IT202100006170A1 - EQUIPMENT AND PROCEDURE FOR AUTOMATIC NON-DESTRUCTIVE TESTING OF PRODUCTS - Google Patents

Description

Description of the invention entitled:

"EQUIPMENT AND PROCEDURE FOR AUTOMATIC NON-DESTRUCTIVE TESTING OF PRODUCTS"

FIELD OF APPLICATION

The present invention refers to an apparatus and to the relative method for the automatic non-destructive control of products, preferably metallic, but not only, such as for example plates, pipes and beams, even of large dimensions.

STATE OF THE ART

It is known that many products, especially metal ones, such as, for example, plates, pipes, and beams, even of large dimensions, for example made by means of fusion, rolling, profiling, extrusion, or other known processes, and then possibly welded, can have defects interiors that risk compromising the mechanical performance of the product itself.

These defects that are not visible, precisely because they are present in the internal part of the products, are generally made up of inhomogeneity, cavities, porosity? and/or cracks, and can cause variations or alterations, even significant ones, of the nominal technical parameters of the materials and/or products.

Therefore, detecting the presence of the aforementioned defects, and identifying their nature, is a necessary and sometimes mandatory, because required by national and international safety standards, to certify the quality of the products, especially for those intended for applications and uses in which any defects could cause damage, even substantial, to people and/or things, especially if the products they are intended for the construction of means of transport, buildings and infrastructures. Furthermore, for particular products, such as for example those intended for the construction and transport sectors, specific regulations also define the detection speeds and the paths that the control apparatus must carry out with respect to the surfaces of the products themselves.

The procedure for detecting the aforesaid defects in materials and already finished or semi-finished products, especially metal ones, should preferably take place without these being damaged or altered. In this regard, the use of non-destructive testing equipment and procedures, also known by the acronym CND, is known.

In particular, known equipment for non-destructive testing generally comprises a probe organ, or probe, having a transmitter and a receiver of waves, for example ultrasonic waves, which can propagate through the material and/or product to be checked, and an organ display, such as for example a screen, which allows the same operator of the equipment to view the data coming from the aforesaid probe.

Until now, the aforementioned known equipment has been used manually, usually by specialized and certified operators, so that the control operations, especially if carried out on products having very large dimensions, such as for example plates for building ships or aircraft, beams for bridges or other road infrastructures, require very long times, with consequent very high costs.

Furthermore, whenever an internal defect is detected on the product in question, a mark is placed on the surface of the product, in correspondence with the defect, usually manually, by the same specialized operator, for example with a felt-tip pen.

There is therefore the need to produce an apparatus for non-destructive testing, especially of metal products, which can overcome at least one of the drawbacks of the prior art.

An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for the non-destructive testing of materials and/or products, especially metallic ones, which can operate both manually and automatically, i.e. without the need to be constantly moved by an operator specialized.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for the non-destructive testing of materials and/or products, especially metal ones, which can automatically apply signs identifying the position of each defect found on the surface of the material and/or product being analysed.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for the non-destructive testing of materials and/or products, especially metallic ones, which can be used both manually and in an automated and/or remote-controlled manner.

To obviate the drawbacks of the prior art and to obtain these and other objects and advantages, the Applicant has studied, tested and implemented the present invention.

DISCOVERY DISPLAY

The present invention is expressed and characterized in the independent claims. The dependent claims disclose other characteristics of the present invention or variants of the idea of the main solution.

In accordance with the above purposes, an apparatus for the automatic non-destructive testing of a product, wherein the above apparatus comprises a support structure, handling means configured to selectively move the above support structure with respect to the above product, and means detectors mounted on the aforesaid support structure and configured to detect in a non-destructive way any defects, even latent ones, present in the aforesaid product, and in which the aforesaid apparatus also comprises at least first computerized control means mounted on the aforesaid support structure and configured to automatically control at least the aforesaid movement means and the aforesaid detection means.

In accordance with a further aspect, the aforesaid apparatus also comprises second computerized control means arranged outside the aforesaid support structure and connected, preferably wirelessly, to the aforesaid first computerized control means.

In accordance with another aspect, the aforesaid detection means comprise at least one probe, preferably an ultrasound one, preferably mounted on a front part of the aforesaid support structure.

In accordance with a further aspect, the aforesaid apparatus also comprises configured coupling means for coupling the aforesaid detection means to a surface of the aforesaid product, under the control of the aforesaid computerized control means. In particular, the aforesaid coupling means have the function of improving the transmission of the input and output signals from the aforesaid detection means.

