CN219871812U - Foldable sealed metal detector device - Google Patents

Abstract

The present utility model is in the field of physics, geophysics and archaeology, and in particular relates to a foldable sealed metal detector device for the detection of electrically conductive and ferromagnetic objects in magnetically permeable solid, bulk or liquid media, such as in soil, road surfaces, concrete, sea water, clothing and other magnetically permeable media, under any climatic conditions, under underwater or air operating conditions. The foldable sealing metal detector device comprises a metal detector shell with a cover, a control panel with light and video indication, a telescopic pipe rigidly arranged in the metal detector shell and a search sensor shell hinged with the telescopic pipe; the metal detector shell is internally provided with an electronic circuit board and a power supply for measuring and distinguishing signals; the metal detector housing has compartments for measuring and distinguishing the electronic circuit board and vibration indicator of the signal and compartments for the power supply; a control panel, a sound generating element and an illumination element controlled by a piezoelectric button are hermetically arranged in the metal detector shell; the control panel comprises a sealing keyboard; the telescopic tube comprises a coil spring signal cable. The present utility model improves the reliability of a foldable seal metal detector device under a variety of environmental conditions including underwater.

Description

Foldable sealed metal detector device

Technical Field

The present utility model is in the fields of physics, geophysics and archaeology, and more particularly to the detection of conductive and ferromagnetic objects in magnetically permeable solid, bulk or liquid media, including soil, pavement, concrete, sea water, clothing and other magnetically permeable media, in any climate, under underwater or aerial operating conditions.

The utility model can be used for detecting metal objects on soil surfaces, in soil (snow), in water and underwater, under pavement and in underwater bottom sediment soil; the system is used for archaeological, treasured seeking, rescue operation and military mine-discharging tasks; for diving services, divers, scuba divers and divers; for inspecting a person's clothing or a contraband metal object on the person's body; in the food industry for detecting metal objects in food from equipment; in the construction industry, copper or aluminum conductors are inspected to avoid these conductors during drilling or for tasks related to extracting and restoring conductor integrity; in road construction, detecting a metal object under a road surface to prevent a road construction machine from malfunctioning due to metal in a tool; medically, for searching for bullets or fragments in the human body; in the laundry industry, it is used to check whether there are sharp metal objects in textiles that would damage the washing machine; is used for guaranteeing the safety of outdoor activities even under the condition of precipitation.

Background

The prior art provides a selective inductive metal detection device (russian patent No. 159147) comprising an inductive sensor hinged to a telescopic tube, a signal processing unit (Signal processing unit, SPU) and a shielded switch cable located within the lumen. One end of the shielded switching cable is connected to the sensor and the other end is connected to the electronic SPU using a sealed connector. The sensor is configured in the form of a sealed dielectric circuit with an articulating yoke having a special recess in its periphery to accommodate a transmitting and receiving combined induction coil connected to a sealed structure of a switching cable. The telescopic tube is made up of five circular sections to change and fix the working length of the telescopic tube within 350-1200 mm. The lower section of the telescopic pipe is provided with a matching part of the hinged yoke, and the upper section of the telescopic pipe is provided with a quick-dismantling dovetail joint. The SPU has a rectangular duralumin housing that securely houses a chassis with an electronic signal processing board and a box with a power supply. The housing is provided with a folding hinge cover, one narrow side of the housing is provided with mating elements for a "dove-tail" joint to connect with the telescopic tube, and on the front panel of the SPU is provided with connectors for connecting switch cables, connectors for audio indicators, and knobs for sensitivity and volume adjusting resistors.

The disadvantage of the above-described metal detection device is that it is of a collapsible design, in which the telescopic tube is separated from the control unit, and therefore additional mechanical components need to be manufactured to reliably fasten the metal detector part, which results in a complicated manufacturing process, an increased cost and weight of the metal detector structure, thus limiting the possibilities of portable use for the operator. Furthermore, the attachment elements for attaching the control unit to the metal detection tube reduce the functional reliability of the device, for example, if the attachment unit is damaged due to wear, impact, thermal expansion and compression, the function of the device will be completely lost.

