JP2011080941A - Ultrasonic probe - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ultrasonic probe capable of diagnosing easily a steel stranded wire. <P>SOLUTION: A groove 20A is formed so that suspension wires 100 are fitted thereto, along a propagation direction of an ultrasonic wave, on a transmission/reception surface for an ultrasonic wave on the probe 1. Hereby, a contact area between the probe 1 and the suspension wires 100 is increased, and coupling efficiency is improved, to thereby improve accuracy for detecting an ultrasonic wave reflected by a corrosion part or the like of the suspension wires 100. Further, since the groove 20A is fitted to the suspension wires 100 when diagnosing the suspension wires 100, a center line between the probe 1 and the suspension wires 100 is hardly deviated, and measurement dispersion can be reduced. Thus, suspension wire diagnosis dispensing with dismantlement of a cable terminal becomes possible by utilizing the ultrasonic wave. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a flaw detection diagnostic technique using ultrasonic waves.

  Telephone voice signals and Internet communication signals connect the telephone office to each user (each home or office) through electric wires or optical fiber cables. They are held in steel strands called suspension lines drawn between utility poles. The suspension wire is connected to a hanging metal object to be held on the utility pole, a branching metal object for branching, a box called a terminal canopy for protecting the connection portion from wind and rain and ultraviolet rays, and the like.

  Since the suspension cable is a heavy cable, if it breaks, it will lead to a major accident due to the cable dropping. However, it is difficult to visually inspect a portion where a suspended bracket, a split wire bracket, a terminal rod or the like is installed. Also, it takes time and effort to disassemble and investigate. Thus, there is a need for a non-destructive device for diagnosing internal localized corrosion.

  On the other hand, a method is known in which an ultrasonic probe is brought into contact with the surface of a steel material such as an iron plate, an ultrasonic wave is incident to observe a reflected echo, and the surface of the steel material or an internal scratch is found (Patent Document 1). reference). Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the present inventor makes the probe 500 contact the suspension line 100, enters the ultrasonic wave, and measures the ultrasonic echo (reflected wave), thereby measuring the inside of the terminal canister 200. A method of diagnosing a suspension wire was devised to detect local corrosion 110. In FIG. 13, the probe 500 is drawn large, but it is actually large enough to be pinched with a finger.

JP 2003-114221 A

  The conventional probe 500 is used for flaw detection inspection of a flat surface such as an iron plate. However, as shown in FIG. 15, the suspension wire 100 is a steel strand made of about 7 strands (steel wires), and the strand diameter is 2.3 to 3.5 mm. The diameter is about 7 to 11 mm. Therefore, when the conventional probe 500 is brought into contact with the suspension wire 100 having a small diameter, the contact area between the probe 500 and the suspension wire 100 is small and the coupling efficiency is poor as shown in FIG. is there. When measuring the ultrasonic echo, the ultrasonic wave is incident on the suspension line 100 so that the ultrasonic wave propagates in the longitudinal direction of the suspension line 100. In the case of the conventional probe 500, the suspension line 100 and the probe are detected. There is a problem that the position of the center line of the child 500 is likely to be shifted, and variations in measurement results occur. In addition, a contact medium 310 such as glycerin is applied to a portion where the probe 500 is brought into contact. However, if the contact medium 310 remains attached to the suspension wire 100 after measurement, salt accumulates in the contact medium 310, There is a problem that the part corrodes. In addition, there is a demand for a suspension line diagnosis from the ground without using an aerial work vehicle.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object thereof is to easily diagnose a steel strand.

  An ultrasonic probe according to the present invention is an ultrasonic probe that receives ultrasonic reflected waves by making ultrasonic waves incident on a steel strand, and applies the strands of steel to an ultrasonic transmission / reception surface. It has a groove.

  In the present invention, by having a groove for assigning a strand of steel to the ultrasonic transmission / reception surface, the contact area between the ultrasonic probe and the wire is increased, and the coupling efficiency is improved. The accuracy of detecting the ultrasonic wave reflected from the corroded part of the wire is improved. Furthermore, by fitting the steel strand in the groove, the center line of the probe and the steel is less likely to be shifted, and variations in measurement can be reduced.

