JP2002022715A - Ultrasonic flaw detector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To accurately detect a flaw by preventing adhesion of an air bubble on the surface of an inspected object. SOLUTION: On the inlet side section wall 22 of a flaw detection tank 12, a pouring part 22a, through which a flaw detection liquid 11 stored in the flaw detection tank 12 can be poured into an input side auxiliary tank 18, is formed. The surface of a wire material 16 is previously wetted by means of the flaw detection liquid 11 poured via the pouring part 22a just before the wire material is passed through an inlet side through hole 26a of an inside guide sleeve 26. Between the inlet side section wall 2 and a flaw detection position by means of a probe 14, an input side wiping device 44 wiping the outer circumference of the wire material 16 is arranged. The input side wiping device 44 is provided with an inlet side wiping plate 50 made of a flexible material such as rubber and fiber and formed into a disc, and a through hole 50a with a diameter smaller than a diameter of the wire material 16 is bored in the plate 50. Therefore, when the wire material 16 is passed through the through hole 50a, the whole of its outer circumference is brought into contact with the inlet side wiping plate 50, so that the air bubbles sticking to the surface can be completely wiped away.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ultrasonic inspection apparatus, and more particularly, to an ultrasonic inspection apparatus in which an article to be inspected is immersed in an inspection liquid stored in the inspection tank while being immersed in the inspection tank. The present invention relates to an ultrasonic flaw detector configured to detect a defect such as an internal flaw of an article to be inspected by an ultrasonic probe.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A long wire obtained by a wire drawing operation in which a wire material is forcibly pulled out through a die and the diameter of the wire material is sequentially reduced to a desired diameter is obtained in the course of the wire drawing work. In addition to surface flaws, nests and cracks may occur inside. Products having these surface scratches and invisible internal defects, as they are processed in the next step as they are, or shipped to external users, often cause poor structural strength and quality deterioration due to the defects. Will be. Therefore, prior to processing and shipping in the next process, the wire is inspected in advance for the presence of surface flaws and internal defects, and any repairable external flaws found are ground and removed by a grinder or melted and removed by scarfing. Flaws have been removed.

Here, as a means for detecting an invisible internal defect of the long wire, a water immersion type ultrasonic flaw detector is suitably employed. This ultrasonic flaw detector is equipped with an ultrasonic probe inside a flaw detection tank storing a flaw detection liquid such as water or oil as a transmission medium for ultrasonic waves, and is used for a wire rod running while immersed in the flaw detection liquid. It is configured to transmit ultrasonic waves from the ultrasonic probe toward the target and detect the presence or absence of a defect by receiving and monitoring the reflected waves from the wire. Note that, in practice, the ultrasonic wave transmitted toward the wire is reflected at the peripheral surface of the wire and, if there is a defect inside, at that portion,
The reflection position is determined from these reflected waves, converted into an electrical signal, amplified, and imaged on a cathode ray tube (CRT) or the like to detect a defect.

[0004]

In a conventional ultrasonic flaw detector, a wire rod having a required surface processed in a previous process and having a dry surface is immersed in a flaw detection liquid as it is. However, when the wire having a dry surface is immersed in the flaw detection liquid, air bubbles are easily brought into the flaw detection liquid from the outside. There was a problem that could not be.

That is, in the portion of the wire where the air bubbles adhere, the ultrasonic wave is reflected on the bubble surface without hitting the wire or refracted in the air bubble, so that the ultrasonic wave is not incident on the wire at a normal incident angle. Is generated. And
Since all of these reflected waves are determined to be abnormal, it is pointed out that, despite the fact that the wire has no defect, the bubble is attached, and that the defect is determined to be “defective”.
Conversely, when there is a concave portion on the surface of the wire, bubbles enter into this portion and the ultrasonic wave is reflected on the surface of the bubble, which is received as a normal reflected wave. It may be determined as "none". Furthermore,
It is necessary to conduct a detailed inspection again for the corresponding portion of the wire where the defect is detected by ultrasonic flaw detection, but as described above, even if there is no defect, if the number of locations determined to be “defective” increases, In addition, there is a problem that it takes a long time for complicated precision inspection, which leads to a rise in manufacturing cost.

[0006] If the flaw detection liquid is still attached to the surface of the wire after the ultrasonic flaw detection is completed, an operation of wiping the flaw detection liquid in a later step is required separately, and there is a problem that post-processing becomes complicated.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been proposed in view of the above-mentioned drawbacks inherent in the conventional ultrasonic flaw detector, and has been proposed in order to preferably solve the problem. It is an object of the present invention to provide an ultrasonic flaw detector capable of performing accurate ultrasonic flaw detection while preventing the adhesion of the ultrasonic flaw.