Furthermore, such metal detection devices do not have a handle for the operator to hold and mechanically control the movement of the device, which complicates the process of operating the device very much. Since the operator must directly hold the device through the telescopic tube in an inconvenient and non-ergonomic angle, the search time will be reduced and the joints and ligaments of the operator's hand will be injured. The uneven distribution of the weight and weight of the device along the length of the device places an operator's hand under inconvenient angular load. The metal detection device described above does not have an armrest that can unload the weight of the metal detector device from the hand to the operator's elbow, which will greatly reduce the operating time of the operator using the metal detection device, reduce its length and limit its use by tall operators.

The metal detection device has a sensor signal cable connected to the detachable control unit through a connector. Deterioration of the electrical contacts of the connector due to oxidation, wear, mechanical damage reduces the reliability of the metal detector device and leads to failure of the device and loss of its function. Furthermore, the use of a sealed detachable connection complicates the manufacturing process of the metal detection device and increases costs.

The above-described metal detection device does not have an integrated sound and video indication system and is provided with only a connector for connecting an external sound indication device. This design requires the creation of additional functional elements of the external sound indication unit to ensure full functional operation of the metal detector device. The use of the connector reduces the reliability of the audible indication means of the metal detection means. Furthermore, the use of separate functional units may result in the operator losing or mechanically damaging them.

The prior art provides a generic inductive metal detector device (russian patent No. 189033) comprising a sensor hinged to a telescopic tube, an electronic signal processing unit with a power supply, a switching cable arranged inside the telescopic tube and an audio and video indication device. The electronic signal processing unit is configured in the form of two separate containers, arranged symmetrically and parallel to each other on a platform which is electromechanically hinged to the telescopic tube and fastened to the armrest grid with the forearm support. A video indicating device is disposed on the upper surface of the tube and is configured to change and fix the viewing angle (as a prototype).

A significant disadvantage of the above-described device is the use of a box-type power supply unit to mount a small-sized power supply. This solution reduces the reliability of the design because there is also a pair of contacts between the power supply and the cartridge unit and the cartridge container unit, increasing the likelihood of electrical contact failure due to corrosion, contamination, oxidation, and causing failure of the metal detector electronic circuit that receives the unstable power supply. And the production cost will increase because of the need to produce additional functional basic elements, i.e. cartridge units.

In addition, the housing in the metal detector device is composite and comprises two rectangular containers, a platform and a grid. This design reduces the reliability of the metal detector device because fasteners are used to connect the three sections. These fasteners form mechanical connection joints, require additional seals for use under water, and require mechanical reinforcement to counteract material breakage and fatigue. Such a design greatly increases labor costs of production, increases production time, and increases assembly qualification requirements, resulting in higher costs and longer construction periods for manufacturing composite shells, particularly sealed shells. And the mechanical connection nodes of the housing parts may add weight to the structure, which may limit the applicability of the heavy metal detector device. Furthermore, the signal processing unit comprises a forearm support and performs the function of an armrest, since the signal processing unit must be sealed and mechanically stable to maintain the structural geometry of the printed circuit board and electronic components mounted in the housing, which is subjected to the mechanical load of supporting the forearm of the operator, the service life of the metal detector device is thus shortened.

Another disadvantage of the above-described metal detector arrangement is that the audio system and the vibration indicator are implemented in the form of additional detachable parts of the metal detector. This reduces the reliability of the metal detector device because functionally important components that are removable and individually carried in the structure may be lost or damaged. The lack of an integrated audible and vibratory indication system prevents the metal detector device from being used as intended without other connectable elements. Furthermore, the use of connectors for connection reduces the reliability characteristics of the device, as possible connector plugging, contact oxidation, icing, mechanical damage can lead to complete failure of the metal detector device.

Disclosure of Invention

The technical task of the present utility model is to provide a universal portable and foldable device for detecting metal objects in any magnetically conductive medium.

The technical effect is to improve the reliability of the foldable metal detector device under various environmental conditions including underwater.

The technical effect is realized by the following technical scheme.

A foldable sealed metal detector device comprising a metal detector housing, a control panel having light and video indications, a telescoping tube rigidly mounted within the metal detector housing, and a search sensor housing hinged to the telescoping tube;

wherein the metal detector housing has a cover with an electronic circuit board and a power supply inside for measuring and distinguishing signals;

the metal detector housing is configured with compartments for the electronics board and vibration indicator for measuring and distinguishing signals and for a power supply; the control panel, the sound reproducing element and the lighting element controlled by the piezoelectric button are hermetically installed in the metal detector housing; the control panel comprises a sealing keyboard; the telescopic tube comprises a coil spring signal cable.

