JPH08247968A - Non-destructive inspecting apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To improve the operability of a radiation source and to accurately set the radioactive ray radiating position by controlling the supply of pressurized gas to a pneumatic tube and moving the source to the position to be inspected. CONSTITUTION: A photosensitive material F is laminated on the surface of the position to be inspected of a material T to be inspected, and a pneumatic tube 4 and a stopper 5 are disposed at the opposite positions of the material F. Then, a radiation source X is contained in a pneumatic capsule 6 to be encapsulized, the capsule 6 is charged in the communication hole 3e of a radiation source shield 3, and the tube 4 is connected to the hole 3e. When the control valves 2c, 2d of channel control means 2 are blocked and the control valves 2a, 2b are opened, the pressurized gas of a pressurized air supply source 1 is fed to the hole 3e, and the capsule 6 is fed to the stopper 5 near the material T via the tube 4. Subsequently, the gas is supplied, the capsule 6 is pressed to the stopper 5 to the stopped state, and the position to be inspected is set. The material F senses the ray radiated from the source X at the position in response to the permeated state of the material T. After it is radiated for a necessary time, the source X is recovered by the gas fed in the reverse direction.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a nondestructive inspection apparatus, and more particularly to a technique for sending a radiation source to an object to be inspected at a desired location and collecting the radiation source by remote control.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as one of nondestructive inspection methods, so-called X-ray inspection, that is, a photosensitive material such as an X-ray film is arranged near the surface of an object to be inspected, such as a metal material, and is exposed to radiation. A method of irradiating an inspection object and monitoring the state of the tissue of the inspection object according to the exposure state of the photosensitive material is adopted.

In carrying out the non-destructive inspection, it is desirable to send the radiation source to the vicinity of the surface of the object to be inspected at a desired position by remote control in order to reduce the exposure of the worker. As a technical means to achieve this purpose, a transfer tube with excellent radiation permeability is arranged near the surface of the object to be inspected, a wire with a radiation source attached is passed through the transfer tube, and the wire is manually wound. The method of sending the radiation source to the target position by pulling with is applied.

[0004]

However, the method of operating the radiation source with a wire requires that the radiation source be used for connecting and disassembling the radiation source and the wire, and for assembling and removing the radiation source. Difficulty in complete isolation and a decrease in workability tend to increase the radiation dose to workers.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and achieves the following objects. Shorten the travel time of the radiation source. To reduce radiation exposure. Improving the operability of the radiation source. Accurately set the irradiation position.

[0006]

[Means for Solving the Problems] A photosensitive material is arranged in the vicinity of the surface of an object to be inspected, a radiation source is sent, and radiation irradiation is performed.
An apparatus for exposing a photosensitive material to a source shield, which is connected to the pressurized gas generating means and accommodates a radiation source, and a photosensitive material, which is connected to the source shield and is disposed on an object to be inspected, at a position opposite to the photosensitive material. A structure is provided that includes an air feeding pipe that is arranged in a proximity state and that transfers a radiation source to a position to be inspected by a pressurized gas, and a flow path control unit that is arranged on the air feeding pipe and controls the supply of the pressurized gas. To be done. A pressurized air supply source or the like is adopted as the pressurized gas generating means at this time. A stopper for restraining the movement of the radiation source is arranged inside the air feeding tube near the inspection target position of the inspection object, and a ventilation hole is formed in the stopper. A casing having a communication hole connected to the pneumatic tube and a rotary shutter that is rotatably arranged with respect to the casing and that opens and closes the communication hole by a shutter hole during a rotation operation are arranged in the radiation source shield. To be done. The casing is preferably fixedly attached to the support structure.
Both ends of the pneumatic tube are connected to the pressurized gas generating means with the flow path control means interposed, and the flow path control means is
It is composed of a combination of a plurality of control valves. The radiation source is housed in the center of the inside of the air-carrying capsule that is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the air-carrying tube, and the air-carrying capsule is divided into the storage container body and the cap, and the radiation source is stored in the taper hole of the storage container body. Then, it is desirable to attach the cap by screwing and seal in a fixed state.