[0008]

Means for Solving the Problems To overcome the above problems and achieve the initial object, an ultrasonic flaw detector according to the present invention passes an object to be inspected immersed in a flaw detection liquid stored in a flaw detection tank. The ultrasonic flaw detector configured to detect a defect such as an internal flaw of the inspected article by an ultrasonic probe disposed in the flaw detection tank while allowing the entrance of the inspected article to pass therethrough. It is arranged between the entrance side wall of the flaw detection tank provided with holes and the flaw detection position by the ultrasonic probe,
An inlet-side wiping member provided with a through-hole through which the entire peripheral surface of the inspection object passes in a contact state, and a flaw detection liquid provided in the inlet-side painting wall and stored in the flaw detection tank, the inlet-side wiping member being provided on the inlet side. And a pouring part for pouring toward the article to be inspected immediately before passing through the through hole.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, an ultrasonic flaw detector according to the present invention will be described in detail by way of preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional side view showing a preferred embodiment of an ultrasonic flaw detector according to the present invention. The ultrasonic flaw detector 10 has a flaw detecting liquid 11 such as oil as a transmission medium. A flaw detection tank 12 for quantitative storage, a plurality of (four in this embodiment) ultrasonic probes (hereinafter also simply referred to as probes) 14 arranged in the flaw detection tank 12, and a wire rod (to be inspected) in the flaw detection tank 12 It basically comprises an entrance auxiliary tank 18 disposed on the entrance side of the article 16 and an exit auxiliary tank 20 disposed on the exit side. An inner guide sleeve 26 having an inlet-side through hole 26a for allowing the wire 16 to pass therethrough is provided on the inlet-side drawing wall 22 that defines the flaw detection tank 12, and also defines the flaw detection tank 12. The outlet-side picture wall 24 is provided with an inner guide sleeve 28 in which an outlet-side through hole 28a that allows the passage of the wire 16 is provided, and the central axes of the two through holes 26a, 28a are aligned. Further, the entrance-side auxiliary tank 18 is defined by an entrance-side drawing wall 22 and an entrance-side outer wall 30 and an exit-side auxiliary tank 20.
On the outlet side outer wall 32 defined by the outlet side drawing wall 24,
Outer guide sleeves 34, 36 provided with through holes 34a, 36a for allowing the passage of the wire 16 are arranged with their central axes aligned with the inner guide sleeves 26, 28. The wire 16 is fed to the guide sleeves 34, 26, 28, 36 by feeding means (not shown).
a, 26a, 28a, and 36a, and is configured to run in the flaw detection tank 12 in a horizontal state.

As shown in FIG. 1, in the flaw detection tank 12, the level of the flaw detection liquid 11 is always higher than the level of the through holes 26a, 28a in the inner guide sleeves 26, 28 (from a pour portion 22a to be described later). Inspection liquid 11 always in the auxiliary tank 18 on the entry side
At the level that pours out).
The wire 16 passing through the flaw detection tank 12 is completely immersed in the flaw detection liquid 11. The four probes 14 functioning to transmit and receive ultrasonic waves are located in the flaw detection tank 12 at the same position as the passing level of the wire 16 so as to face each other across the travel line of the wire 16. (See FIG. 2). Then, each probe 14 emits an ultrasonic wave toward the wire 16 traveling in a horizontal state in the flaw detection tank 12, and detects a reflected wave which is reflected from the surface and the defect of the wire 16 and returns in the incident direction. The signal is received by the element 14 and converted into an electric signal, amplified and amplified.
(RT) or the like to detect internal defects. In addition, all the probes 14 are the adjusting devices 3
8 so that the position can be adjusted in the vertical direction.
It is possible to cope with a change in the diameter of the device.