In accordance with another aspect, the aforesaid apparatus also comprises marking means configured to mark the possible presence of at least one of the aforesaid defects on a surface of the aforesaid product under the control of the aforesaid computerized control means.

In accordance with a further aspect, a process for the automatic non-destructive testing of a product, by means of an apparatus comprising a support structure, handling means configured to selectively move said support structure with respect to said product, and detection means , mounted on the aforesaid support structure and configured to non-destructively detect any defects, even latent, present in the aforesaid product, wherein the aforesaid process comprises a non-destructive testing step, in which at least first computerized control means mounted on the aforesaid support structure automatically control at least the aforesaid movement means and the aforesaid detection means. In accordance with another aspect, the aforesaid method also comprises a data exchange step in which the aforesaid first computerized control means exchange data, preferably wirelessly, with a second computerized control means arranged outside the aforesaid support structure .

In accordance with another aspect, the aforesaid method also comprises a coupling step, in which coupling means mounted on the aforesaid support structure couple the aforesaid detection means with a surface of the aforesaid product, under the control of the aforesaid computerized means control.

In accordance with a further aspect, the aforesaid method also comprises a marking step, in which marking means mounted on the aforesaid support structure selectively mark a surface of the aforesaid product, in correspondence with the possible presence of at least one of the aforesaid defects under the control of the aforementioned computerized control means.

ILLUSTRATION OF THE DESIGNS

These and other aspects, characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become clear from the following description of some embodiments, provided by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

- fig. 1 is a perspective and schematic view of an apparatus for automatic non-destructive testing according to the present invention;

- fig. 2 is a schematic side view of the apparatus of fig. 1; - fig. 3 is a block diagram of a control circuit of the apparatus of fig. 1;

- fig. 4 and an enlarged detail of fig. 2.

It should be noted that in the present description and in the claims the internal or external term, with its declinations, has the sole function of better illustrating the present invention with reference to the figures of the drawings and must in no way be used to limit the scope of the present invention, or the scope of protection defined by the attached claims.

For example, with the term vertical we mean an axis, or a plane, which can be both perpendicular to the horizon line and inclined, even by different degrees, for example up to 20?, with respect to the latter.

Furthermore, those skilled in the art will recognize that certain dimensions, or features, in the figures may have been magnified, distorted, or displayed in an unconventional or non-proportional way to provide a more accurate version. easy understanding of the present invention. When dimensions and/or values are specified in the following description, the dimensions and/or values are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not to be understood as limiting the scope of protection of the present invention, unless such dimensions and/or values are present in the attached claims.

Even the phraseology and terminology used herein are for non-limiting example purposes only. Furthermore, all the ranges shown here are understood to include the extremes, including those which report a range between two values, unless otherwise indicated.

For ease of understanding, identical reference numerals have been used wherever possible to identify identical commonalities throughout the figures. It should be understood that elements and features of one embodiment may be conveniently combined or incorporated into other embodiments without further specification.

DESCRIPTION OF SOME FORMS OF EMBODIMENT OF

PRESENT FOUND

With reference to fig. 1, an apparatus 10 according to the present invention, for the automatic non-destructive inspection of objects or products 11, preferably metallic, and configured to detect the possible presence, in the latter, of one or more defects 12, and comprises a trolley 13, which acts as a support means for other members or means which will be described further on. after you.

The term defects generally means both obvious defects, i.e. superficially visible, and latent defects, internal to the product, which are not visible from the outside.

The trolley 13 comprises a containing body 14 substantially having a box-like shape, for example parallelepiped-shaped, and has dimensions such as to make it portable, for example approximately 30 em x 30 em x 30 em.

The apparatus 10, when empty, has a mass which can be included, for example, between about 5 kg and about 15 kg, so that it is very easy to handle, even if it has to be used manually, as well as in manual mode. remotely controlled or automatically, as described pi? after you. By empty mass is meant the mass of the apparatus 10 without considering any coupling liquid.

Other embodiments of the present invention, not shown in the drawings, can provide other shapes, dimensions and/or masses of the containment body 14.

The trolley 13 comprises movement means 15, configured to move it selectively with respect to a surface 16 of the product 11 to be checked, a pair of probes 17 and 18, preferably ultrasounds, arranged one on a front part 19 and one on a side 20 of the containment body 14 and each configured to detect one or more of the aforesaid defects 12, and at least one electronic control circuit 21, also called first control means.

