JP3810676B2 - Tube ultrasonic inspection equipment - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an in-pipe insertion type ultrasonic inspection apparatus that performs ultrasonic inspection from the inside of a test tube by inserting a probe attached to the tip of a communication cable using a fluid into the test tube. , A pressure receiving tool and a traction tool for smoothly inserting a communication cable with a probe into a long tube having a bent portion, and an ultrasonic wave of a tube capable of suitably aligning the probe even in the bent tube portion It relates to an inspection device.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Since heat exchanger tubes used in boilers and the like may cause corrosion thinning and cracking when used for a long time, it is necessary to periodically measure the thickness and detect flaws to confirm their soundness. However, since the heat exchanger tubes are arranged in a narrow and complicated manner, it is difficult to perform these nondestructive inspections from the outside of the heat exchanger tubes. Therefore, conventionally, ultrasonic inspection is performed from the inside of the heat exchanger tube using an in-tube insertion type ultrasonic inspection apparatus.
[0003]
In the system using the conventional tube insertion type ultrasonic inspection apparatus shown in FIG. 6, a guide 101 inserted into the heat exchanger tube 1, a probe 102 connected to the guide 101, and a probe 102 are provided. A support 103 that is supported from both ends and that is aligned with the center of the heat exchanger tube 1 and a number of pressure receivers 105 that are connected to the support 103 and fixed at both ends by a pair of stoppers 104, 104. A communication cable 107 for connecting the tool 105 is provided. Further, the conventional intra-pipe ultrasonic inspection apparatus has a communication cable 107 having one end connected to the probe 102 and the other end connected to the ultrasonic transmission / reception apparatus 106 to transmit signals between them. A water tank 109 used to apply water pressure to a number of pressure receiving devices 105 attached to the entire length of the cable take-up device 108 and the communication cable 107 that are fed into or wound into the heat exchanger tube 1, and water in the water tank 109 And a three-way valve 111a, 111b for switching the flow direction of the pressurized water generated by the pump 110.
[0004]
When performing ultrasonic inspection from the inside of the heat exchanger tube 1 using the tube insertion type ultrasonic inspection apparatus configured as described above, first, a cable is wound around one end of the heat exchanger tube 1 via the hose 112a. Connect the device 108. Next, the other end of the heat exchanger tube 1 is connected to the three-way valves 111a and 111b via the hose 112b. Then, the three-way valves 111a and 111b are switched so that the pressure water from the pump 110 flows toward the cable winding device 108 to form a fluid flow path. Thereafter, the pump 110 is started, pressure water is circulated, drag is generated in a number of pressure receivers 105 and the communication cable 107 wound around the cable winding device 108 is inserted into the heat exchanger tube 1. An ultrasonic inspection is performed from the inside of the heat exchanger tube 1 with the probe 102 attached to the tip.
[0005]
When the ultrasonic inspection of the heat exchanger tube 1 is completed, the three-way valves 111a and 111b are switched, the flow direction of the pressurized water is reversed, and a drag force in the reverse direction is generated on the pressure receiving tool 105 to connect the communication cable 107 to the heat exchanger. The drawn-out cable take-up device 108 was taken out from the inside of the tube 1 to complete a series of ultrasonic inspections.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Conventionally, the problem with this type of ultrasonic inspection apparatus is that the fluid acting in the part where the stopper 104 is exposed is disturbed and the drag acting on the pressure receiver 105 is reduced, and the heat exchanger tube 1 is long. Then, the communication cable 107 can not be inserted over the entire length.
[0007]
In addition, it is an essential condition that the probe 102 is aligned with the tube axis at the attachment portion of the transducer 113 (FIG. 7) that transmits and receives ultrasonic waves, but heat exchange is performed as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. When the instrument tube 1 has a bent portion with a small curvature, the probe 102 can be centered at the center of the bent portion of the tube at the fulcrum of the support 103, but the center of the probe 113 is misaligned. High quality inspection was impossible. Further, the contact friction resistance between the support 103 and the heat exchanger tube 1 is increased at the bent portion, and there is a problem that the probe 102 cannot pass through the tube.