  In the ultrasonic probe, a groove is formed in an attachment that is formed of a gel-like sheet and is attached to a transmission / reception surface.

  In the present invention, the number of interfaces can be reduced by forming the attachment with grooves, which is attached to the ultrasonic wave transmission / reception surface, with a gel-like sheet, thereby reducing multiple reflections and coupling efficiency. Will be better.

  In the ultrasonic probe, the longitudinal direction of the groove is inclined with respect to the transmission / reception surface.

  In the present invention, the incident angle of the ultrasonic wave on the steel strand can be easily changed by inclining the longitudinal direction of the groove with respect to the ultrasonic wave transmission / reception surface.

  The ultrasonic probe is attached to the tip of a rod, and has a skirt portion that expands in a tapered shape on the transmission / reception surface side.

  In the present invention, by attaching an ultrasonic probe to the tip of a rod, diagnosis of a rod-shaped steel material present at a high place becomes easy. Moreover, since it has a skirt part, it is also easy to make an ultrasonic probe contact a rod-shaped steel material.

  According to the present invention, a steel strand can be easily diagnosed.

It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the probe in 1st Embodiment. It is sectional drawing which shows a mode that the said probe is made to contact a suspension line and it diagnoses. FIG. 3A is a graph showing the result of measuring the intensity of a reflected wave from a cut surface of a suspension line. FIG. 3A shows the measurement result when the probe is used, and FIG. The measurement result of a tentacle is shown. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of the probe in 2nd Embodiment. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of another probe in 2nd Embodiment. It is a side view which shows the structure of the probe in 3rd Embodiment. It is a side view which shows the structure of another probe in 3rd Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the characteristic of the gel-like sheet | seat in 4th Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structure of another gel-like sheet | seat in 4th Embodiment, Fig.9 (a) is sectional drawing which shows the cross section of a gel-like sheet, FIG.9 (b) shows the plane of a gel-like sheet | seat. FIG. It is a figure which shows the structure of another gel-like sheet | seat in 4th Embodiment, FIG. 10 (a) is sectional drawing which shows the cross section of a gel-like sheet, FIG.10 (b) is a plane of a gel-like sheet | seat. FIG. It is the schematic which shows the structure of the probe in 5th Embodiment. It is a side view which shows the structure of the said probe. It is the schematic which shows the mode of a suspension line diagnosis. It is the schematic which shows the mode of the ultrasonic wave which propagates in the suspension line. It is a side view which shows the structure of a suspension line. It is sectional drawing which shows a mode that a suspension line is diagnosed using the conventional probe.

[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the probe in the first embodiment. FIG. 1 (a) shows the contact surface with the suspension line 100 downward, and FIG. 1 (b) shows the suspension line. The contact surface with 100 is shown upward. A probe 1 shown in FIG. 1 includes a probe main body 11 that transmits and receives ultrasonic waves, a connection terminal 12 that is connected to a measurement device (not shown) via a cable, and ultrasonic waves of the probe main body 11. An attachment 20 disposed on the transmission / reception surface is provided. The attachment 20 has a groove 20 </ b> A to which the suspension line 100 is applied on the contact surface side with the suspension line 100. The groove 20A is formed along the direction in which the ultrasonic wave is desired to propagate. The cross section of the groove 20 </ b> A is rounded so as to follow the outer periphery of the suspension line 100.

  FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which diagnosis is performed by bringing the probe 1 into contact with the suspension line 100, and the suspension line 100 is shown in a cross section viewed from the longitudinal direction. The suspension wire 100 is a steel stranded wire, and its diameter is about 1 cm.

