam 2 within each fragmental period 24a22 5~

vT
of time T as aforementioned (whereby the term ~ is pro-duced).
The other point E2 is approximately an intersec-tion of the ~cwo lines represented by the second and third approximate equations:
exp(ay2 + by + c) - exptdy2 + ey + f1 that is ay2 + by + c - dy2 ~- ey + f or (a-d)y2 + (b-e)y ~ c-f = 0.
The obtained value of y determines the coordinate R2' of the ~oint E2. Similarly, as in Rl', the relation ¦ R2 ~ ¦ = R2 + 2 2 holds, where R2 is the inner radius of the tube 1. There-fore, the wall thickness H of the tube 1 is:
H = ¦R ' ¦ ¦R ~ ¦
ReSU1tS of actual measurement tests of tube wall thickness in accordance with the first embodiment are listed in Table 1.

Table 1 Inside radiusOutside radius Wall thickness (mm) (mm) (mm) .__ .. _ __ ... __ .__ _.
Case . Measured Measured Measured Actual by Actual by Actual by Errc radiation radiation radiation(nur ., .~ .
1 140 140.112 150 149.910 10 9.7980.20 . ._ . _, , ._ _ .
2 187 187.079 208 207.916 21 20.8170.81 . _ .. .... _ _ . . _

3 93 93.024 96 95.g02 3 2.8780.12 .~ ~

-\

In the examples listed in Table 1 the radiation source is caesium 137, the tube material is ironl the radia-tion beam thickness is 2mm, the radiation beam width (in the direction parallel to the tube axis) is 5mm, the data s sampling period (i.e. the abovementioned fragmental or auan-ti~ation period of time T) is 0.1 ~econd and the lateral displacement velocity of the radiation beam relative to the tube body is 10mm/sec. The manner of data sampling is multisampling, i.e., where each of elemental output data of the radiation detector is picked up at a time interval of 0.01 second. Multisampli~g will be described more fully below in conjunction with Fig. 6a part i, and in relation to the performance of the scale device 13 also described below.
As indicated in Tahle 1, the first embodiment of-fers an effective and practical method of tube wall thick-ness measurement.
The accuracy of the measurement results can be further improved by using a comparison-calibration ~ethod known per se in the art. Vario~s referential data as to relations between known wall t~ic~nesses o~ known sample tubes, and the measurement results by the above method, are experimentally produced and stored in a memory portion of an electronic computer and sorted according ~o dimensions of their outer diameters and their wall thicknesses before the tubes of unknown thickness are examined. Outer diameters of these examined tubes can be gauged easily by radiation mea~
surement, or by some other appropriate means.
Calibration of measured results of the thicknesses of the tube wall being examined can be performed using the referential data stored in the computer memory, referring to SS~

the sorted dimensions of ou~er diameters of tubes. The mea-surement error can be siqnificantly reduced by preparing an adequate variety of referential data having fine pitches of dimensional intervals among them. As a practical matter, the measurement error may be set, for example, within a range of between 10 um and 30 ~m .
Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing the measuring equipment used in accordance with the first embodiment of the invention. It comprises a radiation source container 8 with a first collimator 5 mounted to the upper end of a frame 9, and a radiation detector 4 with a second colli-mator Sa mounted to the lower end of the frame 9. A gamma ray radiation source 3, which may be caesium 137, for example, is enclosed in the container 8 to produce a radiation beam 2 l; passing through the slit of the first collimator 5. The radiation beam 2 is transmitted across a tube bsdy 1, passes through the slit of the second collimator 5a, and reaches the detector 4. The radiation beam 2 has a thickness ~y and a width Q. During the scanning operation the frame 9 moves in the direction of arrow A.
Lines y, z and r indicate an orthogonal coordinate system which is stationary relative to the tube 1. The y, z and r axes are parallel to the arrow A, the tube axis and the radiation beam axis, respectively. Lines n , ~ and A
indicate another orthogonal coordinate system fixed to the measuring equipment. The ~, ~ and A axes are parallel to the y, ~ and r axes, respectively.
The radiation beam 2 has a uniform radiation flux intensity at each sectional surface area parallel to the y-z - 15 - .

S~;

.
surface (or the n - ~ surface~ which is perpendicular to the radiation beam 2 axis. ~he variation in intensity of the radiation of the source 3 with respect to time is negli-gible because the half-life period of the radiation source 3 is very long. The radiation flux intensity n of the gamma ray is expressed as:
--IJX
n = nOe where nO denotes the radiation flux intensity when the tube body is removed, and x is the length of the transit path of the radiation flux line across the tube body, the value of x being a function of the y-coordinate of the radiation flux line. The quantized indication I of detected radiation is an integration of the flux intensity n over an area of d y x Q (i.e., the section of the radiation beam) and over that fragmental period of time T (i.e. a unitary period of data sampling). Specifically, the quantized value of the detected radiation Io in the absence of the tube l is expressed, using x=0, as:
I o = c r r I ~ nO dn d~ dt = E T ~ Q ~y ~ nO

where E is a constant, and Q and ~y are the width in a z-direction and the thickness in y-direction, respectively, of the radiation beam 2.
When x~0, if it is assumed the integration of the measured output of radiation flux intensity n begins at a time instant t and is ended at a time instant t ~T, then the quantized value of the detected radiation I is expressed as:
I = rtl+T~Q~+ 2 nOe dn d~ dt tl -~y = f nOQ r tl r ~ e ~x dn dt.

And usinq y=yi~t)+~ ~ where yl(t) is the y-coordinate of the orisin (n =0, ~ ~0, ~ =0) of the moving n~ -coordinate system at a time instant t, the quantized value of the detected radiation I can be expressed as:

I = En ~f 1 TrYl (t) + ~
0 tl yl(t)_~y e dy dt.

Here, ~uantized values of the detected radiation I
are obtained in the form of dispersed data appearing at time intervals T as the gamma ray radiation beam 2 moves in the y-direction, and each of the values is the integration over the period T. It should be noted that the gamma ray radia-tion beam 2 used here has a greater thickness and width than the gamma ray radiation beam used in conventional technique-~to obtain accurate measurement results, or to determine the positions of the inflection points in the plotted data.
Fig. 6 is a schematic illustration of the measur-ing equipment ill~strated in Fig. 5 with an associated elec-tronic circuit and a drive mechanism. The frame 9 is provided with a rack lO~which engages a pinion 11. When a motor 12 operates to drive the pinion 11 the rack 10 moves, thereby laterally moving the system comprising the radiation source 3, the radiation beam 2 and the radiation detector 4 to scan the tube 1.
A scale 13 determines the position of the ~easuring equipment relative to the tube 1, and a position indicator 14 indicates that position as an electrical output. The electronic circuit further comprises a counter 17 which i5 connected to receive the output of the detector 4, latch ~'7~L5~