[0008]
Then, the subject of this invention solves the problem of the said prior art, and provides the test | inspection apparatus which can implement the ultrasonic test | inspection from a pipe | tube suitably also to a long test pipe | tube which has a bending part. is there.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the problems of the present invention, the present invention adopts the following configuration. That is, it is an ultrasonic inspection apparatus for a tube that is inserted into a tube through which a fluid flows by using the flow of the fluid, and includes one or more ultrasonic probes whose central portions are located on the axis of the tube (1) ( 4) and a pair which is opposed to each other in the axial direction of the tube (1 ) with the probe (4) interposed therebetween, and whose central portion is located on the axis of the tube (1) and slides in the tube axis direction. Slide ring (5), (5), one end is attached to one slide ring (5) and the other end is attached to the other slide ring (5), and the probe (4) is surrounded by a tube (1 ) And a plurality of elastic wires (6) arranged at equal intervals in the radial direction of the tube (1) around the axial center of the tube (1), and always abutting against the inner surface of the tube (1), and the pair of slide rings (5), ( 5) on the outer side of the pair of slide rings (5), (5) and positioned on the axis of the tube (1), the slide ring ( ), (5) and the center of the probe (4), and a pair of springs for pressing the axial direction of the tube (1) (7), a support cage type consisting (7) ingredients and (a), a pair of towards the radial direction of the tube (1) outside the side and pressed against the inner wall, the central portion is positioned on the axis of the tube (1) of the spring (7), (7) A brush-type support tool (B), a grooved traction tool (10) connected to the center portion of the front-side tube axis of the fluid flow of the pair of brush-type support tools (B), and a pair of brush-type support tools ( B) a plurality of cascade-connected pressure receiving tools (3) connected to the central portion of the tube axis on the rear side of the fluid flow, the plurality of pressure receiving tools (3), a brush type support tool (B), and a saddle type support tool (A) and the probe (4) are respectively connected on the tube axis that is the central portion in the radial direction of the tube , and the brush-type support (B) is always passed on the axis of the tube (1). Ru is supported by An ultrasonic inspection apparatus for a tube comprising a communication cable (107) and a probe (4) connected to the tip of the communication cable (107) and an ultrasonic transmission / reception apparatus (106) to be energized.
[0010]
When the traction tool (10) includes a groove (10a) that forms a flow path that is inclined with respect to the flow direction of the fluid flowing in the pipe (1), resistance to the fluid flow is likely to be generated.
[0011]
The ultrasonic probe ( 4 ) includes an ultrasonic transducer, and the pressure receiver (3) is bonded and fixed so as to wrap the fastener ( 2 ) that is fixed to the communication cable (107) at a predetermined interval. The fluid flowing in the pipe (1) is configured not to directly contact the stopper ( 2 ) .
[0012]
[Action]
Since the pressure receiving device according to the present invention is attached to the communication cable by a stopper included in the pressure receiving device, the fluid in the pipe can maintain a laminar flow state and is not disturbed.
[0013]
The maximum outer diameter part of each elastic wire placed around the slide ring forming the saddle type support device hits the inner surface of the heat exchanger tube on the center line of the vibrator, aligns the probe, and the brush type support device Since the probe is aligned with the inner surface of the exchanger tube from both ends of the probe, the vibrator is not misaligned even at the bent portion.
[0014]
Further, since the probe is pulled by a traction tool that can efficiently obtain a drag from the fluid in the pipe, it can pass through a bent portion where the contact friction resistance between the support tool and the heat exchanger pipe increases.
[0015]
In addition, the probe includes a transducer for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves, and the transducer and the ultrasonic transmission / reception device are connected by a communication cable. Therefore, ultrasonic inspection is suitably performed even in a complex-shaped tube. It becomes possible.
[0016]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the generally spherical pressure receiving device 3 is bonded and fixed so as to wrap the stopper 2 fixed by crimping to the communication cable 107 at a predetermined interval. The flowing fluid is configured not to contact the stopper 2 directly. The pressure receiving device 3 configured as described above obtains a drag from the laminar flow of the fluid circulating inside the heat exchanger tube 1 and connects the communication cable 107 with the probe 4 at the tip to the inside of the heat exchanger tube 1. Insert into.