  When diagnosing the suspension line 100, first, the gel sheet 30 is attached to the suspension line 100. Then, the suspension wire 100 is applied to the groove 20 </ b> A from above the gel-like sheet 30, and the probe 1 is brought into contact with the suspension wire 100 through the gel-like sheet 30. Glycerin is inserted between the attachment 20 and the probe 11 to enhance the coupling of ultrasonic waves. The probe 1 is brought into contact with the suspension line 100 at a position within about 30 cm from the location where corrosion is diagnosed. As the gel-like sheet 30, a sheet having a thickness of about 1 mm made of a high molecular weight polymer was used.

  Subsequently, the probe 1 is incident on the suspension line 100 obliquely with respect to the contact surface between the probe 1 and the suspension line 100 so that the ultrasonic wave propagates in the longitudinal direction of the suspension line 100. To do. The incident angle of the ultrasonic wave is set according to the size of the diameter of the suspension wire 100 to be diagnosed, the distance to the diagnosis location, and the like. The frequency of the incident ultrasonic wave is 1 to 5 MHz.

  Then, the reflected wave is received by the probe 1 to detect the corrosion site. When corrosion has occurred in the suspension wire 100, a reflected wave at the corrosion location is observed.

  FIG. 3 is a graph showing the result of measuring the intensity of the reflected wave from the cut surface of the suspension line 100 while changing the distance from the cut end surface, and FIG. 3A shows the probe 1 in the present embodiment. FIG. 3B shows the result of measurement using a conventional probe with a flat contact surface. It was confirmed that the probe 1 in the present embodiment improved the reflection intensity by 3 dB as compared with the conventional probe. Further, it was confirmed that the positions of the suspension line 100 and the center line of the probe 1 are less likely to be shifted, and the measurement variation is reduced. These effects could be confirmed even when glycerin was used as the contact medium instead of the gel sheet 30.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the groove 20A is formed on the ultrasonic wave transmitting / receiving surface of the probe 1 so that the suspension line 100 fits along the direction in which the ultrasonic wave is desired to propagate. As a result, the contact area between the probe 1 and the suspension line 100 is increased and the coupling efficiency is improved, so that the accuracy of detecting the ultrasonic wave reflected by the corroded portion of the suspension line 100 is improved. Furthermore, when diagnosing the suspension line 100, the groove 20A fits the suspension line 100, so that the center line of the probe 1 and the suspension line 100 is difficult to shift, so that measurement variations can be reduced. In this manner, the suspension line diagnosis that does not require disassembly of the terminal can be performed using ultrasonic waves.

  In the present embodiment, the cross section of the groove 20A is processed into an arc shape, but of course, it may be processed into a concave shape with a corner.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the steel stranded wire has been described as an example, but a rod-shaped steel material having a small diameter can be similarly applied.

[Second Embodiment]
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the probe in the second embodiment. This figure shows the suspension line 100 as a cross section viewed from the longitudinal direction.

  The attachment-type gel sheet 21 shown in FIG. 4 is obtained by processing an elastic gel sheet into a shape having a groove to which the suspension line 100 is assigned, and an attachment and a contact medium connected to the probe body 11. (Gel-like sheet) is integrated. A concave portion for arranging the probe main body 11 was formed on the opposite surface where the groove was formed. The attachment type gel-like sheet 21 uses a high molecular weight polymer as a main raw material.

  By integrating the attachment and the contact medium and providing a groove that fits the suspension line 100, the contact area with the suspension line 100 can be increased and the coupling efficiency can be increased. Further, since the number of interfaces can be reduced by integrating the attachment and the contact medium, the effect of increasing the coupling efficiency can be expected because the number of multiple reflections is reduced.

  FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of another probe according to the second embodiment. This figure shows the suspension line 100 as a cross section viewed from the longitudinal direction.

  FIG. 5 shows a wire 21A provided on the attachment gel sheet 21 shown in FIG. By providing the wire 21 </ b> A, the attachment type gel-like sheet 21 can be firmly fixed to the suspension line 100, so that positioning accuracy and reproducibility can be improved.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the attachment provided with the groove to which the suspension line 100 is applied is formed by an elastic gel-like sheet, and the attachment and the gel-like sheet are integrated to form an interface. As a result, it is possible to reduce the number of reflections, thereby reducing multiple reflections and increasing the coupling efficiency.