circuits 15 and 16, and a central processor unit (CPU) 19 for processing the measured data having an interface 18 asso-ciated therewith. Also provided are an auxiliary processor unit 21 to control the operation of the motor 12 and an aux-iliary interface 20 associated therewith, a clock pulse gen-erator 22, first and second frequency-dividers 23 and 24, respectively, and an input/output device 25.
Referring to Figures 6 and 6a, during the measur-ing operation the CPU 19 produces a scan-initiation signal, which is sent through the auxiliary interface 20 to the aux~
iliary processor unit 21, and in response to which the auxil-iary processor 21 produces a signal sent through the auxiliary interface Z0 to initiate the operation of the motor 12, and thus the scanning motion, via the pinion 11 and the rack 10.
The clock pulse generator 22 produces clock pulses, as shown in Fig. 6a part a, received by the first frequency divider 23 which produces pulses, as shown in Fig. 6a part b, at a predetermined interval, for example, ~ second. The latch circuit 15 is arranged to read and store the indica-?0 tion of the position indicator 14 represented by the pulse-shaped line as shown in Fig. 6a part c, and to receive the output pulses of the first frequency divider 23. The latch circuit 15 is responsive to each of the pulses to renew the storage of data.
In response to each output pulse o~ the first fre-quency di~ider 23, the auxiliary processor unit 21 reads the output of the position indicator 14 and utilizes the data to control the operation of the motor 12 to thereby maintain the speed of the frame at a 9 constant during the scanning operation;

t ~7~S5i~i The second frequency divider 24 receives the output pulses of the first frequency divider 23 to produce further demultiplied clock pulses, as shown in Fig. 6a part d at another prede~ermined time interval, for example, 0.1 second.
S The radiation beam ~ from the source 3 is directed through the first collimator 5, transmitted across the tube body 1, passes through the seeond collimator 5a, and reaches the detector 4. The detector 4 has a built-in amplifier and produces output voltage pulses shaped in waveform, the number of which is proportional to the number of radiation particles (or the quantity of radiation, or the detected intensity N
of radiation) reaching the detector. The output pulses of the detector 4 are counted by the counter 17. The latch circuit 16 reads and stores the output of the counter 17, and renews it whenever a cloc!~ pulse as shown in Fig. 6a, part d is produced by the second frequency divider 24 at the predetexmined interval, thus quantizing the output of the detector 4.
The output of the counter 17 is represented by a pulse-shaped line as shown in Fig. 6a part e. When the latch circuit 16 has renewed its storage, the interface 18 produces a reset pulce signal, as shown in Fig. 6a part f, to reset the counter 17 so that the counter 17 begins its counting operation a~ain from zero. At the same time, the interface 18 produces a read ~ommand p~lse si~nal ~or the CPU 19, which in response to the read command pulse signal, reads the num-ber of count ~i.e. the quantized indication of detected radia-tion I) stored in the latch circuit 16 and the position indi-cator output stored in the latch circuit 15, and sorts them ~0 in a memory portion~

~.~'7~

In Fiy. 6a part 9, the raised portion of the line shows the period of time within which the counting operation of the counter 17 occurs, while the depressed portion of the line shows the period of time during which the counter 17 is cleared. A pulse-shaped portion of the line in Fig. ~a, part h represents the period of time during which the count stored in the latch circuit 16 is read and the position indi-cation stored in the latch circuit lS~ Fiq. ~a part i relates to the multisampling technique which will be described more fully ~elow.
The measuring procedures are repeated until the CPU lg determines the end of the scanning operation, for example, by finding that the measuring equipment has moved a predetermined distance from its starting point, or that a predetermined period of time ater the second inflection in the increment of the detected radiation has elapsed, or by finding that the indication of detected radiation is at a constant equal to that at the beqinnlng of the scanning operation. The CPU 19 thereafter sends a scan-ending signal through the auxiliary interface 20 to the auxiliary processor unit 21 to stop the motor 12 and thereby stop the lateral movement of the measuring equipmentc A reverse operation of the motor 12 is then initiated by appropriate commands of the CPU 19, the auxiliary interface 20 and the auxiliary processor unit 21.
In the first embodiment, the control of the speed of the motor 12 occurs intermittently at the predetermined time interval defined by the irst ~requency divider 23.
The time interval, for example, of 1/200 second is, however, ii6 far shorter than that at which the latch circuit 16 picks up the counts of counter 17, and which is defined by the second frequency divider 24, for example, of Ool second. The run-ning speed for the scanning operation, therefore, may be adea~ately regulated to a constant.
Thus, the data of the detected radiation varying with time (or position) are stored in the memory of the CPU
19, and operations are performed thereby to solve the above-mentioned equations, to thereby determine the value of tube wall thickness. An output of the wall thickness value is produced through the input/output device 25.
The scale 13 may be a digital, or so-called linear, scale available on the market. The scale 13 is highly ac-curate and has a quick measuring performance, with a response time of about several milliseconds, or about lmm/sec. at its quickest. This response time is sufficient for the ~easur-ing equipment in the present invention since the highest response time for the measuring equipment necessary to obtain the time period of about several seconds of scanning per one output value of tube wall thickness is about several ten mm/sec.
The wall thicknesses of seamless steel pipes usually do not exceed 40mm. The shortest practicable data-sampling period T (i.e. the quantization period) is about ~5 0.1 seconds if using a radiation source o~ the largest pres-ent practicable power. Thus, the response time o the above digital or linear scale is so high that the time interval ~ t, during which the position of the laterally moving radi-ation beam is read, can be far shorter than the period T

24fl22 ~7~SS6 ., during which the data of detected radiation is sampled. For example, the time interval ~t may be about 0.01 second, while the data-sampling period T may be about 0.1 second.
The multisampling technique, therefore, can be used. In accordance with this technique, plural sets of counters 17 and latch circuits 16 are used. Each set pxo-duces a series of sampled data, the cycles of their data sampling phases shifted ~y a certain lapse of time from one another, for example, by the time interval a t ~0.01 sec. in the above example, as shown in Fig. 6a, part 8). There, Sl is a time span of the duration T within which data associated with a first series is derived from the detected radiation intensity values; S2 is a second time span also of the dura-tion T, which begins the time interval ~t behind the first time span Sl, and within which data associated with a second series is derived from the detected radiation intensity values; S3 is a third time span beginning the time span ~t behind time span S2, and so on. Accordingly, finer data may be obtained, resulting in improved acc~racy of measurement.
The CPU 19 may be provided further with a program to determine the presence of an improper motion of the mea-suring equipment. For examplel where the speed of lateral movement of the scanning equipment is 10 mm/sec., the unitary period T of data sampling is O.l second, and the maximum allowable irregularity of the equipment speed is 0.5%, the CPU 19 determines any occurrence when a value of Yl~tl) ~ yl(tl+0~1 sec) 10 mm/sec x O.1 sec is greater than 1.005 or less than 0.995mm/sec., and pro-duces a signal indicative of the improper motion.