[0017]
Further, the pressure receiving member 3 is constructed frictional resistance and specific gravity of a small material, it is possible to adhere the two hemispheres to reduce the insertion resistance to so consist structure spherically the tube 1, For example Even if the bonding surfaces of the hemispheres are peeled off, they will not come off the communication cable 107 and scatter.
[0018]
On the other hand, since the fastener 2 is crimped and fixed to the communication cable 107 using an aluminum alloy material or the like, the multi-core coaxial cable constituting the communication cable 107 does not come apart.
[0019]
FIG. 2 shows a situation in which the probe 4 is aligned in the bent portion of the heat exchanger tube 1. The ultrasonic inspection apparatus includes a scissors-type support A in which the vibrator 113 is housed, and a brush-type support B provided at both ends of the scissors-type support A.
[0020]
The saddle-type support A is arranged opposite to the probe 4 in the axial direction, and is arranged opposite to the slide ring 5 that slides in the axial direction and the probe 4 in the radial direction in the heat exchanger tube 1. The elastic wires 6 arranged at equal intervals around the slide ring 5 and the slide ring 5 arranged facing the probe 4 in the axial direction of the heat exchanger tube 1 toward the center of the probe 4. The compression coil spring 7 is pressed.
[0021]
The slide ring 5 of the saddle-type support A is pressed by the compression coil spring 7 toward the central portion in the axial direction of the probe 4 with an equal force, so that the elastic wires 6 arranged at equal intervals in the radial direction in the tube. And the maximum diameter portion of the bend of the heat exchanger tube 1 coincides with the center line of the axis of the vibrator 113. Therefore, as shown in the sectional view of the heat exchanger tube 1 in FIG. 3, the arrangement position of the vibrator 113 can be aligned with the center of the heat exchanger tube 1 even in the bent portion of the heat exchanger tube 1.
[0022]
A part of the ultrasonic wave transmitted from the vibrator 113 is partially reflected by the elastic wire 6 on the front surface and becomes noise, but the elastic wire 6 is thin and the cross section is circular, so that the reflected energy is a useful signal. It was confirmed that it was 20 dB or more smaller than the energy and did not hinder the inspection.
[0023]
Next, the brush-type support B is configured by implanting a nylon fiber portion 9 around the connection ring 8, and supports the probe 4 from both ends in the axial direction of the tube 1. The diameter of the nylon fiber portion 9 configured as described above is slightly larger than the inner diameter of the heat exchanger tube 1, and the probe 4 is aligned with the center of the heat exchanger tube 1 by elasticity. The elasticity of the nylon fiber portion 9 can be arbitrarily set by adjusting the thickness, length, and number of nylon fibers.
[0024]
FIG. 4 shows a side view of the traction tool 10 (FIG. 4A) and a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 4A (FIG. 4B). The traction tool 10 includes a groove 10 a inclined at an angle θ with respect to the axis of the heat exchanger tube 1 on the outer periphery. When the inclination angle θ of the groove 10 a is 45 degrees with respect to the axis of the tube 1, the drag due to the fluid in the tube 1 is efficiently generated in the traction tool 10, and the probe 4 flows through the probe 4. Can be pulled in the direction. Here, the traction force due to the in-pipe fluid can be arbitrarily set by adjusting the number of traction tools 10 connected by the flexible shaft 11.
[0025]
Another embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. This is an example in which two probes 4 are connected and inspected at a high density. This is an embodiment in which two probes 4 and 4 are connected to each other and a brush-type support B is provided at the end of the probe 4, and the other configurations are the same as those in the previous embodiment.
[0026]
Even inside the bent heat exchanger tube 1, the saddle-type support A and the brush-type support B can align the two vibrators 113 and 113 at the center of the heat exchanger tube 1 by the above-mentioned alignment operation. .
[0027]
Even when three or more vibrators 113 are connected, the vibrator is aligned with the center of the heat exchanger tube 1 without any problem.