[0007]

The photosensitive material is arranged near the surface of the object to be inspected, and the pressurized gas generated by the pressurized gas generating means is sent to the radiation source shield by the operation of the flow path control means to operate the radiation source. Air is fed to the vicinity of the opposite position of the photosensitive material via a pneumatic tube. By the radiation irradiation from the radiation source at the inspection target position, the photosensitive material is exposed to light according to the transmission state of the inspection object. The inspection target position is set when the radiation source comes into contact with the stopper and its movement is blocked, and insertion of the pressurized gas is allowed through the ventilation hole of the stopper. The radiation source housed in the communication hole of the casing of the radiation source shield is transferred between the communication hole and the stopper via the shutter hole of the rotary shutter at the time of rotation operation and feeding of pressurized gas, and In the state where it is housed in the communication hole, it is hermetically separated by closing the shutter hole. In the flow path control means, by combining a plurality of control valves, the pressurized gas is sent to any one of both ends of the air feeding pipe, and the pressurized gas is discharged from the other side, thereby enabling the transfer in both directions. The radiation source is sent to the inspection target position and the radiation source is collected. When the radiation source is housed inside the air-transporting capsule, the air-transporting property of the air-transporting tube is secured regardless of the size of the radiation source.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the nondestructive inspection apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. In the figure, reference numeral X is a radiation source, T is an object to be inspected, F is a photosensitive material (film), 1 is a pressurized gas generating means, 2 is a flow path controlling means,
Reference numeral 3 is a radiation source shield, 4 is a pneumatic tube, 6 is a pneumatic capsule, and 7 is a support structure.

The pressurized gas generating means 1 is a pressurized air supply source such as an air compressor for generating pressurized air, a pressurized gas tank and a gas cylinder, and the pressurized gas supply pipe 1
It is connected to the flow path control means 2 by a.

The flow path control means 2 comprises a pressurized gas supply pipe 1
It is arranged to intervene between a and both ends of the pneumatic tube 4 or to intervene at two locations in the middle of the pneumatic tube 4 to control the supply of the pressurized gas, as shown in FIG. As described above, the plurality of control valves 2a, 2b, 2c, which are independently controlled independently,
The pressure relief device 2e is configured by a combination of 2d and discharges the pressurized gas to the outside of the pipeline of the pneumatic tube 4.

The radiation source shield 3 is disposed in the middle of the pneumatic tube 4, and is provided with a casing 3a for accommodating the pneumatic capsule 6 and a support bracket 3b for attaching the casing 3a to the support structure 7. And a rotary shutter 3c rotatably arranged with respect to the casing 3a. In the casing 3a, communication holes 3e, 3f connected to the pneumatic tube 4 via a connector 3d are provided. As shown in FIG. 2, the eccentricity is formed in the eccentric state, and the rotary shutter 3c is also eccentric for opening and closing the communication holes 3e and 3f selectively in the connected state or the non-connected state depending on the selection of the position during the rotation operation. The shutter holes 3g and 3h in the state are formed. Then, the casing 3a and the rotary shutter 3c
A support shaft 3i for rotatably connecting these components is arranged between and, and a handle 3j for remotely rotating the casing 3a is arranged on the outer periphery of the casing 3a.

As the pneumatic tube 4, a synthetic resin tube excellent in flexibility and radiation permeability or a light metal thin tube such as aluminum is applied, and the flow path is controlled with both ends having the radiation source shield 3 interposed. It is connected to the means 2 and is arranged in a proximity state at a position opposite to the photosensitive material (film) F arranged on the inspection object T. As shown in FIG. 3, a pipe joint 4a is arranged at a position to be inspected (radiation irradiation position) in the middle of the pneumatic pipe 4, and a loop-shaped pipe is provided via a vent hole 4b of the pipe joint 4a. A stopper 5 is attached to the pipe joint 4a while forming a passage.

As shown in FIG. 3, the stopper 5 is formed in a ring shape from rubber having a cushioning property.
Along with being integrally attached to the end of the pipe joint 4a, a vent hole 5a for connecting the conduit of the air feeding pipe 4 is arranged, and as shown in FIG. 1, in the middle of the air feeding pipe 4 near the inspection target position. And an intermediate state of the communication hole 3e of the casing 3a.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the pneumatic capsule 6 is for accommodating the radiation source X, and is formed in a cylindrical shape having an outer diameter slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the pneumatic tube 4 as a whole. The storage container body 6A and the cap 6
A structure that is divided into parts B and B is adopted. The storage container body 6A has a tapered hole 6 formed in the center thereof.
a, a female screw portion 6b formed near the opening of the tapered hole 6a, and a radiation source storage hole 6c formed at the bottom of the tapered hole 6a for loading the radiation source X. Also,
The cap 6B has a male screw portion 6d for screwing into the female screw portion 6b, and the radiation source X loaded in the radiation source storage hole 6c.
Has a radiation source pressing portion 6e for restraining the movement of the above, and an operation portion 6g such as a cross hole for performing a rotating operation by an automatic screwing machine or the like. A rolled guide portion 6f is formed at a corner between the storage container body 6A and the cap 6B.