24~2 ~ 5~;~
The~motor 12 is preferably a braked motor, i.e,, a motor which during rotation is braked to prevent reverse rotation, thus assuring the smoo~l movemen~ o~ the measuring equipment.
Fig. 7 is an illustratio~ similar to the illustra-tion of Figure 3 and related to the second embodiment of the invention. In the first embodiment, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, the points El and E2 denote the positions of the radiation beam 2 where the right edge of the radiation beam 2 contacts with the outer or inner peripheral surface of a tube wall to determine the wall ~hickness. In the second embodiment points El' and E27 are used, point El' indicating the position of the radiation beam 2 when its left edge con-tacts the outer peripheral surface of the tube wall, and point E2' indicating when the left edge o~ the beam contacts the inner peripheral surface of the tube wall. In the second embodiment, therefore:

¦R1"¦ - Rl - ~ 2 I R2~ 1 = R - ~Y _ 7 where R1" and R2" are respective y-coordinates of the points El' and E2'.
Rl" and R2" are determined in a manner substan-tially similar to that of the f irst embodiment by solving simultaneous equations derived from four otherwise defined approximate eq~lations: ~he firs~ equation repre~en~ing the relatively narrow portion of the curve similar to that of curve "a" in Fig. 4; the second equation representing a rel-atively wide portion of the curve following the first curve ~7~
similar to cu~ve "a"; the third equation representing the relatively narrow portion of the curve similar to that of curve "c" in Fiqure 4; and the fourth equation representin~
a relatively wide portion o~ ~he curve following the curve similar to curve "c". The points El' and E2' are determined as intersections of the first and second, and of the third and fourth approximate equations, respactively.
In a third embodiment of the present invention, the first and second inflect;on points o~ the above mentioned graph line, formed by conceptually plotting the data of de-tected radiation beam intensity, are determined as intersec-tions of still otherwise defined first, second and third portions of the graph line. The ~irst portion appears before the first inflection portion of the graph line, which is l; actually a flat straight line; the second portion appears between the first and secon~ in1ection portions and the third portion appears after the second inflection portion.
The inflection portions may be detected, ~or example, elec-tronically.
Figure 8 is an example of measurement results using the third embodiment, the abscissa indicating the y-coordinate of the radiation beam axis (provided that y=0 at the tube axis), the ordinate indicating the quantized value of detected radiation I, and the small blank circles indicating the 2S plotted data. In this example the radiation source is caesium 137; the radiation beam has a thickness ~y of 2mm; the speed of the lateral movement of the measuring equipment is a con-stant 10 mm/sec. in relation to the tube; the data-sampling period T ~i.e. the auantization period) is 0.1 second; and .
the actual dimensions of the tube being examined are 300mm in diameter and lOmm in wall thickness.
As seen in Figure 8, the untreated data as plotted indicate two inflection portions rather than clear inflection points. The-first portion of the graph line is a straight line represented by I=Io, where lo is the quantized value of detected radiation I in the absence of the tube body. The value of Io can be measured accurately ~eforehand. The sec-ond portion of the graph line appearing between the two inflec-tion portions may be approximated by a function of curve Fa,and the third portion of the graph line appearing after the second inflection portion may be approximated by a function of curve Fb.
Referring now to Fig. 9a, which is a recapit~-1; lation of the data plotted in Fig. 8, the first portion (i)is that represented by I=I . The function of curve Fa to approximate the second portion (ii) may be represented such as:
I = Io exp(ay2 ~ by ~ c) --~ ----- (*) and the f~nction of curve Fb to approximate the third portion (iii) may be represented by such as:
I = Io ~Ay6+Bys+cy4+Dy3~E~ y~G) _______ (**).
The coefficients a, b, c, A, ~, C, D, E, F and G may be deter-mined algebraically or by using the method of least squares from the measured data being plotted.
Therefore, the y-coordinate Rl of the intersection of elongations of the first and second portions (i~ and (ii) can be obtained easily by using I=Io in Equation ~*), i.e., by solving 55~

exp~ay2 +by+c) - 1, or ay 2 +by~c = o .
If the function of curve Fa is represented by a more complica~ed form of equation rather than Equation (*), the coordinate of the intersection may be determined ~y using another method, for example, the Newton-Raphson method. The y-coordinate ~2''' of the intersection of elongations of the second and third portions, (ii) and (iii) respectively, may be determined by solving the simultaneous equations (*) and (**), and also by using the Newton-Raphson method.
The difference between the values of Rl''' and R2''' is the tube wall thickness.
Results of actual measurement tests of tube wall thickness in accordance with the third embodiment of the present invention are listed in Table 2.

Table 2 Inside radius Outside radius Wall thickness ~mm) (mm) (m~) ___ . _ . __ . ,__ .__ Case ~leasured Measured Measured Actual by ~ctual by Actualby Error radiation radiation radiation (mm) _ __ -- ___ ____ -r_ -~ _ . _ __ ¦
1 1~0 1~0.087 150 150.241 10 10.147 0.147 _ _ .. _ . _ , .. ~ . ._ 2 187187.222 208 208.99Z 21 21.770 0.770 _ __ , ...... _ _ _ ._,.. ~
3 9392.973 96 95.961 3 2.988 0.012 _ __ _ _ _ ~ - ~ .

In these tests the radiation source is caesium 137; the tube material is iron; the radiation beam thickness is 2mm; the radiation ~eam width is 5mm; and the data samling period T (quantization period) is 0.1 second. The lateral S~

.
displacement velocity v of the radiation beam 2 relative to the tube body 1 is 10 mm/second in cases 1 and 2, and 2.5 mm/second in càse 3. The results clearly indicate the effec-tiveness of the third embodiment and its practical applica-tion to an actual process.
Similar to the first or second embodiments, fur-ther improved accuracy may be obtained in the third embodi-ment by using the method of comparison-calibration. The second seotion (ii), as illustrated in Figure 9a, may be considered as comprising two portions (ii-a) and (ii-b~
approximated by respective equations:

o P ( lY bly+C~ (*l) and I = Io exp(a~y ~b2Y+C2) ___________ (*2).
As illustrated in Figure 9b, the coordinates ~1" ' and R2''' may be determined as the intersection between I=Io and Eq.
(*~), and the intersection between Eq. ~*2) and Eq. (**), respectively.
Tbe measurinq equipment and its associated elec-tronic circuit as illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 may be usedin the second and third embodiments, and perform~ similarly as in the first embodiment.
There are several advantageous ~eatures of the invention as described above, First, the invention does not require as particularly high a radiation power source as does the conventional techniaue to obtain su~ficiently rapid measurement responses, owing to the thickness o~ radiation beam used in accordance with the invention. For example, in the above-described embodiments o~ the invention, when the 5~i6 collimator siit has a thickness of 2mm and a width of 50mm, the distance between the radiation source and the detector i5 600mm, the detection efficiency is 50~, and the unitary period of data sampling T is 0.1 second, a radiation power of 7.2 Ci will suffice to produce 2.5x105 counts/second of radiation using caesium 137 as the source material. A simi-lar effect may be obtained, using X-rays.
Second, if the running speed i5 lOmm/second and the scanning distance is 40mm, for example, then the overall time period for measuring the wall thickness of a tube is 40/10 = 4 seconds, which may be said to be a relatively rapid measurement. Accordingly, on-line or real time operations can be realized in tube wall thickness measuxement in accor-dance with the invention.
lS The scanning distance of 40mm in the above example was selected because the expected maximum outer diameter of the usual seamless steel pipe being examined is assumed to be 168.3mm, according to a Japanese Industrial Standard, and an expected maximum value of the wall thickness of the pipe is approximately 10~ of the outer diameter, i.e., about 17mm.
Therefore, the net scanning distance ordinarily is not more than about 20mm plus about lOmm each at both ends of the pipe, i.eO, about 40mm. The lOmm on either end of the pipe are for running the measuring equipment up to its predeter-~5 mined constant speed, and for dècelerating the equipment from the end of the net scanning distance until the equipment is at a standstill.
In the above example the transit path length of the radiation beam across the tube is a maximum of about ~7~L556 lOlmm, which i~s below the usually recognized maximum of approximately llOmm or 120mm for iron being gauged using caesium 137 as a source.
While in the above embodiments the speed oE the lateral movement of the radiation beam is maintained at a constant during the effective measurement operation, the invention may also be used wherein the speed of lateral movement the radiation beam is not a constant, or further, in a system wherein the running speed may be varied inten-tionally during the measurement operation, as will be described below.
It is a feature of the fourth embodiment of the invention that the relation between the shifting position of the radiation beam and time is stored, i.e.~ the positions of the laterally moving radiation beam are measured with reference to time befsre the data sampling of detected radi-ation. Specifically, the positions are measured at much finer predetermined ~ime intervals than the unitary frag-mental period (i.e. quantization period) of time T. The obtained data of shifting beam-position vs. time are then plotted into a conceptual graph and may be stored or plotted in a subsidiary memory portion of an electronic computer.
Thereafter, the sampling and quantizing of the indication of detected radiation is performed in a manner substantially similarly to aforementioned embodiments.
The data which is to be plotted is produced at the predetermined fragmental (quantization) time periods T, how-ever, the scale of the transversal axis used in plotting this data is translated from duration of time into displace-~4~22 ~ .