[0028]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to smoothly insert a communication cable over the entire length even with a long heat exchanger tube by a pressure receiving tool that has a small frictional resistance with the inner surface of the heat exchanger tube and generates a high drag force. Further, the probe can be supported by the saddle-type support and the brush-type support at the bent portion of the heat exchanger tube, and the vibrator can be aligned with the center of the heat exchanger tube, thereby enabling high-precision inspection. Furthermore, since the probe is pulled by a traction tool that can obtain drag from the fluid with high efficiency, it can also pass through the bent portion of the heat exchanger tube.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of a pressure receiving tool of an ultrasonic inspection apparatus arranged in a heat exchanger tube according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a side sectional view for explaining a state in which the probe of the ultrasonic inspection apparatus according to the embodiment is supported by a bent portion of a heat exchanger tube.
3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC in FIG. 2, and is a diagram illustrating a state in which a vibrator is aligned with the center of a heat exchanger tube. FIG.
4 is a side view (FIG. 4 (a)) of the traction tool of the ultrasonic inspection apparatus disposed in the heat exchanger tube of FIG. 1 and a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 4 (a). )).
FIG. 5 is a side view for explaining a state in which a probe of an ultrasonic inspection apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention is supported by a bent portion of a heat exchanger tube.
FIG. 6 is an overall configuration diagram (FIG. 6A) of a conventional in-tube ultrasonic inspection apparatus and a side view of the ultrasonic inspection apparatus disposed in the tube (FIG. 6B).
FIG. 7 is a side view for explaining a state in which a probe of a conventional in-tube ultrasonic inspection apparatus is supported by a bent portion of a heat exchanger tube.
8 is a view taken along the line AA in FIG. 7, and is a diagram for explaining a state in which the vibrator is displaced from the center of the heat exchanger tube. FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Heat exchanger pipe | tube 2 Stop metal fitting 3 Pressure receiving tool 4 Probe 5 Slide ring 6 Elastic wire 7 Compression coil spring 8 Connection ring 9 Nylon fiber part 10 Pulling tool 10a Groove 11 Flexible shaft 101 Guide element 102 Probe 103 Support tool 104 Stopper 105 Pressure receiver 106 Ultrasonic transmitter / receiver 107 Communication cable 108 Cable take-up device 109 Water tank 110 Pump 111a, 111b Three-way valve 112a, 112b Hose 113 Vibrator A Scissor-type support B Brush-type support

Claims (4)

An ultrasonic inspection apparatus for a pipe inserted using a fluid flow into a pipe through which the fluid flows,
One or more ultrasound probes whose center is located on the axis of the tube ;
A pair of slide rings that are disposed opposite to each other in the axial direction of the tube with the probe interposed therebetween, the center portion is located on the axial center of the tube, and slide in the axial direction of the tube, and one slide ring on the other end A plurality of elastic wires each having an end attached to the other slide ring, surrounding the probe, arranged at equal intervals in the radial direction of the tube around the axis of the tube, and constantly contacting the inner surface of the tube ; Outside the pair of slide rings, positioned on the axis of the tube in contact with the pair of slide rings, pressing the slide ring toward the center of the probe and toward the axis of the tube A scissors-type support composed of a pair of springs,
A pair of brush support which is crimped into the tube wall, the central portion is positioned on the axis of the tube toward the radial direction of the tube outside the side of the spring,
A grooved traction tool connected to the center of the front pipe axis of the fluid flow of the pair of brush-type support tools;
A plurality of pressure-receiving devices connected in cascade connected to the central portion of the tube axis on the rear side of the fluid flow of the pair of brush-type support devices;
The plurality of pressure receivers, brush- type supports, saddle-type supports, and probes are respectively connected on the tube axis that is the central portion in the radial direction of the tube , and the brush always passes on the axis of the tube. a communication cable that will be supported by the equation support,
An ultrasonic inspection apparatus for a tube, comprising: a probe connected to a tip of the communication cable; and an ultrasonic transmission / reception apparatus that is energized.  2. The ultrasonic inspection apparatus for a pipe according to claim 1, wherein the traction tool includes a groove that forms a flow path inclined with respect to a flow direction of the fluid flowing in the pipe.  2. The ultrasonic inspection apparatus for a tube according to claim 1, wherein the probe includes a transducer for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves.  2. The pressure receiving tool is configured to be bonded and fixed so as to wrap a stopper that is crimped and fixed to a communication cable at a predetermined interval, and is configured so that a fluid flowing in the pipe does not directly contact the stopper. An ultrasonic inspection apparatus for the tube described.

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