It should be noted that instead of the two probes 17 and 18 there could be only one probe 17 or 18, or that the probes are more? of two. The number of probes 17, 18 depends on the dimensions of the containment body 14 and on the capacity? operation of each probe, i.e. from how much space L of the surface 16 of the product 11 each probe is able to analyse. The movement means 15 essentially comprise two pairs of wheels 22, one front and one rear, connected mechanically and in any known way to a first electric motor 23 configured to rotate at least one pair of wheels 22, or both, and a second electric motor 24 capable of steering at least one pair of wheels 22, or both. The two electric motors 23 and 24 (fig. 3) are controlled by the electronic control circuit 21.

The power supply of the two electric motors 23 and 24 is supplied by one or more? electric batteries 25 mounted on board the containment body 14. Alternatively, the two pairs of wheels 22 could be replaced by tracks or other known means of transport.

Other embodiments of the present invention can provide that the wheels 22 can be decoupled from the first motor 23 and/or from the second electric motor 24, so as to allow manual movement of the apparatus 10. In this case, for example, the part back of the containment body 14, a handle of a height suitable for an operator and not shown in the drawings could be coupled, to make it easier to use it. its manual handling is comfortable. Other embodiments of the present invention may provide that the wheels 22 may be of the magnetic type, in order to increase the stability of the apparatus 10 as a whole, especially when the automatic non-destructive tests are performed on surfaces 16 of metal products 11.

Each probe 17 and 18 (fig. 1) is mounted, for example, on an operating head 26, respectively 27, in turn supported by a mechanical arm 28, respectively 29, of the articulated or robotic type, which spreads from the front part 19 and, respectively, from the side 20 of the containment body 14.

Each mechanical arm 28 and 29 can be of any known type, and is servomechanically assisted, and controlled autonomously by the electronic control circuit 21 and is able to move the corresponding operating head 26 and 27 to bring it from a rest condition, in which it is relatively distant from the surface 16 of the product 11 to be checked, in a working condition, in which it is close to or in contact with the latter.

Each operating head 26, 27 comprises, in addition to the probe 17, 18 respectively, both a first nozzle 32 (Fig. 4), capable of selectively dispensing water, or another liquid suitable for wetting the surface 16 of the product 11 to be checked, or a second nozzle 33, capable of selectively spraying a coloring substance onto the surface 16 of the product 11 to be checked, for example when the corresponding probe 17 or 18 detects a defect 12. The aforementioned liquid serves to facilitate the transmission of the signals emitted and/or or received by each of probes 17 and 18.

In another embodiment, not shown in the drawings, instead of the second nozzle 33, one or both of the operating heads 26 and 27 could be provided with a different means of marking, for example a felt-tip pen, a stamp or other means suitable for mark a point, or an area, of the surface 16 of the product 11.

In particular, in accordance with an embodiment, each first nozzle 32 is arranged in front of the corresponding probe 17 or 18, while the second nozzle 33 is arranged behind the latter, aligned with each other along an advance direction X, or parallel to the latter.

Also each operating head 26 and 27, each probe 17 and 18, as well as each of the nozzles 32 and 33 can be controlled autonomously and individually by the electronic control circuit 21, as will be more? described in detail below.

Furthermore, in one embodiment, inside the containment body 14 there is a first tank 35 (fig. 2), capable of containing the liquid to be dispensed through each first nozzle 32, and a second tank 36, capable to contain the coloring substance to be dispensed through each second nozzle 33.

In the containment body 14 there are also both a first pump 37, connected to the first tank 35 and to each first nozzle 32, with the interposition of a first solenoid valve, and a second pump 38, connected to the second tank 36 and to each second nozzle 33 , with the interposition of a second solenoid valve. The two solenoid valves can be of any known type, for example three-way and are not shown in the drawings.

Also the two pumps 37 and 38 and the associated solenoid valves are controlled individually and autonomously by the electronic control circuit 21.

In particular, in one embodiment, the electronic control circuit 21 (Fig. 3) comprises at least one central processing unit, or CPU, 40, at least one memory 41 and a transceiver unit 42, for example associated with an antenna 43 (fig. 1).

The memory 41 can be of any known type and can be configured to memorize programs relating to the movement of the trolley 13, but also programs relating to the non-destructive testing of the probes 17 and 18.

For example, on the memory 41 it is possible to memorize information relating both to the path to be made to the trolley 13 and to the speed with which the latter must move, for example according to the safety and/or certification regulations envisaged for the non-destructive testing of the specific product 11.