FIG. 1 and FIG.
As shown in FIG. 7, a pouring portion 22a is formed at a position above the inner guide sleeve 26 so that the flaw detection liquid 11 stored in the flaw detection tank 12 can be poured into the entry-side auxiliary tank 18. That is, as shown in FIG. 5, the flaw detection liquid 11 is poured from above into the wire 16 immediately before passing through the inlet side through hole 26a of the inner guide sleeve 26 via the pouring portion 22a. Is configured to pre-wet. Entry side auxiliary tank 1
A discharge port 40 is provided in the vicinity of the bottom of 8, and the flaw detection liquid 11 poured into the auxiliary tank 18 is collected in a tank (not shown) via the port 40.
The tank is connected to a supply port 42 provided in the flaw detection tank 12, and the flaw detection liquid 11 collected in the tank is pumped.
(Not shown) and the flaw detection tank 1 again through the supply port 42.
2 is configured. The amount of the flaw detection liquid 11 that is poured out from the pouring part 22a into the entry-side auxiliary tank 18 or leaks from the inlet-side through hole 26a to the entry-side auxiliary tank 18 is returned to the flaw detection tank 12 via the pump. The amount of the flaw detection liquid 11 is set to be large, and the flaw detection liquid 11 is always poured out from the pouring part 22a.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an entry-side wiping device 44 for wiping the outer peripheral surface of the wire 16 is provided between the entrance-side picture wall 22 and a flaw detection position by the probe 14. ing. As shown in FIG. 4, the entry-side wiping device 44 includes a pair of holding plates 46, 46 formed in a substantially U shape, and two entry-side wiping members located on both sides of a disk-shaped support plate 48. Wiping plates 50, 50 as a basic configuration, and two inlet wiping plates 50, 50 and a support plate 48.
Are held between the holding plates 46, 46. The two holding plates 46, 46 are positioned and fixed to the entrance-side picture wall 22 by a plurality of stays 52. The inlet-side wiping plate 50 is formed in a disk shape using a flexible material such as rubber or fiber, and has a through-hole 50 a having a diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of the wire rod 16. The hole 26a is formed at a position where the center axis coincides with the hole 26a. That is, when the wire 16 passes through the through hole 50a, the entire peripheral surface thereof contacts the inlet-side wiping plate 50,
It is configured so that air bubbles adhering to the surface of the wire can be completely wiped off. The support plate 48 is provided with a through hole 48a that allows the wire 16 to pass through in a non-contact manner at a position where the center axis coincides with the through hole 50a of the inlet-side wiping plate 50.

As shown in FIG. 6, an outlet wiping device 54 for wiping the outer peripheral surface of the wire 16 is provided inside the outlet auxiliary tank 20. The outlet-side wiping device 54 has basically the same configuration as the inlet-side wiping device 44, and includes a pair of holding plates 56, 56 formed in a substantially U-shape, and a disk-shaped support plate 5.
And two exit-side wiping plates 60, 60 as exit-side wiping members located on both sides of the holding plate 56. The two exit-side wiping plates 60, 60 and the support plate 58
6 is pinched. The two holding plates 56, 56 are positioned and fixed to the outlet-side picture wall 24 by a plurality of stays 62. The outlet-side wiping plate 60 is formed in a disk shape using a flexible material such as rubber or fiber, and has a through-hole 60 a having a diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of the wire 16. The hole 28a is formed at a position where the center axis coincides with the hole 28a. That is, when the wire 16 passes through the through hole 60a, the entire circumference thereof is formed on the exit side wiping plate 60a.
, So that the flaw detection liquid 11 attached to the surface of the wire can be wiped off. The support plate 58 includes
A through hole 58a that allows the passage of the wire 16 in a non-contact manner is provided.
The outlet side wiping plate 60 is formed at a position where the center axis coincides with the through hole 60a.

A discharge port 64 connected to the tank is provided near the bottom of the outlet side auxiliary tank 20, and the flaw detection liquid 11 leaked into the auxiliary tank 20 through the outlet side through hole 28a is transferred to the tank. It is configured so that it can be collected and returned to the flaw detection tank 12 again. The flaw detection tank 12 and both auxiliary tanks 18 and 2
0 is open upward, and the upper opening is
It is comprised so that opening and closing are possible by.

[0016]

Next, the operation of the ultrasonic flaw detector according to the above-described embodiment will be described. The flaw detection tank 12 stores and replenishes the flaw detection liquid 11 so that the level of the flaw detection liquid 11 always flows out from the pouring part 22 a formed on the inlet-side painting wall 22 to the entry-side auxiliary tank 18. In this state,
In order to inspect the wire 16, the wire 1 passed through the through hole 34 a of the outer guide sleeve 34 in the entry-side auxiliary tank 18.
As shown in FIG. 5, immediately before passing through the inlet side through hole 26a of the inner guide sleeve 26, the pouring portion 22a
The flaw detection liquid 11 is poured from the substrate and the surface of the wire 16 is wetted. In other words, since the surface of the wire 16 is wetted immediately before entering the flaw detection tank 12, generation of bubbles on the surface of the wire 16 immersed in the flaw detection liquid 11 can be suppressed.

The inlet side through hole 2 of the inner guide sleeve 26
As shown in FIG. 5, the wire 16 passing through 6 a passes through the through holes 50 a of the two inlet-side wiping plates 50 in the inlet-side wiping device 44.
Pass through. This through hole 50a is set smaller than the diameter of the wire 16 and the entire peripheral surface of the wire 16 is
Therefore, even if there are air bubbles adhering to the surface of the wire 16, the air bubbles can be completely wiped off. Therefore, no air bubbles are attached to the surface of the wire 16 that travels through the flaw detection liquid 11 after passing through the entry-side wiping device 44, so that accurate ultrasonic flaw detection by the probe 14 is achieved. .