` ~a7~s~i ment of posi~lon by using the beam-position vs. time data stored in the subsidiary memory portion. The quantized indi-cations detected radiation X data are then stored in the main memory portion of the electronic computer with reference to the shif~ing position of the radiation beam..
The operation of the fourth embodiment of the inven-tion will be described more fully with reference to Figures 10 and lOa. Flg. 10 shows a graph line similar to the graph line iIlustrated in Figure 4~ the ordinate representing the detected radiation, but differing in that the abscissa is a scale of time. While in the former embodiments the displace-ment of the radiation beam was in straight linear proportion to time during the effective measurement, the abscissa there-fore representing displacement as a distance, in the fourth embodiment the displacement of the radiation beam may not be in linear proportion to time even during the effective mea-s~rement. Therefore, the abscissa of the graph in Fig. 10 is on a scale of time and not displacement. The graph may be conceptual and stored in a main memory portion of an elec-tronic computer.
Displacements of the radiation beam while moving laterally in a predetermined mode are measured in reference to time, as mentioned, and the result is plotted beforehand to form a conceptual the graph as shown in Fig. lOa. When the data of the graph in Fig. 10 is stored, a process similar 'o the former embodimen~s is performed so that ~he transverse coordinates o~ the inflection points (or the specified in-flection points and/or intersections, substituted for the ideal inrlection points) are determined from the stored graph - 30 ~

7~ ii6 data o~ Fig. ro. The determined transverse coordinates rep-resent the time instants at which the inflections (or their substitutes) appear during the lateral motion of the radia-tion beam motion. The coordinates are translated into values which indicate positions, by the use of the data of graph of Fig. lOa, the tube wall thickness being the distance between the positions.
The fourth embodiment may be described more specif-ically with reference to Figures 11 and lla, Fig. 11 being similar to Fig. 4 in appearance, but the abscissa of which represents time. Fig. lla is a graph of data translating ti~e into position, ana is a recapitulati~n o Fig. lOa.
The process as described in connection with Fig. 4 is used to determine the coordinates of time instants tl and t2 at which the right edge of the radiation beam 2 (Fig. 3) just begins to contact the outer and inner peripheral surfaces, respectively, of the tube 1 (Fig. 3). The values of tl and t2 are translated into the values of corresponding positions Rl' and R2' of the moving radiation beam, using the data of Fig. lla. The tube wall thickness is the difference between Rl' and R2~.
Figures 12 and 12a relate to a fifth embodiment of the invention, which is an alternative of the fourth embodi-ment of the invention. The movement of the radiation beam '5 represented in Figure 12 is similar to Fig. 9a. The abscissa represents time, and its data for translation of time into position is illustrated in Figure 12a. The process, similar to the process described in connection with Figures 8 or 9a, is performed so that the time instants tl' and t2' (the ~ ~"
transverse coordina~es of the intersections o portions (i) and (ii), and of portions ~ii) and (iii), respectively) of the graph line on the time~scale are determined. The values of tl' and t2' are then translated into the values of corresponding positions Rl" and ~2" of the radiation beam, using the data of ~ig. 12a. ~ccordinyly, Rl" ~ R2" is the tube wall thickness.
Figures 13, 13a and 13b relate to a sixth embodi-ment of the invention, which is still another alternative of the fourth embodiment of the present invention. There is provided in the sixth embodiment an improved mode for chang-ing the speed of the lateral movement of the radiation beam.
The speed of the lateral movement is set relatively low with-in each of the time spans for which the variation of the increment of detected radiation energy is more than a pre-determined value in reference to displacement, the speed being accelerated between those time spans.
Fig. 13a shows an example of the speed changing mode, the abscissa representing the lapse oF time, and the ordinate representing the speed of radiation beam displace-ment relative tc the tube body position. In this example, the movement of the radiation beam commences at time too and is accelerated to reach a relatively low level of s~eed at time tol, maintaining the speed at about that level for the span of time between tol and tlo. The movement is accel-erated between times tlo and tl2, and therea~ter decelerated to a relatively low speed level at time tl2, again maintain-ing the speed at about that level for another span of time between tl~ and t21. The equipment is then further deceler 5S~i .
ated to a standstill at time t22. Fig. 13 shows the relation between time (abscissa) and the ~uantized indication of de-tected radiation tordinate) when the radiation beam motion is as illustrated in Fig. 13a.
Fig. 13b shows the relation between time (abscissa) and the position of displacement of the radiation beam (ordi-nate). When the data of graph of Fig. 13 are stored, the process similar to the process described in connection with the fourth embodiment is performed so that a set of the time instants tl and t2, as in the fourth embodiment, or another set of the time instants tl' and t2' as in the fifth embodi-ment, or still another set of the like in any alternative embodiment, is obtained.
It is expected that tl, tl' or the like appears between tol and tlo and that t2, t2' or the like appears between tl~ and t21. Then, using the data of the graph of Fig. 13b, the values of tl and t2 or tl; and t2', or the like, are translated into the corresponding displacement positions Xl' and R2' or Rl " and R2 " or the like, thus determining the tube wall thiGkness.
The curve illustrated in Fig. 13a is only one exam-ple of various possiblé modes ~or changing the speed of the radiation beam motion and modifications of Fiq. 13a are con-templated. For example, the speed of the radiation beam may ~; be accelerated in other time spans, around tol or around t21, for example.
The time spans (tol to tlo and tl2 to t21) which the radiation beam should run at the relatively low level of speed may be defined in accordance with a programmed 5~
~., control seque~ce stored in a portion of the computer memory when only minor deviations from the average dimensions of diameter and wall thickness are expected in the tubes being measured In other cases, they may be defined as the time spans for which a variation in increment of detected radia-tion (or the value of its derivative of the second order~ is more than a cer~ain predetermined value, and the portions wherein the speed is accelerated are defined as portions other than those time spans.
The measuring equipment and electronic circuit illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 may also be used in the fourth, fifth and sixth embodiments of the present invention. The subsidiary memory portion for storing the data of radiation beam position vs. time may be provided in the CPU 19, or in lS the auxiliary processor unit 21. In embodiments using a control program for changing the motor speed, the program may be stored in the auxiliary processor unit ~1. Further, if the motor speed should be changed in reference to a vari-ation in the increment of detected radiation, the CPU 19 may ~o include means to determine the value o~ the second-order derivative of the detected radiation energy, to compare it with a reference value, and to produce signals to initiate the change of the motor 12 speed in reference to the compar-ison result.
The assoeiated electronic circuit may be simp~ified in the fourth or fi~th embodiments, as shown in Fig. 14, because the speed of the motor 12 need not be constant during the effective measurement operation, while it should be main-tained at a constant during the effective measurement opera-tion in the first through third embodiments.