Furthermore, programs installed on the memory 41 allow the electronic control circuit 21 to detect the possible presence of a defect 12 automatically, according to the analysis of the data coming from the probes 17, 18.

Embodiments of the present invention can envisage that on board the containment body 14 there are also proximity sensors, or other suitable driving assistance instruments, of a known type and not shown in the drawings, which can be connected to the electronic control 21 to manage with it the programmed movement of the containment body 14 itself, by means of a movement of the wheels 22, in any desired direction, also taking into account the physical and dimensional limits of the surface 16 of the product 11 to be controlled.

The equipment 10 can? furthermore comprise a computerized unit 45 (fig. 1) autonomous with respect to the trolley 13 and also arranged at a great distance from the latter.

The computerized unit 45 comprises, for example, a computer having a device for entering data, such as a keyboard, a mouse, a touch panel, or the like, a display device and a transceiver device, associated with its own antenna 46 and in capable of transmitting data to the electronic control circuit 21 and receiving data from the latter, for example, by means of radio waves, Wi-Fi or using the Bluetooth system. The computerized unit 45 is also referred to as a second control means.

According to further embodiments, the unit? computerized 45 pu? understand or be integrated into a smartphone or tablet, which can act as a remote control by which to control one or more? between the movement means 15, the detection means 17, 18, the first computerized control means 21 and/or the marking means 33.

Can? furthermore, the computerized unit 45 can be associated in a detachable way with the trolley 13.

In this way the apparatus 10 turns out to be very versatile, and can be used, according to need, in different ways, i.e. manually, automatically and/or remotely.

The operation of the apparatus 10 described up to now, which also corresponds to the method according to the present invention, is as follows.

When you want to automatically carry out a non-destructive test of the product 11, first of all the trolley 13 with the wheels 22 is positioned on the surface 16.

Then, in a measurement phase, the trolley 13 is moved so that the probes 17 and 18 can interact with the surface 16 and that the electronic control circuit 21 can memorize in the memory 41 the data relating to the dimensions of the product 11 to be controlled and its position in space, through the aforementioned proximity sensors.

For example, if the product 11 is a sheet or plate, having a substantially flat shape, during this phase, the interaction of the probes 17 and 18 and the surface 16 of the product 11 will allow the edges of the product 11 to be identified and establish a possible path to follow during a subsequent control phase.

Should the products 11 to be controlled have to be of normalized or standard dimensions, the latter could be memorized in the memory 41 of the electronic control circuit 21, or in the unit? computerized 45. In this way, the first preparation phase could be replaced by an orientation phase, in which the starting position of the trolley 13 is verified.

Subsequently, in a setting phase, an operator can? set the speed? and the path that the trolley 13 must follow while checking the product 11.

The operator could carry out this step of the method, for example, using a radio control able to communicate directly with the electronic control circuit 21, or, alternatively, could set the control conditions through the unit? computerized 45.

The parameters relating to the speed? and the path that the apparatus 10 must follow above, or in the vicinity of, the product 11 set by the operator, must necessarily comply with the standards envisaged for the specific product 11 and for the use for which it is intended.

Subsequently, a coupling phase can take place, in which the trolley 13 is made to advance on the surface 16 while the nozzle 32 sprays pressurized water, coming from the tank 35, over the whole surface 16, so that subsequently, the waves produced by the probes 17 and 18 can propagate more? efficiently inside the product 11. In fact, as is known, the waves produced by each probe 17, 18, for example ultrasonic, when it is in contact with the surface 16, will be concentrated in the product 11 and will not be dispersed in the surrounding environment. Furthermore, in this way the sliding of each probe 17, 18 on the surface 16 is improved.

According to a variant, said coupling step could be carried out simultaneously with said measurement step, or during the actual control step.

Subsequently, a control phase is performed, in which the probes 17 and 18 are made to slide over the entire surface 16 through the trolley 13 which is suitably moved under the control of the electronic control circuit 21.

The path that the trolley 13 carries out, and the speed of the latter during this phase will be those set by the operator in the setting phase and/or programmed. For example, the trolley 13 could be configured to carry out the control phase following a grid path maintaining a relative speed with respect to the surface 16 defined by the standards to be complied with, which, for example, could be between 10 mm/s and 300 mm/s s .

The apparatus 10 automatically controls the entire surface 16 of the product 11 and the data relating to the state of the material 11 can be shared in real time with a screen arranged on the same apparatus 10, for example resting on the containment body 14, or , alternatively, on the unit? computerized 45.