The wire 16 having been subjected to the ultrasonic flaw detection passes through the outlet side through hole 28a of the inner guide sleeve 28 disposed on the outlet side picture wall 24, and then passes through the two outlet sides of the outlet side wiping device 54. It passes through the through hole 60a of the wiping plate 60.
Since the through hole 60a is set smaller than the diameter of the wire 16, the entire peripheral surface of the wire 16 comes into contact with the outlet-side wiping plate 60 to wipe off the flaw detection liquid 11 attached to the surface of the wire 16. be able to. Accordingly, the flaw detection liquid 11 is not taken out by the wire 16 from the through hole 36a of the outer guide sleeve 36 provided on the outlet side outer wall 32 of the outlet side auxiliary tank 20, and the processing of the wire 16 in the subsequent process is facilitated. .

Although the embodiment has been described in connection with the case where oil which does not cause rust to be generated on the wire to be inspected is used as the inspection liquid stored in the inspection tank, the inspection liquid is not limited to this. Other liquids may be used as long as they can transmit ultrasonic waves, such as water. Further, the number of the inlet-side wiping plates and the number of the outlet-side wiping plates are not limited to two, and may be one or three or more,
As for the shape, a shape other than the disk shape can be adopted. Further, the article to be inspected is not limited to a wire rod, but may be a bar or a steel pipe. Furthermore, the pouring part provided on the entrance side painting wall,
It is also possible to configure the device with one or a plurality of through-holes through which the test liquid is poured.

[0020]

As described above, according to the ultrasonic flaw detector according to the present invention, the object to be inspected is immersed in the flaw detection liquid by pre-wetting the article to be inspected with the flaw detection liquid. Adhesion of air bubbles to the surface can be suppressed. In addition, since the article to be inspected immersed in the flaw detection liquid passes through the through-hole of the entrance-side wiping member in a state where the entire peripheral surface is in contact therewith, even if air bubbles adhere to the surface of the article, it must be completely wiped off. Can be
Accurate ultrasonic testing can be performed. Therefore, compared with the related art, it is possible to reduce the number of places where the precision inspection of the article to be inspected is performed, and there is a beneficial advantage that the time required for complicated precision inspection can be reduced.

Further, the inspected article for which the ultrasonic flaw detection has been completed is
Since the entire peripheral surface passes through the through hole of the outlet-side wiping member in a contact state, the flaw detection liquid attached to the surface of the article can be wiped, and the work of separately wiping the flaw detection liquid from the wire in a later process can be performed. Can be omitted.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional side view showing an ultrasonic flaw detector according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the ultrasonic flaw detector according to the embodiment, partially cut away.

FIG. 3 is a front view showing an entrance-side image wall of a flaw detection tank of the ultrasonic flaw detection apparatus according to the example.

FIG. 4 is a front view showing an entry-side wiping device of the ultrasonic flaw detector according to the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional side view showing an entry-side wiping device of the ultrasonic flaw detector according to the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a vertical cross-sectional side view showing the exit-side wiping device of the ultrasonic flaw detector according to the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 11 flaw detection liquid 12 flaw detection tank 14 ultrasonic probe 16 wire (inspected object) 22 inlet side drawing wall 22a pouring part 24 outlet side drawing wall 26a inlet side through hole 28a outlet side through hole 50 inlet side wiping plate (inlet side) Wiping member) 50a Through hole 60 Exit side wiping plate (Exit side wiping member) 60a Through hole

Claims (2)

[Claims] An inspection object (16) is immersed in a flaw detection liquid (11) stored in a flaw detection tank (12) while passing through the flaw detection tank (12).
The object to be inspected (1) is moved by the ultrasonic probe (14)
6) In the ultrasonic flaw detector configured to detect a defect such as an internal flaw, the entrance side through hole (26a) that allows the inspection object (16) to pass therethrough.
Is provided between the entrance side painting wall (22) of the flaw detection tank (12) and the flaw detection position by the ultrasonic probe (14), and the entire peripheral surface of the inspected article (16) is An inlet-side wiping member (50) having a through-hole (50a) passing therethrough, and a flaw detection liquid (11) provided on the inlet-side painting wall (22) and stored in the flaw detection tank (12). ), And a pouring part (22a) for pouring toward the article to be inspected (16) immediately before passing through the entrance side through hole (26a). 2. An exit-side picture wall (2) of a flaw detection tank (12) provided with an exit-side through-hole (28a) allowing passage of the article to be inspected (16).
4. An ultrasonic wave according to claim 1, further comprising an outlet-side wiping member provided with a through-hole through which the entire peripheral surface of the article to be inspected passes in a contact state. Flaw detector.