.

As illustrated in Fi~ure 14, reerence numerals 1-9, 12-17, and 22-~4 denote the same elements as in Figure 6.
Numerals 10 and lOa denote pulleys with a wire 11 thereon fixed to a frame 9. The pulley lOa is co~pled to a motor 12, the operation of which operates the pulleys 10 and lOa and wire 11 to laterally shift the position of the equipment with the radiation beam 2 mounted on the frame 9.
Alternatively, members 10, lOa and 11 may be a rack 10 and a pinion 11 as shown in Fig. 6. A scan-initiation signal is produced by the CPU 19 and is received by a control switch 26, to start the motor 12 to thereby start the lateral movement of the radiation beam 2. Similarly, as in the first embodiment, the CPU 19 reads the count stored in the latch circuit 16 and the position indication output stored in the latch circuit 15 whenever a reset pulse signal is produced from the first frequency divider 23. The read-out data are stored in a memory of the CPU 1~. The procedures are repeated until the CPU 19 determines an end of the scanning operation.
The CPV 19 then produces a scan-ending signal which is re-ceived by the control switch 26, to thereby stop the motor12 and thereafter start its return operation.
The merit of the fourth, fifth and sixth embodiments when compared with the first, second and third embodiments is a more rapid performance of tube wall thickness measure-ment. While in the first through third embodiments aneffective measurement does not take place during the time required by the equipment from the start of the motor until it attains its constant speed, and during its deceleration to a standstill after the net distance of the scanning oper-2~822 ation, the fourth through sixth embodiments allow the effec-tive measurement during those ~ime periods. Furthermore, in the sixth embodiment, the measurement period may be shortened by the acceleration of the scanning motion in another time S span or spans (for example, between tlo and tl2 as in ~ig.
13a).
A seventh embodiment of the invention uses radia-tion beam scanning together with other detecting means. In this embodiment, the position of the inner peripheral sur-face of the tube l being examined is detected by the use o~
radiation beam scanning, and the position of the ou er peri-pheral sùrface of the tube 1 i5 detected by other edge posi-tion detection means, for example, a photoelectric device.
This embodiment is particularly suitable for rapid measure-ment, and for gauging an object which is rotating and/ormoving longitudinally at a high speed.
Figure 15 is a schematic illustration of the seventh embodiment. A radiation source container 8 with a radiation source 3, and a radiation beam detector 4 are mounted to a ~rame 9. A first motor 12 drives a rack lO and pinion ll mechanism, to move the frame 9 in the direction of arrow A or arrow B for scanning, so that a radiation beam 2, leading ~rom the source 3 through collimeters 5 and 5a to the radiation detector 4, shifts its position laterally.
2; The broken line 2a indicates a position of the beam 2 after scanning. Alternatively, it may be understood that the solid line 2 illustrate~ the beam 2 position after scanning while the broken line 2a illustrates its position before scanning.
The embodiment uses a photoelectrical position detector 31 mounted on an end portion of another rack lOa 3~73l~

which determines the position of the outer peripheral surface of the tube 1, as describe~ below with reference to Figure 17. The photoelectrical detector 31 is a known article ~er se and is available on the market. An advantageous feature S of a photoelectrical position detect~r 31 is its very rapid response time of only several millisecon~s. The rack lOa with the photoelectrical detector 31 is driven by the pinion lla and the second motor 12a~
Before measuring a tube, the positions of the radi-ation scanning equipment and the photoelectrical detectorare preset according to data of approximate outer diameter, approximate wall thickness and expected range of deviation of the wall thickness of the tube, which data may be obtained beforehand. This embodiment may also be applied in situa-tion~ where data of those rough dimensions may be easilyobtained or availa~le, for example, by measurement of many mass-produced tubes.
The CPU 19 of the electronic computer tnot illus-trated in Fig. 15) is supplied with the data as input, and defines in accordance with that data the positions where the radiation scanning equipment and the photoelectrical detector 31 should be placed ini tially . The CPU 19 then produces signals for the first and second motors 12 and 12a, respec-tively, to drive the rack 10 and lOa ~`hd pinion 11 and lla ~5 mechanisms so that the radiation beam 2 and the photoelectri-cal detector 31 are moved to those respective predefined positions.
This presetting operation is conducted in the ab-sence of the tube body within the measuring space of the . ~

55~

equipment. For example, an actual seamless steel pipe manu-facturing process includes the step of changing the roll member when changing the rolling schedule, i.e~, when tube dimensions are to be changed. Preferably, the presetting S operation is conducted during that step.
Once the positions have been preset, the position of the photoelectrical detector 31 usually is not shifted before another change of the rolling schedule because a large lateral fluctuation of the position of the surface or center line of a ~ube moving longitudinally does not occur in an actual manufacturing or inspecting process.
A plurality of feed rolls 34a and associated pinch rolls 34 (only one set of which are illustrated in Fig. 16) which are drum-shaped and constricted in the middle serve to 1~ curb the lateral deviation of the running tube body 1, such that the uuter peripheral surface which is to be measured by the photoelectrlc detector 31 is within the span where the photoelectrical detector can sense it.
The scanning operation to determine the position of the inner peripheral surface fo the tube 1 by moving the radiation beam in the direction of arrow A or arrow B in Figure 15 is similar to the operation as described in connec-tion with the former embodiments.
The position of the outer peripheral sur~ace of the tube 1 detected by the photoelectrical detector 31 can be represented by a distance from a point of origin coordi-nate in the photoelectrical detection system. The position of the inner peripheral surface of the tube 1, detected by the radiation beam scanning operation, may be represented by ~:~7~5~;~