Drawings

The utility model is illustrated by the following figures:

fig. 1 is an overall view of a foldable seal metal detector device.

Fig. 2 is an overall rear view of the foldable seal metal detector device.

Fig. 3 is a sealed metal detector device in a folded state.

Fig. 4 is a control panel of a foldable seal metal detector device.

Detailed Description

The metal detector device of the utility model is a portable device for manual use.

The metal detector device comprises a sealed shell 1, a control panel 2 at the tail end of the sealed shell 1, a hollow telescopic tube 3 and a magnetic induction search sensor 4. An electronic circuit board, a power supply and an integrated vibration indicator for measuring and distinguishing signals are provided inside the hermetic case 1. The bellows 3 is mounted in the sealed housing 1, including a coil spring signal cable inside. The coil spring signal cable is connected with the electronic circuit board. The housing of the magnetic induction search sensor 4 is connected with the hollow telescopic tube 3 by means of an angular articulation fastening 5.

The seal housing 1 of the metal detector device has a solid seal design cast from metal, polymeric material or composite material. In a particular embodiment, the seal housing 1 may be configured as an F-shape with a recess for the collapsible handle 6. And the hermetic shell 1 comprises a vertically arranged battery compartment 7, a horizontally arranged compartment 8 for the electronic circuit and a connecting strap 9 connecting the hermetic shell 1 and the telescopic tube 3.

An electronic circuit board, a power supply and a vibration indicator for measuring and distinguishing signals are arranged in the sealed housing 1 of the metal detector device. The battery compartment 7 of the hermetic case 1 is configured to have a cover 10. The cover 10 of the battery compartment 7 of the metal detector device is screwed with the seal housing 1 and has a sealing O-ring made of rubber, silicone or other plastic material.

Electronic circuitry for measuring and distinguishing the metal detector signals generates an electromagnetic field around the search magnetic induction element of the metal detector device and initializes the detection signal when a metal object is present in the electromagnetic field. The electronic circuitry for measuring and distinguishing the signals received from the magnetic induction elements is configured to determine the metal type of the object being inspected.

The power supply of the metal detector device is arranged immediately below the cover 10 of the battery compartment 7 of the sealed housing 1, which ensures that the sealed housing 1 of the metal detector device is free of elements of different tightness and strength. The power supply is a detachable storage battery or a battery. Since the internal power supply is provided inside the sealed housing 1 of the metal detector device, water inflow can be prevented from being protected.

The integrated vibration indicator is rigidly attached to the inner wall of the hermetic shell 1 or to the printed circuit board of the electronic circuit. When the metal detector means signals the detected metal in response, the maximum vibration amplitude is transmitted from the vibration indicator to the wall of the sealed housing 1, thereby transmitting a precisely discernable sensation to the user, even through the diving glove. Depending on the task of the tactile indication, the vibration indication of the signal may have a different sequence in terms of duration and combination of vibration pulses. The vibration indicator is configured in the form of a micro-motor whose load on the shaft is not centered but slightly off-centered, which causes the micro-motor to swing slightly upon start-up. The operation of the vibration indicator is based on the rotation of an offset mass eccentric attached to the shaft. The vibration generated by such unbalance is transmitted to the hermetic case 1. The rotation of the eccentric and the up-down and side-to-side movements can produce significant vibration amplitudes that can be easily felt even in wetsuit gloves.

The seal-integrated type sound generating element 11 is mounted on the side of the seal housing 1. The integrated sound element 11 significantly increases the reliability of the device, allowing the device to maintain its functional purpose under any external weather conditions or under water up to 100 meters deep. The sound generating element 11 has a waterproof protection function in the form of a plastic continuous polymer coating of a piezo-ceramic sound generating film, so that the metal detector device can be used not only in dry environments but also in fresh water and sea water.

