GB1579723A

GB1579723A - Apparatus for testing elongate articles

Info

Publication number: GB1579723A
Application number: GB2437476A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: British Steel Corp
Current assignee: British Steel Corp
Priority date: 1976-06-11
Filing date: 1976-06-11
Publication date: 1980-11-26
Also published as: FR2354559A1; IT1083505B; JPS5319882A; FR2354559B1; JPS6010576B2; CA1104244A; DE2726232A1

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO APPARATUS FOR TESTING ELONGATE ARTICLES (71) We, BRITISH STEEL CORPORATION, a Corporation incorporated and existing under the Iron and Steel Act 1967 whose principal office is at 33 Grosvenor Place, London, S.W.1 do hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to apparatus for testing elongate articles and more particularly, although not exclusively, to apparatus for the ultrasonic testing of elongate articles having an angled cross-section such as square or rectangular section elongate articles for example steel billets or square or rectangular section steel tubes.

According to the invention there is provided apparatus for the ultrasonic testing of elongate articles comprising a probe assembly mounted for engagement with an upper portion of an elongate article to be tested as it is moved along its axis therebelow, said probe assembly being capable of movement transverse to the axis of movement of the article; and the probe assembly comprising a probe carrier arrangement having a lower portion conforming to and adapted to slide upon the upper portion of the article during testing, at least one ultrasonic probe mounted on said carrier arrangement, and a guide shoe arrangement extending from the leading end of the carrier arrangement, said guide shoe arrangement being angled upwardly and outwardly from said carrier arrangement and having a lower portion configuration transverse to said axis of movement corresponding generally to that of the lower portion of the probe carrier arrangement; the probe assembly, when not engaged with an article to be tested, being normally freely suspended under gravity such that in operation an incoming article to be tested firstly engages said guide shoe arrangement whereupon the shoe arrangement and the carrier arrangement ride up upon the article for the commencement of testing.

The probe carrier arrangement may take the form of a plate structure. Thus it may comprises plate conforming to the upper portion of the article to be tested or a plurality of interconnected plates performing this function.

Where the apparatus is for testing elongate articles having an angled cross-section, the plate structure may have a lower surface correspondingly angled along its length parallel to said axis of movement so that the plate structure is positively located in relation to the angle of the article and is thereby prevented from movement around the article to be tested. Thus in the case of testing rectangular or square section articles, the lower surface of the plate may comprise two flat portions connected or linked at an included right angle.

The probe assembly may be freely suspended by means of cables wires or chains such as to be capable of generally vertical movement. In this case further cables wires or chains may be provided to restrict movement of the assembly parallel to said axis of movement or to restrict swinging movements when hanging free.

In an alternative arrangement, the probe assembly may be carried by a counterweighted arm permitting at least generally vertical movement of the assembly.

By means of the invention, and in operation, the assembly can be arranged such that before testing, the lower surface of the plate is below the line of travel of the upper portion of articles to be tested, incoming articles engaging firstly the guide shoe thereby forcing the assembly upwards until the plate engages and slides upon the article whereupon testing can commence.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood, three embodiments thereof will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of one embodiment of the invention at a first stage in its operation; Figure 2 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the embodiment of Figure 1 at a second stage of its operation; Figure 3 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a second embodiment of the invention; and Figure 4 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a third embodiment of the invention.

Figures 1 and 2 show an assembly for subjecting steel billets 1 to ultrasonic testing. The billets are moved along a path such that one edge 11 thereof is directed upwardly.

A probe assembly 2 is located in the path of travel of the billet 1 and is suspended from a fixed support (not shown) by four chains 12, and restricted against movement along said path of travel by two anchor chains 14. Further stabilizing chains 13 are provided to eliminate "pendulum" oscillation, for example after the end of a bent billet leaves the assembly.

The probe assembly comprises two flat rectangular plates 15 and 18 linked or connected together at right angles by means of a bridging member, but nonetheless separated from each other. This separation allows the unit to establish rapidly a correct riding position when engaging a badly sheared billet end, since the shear "rag" can quite easily pass through the gap between the plates.

Each plate 15 and 18 carries a plurality of ultrasonic probe units 22 for testing the billet.

Attached to the underside of each plate 15 and 18 is a shoe 16 and 19 by means for example of screws (not shown). The shoes act as rubbing plates for the assembly and also as lead-on guides by means of leading ends 17 and 20 inclined at approximately 30O to the general plane of the respective shoe.

In operation the leading end of an incoming billet 1 firstly encounters the inclined ends 17 and 20 of the shoes 16 and 19, which ride up the billet leading end until the assembly rides upon the billet 1 with plates 15 and 18 on adjacent faces of the billet and positive location thereby assured. This is the condition illustrated in Figure 2.

As will be seen, the support chains 12 are now slack, and the assembly is restrained from movement with the billet by the anchor chains 14.

As soon as plates 15 and 18 are riding on the billet, testing by means of the ultrasonic probes can commence in the normal manner, a coupling fluid (such as water) being supplied to the probe units in any convenient known way.

Upon a tested billet leaving the apparatus, the assembly will again drop down to the supported position shown in Figure 1.

The arrangement of Figure 3 is similar to that of Figures 1 and 2. Thus a probe assembly 2 is located in the path of travel of the billet 1 and is suspended from a fixed support (not shown) by four wires 3 and restricted against movement along said path of travel by two anchor wires 4.

The probe assembly comprises a plate 5 in the form of two flat portions joined at an internally right-angled ridge 6. Each plate portion carries a plurality of ultrasonic probe units 7 for testing the billet.