still another distance rom a point of origin coordinate in the radiational measurement system using the moving beam.
30th the points of origin are made to coincide ~ith each other as described below in connection with Figs. 18a, 18b and 18c. ~he distance between the detected positions of the outes and inner peripheral surfaces of the tube 1 may be easily determined thereafter to thereby determine the tube wall thickness.
Figure 17 is a schematic illustration of the photo-electrical position detection device comprising a lens 36 which focuses a measured object 35 into an image 37, a linear array of semiconductive transducers ~3, a signal generating circuit 38 which converts optical signals into electrical signals and supplies a set of electrical signals to an arith-l; metic logic circuit 41 and an amplifier 40 representative ofthe image 37, a drive circuit 39 for the signal generating circuit 38, and a result indicating means 44.
As described herein the measurement dekects a one-dimensional cuantity. The linear array of transducers 43 comprises hundreds or thousands of photodiodes aligned at intervals between 0.015mm and 0~05mm, and which store in associated elements in the signal generating circuit 38 elec-tric charges proportional to the light intensities illuminat-ing them. The stored charges are utilized in turn by a con-nection, shifting wi~h a clock pulse delivered by the drive circuit 39, to form a series of electrical signals, A large signal magnitude represents a bright portion of the image and a small signal magnitude represents a dark portion of the image. The signals are supplied to the arithmetic logic ~ 7~5~i circuit 41 via the amplifier 40. The arithmetic logic cir-cuit 41 determines the position of the border point or edge between the briqht and dark portions in the image 37 and represents the position of the edge of the measured object in the coordinate of the photoelectric detection system, which is then indicated by the indicating means 44. (If the measured object is a luminous body, for example, an iron member at a temperature of 800C or more, illumination is not required. Otherwise, additional illumination may be required.) Figures 18a-18c illustrate the technique used to align the points of origin in the photoelectrical detection system (~he position of the outer pexipheral surface) and in the radiational measurement (the position of the innter peri-pheral surface) with each other. I and y denote like val~esas in Figures 3 and 4.
In Figures 18a and 18b, a sample object 35 having a reference edge E is placed within the measuring span of the photoelectric detector 31. The position of the edge E
is measured by the photoelectr$c detector 31 which indicates a value Ll (in Fig. 18a) as the distance between the origin position SSl of the photoelectric detection system and the edge E. Next, the position of the same edge E is measured by moving the radiation beam 2 to a position 2a (in Fig.
25 18b), which indicates a val~e L2 as the distance between the provisional origin position SS2 of radiation beam system and the edge E. The difference ~L=L2-Ll is thereby obtained.
If using a new origin of this coordinate system shifted by ~L from the position SS2 toward the position of the edge E, 7~556 it coincides with the position SSl of the origin of the photo-electrical detection system.
As ill~strated in Fig. 18c, the position of the outer peripheral surface of a tube l is measured by the photo-electrical detector 31, which indicates a distance Llo be-tween it and the origin position SS1. The position o~ the inner peripheral surface of the tube l is measured by scan-ning with the radiational beam, which indicates a distance L20 between it and the provisional origin position SS2~ The tube wall thickness H may be determined then as:
H=Llo~(L20- ~L) With reference again to Figure 15, the equipment illustrated is associated with an electronic circuit which may be similar to the circuit ill~strated in Fig. 6 used in the first through third embodiments, or similar to the cir-c~it illustrated in Fig. 14 used in the fourth and fifth embodiments. ~he speed of the lateral movement of the radia-tion beam may be maintained at a constant during the effec-tive measurement as in the ~irst through third embodiments, or may vary during the effective measurement as in the fourth through sixth embodiments. Its performance will be described herein where the speed is variable.
The intensity of the radiation beam 2 reaching the detector 4 is detected during scanning and electronically 2; processed, as in the former embodiments, so that the quan-tized data I of the detected radiation beam intensity are obtained, as shown for example in Fig. l9a, in the form of data dispersed at a predetermined time interval. The period T

may be, for example, 0.1 second. Note that the abscissa of "

Fig. l9a represents time~ ~hile the intensity of the radia-tion beam 2 is being detected, the distance Yll from the provisional origin position SS2 to the moving radiation beam 2 is being measured, for example, by the scale 13 as in the first embodiment. The digital output indicatin~ the beam 2 position is produced at far finer time interYals than the quantization period T.
An example of the relation between time and the measured values of the distance Yll is shown in Figure l9b, the abscissa, again representing time. The distance L20 from the origin position SS2 to the position of the inside tangent of the tube body 1 is obtained in a manne~ similar to the manner discussed in connection with the fourth through sixth embodiments.
While the intensity of the radiation beam 2 and the ~eam 2 position are being measured, the distance Llo from the origin position SSl to the position o~ the outer tangent of the tube body 1 is being measured by the use of the photoelectrical detector 31. The distance Llo fluc-tuates slightly over time because the tube moves longitudi-nally and the outer surface of the tube 1 is not always per-fectly straight in the longitudinal direction. An example of measured results of the distance ~10 is illustrated in ~ig. l9c, the abscissa representing time. The data repre-senting the measured distance Llo is stored in anotherportion of the computer memory.
The instant in time when the radiation beam 2 de-tects the inner tangential point of the tube 1 is determined (as in Fig. l9a) from the quantized data I of the detected - ~2 -;6 `
radiation ln~ensity. Thus, the distance L1o at that instant may be determined easily by the electronic computer~ Using this distance L1o and the above obtained values o L2Q and ~L, the tube wall thickness H is expressed, as mentioned abo~e, as:
H = Llo - (L20 - ~L).
An advantage of the seventh embodiment is that it is more suited to rapid measurement than the former embodi-ments, and is particularly suited for gauging the tube wall thickness of a tube which i~ rotating and/or moving longitu-dinally rapidly. Rotating or longitudinal movement of the tube 1 is used in some rolling mills and the like.
This advantageous feature is further described with ~articular reference to Fisures 20a through 20c which show the relative positions of a radiation beam 2 with respect to a rotating and/or longitudinally moving tube 1, the former illustrated in cross-section in Figures 20a and 20c, and the latter illustrated by a longitudinal portion with exaggerated surface unevenness in Figure 20b.
If a single radiation beam 2 is used for scanning the tube wall to determine both its outside and inside tangen-tial points, as in the flrst through sixth embodiments, the radiation beam moves laterally, as illustrated in Figure 20a, from an initial position shown by the solid line (a-o) to a terminus position shown by the broken line (a-4).
Sketching the relative positions of the radiation beam with respect to the tube body 1, with reference only to its longi-tudinal running motion, as illustrated in Fig. 20b (where the direction oE radiation beam axis is perpendicular to the ~ ~3 -5~i6 axis of the tube), the initial position of the beam is at a point (b-o) and its terminus position is at another point (b-4). At point (b-l) the beam contacts the outer periphery of the tube, and at point (b-3) it contacts the inner peri-phery of the tube~
Thus, the tube wall thickness H is determined using the outer and inner radii measured at positions longitudinally distant from each other. If the unevenness of the longitudi-nal stream of the tube wall is unnegligible, and the speed of the longitudinal movement of the tube 1 is so high in relation to the speed of the lateral movement of the radia-tion beam 2, the measurement includes an undesirable unneg-ligible error.
Sketching the relative positions of the radiation beam 2 with respect to the tube body 1, with reference only to its rotating motion as illustrated in Figure 20c, the beam 2 contacts the outer periphery of the tube 1 at the position indicated by the solid line (c-l), and contacts the inner periphery of the tube 1 at the position indicated by the broken line (c-3). The contact points A and B are dis-tant from each other in the peripheral direction. An uneven-ness of the tube wall stream in the peripheral direction and a high rotating velocity of the tube may cause yet another undesirable unnegligible error in measurement.
In accordance with the seventh embodiment of the invention, however, values indicating the radial position of the outer tube surface are obtained at much finer intervals than the unitary quantization period T due to the rapid per-formance of the photoelectrical position detector 31, while - ~4 -, the radiation beam 2 is scanning the radial position of the inner tube surface, moving from its position shown by the dot and dash line (a-2) in Figure 20a, line (c-2) in Figure 20c or a point (b-2) in Figure 20b to its terminus position (a-4), (c-4) or (b-4), respectively. Consequently, the radial position of the outex peripheral surface of the tube 1 corresponding to the tangential contact point on the inner peripheral surface of the tube 1 detected by the radiation beam 2 may be determined. Therefore, improved measurement accuracy is obtained even when the tube is rotating rapidly or moving rapidly in the lateral direction.
Figure 21 illustrates an eighth embodiment of the invention, which is a modification of the seventh embodiment.
In the eighth embodiment a second photoelectrical position detector 31a, and second radiation beam scanning equipment 4a, 8a and 9a, similar to the detector 31 and the equipment

4, 8 and 9 mentioned above, are provided. The second appara-tus 31a, 4a, 8a and 9a is used to gauge the wall thickness of the tube 1 at a position other than that ~auged by the first apparatus 31, 4, 8 and 9. (If the portions of the wall to be measured are opposite each other, the second ap-paratus 31a, 4a, 8a and 9a may be eliminated, the sin~le apparatus 4, 8 and 9 instead laterally scanning the full inner diameter of the tube 1.) Figure 22 illustrates a ninth embodiment of the invention which is still another modification of the seventh embodiment. In the ninth embodiment an X-ray photoelectrical position detector 31x is substituted in place of the radia-tion beam scanning equipment. This detector 31x operates on ~ 24a22 ~3~7~6 , the same principle as the photoelectric detector 31 described in connection with Fig. 17, but uses X rays instead of visi-ble light, and the semiconductive transducers 43 of the linear array are photodiodes sensitive to X-rays.
The positions of the detectors 31 and 31x are pre-set, and intensities of transmitted X-rays projected on the linear array provide data similar to the data of quantized radiation beam intensity I plotted on a time coordinate axis as in the seventh embodiment. Consequently, the position of the tangential point on the inner peripheral wall of the tube 1 can be deter~ined using the same principles as in radiation beam scanning. The outer peripheral surface is also detected by the detector 31 in a manner similar to the photoelectric detector 31 of the seventh embodimentl and accordingly, the tube wall thickness can be determined.
The X-ray detecting device has a faster response time than the radiation beam scanning equipment. Therefore, this embodiment offers a further improved method and appara-tus for rapid tube wall thickness measurement when the tubes are rapidly rotating or moving rapidly in the longitudinal direction.
In the above-described embodiments the direction of movement of the radiation beam 2 across the axis of the tube during the scanning operation is perpendicular to the axis of the radiation beam. The invention may be modified, however, to operate when those axes are at an arbitrary angle with respect to each other, as illustrated in ~igure 23.
The radiation beam 2 is at an anyle ~ (not a right angle) to the direction of movement of the radiation beam eauipment ~4822 ~'7~6 .
during scanning, and indicates the tube wall thickness Ha.
Accordingly, the actual wall thickness value H can be ob-tained by solving the equation:
H=Ha sin ~
When adapted to the seventh embodiment of the present inven-tion as illustrated in Figure 23a, the path of the ray to the detector 31 is parallel to the radiation beam axis, and the tube wall thickness is:
H=~a sin ~
The invention also may use beta rays, ultraviolet rays, or infrared rays instead of gamma rays or X-rays when gauging objects made of metal, plastics or glass.
Also, the thickness of the radiation beam 2 may be adjusted so that it increases as it approaches the detector, rather than maintaining a constant thickness as described in the above embodiments.
The invention also includes an improved device for aligning the collimator members. Using conventional tech-niques this operation is complicated requiring a relatively long period of time and costly apparatus. In conventional techniques, two collimator members each having a machined surface perpendicular to the direction of movement of the radiation beam across the tube, are placed with their respec-tive machined surfaces parallel to each other. The members are moved parallel to each other until the point of maximum radiation intenslty reaching tne detector is determined.
However, the difficulty in determining a sharp maximum point of detected intensity often results in inaccuracies.
Alternatively, a collimator member having a long JJ slit through which the radiation beam passes is used as the ~ 7~
collimator member, and is placed near the radiation source to produce a substantially narrowed radiation beam. To deter-mine the spot illumir.ated by the beam, test shots are con-ducted usin~ X-ray film~ or other film sensitive to radiation, at a position near the radiation detector. Another collima-tor member with the detector is then set at that determined spot. A disadvantage of this technique, however, is the nigh manufacturing cost of machining a long collîmator body with a long slit. Additionally, the capacity of the radia~
iO tion source must be large due to the relatively long distance between the radiation source and the detector, causing an increase in the weight of the equipment, as well as further increasing costs.
To eliminate the above disadvantages, the collima-tor alignment device of the present invention uses an ali~n-ing ruler and a specific configuration of either the collima-tor body or the ruler. The ruler has precisely machined ruling surfaces at both its end portions and is placed in a position along a predetermined line parallel to and at a ~nown distance from the radiation beam axis. Each collimator, or its part, is positioned so as to have its slit or a sur-face of its slit closely contact the ruling surface. The ruler is thereafter removed.
To facilitate this adjustment the body of the collimator or the ruler may comprise two or more separable parts. If the collimator comprises two parts, its first part is first positioned to contact with the ruler, the sec-ond part being coupled with the first part after the ruler is removed.

- ~8 -24~22 Figure 24a is a perspective view showing an embod-iment of a collimator member 103 comprising two blocks 103A
and 103B. Figure 24b is a perspective view o~ the same col-limator blocks separated from each other. The two blocks s 103A and 103B are identical in shape and placed opposite each other when assembled. The facing surfaces of each are formed with a T-shaped flat depression and two flat protru-sions. When assembled, the protrusions of one part engage the two arm portions of the T-shaped depression of the other, 0 the remaining trunks of the T-shaped depressions thereby forming a straight slit 104 through which the radiation beam passes. The edge S prevents radiation leakage from the blocks other than through the slit 104.
In a radiation beam generating and detecting system ~enerally two collimators are used, both of which are formed as shown in Figures 24a and 24b, and mounted directly, or through supporting members, on the equipment frame of the system.
As illustrated in Figs. ~Sa and 25b, the aligning ruler 110 comprises a channel bar 116 and two piers 111 and llla mounted to the bar 116 and arranged to provide adequate rigidity. Positioning pins 112 and 112a are mounted to the bottom surfaces of the piers 111 and llla, respectively.
The bottom surfaces of the piers 111 and llla are on a line parallel to the center line of the bar 116.
One side of the bar 116 has both its end portions preci~ely machined as ruling surfaces 115 and 115a which are in the same plane parallel to the referential plane 114 which contains the axes of the positioning pins 112 and 112a, both f~l~5~;