A rotary plate 12 made of metal, polymer or composite material is fixed on the outer side of the hermetic shell 1. One end of each rotating plate 12 is fixed to the sealed housing 1 by a threaded connection 13, forming a hinge. From the other free end, the rotating plates 12 are interconnected by a rigid or flexible connecting band of a certain width, forming a band 14 for ergonomic support of the operator's elbow. The rotating plate 12 is arranged along the length and height direction of the hermetic housing 1 so that in the folded state, the rotating plate 12 does not protrude beyond the periphery of the hermetic housing 1 when the telescopic tube 3 is installed in the hermetic housing 1 in the folded state. Above the sealed housing 1 only a small part of the rotating plate 12 protrudes, defined as an extreme limiter 15, preventing the metal detector sensor from moving in a folded state relative to the dimensions of the sealed housing 1. The band 14 is configured to conform to the size of the hermetic housing 1, and when the rotary plate 12 rotates along the hermetic housing 1, the band 14 fits around the housing without protruding from the periphery of the hermetic housing 1. The rotating plate 12 can be rotated and positioned along the hermetic shell 1, thereby reducing the space occupied by the metal detector device. Furthermore, the rotating plate 12 may be rotated toward the end of the sealing case 1 where the control panel 2 is provided, and positioned on the same axis or at a desired angle along the length direction of the sealing case 1, thereby extending the sealing case 1 and functioning as an ergonomic armrest of the metal detector device.

A rotatable handle 6 is fixed in the sealed housing 1 to hold and move the metal detector device. The handle 6 may be made of metal, polymer or a composite material with an external rubber coating or any other coating. One end of the handle 6 is screwed to the seal housing 1 to form a swivel joint 16. A recess adapted to the size of the handle 6 is provided in the seal housing 1. The handle 6 can easily fit into the recess upon rotation and does not protrude beyond the periphery of the seal housing 1 assembly. The handle 6 can be rotated to a stop defined by a recess of the seal housing 1. The stop member may be provided at any distance from the axis of rotation of the handle 6 to ensure that the handle 6 is in the operative position at the desired angle. Thus, an operator can increase the length of the metal detector device and determine the nodes by opening the handle 6 and turning the swivel plate 12 defining the armrest, to facilitate mechanical gripping and movement of the metal detector device by the operator's hand. The operator holds the handle with his hand and places his elbow on the strap 14 of the armrest.

A control panel 2 is integrated in the sealed housing 1 of the metal detector device. The control panel 2 is provided at an end of the seal housing 1 facing the operator. The control panel 2 comprises a display 17, a light indication means 18 and a sealing keyboard 19. The display 17 provides a video indication. The light indicating device 18 displays the type of metal detected and the signal level from the metal object. The sealed keypad 19 is used to adjust the sensitivity level of the metal detector device and the volume of the sound signal, adjust the metal detector device according to the characteristics of the soil to ensure maximum sensitivity at a specific depth, and reset the signal. By arranging the control panel 2 at the end facing the operator, i.e. directly above the handle 6 of the metal detector device, the operator can manually adjust the viewing angle of the control panel 2 by means of light and video instructions and ensure maximum image clarity. When holding the handle 6 of the metal detector device with a hand, the operator can press any control button with his fingers and control the operation of the metal detector device, thereby ensuring that its function is maximized.

An integrated sealed lighting element 20 in the form of a lantern is provided at the end of the sealed housing 1 facing the magnetic induction search sensor 4. The lighting element 20 is sealed by injection of a silicone compound. The illumination element 20 is an ultra-bright LED lamp with a focusing lens directed through a metal detector coil to the surface of the searched material. The illumination element 20 allows the metal detector device to search under conditions of low light in the underwater or air environment, visually monitor the extraction of the detected metal objects, and illuminate the surface of the search environment in areas of poor light or shadow.

The sensor switching of the operating mode of the lighting element 20 is achieved by means of a piezo button 21 arranged at the side of the hermetic shell 1. The piezoelectric button 21 may be composed of a housing, a film, a current collector, a piezoelectric element, a printed circuit board with a control circuit, a sealant, and terminals. The piezoelectric buttons 21 may be inscribed or photochemically coated with inscriptions, symbols or drawings. A piezoelectric element is provided on the casing of the piezoelectric button 21, and terminals thereof supply voltage to the printed circuit board. The printed circuit board is powered down by a rubber or metal current collector. An electronic circuit for switching the load current is provided on the printed circuit board. The piezo-electric button 21 unit is filled with a sealant or other sealing compound and the terminals are wires, connectors or cables. The main feature of the piezoelectric buttons used is a piezoelectric element that generates an electrical signal when mechanically acted upon.