[Third Embodiment]
FIG. 6 is a side view showing the configuration of the probe in the third embodiment.

  The attachment 22 shown in FIG. 6 includes a groove that attaches the suspension line 100 to the contact surface with the suspension line 100, and the height of the attachment 22 can be set so that the probe body 11 can be inclined with respect to the longitudinal direction of the groove. It is formed by changing the height so that the shape seen from the side becomes a wedge shape.

  Although it is not easy to change the setting of the probe body 11 and adjust the transmission angle of the ultrasonic wave, as shown in FIG. 6, the attachment surface of the probe body 11 is inclined with respect to the groove. By using 22, it is possible to adjust the incident angle of the ultrasonic wave. By preparing a plurality of attachments 22 having different inclination angles, it is possible to designate an optimum incident angle in accordance with the diameter of the suspension line 100.

  FIG. 7 is a side view showing the configuration of another probe according to the third embodiment.

  The attachment 23 shown in FIG. 7 has a groove for attaching the suspension line 100 to the contact surface with the suspension line 100, and has a shape seen from the side so that the incident angle of the ultrasonic wave can be changed depending on the position where the probe body 11 is installed. The height is changed so that becomes an ellipse.

  Note that the attachments 22 and 23 may be formed of a synthetic resin such as polyimide, or may be formed of a gel-like sheet as in the second embodiment.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, by using the attachments 22 and 23 formed so that the installation surface of the probe main body 11 is inclined with respect to the groove with which the suspension line 100 is brought into contact, it is easy. It becomes possible to adjust the transmission angle of the ultrasonic wave.

[Fourth Embodiment]
In the fourth embodiment, the gel sheet disposed between the probe and the suspension line in the first embodiment or the attachment type gel sheet in the second embodiment is devised. It is.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the characteristics of the gel-like sheet in the fourth embodiment. The probe main body 11, the gel-like sheet 25 in the present embodiment, and the suspension line 100 are schematically shown on the left side of FIG. 8, and the graph of the acoustic impedance of each member is shown on the right side of FIG.

  The gel sheet 25 shown in FIG. 8 is formed by gradually changing (graded) the specific gravity of the gel sheet material in the film thickness direction. Thereby, since the acoustic impedance of the gel-like sheet 25 can be gradually changed from the acoustic impedance of the probe body 11 to the acoustic impedance of the suspension wire 100, it is possible to suppress multiple reflections due to acoustic impedance mismatch. Become. In addition, you may form the gel-like sheet 25 by forming several layers from which the specific gravity of gel-like sheet material differs in step shape.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a configuration of another gel-like sheet in the fourth embodiment, FIG. 9A is a cross-sectional view showing a cross-section of the gel-like sheet, and FIG. It is a top view which shows the plane of a gel-like sheet.

  The gel-like sheet 26 shown in FIG. 9 is obtained by forming convex portions 26A on the surface of the gel-like sheet 26 in accordance with the shape of the surface of the suspension wire 100 that is a steel strand. The convex portion 26A is formed along a straight line inclined by about 10 degrees with respect to the vertical direction of the drawing in accordance with the inclination of the groove on the surface of the suspension line 100. The interval between the projections 26A is the interval between the grooves on the surface of the suspension line 100, and the height of the projections 26A is about the depth of the groove on the surface of the suspension line 100. By providing the convex part 26 </ b> A on the surface of the gel-like sheet 26, the gel-like sheet 26 can be more fitted to the suspension line 100.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a configuration of still another gel-like sheet according to the fourth embodiment. FIG. 10A is a cross-sectional view showing a cross-section of the gel-like sheet, and FIG. It is a top view which shows the plane of a gel-like sheet.

  The gel-like sheet 27 shown in FIG. 10 is obtained by forming dot-like convex portions 27 </ b> A on the surface of the gel-like sheet 27. The interval between the protrusions 27A is the interval between the grooves on the surface of the suspension line 100, and the height of the protrusions 27A is about the depth of the groove on the surface of the suspension line 100. The convex portions 27 </ b> A may be arranged on a straight line that matches the inclination of the groove on the surface of the suspension line 100. By providing the convex portion 27 </ b> A on the surface of the gel-like sheet 27, the gel-like sheet 27 can be more fitted to the suspension line 100.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the gel sheet 25 is formed by gradually changing the specific gravity of the gel sheet material in the film thickness direction, so that the acoustic impedance of the probe main body 11 can be reduced. Since the acoustic impedance of the suspension wire 100 can be gradually changed, multiple reflections due to acoustic impedance mismatch can be suppressed.

  According to the present embodiment, the gel-like sheets 26 and 27 are fitted to the suspension line 100 by forming the convex portions 26A and 27A according to the shape of the surface of the suspension line 100 on the surface of the gel-like sheets 26 and 27. It becomes possible to make it.

[Fifth Embodiment]
The fifth embodiment is a probe that enables suspension line diagnosis from the ground without using an aerial work vehicle.

  FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the probe in the fifth embodiment. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 11, the probe 1 in the first embodiment is attached to the tip of a telescopic rod 51. The probe 1 is connected to a measuring device held by a measurer via a cable. The measurer operates the measuring apparatus and transmits and receives ultrasonic waves by the probe 1 to diagnose the suspension line 100.

  Even if the probe 1 is arranged at the tip of the rod 51 by providing the ultrasonic transmission / reception surface of the probe 1 with a groove along the direction in which the ultrasonic wave is desired to propagate, The probe 1 can be easily brought into contact so that sound waves propagate. In other words, since the suspension line 100 can be easily brought into contact with the groove, the probe 1 can be attached to the tip of the rod 51 to diagnose the suspension line 100 from a remote location.

  FIG. 12 is an enlarged view of the tip of the rod 51 to which the probe 1 is connected. As shown in the figure, the probe 1 is held by a jig 52 and fixed to a rod 51. More specifically, the probe body 11, the attachment 20 having a groove formed on the contact surface, and the gel sheet 30 as a contact medium are held by the jig 52. The gel-like sheet 30 may be bonded to the jig 52, or both ends of the gel-like sheet 30 may be wrapped around both sides of the probe 1 and sandwiched between the jigs 52.

  In addition, since the jig 52 includes a skirt portion that expands in a tapered shape, the skirt portion can be hooked on the suspension line 100 and the probe 1 can be easily brought into contact with the suspension line 100.

  The probe 1 attached to the tip of the rod 51 is not limited to the probe 1 of the first embodiment, but may be the one of the second embodiment provided with the attachment type gel-like sheet 21. The probe of the embodiment may be used.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, by locating the probe 1 having a groove on the contact surface at the tip of the rod 51, the suspension line 100 can be diagnosed at a location away from the suspension line 100. can do.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Probe 11 ... Probe main body 12 ... Connection terminal 20 ... Attachment 20A ... Groove 30 ... Gel-like sheet 21 ... Attachment-type gel-like sheet 21A ... Wire 22, 23 ... Attachment 25, 26, 27 ... Gel-like sheet 26A, 27A ... convex portion 51 ... rod 52 ... jig 100 ... suspension wire 110 ... local corrosion 200 ... terminal rod 310 ... contact medium 500 ... probe

Claims (4)

An ultrasonic probe that receives ultrasonic waves by making ultrasonic waves incident on a steel strand,
An ultrasonic probe comprising a groove for assigning a strand of steel to the ultrasonic transmission / reception surface.   The ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, wherein the groove is formed in an attachment that is formed of a gel-like sheet and is attached to the transmission / reception surface.   The ultrasonic probe according to claim 2, wherein a longitudinal direction of the groove is inclined with respect to the transmission / reception surface. The ultrasonic probe is attached to the tip of a rod,
The ultrasonic probe according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a skirt extending in a tapered shape on the transmission / reception surface side.

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