planes being perpendicular to the bottom surfaces of the piers 111 and llla.
The equipment is assembled as illustrated in Fig.
26. The frame 120 has a flat surface on which the equipment is ~ounted having two holes 121 and 121a into which are fitted the positioning pins 112 and 112a. 'rhe holes 121 and 121a are on a line parallel to the axis of the radiation beam and which lies at a distance D from the plane perpendic-ular to the surface of the frame 120 which contains the axis of the radiation beam~ The distance D bet~een the line con-taining the holes 121 and 121a and the plane containing the beam axis preferably is identical to the distance between the referential plane 114 and the plane of the ruling sur-faces 115 and ll5a (see Fig. 25b).
The ruler 110 is first put on the flat surface of the frame 120 so that the positioning pins 112 and 112a are in the holes 121 and 121a. The ruler 110 is then secured to the frame 120 by the bolt 113. A first part 103B of the ~irst collimator member is tacked to the bracket 122 as shown in Fig. 26, and the bracket 122 is then tacked to the frame 120. Alternatively, the collimator half 103B may be tacked to the bracket 122 after the bracket 122 is mounted on the frame 120.
The radiation source container, not shown in Fi~.
26, will be mounted later on the opposite side of the bracket 122 to the other part of the first collimator member. The bracket 122 is formed with an opening adequate ~or the ra~ia-tion beam to pass therethrough. The position of the colli-mator half 103B is then adjusted so that the surface of the -depression trunk which forms the slit of the collimator half 103B just contacts the ruling surface 115 of the ruler 110.
This adjustment may be made, referring to Figure 26a, as follows. Before securing the bracket 122 to the frame 120, the bracket 122 with the collimator half 103B is placed thereon at such a position that the vertical edge 124 of the depressed surface of the collimator half 103B contacts the ruling surface 115. The position in which the collimator half is to be mounted to the bracket 122 is then finely ad-justed so that no clearance exists between the edge 124 and the ruling surface 115. Once in this position, the collima-tor half 103B is secured to ~he bracket 122by a bolt through a hole 125, for example. The position of the bracket 122 and collimator half lo3a is adjusted until the depressed surface of the collimator half 103B and the ruling surface 115 are in close contact. The bracket 122 is then secured to the frame 120 by bolts not shown.
The first half 103'B of the second collimator is then adjusted. This collimator half 103'~ is tacked on another supporting member, such as a pedestal 126, on the detector side of the apparatus by a stud bolt 129 or the like. Its position is adjusted in a manner similar to the above, the collimator half 103'B being placed so that a ver-tical edge of its depressed surface contacts the ruling sur-face 115a. The position of the pedestal 126 and the block 103'B is then finely adjusted by changing the number or posi-tions of very thin mats 127 and 128 below the pedestal 1~6 until no clearance exists between the edge and the ruling surface 115a as above. Then, the pedestal 126 is secured to ~'7~L~56 the frame 120, the collimator half 103lB being adjusted so the depressed surface is in close contact with the ruling surface 115a. Once adjusted the collimator half 103'B is secured to the pedestal 126 by the stud bolt 129. The ruler 110 is then removed, and the second collimator halves 103A
and 103lA (not shown in Fig. 26) of the first and second collimators are coupled with the first halves 103B and 103'B, respectively.
The position of the radiation beam with respect to the frame 120 or to the ruler 110 in ~ig. 26 can be accurately determined as follows. Referring to Fig. 27, the space de-fined between the right side of the second half 103A of the collimator and the depression of the first half 103B repre-sents the radiation beam. The center plane 130 of the slit ; lies parallel to the referential plane 114 and at a distance DR therefrom. The distance DR then is:
DR = D _ Qv ~here D is the distance between the referential plane 114 and the ruling surface 115 or 115a, and ~y is the depth of the depression of the block 103B (which is the same as the thickness of the radiation beam).
The distance D is accurately determined due to the precise machining of the ruling surfaces llS and 115a as already mentioned. The depressed surface is also precisel~
machined so as to provide an accurate depth ~y. Therefore, an accurate value of the distance DR to indicate the position of the radiation beam is obtained.
An alternative of the device for aligning the col-limators using an aligninq ruler having, instead of a unitary - ~7~S~;
bar member as described above, a bar comprising separable parts, is also provided. Each collimator in this embodiment is unitary rather than comprising separable parts as described above.
Fig. 28 is a perspective partly exploded view of this alternative embodiment. The collimators 203 and 203a have respective slits 204 and 204a which form the radiation beam passage. The aligning ruler 210 comprises three sepa-rable bar parts 210A, 210B and 210C.
A fi~ture bar 217 is provided with subpGsitioning pins 218A, 218A', 218B, 218B', ~18C and 218C', which engage correspondin~ holes (not illustrated) in the bar parts 210A, 210B and 210C. The fixture bar 217 is also provided with holes 21~A, 219B and 219C, through which stud bolts 231A, 231B and 231C, respectively, are inserted to engage with screw holes in the respective bar parts 210A, 210B and 210C.
The three bar parts 210A, 210B and 210C and the fi~ture bar 217 thus form a unitary ruler assembly 210. The bar parts 210A and 210C have projections 232 and 232a, respectively, which are precisely machined to fit the slits 204 and 204a of the collimators 203 and 203a, respectively.
The bar parts 210A, 210B and 210C and the fixture bar 217 are assembled into the ruler 210 for mounting and aligning the collimators on the frame 220. The collimator 203 is put into position on the frame. The ruler assembly (210 and 217) is then mounted to the collimator 203 by insert-ing its projection ~32 into the slit 204 in a position so the fixture bar 217 is not facing the frame 220. If neces-sary, the ruler 210 and 217 may first be placed in position \

on the frame 220 using a supporting member ~not shown), the collimator 203 thereafter being mounted to the ruler. The other collimator 203a is then mounted to the ruler by insert-ing the other projection 232a into the slit 204a, thus align-ing the two collimators.
To dismantle the assembly, the stud bolts 231A, 231B and 231C are removed, the fixture bar 217 is separated from the bar parts 210A, 210B and 210C, and the center part 210B is disassembled from the other parts 210A and 210C.
The device illustrated in Figure 28 can be simpli-fied so that only a single relatively long collimator member having a long slit in the direction of the radiation beam is provided. As illustrated in Fi~s. 29a and 29b, the bar mem ber 310 of the aligning ruler is a unitary structure having a sinsle projection 332. The bar member is put into position on the frame of the equipment and the collimator 303 aligned so that the projection 332 is inserted into the slit 304 (see Fig. 29b). After the collimator 303 is secured to the frame, the bar member is removed. To ensure rigidity the ~o projection 332 preferably is not long.
Fig. 30 is a perspective view of still another embodiment of the alignment device of Figure 2a. The bar member 410 is drawn through the slit of the collimator 403a which has dimensions identical with the bar 410, thus ensur-'~ ing the rigidity of the bar 410.
While there has been described what are believed to be the preferred embodiments of the invention, those skilled in .he art will recognize that other and further 1~'7~5~G
modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention, and it is intended to claim all such modifications as fall wi~hin the true scope of the invention.

Claims (3)

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A method of aligning two collimator members used in radiation beam scanning equipment for tube wall thick-ness measurement, each of the collimator members comprising two parts with surfaces defining a slit through which the radiation beam passes, wherein the equipment comprises an aligning ruler including a straight bar member both ends of which are precisely machined and forming ruling surfaces which fit the surfaces of the collimator members defining the slit, the method further comprising the steps of placing the ruler in a position along a predetermined line parallel to the axis of the radiation beam, placing each collimator part such that the surfaces defining the slit are just in contact with the respective ruling surfaces of the ruler so that the collimators are thereby properly aligned, and there-after removing the ruler.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of the collimators comprises two separable parts, the respective first parts of the collimators first being posi-tioned to contact with the ruler, and the respective second parts of the collimators being coupled with the first parts after the ruler is removed.

3. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the ruler including the straight bar member comprises three separable parts assembled into a unitary member held by fix-ture means while the straight bar member is being used to align the collimators, and which separable parts are dis-assembled when the parts are to be removed after the col-limators have been properly aligned.