Pulsed-normally closed or normally open-piezoelectric buttons or integrated piezoelectric buttons may be used. The "on-off" timer and cycling program may also be set by adding additional electronics. The piezoelectric buttons 21 can provide reliable switching under water of a depth of 100 meters and in an air environment in any climatic condition.

A sealing connector 22 is provided at an upper portion of the sealing case 1 to be connected to an external power source, a charger or a headset. The sealing connector 22 is arranged such that it does not interfere with the arrangement of the housing of the magnetic induction search sensor 4 on top along the dimensions of the sealing housing 1 when the metal detector arrangement is in the folded state.

A hollow bellows 3 is mounted in the sealed housing 1. The bellows 3 is a three-stage tube, the largest first stage of which is rigidly fixed in a dedicated recess in the seal housing 1. The telescopic tube 3 may increase the length of the metal detector arrangement, in particular the distance from the sealed housing 1 of the metal detector device to the housing of the magnetic induction search sensor 4, so that it is convenient for operators of different heights to perform an ergonomic search, in order to move the search sensor from side to side in the soil or other search environment. The telescopic tube 3 is provided with a clamp for length adjustment, and the telescopic tube is fixed at a position set by an operator in multiple stages. When in the folded state, the length of the sealed housing 1 and the bellows of the metal detector device is equal to the length of the housing of the magnetic induction search sensor 4 and does not exceed its periphery, thereby ensuring maximum functional portability defined by the shape of the housing of the magnetic induction search sensor 4 according to the search task of the metal detector device. The design without movable joint can prolong the service life of the connecting point of the telescopic pipe and the sealing shell 1.

The end of the telescopic tube 3 is fitted with a hollow angle articulation 5 to secure the search sensor 4 to the telescopic tube 3. In addition, the articulation joint 5 allows the housing of the search sensor 4 to be rotated by a given angle greater than 90 degrees with respect to the axis of the telescopic tube 3. In addition, a signal cable from the metal detector search sensor is laid in the articulated joint 5.

The signal cable is arranged inside the hollow telescopic tube 3 and is connected with a circuit board in the sealed housing 1 of the metal detector device. The signal cable is formulated as a tightly wound spiral to increase the length of the telescopic tube 3 in which it is located. Since one end of the signal cable is rigidly fixed with the search sensor in the angle articulation joint 5 and the other end is rigidly fixed in the sealed housing 1 of the metal detector device, the spiral form of the cable lay ensures that it can be extended when the telescopic tube 3 is extended; this cabling in the form of a spiral also ensures that it can be contracted and arranged inside the last stage of the telescopic tube with the smallest diameter when the telescopic tube 3 is contracted. When the metal detector device is folded, the signal cable is not bent.

The signal cable is hidden within the angle articulation joint 5 and the hollow telescopic tube 3 provides a reliable protection against mechanical damage, entanglement and breakage.

The housing of the metal detector arrangement for the magnetic induction sensor 4 may be made of a polymer or a composite material. The angle articulation 5 is rigidly fixed to the end of the housing of the search sensor 4. Magnetic induction coils are used as magnetic induction elements. If necessary, the electronic circuit of the search sensor can be installed in the housing of the search sensor 4 of the metal detector device. The electronic circuitry of the search sensor and the magnetic induction coils are fixed and sealed within the housing of the search sensor 4 by pouring a liquid polymeric material, such as polyurethane or epoxy.

The durable, unitary housing of the search sensor 4 of the metal detector device can be used as a shovel to excavate directly in soft soil under air or underwater conditions.

The width and length of the metal detector coil may be selected based on the average size of the human foot and the area of the foot support to provide a high precision scan of the area of soil that the operator intends to tread, searching for explosives, ammunition, and other metal objects.

The shape of the housing of the search sensor 4 is configured such that when the telescopic tube 3 is contracted and the angular articulation joint 5 is rotated, it can be positioned in the upper part of the sealed housing 1 of the metal detector device without extending beyond its length and width. The shape of the housing of the search sensor 4 is such that the metal detector arrangement is still compactly assembled without the use of detachable elements.

The utility model has the following beneficial effects.

The monolithic design of the seal housing 1 of the metal detector device ensures tightness at 100 meters depth of operation of the device, high mechanical strength which cannot be achieved by the composite structure and minimum weight due to the spatially distributed rigid shaft of the monolithic seal housing 1. The hermetic case 1 does not require an additional assembling operation and has a low cost due to a simple design and a high manufacturing speed.

The cover 10 of the battery compartment 7 of the sealed housing 1 ensures a complete sealing of the sealed housing 1 at a depth of 100 meters and maintains its signal processing, vibration, light and sound indication setting adjustment functions when the metal detector device is used in underwater and dry environments.

In the present utility model, this design provides only a single "power-battery-compartment" contact tab, which increases the reliability of the electrical contact of the power source with the electronic circuitry of the metal detector device by a factor of four. Furthermore, this design is cheaper to produce and does not require the use of additional structural detachable elements.

The integration of the sound and vibration indication system into the hermetic shell 1 protects it from mechanical damage, thus excluding functionally necessary connection joints or external on-off electromechanical elements from design, improving the operational reliability of the system under variable environmental conditions (from high temperature conditions to frost conditions), as well as any humidity conditions. The design principle of the system greatly reduces the manufacturing cost of the product.

The user can clearly see the color of the light emitted by the light indication means 18 or the display 17 on the outside of the sealed housing 1 of the metal detector device even in bright sunlight. The sensitivity of the metal detector device is adjustable, so that the applicability of the metal detector device is increased, and any search task in any environment can be solved.

The integrated sealed lighting element 20 allows an operator to operate at any time of the day and under any light.

The handle 6 for holding and mechanically controlling the movement of the metal detector device and the lateral rotating plate 12 with the belt 14 defined as a handrail have hinge points on a single mechanical axis. This simplifies the design, reduces the cost and increases its reliability, since the mechanical pressure applied to the arm of the armrest is determined by the mechanical force of the operator's hand holding the handle of the metal detector device. Thus, during the search operation, the mechanical pressure system of the operator's hand is closed when moving the metal detector device, without having an external mechanical influence on the housing containing the electronic control board and the signal indication system, thus reducing the weight of the hermetic shell 1 and ensuring its long-term tightness throughout its service life.

The length of the enclosure of the sealed housing 1, the telescopic tube 3, the armrest and the search sensor 4 is equal and can be folded into a portable unit of a given shape at the expense of a hinged and telescopic connection. The metal detector device is foldable but not detachable, thereby ensuring that any part of the metal detector device is not lost, and improving the reliability of operation under extreme conditions. The metal detector device has no detachable element, greatly increases the reliability, reduces the preparation time of operation, provides portability, mobility and portability, and can be placed in the waist bag of an operator in a folded state.

Claims (5)

1. A foldable, sealed metal detector assembly comprising

The device comprises a sealing shell, a control panel at the tail end of the sealing shell, a hollow telescopic tube and a magnetic induction search sensor;

an electronic circuit board, a power supply and an integrated vibration indicator for measuring and distinguishing signals are arranged in the sealed shell;

the telescopic pipe is arranged in the sealing shell, and a coil spring signal cable is arranged inside the telescopic pipe;

the spiral spring signal cable is connected with the electronic circuit board, and the shell of the magnetic induction search sensor is connected with the hollow telescopic tube through the angle hinge fastening device.

2. A collapsible sealed metal detector apparatus according to claim 1, wherein clamps for length adjustment are provided on the telescopic tube.

3. The foldable sealed metal detector device of claim 1, wherein a sealed connector is provided at an upper portion of the sealed housing for connection to an external power source, charger or earphone.

4. The foldable sealed metal detector device of claim 1, further comprising rotating plates fixed to the outer side of the sealed housing, one end of each rotating plate being fixed to the sealed housing by a threaded connection to form a hinge; the other ends of the rotating plates are connected with each other through a rigid or flexible connecting belt and are used for supporting the elbow of an operator according with the ergonomics.

5. The foldable sealed metal detector device of claim 1, further comprising a rotating handle; one end of the rotary handle is connected to the seal housing through threads to form a rotary joint.