The data relating to the control phase are stored in the memory 41, and can be shared in real time, or, for example, at a later time with the unit? computerized 45.

For example, if the apparatus 10 automatically detects a defect 12 within the product 11, the data relating to the position of the aforesaid defect 12 could be automatically signaled to a specialized operator to allow one and more? accurate control.

Subsequently, in a marking phase, the apparatus signals the presence of a possible defect 12, detected in the aforementioned control phase, inside the product 11 by applying a marking on the surface 16 of the same product 11, in correspondence of the defect 12.

The second nozzle 33, controlled by the electronic control circuit 21, sprays a coloring substance under pressure, coming from the tank 36, onto the surface 16, at the points where the probe 17, 18 detects any defects 12, so that, subsequently, a control operator can identify them more easily.

According to a variant, the aforementioned marking step could be carried out using two or more? different coloring substances, which can be used selectively, for example, according to the gravity or the size of the defect 12.

The aforesaid method is particularly advantageous, since it allows products 11 to be checked automatically even having large dimensions, without requiring the constant presence of specialized operators.

? clear that the apparatus 10 described above can? work both manually and automatically, i.e. without the need? to be constantly handled by a specialized operator.

? it is also clear that modifications and/or additions of parts or phases can be made to the apparatus 10 and to the relative method described up to now, without thereby departing from the scope of the present invention as defined by the attached claims.

? it is also clear that, although the present invention has been described with reference to some specific examples, a person skilled in the art could without doubt realizing many other equivalent forms of equipment and methods for the non-destructive testing of products, all of which come within the scope of the present invention.

In the claims which follow, the references in brackets have the sole purpose of facilitating the reading and must not be considered as limiting factors of the scope of protection determined by the same claims.

Claims (10)

1. Apparatus (10) for the automatic non-destructive testing of a product (11), wherein said apparatus (10) comprises a support structure (14), handling means (15) configured to selectively move said support structure ( 14) with respect to said product (11), and detection means (17, 18) mounted on said support structure (14) and configured to detect in a non-destructive way any defects (12), even latent, present in said product ( 11), and in which said apparatus (10) is characterized in that it also comprises at least first computerized control means (21) mounted on said support structure (14) and configured to automatically control at least said movement means (15 ) and said detection means (17, 18). 2. Apparatus (10) as in claim 1, characterized in that it also comprises second computerized control means (45) arranged outside said support structure (14) and connected, preferably wirelessly, to said first means computerized controls (21). 3. Apparatus (10) as in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said detection means comprise at least one probe (17, 18), preferably ultrasound, preferably mounted on a front part of said support structure (14). 4. Apparatus (10) as in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it also comprises coupling means (32) configured to couple detection means (17, 18) to a surface (16) of said product (11 ) under the control of said computerized control means (21 ), to facilitate the transmission of the signals emitted and/or received by said detection means (17, 18). 5. Apparatus (10) as in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it also comprises marking means (33) configured to mark the possible presence of at least one of said defects (12) on a surface (16) of said product (11) under the control of said computerized control means (21 ). 6. Process for the automatic non-destructive testing of a product (11), by means of an apparatus (10) comprising a support structure (14), handling means (15) configured to selectively move said support structure (14) with respect to said product (11), and detection means (17, 18) mounted on said support structure (14) and configured to detect in a non-destructive way any defects (12), even latent, present in said product (11), wherein said process is characterized in that it comprises a non-destructive testing step, in which at least first computerized control means (21) mounted on said support structure (14) automatically control at least said movement means (15) and said means detection (17, 18). 7. Process as in claim 6, characterized in that it also comprises a data exchange step in which said first computerized control means (21) exchange data, preferably wirelessly, with second computerized control means (45) arranged at the outside of said support structure (14). 8. Process as in claim 6 or 7, characterized in that it also comprises a coupling step, in which coupling means (32) mounted on said support structure (14) couple said detection means (17, 18) to a surface (16) of said product (11) under the control of said computerized control means (21), to facilitate the transmission of the signals emitted and/or received by said detection means (17, 18). 9. Process as in any one of claims from 6 to 8, characterized in that it also comprises a marking step, in which marking means (33) mounted on said support structure (14) selectively mark a surface ( 16) of said product (11 ), in correspondence with the possible presence of at least one of said defects (12 ) under the control of said computerized control means (21 ). 10. Use of an apparatus (10) for the automatic non-destructive testing of a product (11) as in any of claims 1 to 5, or of a process as in any of claims 6 to 9.