Secured to the leading edge of the plate 5 is a guide shoe 8. The guide shoe is ridged in a similar manner to the plate and is inclined upwardly and outwardly at an angle of approximately 300 to the plate.

The embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 4 is in operational respect the same as that of Figures 1 and 2 and 3. In this case however the probe assembly 2 is supported from a fixed axle 9 by means of a double counterweight arm arrangement 10 which permits movement of the assembly 2 transverse to the path of travel of the billet 1.

We believe that the invention as described provides a simple and effective testing arrangement in which the usual manufacturing degree of twisting bowing and misalignment of billets can easily be accommodated by the positive ridge location of the plate as the billets pass through the apparatus and in which the guide shoe enables the assembly to ride successfully over any rags and slivers at the leading end of the billet. It is to be noted that the apparatus is capable of accommodating a range of billet sizes without need for adjustment. In addition testing can commence immediately the plate 5 is riding on the billet end so that only an isignificant portion of the billet is not subjected to testing. Although wear of the guide shoe and/or plate will occur, these relatively inexpensive items can be readily replaced at reasonable intervals.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. Apparatus for the ultrasonic testing of elongate articles comprising a probe assembly mounted for engagement with an upper portion of an elongate article to be tested as it is moved along its axis therebelow, said probe assembly being capable of movement transverse to the axis of movement of the articles; and the probe assembly comprising a probe carrier arrangement having a lower portion conforming to and adapted to slide upon the upper portion of the article during testing, at least one ultrasonic probe mounted on said carrier arrangement, and a guide shoe arrangement extending from the leading end of the carrier arrangement, said guide shoe arrangement being angled upwardly and outwardly from said carrier arrangement and having a lower portion configuration transverse to said axis of movement corresponding generally to that of the lower portion of the probe carrier arrangement; the probe assembly, when not engaged with an article to be tested, being normally freely suspended under gravity such that in operation an incoming article to be tested firstly engages said guide shoe arrangement whereupon the shoe arrangement and the carrier arrangement ride up upon the article for the commencement of testing.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the probe carrier arrangement is in the form of a plate structure.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the plate structure comprises a single plate

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. of a third embodiment of the invention. Figures 1 and 2 show an assembly for subjecting steel billets 1 to ultrasonic testing. The billets are moved along a path such that one edge 11 thereof is directed upwardly. A probe assembly 2 is located in the path of travel of the billet 1 and is suspended from a fixed support (not shown) by four chains 12, and restricted against movement along said path of travel by two anchor chains 14. Further stabilizing chains 13 are provided to eliminate "pendulum" oscillation, for example after the end of a bent billet leaves the assembly. The probe assembly comprises two flat rectangular plates 15 and 18 linked or connected together at right angles by means of a bridging member, but nonetheless separated from each other. This separation allows the unit to establish rapidly a correct riding position when engaging a badly sheared billet end, since the shear "rag" can quite easily pass through the gap between the plates. Each plate 15 and 18 carries a plurality of ultrasonic probe units 22 for testing the billet. Attached to the underside of each plate 15 and 18 is a shoe 16 and 19 by means for example of screws (not shown). The shoes act as rubbing plates for the assembly and also as lead-on guides by means of leading ends 17 and 20 inclined at approximately 30O to the general plane of the respective shoe. In operation the leading end of an incoming billet 1 firstly encounters the inclined ends 17 and 20 of the shoes 16 and 19, which ride up the billet leading end until the assembly rides upon the billet 1 with plates 15 and 18 on adjacent faces of the billet and positive location thereby assured. This is the condition illustrated in Figure 2. As will be seen, the support chains 12 are now slack, and the assembly is restrained from movement with the billet by the anchor chains 14. As soon as plates 15 and 18 are riding on the billet, testing by means of the ultrasonic probes can commence in the normal manner, a coupling fluid (such as water) being supplied to the probe units in any convenient known way. Upon a tested billet leaving the apparatus, the assembly will again drop down to the supported position shown in Figure 1. The arrangement of Figure 3 is similar to that of Figures 1 and 2. Thus a probe assembly 2 is located in the path of travel of the billet

1 and is suspended from a fixed support (not shown) by four wires 3 and restricted against movement along said path of travel by two anchor wires 4.

the lower surface of which conforms to the upper portion of the article during testing.

4. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the plate structure comprises a plurality of interconnected plates arranged such that the lower surface thereof conforms to the upper portion of the article during testing.

5. Apparatus according to claim 2, 3 or 4 for testing elongate articles having an angled cross-section wherein the plate structure has a lower surface correspondingly angled along its length parallel to said axis of movement so that the plate structure during testing is positively located by means of the angle of the article.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 for testing rectangular or square section articles wherein the lower surface of the plate structure comprises two flat portions connected or linked at an included right angle.

7. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the probe assembly is freely suspended by means of cable wires or chains such as to be capable of generally vertical movement.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7 including additional cable wires or chains provided to restrict movement of the assembly parallel to the axis of movement of the article being tested.

9. Apparatus according to claim 7 or 8 including additional cables wire or chains provided to restrict movement of the assembly parallel to the axis of movement of the article being tested.

10. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the probe assembly is carried by a counterweighted arm permitting at least generally vertical movement of the assembly.

11. Testing apparatus substantially as shown in and as hereinbefore described in relation to Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

12. Testing apparatus substantially as shown in and as hereinbefore described in relation to Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.

13. Testing apparatus substantially as shown in and as hereinbefore described in relation to Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings.