Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
  • G01N29/00—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves; Visualisation of the interior of objects by transmitting ultrasonic or sonic waves through the object
  • G01N29/22—Details, e.g. general constructional or apparatus details
  • G01N29/26—Arrangements for orientation or scanning by relative movement of the head and the sensor
  • G01N29/265—Arrangements for orientation or scanning by relative movement of the head and the sensor by moving the sensor relative to a stationary material
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
  • G01N29/00—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves; Visualisation of the interior of objects by transmitting ultrasonic or sonic waves through the object
  • G01N29/04—Analysing solids
  • G01N29/07—Analysing solids by measuring propagation velocity or propagation time of acoustic waves
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
  • G01N29/00—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves; Visualisation of the interior of objects by transmitting ultrasonic or sonic waves through the object
  • G01N29/22—Details, e.g. general constructional or apparatus details
  • G01N29/28—Details, e.g. general constructional or apparatus details providing acoustic coupling, e.g. water
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
  • G01N2291/00—Indexing codes associated with group G01N29/00
  • G01N2291/26—Scanned objects
  • G01N2291/263—Surfaces

Definitions

• the present invention refers to a self-propelling device, particularly for positioning probes, in non- 5 destructive tests.
• the designer normally takes into account the 15 different theoretical corrosion values that can occur in the various plant sections, adding into the calculation of the manufactured products an over- thickness for corrosion and establishing a minimum resistant thickness which it should never drop below 20 and, in the case in which this does, the part involved should be replaced.
• thickness gauges specially designed to detect the thickness of metallic materials
• Instruments of this type use ultrasound technology and are generally made up of a device provided with a screen or display and an ultrasound-emitting probe that is held manually by a specialised operator in contact with the piece to be examined, after having interposed a suitable coupling liquid between probe and piece.
• known devices cannot actually be used for testing pipes also because they are unable to perform linear scanning on the surfaces thereof, like for example a surface facing towards the ground, a vertical surface or a surface with spherical profile, and nor can they get past obstacles such as welds, curves, narrowings and so on.
• the purpose of the present invention is to avoid the aforementioned drawbacks and in particular to devise a self-propelling device for positioning probes for non-destructive tests that is able to replace the operator in zones difficult for him to reach, while performing non-destructive tests.
• Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a self-propelling device for positioning probes for non-destructive tests that is able to easily run over the surface of any manufactured product however arranged, horizontally, vertically or inclined, without ever losing its adherence.
• a further purpose of the present invention is to make a self-propelling device for positioning probes for non-destructive tests that is able to run over curved surfaces such as those of pipes .
• the last but not least purpose of the present invention is to make a self-propelling device for positioning probes for non-destructive tests that reduces the costs and danger of interventions, making it unnecessary to use special structures, such as lifting platforms or scaffolding.
• FIG. 1 is a plan view of a preferred embodiment of a self-propelling device for positioning probes for non-destructive tests according to the present invention
• FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of a preferred embodiment of a self-propelling device for positioning probes for non-destructive tests according to the present invention
• FIG. 3 is a front elevation view of the front wheels in which the motor has been removed for the sake of greater clarity of representation;
• - figure 4a is a first rear elevation view of the rear wheels in which the motor has been removed for the sake of greater clarity of representation
• - figure 4b is a second rear elevation view of the rear wheels in which the motor has been removed for the sake of greater clarity of representation, in which the tilting movement thereof is shown;
• FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the self-propelling device for positioning probes for non-destructive tests according to the present invention.
• a self-propelling device for positioning probes for non-destructive tests according to the present invention is shown, wholly indicated with 10.
• the self-propelling device 10 comprises at least one probe 20 constrained to a structure 18 connected to which are at least two magnetic rollers 11,12 rotating around their own axis, of which at least one is motorised.
• a first roller 11 is also free to rotate around a longitudinal axis A of the structure 18, and a second roller 12 is also free to perform a controlled rotation around an axis B orthogonal to the longitudinal axis A.
• the front roller 12 is free to perform a controlled rotation around the orthogonal axis B, whereas the rear roller 11 is free to rotate around the longitudinal axis A.
• the first roller 11 is connected to the structure 18 through a pin 19 longitudinal with respect to the extension of the structure 18, whereas the second roller 12 is connected to such a structure 18 through a transverse pin 21 to the extension thereof.
• both the rollers 11,12 are respectively coupled through a toothed-belt drive 22,23 to a gear reduction motor 13,14 that constitutes its motorisation.
• the second roller 12 is also rotated by a steering mechanism comprising a connecting rod 16/crank 15 mechanism controlled by a motor 17.
• the two rollers 11,12 are preferably made by bringing together coaxial disk-shaped structures 25 made up of an internal disk 25a made of magnetic material interposed between two external flanges 25b made of highly resistant material.
• the external disk 25b has a knurled surface in order to increase the friction with the surface of the manufactured products .
• the adjacent disk- shaped structures 25 to make up a roller 11,12 preferably have different diameters in order to be able to adapt even to curved surfaces.
• the more external disk-shaped structures 25 have a larger diameter with respect to the more internal ones .
• the disc made of magnetic material 25a is made using a neodymium magnet, whereas the external flanges 25b are made from magnetisable steel.
• a connector 26 is foreseen for the cabled connection to the power supply and to the control interface.
• a plurality of connection cables 27 suitable for transferring the power supply to the individual motors 13,14,17 then branches from the connector 26.
• a tube for feeding a coupling fluid, for example water, which is conveyed to the probe 20, in order to improve the transmission of ultrasound to the manufactured products to be monitored also goes into the connector.
• the coupling fluid forms a thin film between the probe 20 and the surface of the manufactured product so that the ultrasound is propagated through such a fluid without passing through thicknesses of air.
• a self-propelling device 10 it is possible to equip a self-propelling device 10 with a battery and with an interface adapted to receive radio signals and convert them into a suitable control signal for the respective motors 13,14,17. In this case, only the feeding of the coupling fluid takes place by cable.
• the probe 20 is finally held underneath of the structure 18 through a support arm 24 having three degrees of freedom.
• the probe 20 can translate by varying the relative height with respect to the structure 18, it can rotate around first pins 25 by modifying the inclination with respect to the axis A and it can rotate around a second pin 26 thus being able to rotate upon itself.
• the probe 20 is also kept coupled with the manufactured product through special elastic means (not illustrated) that act upon the support arm 24 pushing it in the opposite direction with respect to the structure 18.
• the operation of the self-propelling device 10 for positioning probes for non-destructive tests is the following.
• the steering mechanism 15,16,17 controls the rotation of the second roller 12 around the orthogonal axis B thus determining the direction of motion of the device 10.
• the first roller 11 rotates freely around the longitudinal axis A to adapt to the surface of the manufactured product .
• rollers 11,12 maintain at least partial contact with the surface of such manufactured products .
• rollers 11,12 ensures a better contact even with curved surfaces .
• the magnetic and friction properties of the rollers 11,12 allow the self- propelling device 10 to move along horizontal and vertical surfaces and even in upside-down position running along the lower generatrices without ever losing adherence .
• the self-propelling device 10 for positioning probes for non-destructive tests is able to run along curved surfaces, like for example those in pipes, always adhering perfectly, regardless of the contingent positioning (horizontal, vertical, upside-down and so on) .
• Such a device is also free to take up a position partially wrapped around the curved surfaces of the pipes following their progression and allowing it to rotate around the pipes without taking up trims having low-adherence with the surface to be tested or that are unstable.
• the Applicant has found that the self-propelling device according to the present invention offers excellent performance for pipes having diameters starting from 100 mm.

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• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Analytical Chemistry (AREA)
• Biochemistry (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Immunology (AREA)
• Pathology (AREA)
• Acoustics & Sound (AREA)
• Investigating Or Analyzing Materials By The Use Of Ultrasonic Waves (AREA)
• Investigating Or Analyzing Materials By The Use Of Magnetic Means (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

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Family Cites Families (4)

• 2008
  • 2008-07-14 IT ITMI2008A001278A patent/IT1391237B1/it active
• 2009
  • 2009-07-10 WO PCT/IB2009/006234 patent/WO2010007500A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 2009-07-10 EP EP09797592A patent/EP2300814A1/en not_active Withdrawn

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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