In the non-destructive inspection apparatus having the above-described structure, the photosensitive material F is attached to the surface of the inspection target portion of the inspection object T by adhering it or facing it in the vicinity thereof. Radiation irradiation is performed by arranging the feeding tube 4 and the stopper 5 at positions opposite to the photosensitive material F and pneumatically feeding the radiation source X.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the radiation source X is loaded into the radiation source storage hole 6c of the storage container body 6A, and the cap 6B is screwed to be stored inside the pneumatic capsule 6. As shown by a broken line in FIG. 1, the encapsulated one is a communication hole 3e of the casing 3a in the radiation source shield 3.
And the shutter hole 3g in the rotary shutter 3c is opened, and the communication hole 3e and the pneumatic tube 4 are connected, and the flow path control means 2 is operated.

Control valves 2c, 2d in the flow path control means 2
Is closed and the control valves 2a and 2b are opened, the pressurized gas from the pressurized gas generating means 1 communicates with the casing 3a in the radiation source shield 3 as indicated by the solid arrow in FIG. The air feeding capsule 6 loaded into the hole 3e and loaded in the communication hole 3e is fed via the air feeding tube 4 to the stopper 5 in the vicinity of the object T to be inspected.

Even if the pneumatic capsule 6 comes into contact with the stopper 5, the pressurized gas is continuously supplied from the pressurized gas generating means 1, so that the pneumatic capsule 6 is stopped while being pressed against the stopper 5. The inspection target position is set. At this time, the pressurized gas passes from the vent hole 5a of the stopper 5 to the air feeding pipe 4, the shutter hole 3h and the communication hole 3f of the radiation source shield 3, the control valve 2b of the flow path control means 2,
The pressure is released from the pressure relief device 2e to the outside of the conduit of the pneumatic tube 4.

When radiation is applied from the radiation source X inside the pneumatic capsule 6 at the inspection target position, the radiation having passed through the inspection object T causes the photosensitive material F to pass through the inspection object T according to the transmission state of the inspection object T. It will be exposed to light. After the radiation irradiation is performed for a required time, the radiation source X is collected by air feeding in the opposite direction and the radiation irradiation is stopped.

The work of collecting the radiation source X is performed as follows. Control valves 2a, 2 in the flow path control means 2
When b is closed and the control valves 2c and 2d are opened, as shown by the broken line arrow in FIG.
The air-supply capsule 6 that has been sent to the inside of the air supply tube 4 through the communication hole 3f and the shutter hole 3h in the radiation source shield 3 and supported by the stopper 5 passes through the air supply tube 4 and the radiation source shield. It is sent back to the stopper 5 inside 3. After collecting the radiation source X, the respective control valves 2a, 2 in the flow path control means 2
By closing all b, 2c, and 2d, the air-carrying capsule 6 is held in the state of being held on the radiation source shield 3.

The pneumatic capsule 6 returned to the communication hole 3e in the radiation source shield 3 rotates the rotary shutter 3c so that the position of the communication hole 3e and the position of the shutter hole 3g are changed as shown in FIG. By shifting 90 ° by 90 °, the shutter hole 3g is closed and kept in the isolated state in the casing 3a, and thereafter, the closed state can be maintained regardless of whether or not the pressurized gas is supplied.

A supplementary explanation of the pneumatic capsule 6 is as follows.
The radiation source X is stored in the radiation source storage hole 6c, and the radiation source holding portion 6
If it is fixed by e, the position of the radiation source X is
The dose is set at the center of the air-transporting capsule 6 regardless of the size of the radiation source X, and the outer diameter of the air-transporting capsule 6 is approximated to the inner diameter of the air-transporting tube 4 to obtain a dose at the time of irradiation at the inspection target position. The settings are accurate. In addition, in the example of FIGS. 4 and 5, since the pneumatic capsule 6 has a cylindrical shape as a whole and the guide portion 6f is formed, the pneumatic capsule 6 does not invert during transfer, and can be smoothly moved to a desired position. It is possible to guide to, and the pneumaticity is secured.

[0023]

According to the nondestructive inspection apparatus of the present invention,
The following effects are obtained. (1) As a non-destructive inspection apparatus by irradiation of radiation, a radiation source shield that accommodates the radiation source, a pneumatic tube that is arranged in the proximity of the object to be inspected, and transfers the radiation source to the inspection target position by pressurized gas, By adopting the configuration provided with the flow path control means for controlling the supply of the pressurized gas, the radiation source can be quickly sent to the inspection target portion in a short time by remote control and the collection can be performed. (2) By combining remote operation and pneumatic transportation, radiation can be shielded sufficiently and the exposure of workers can be reduced. (3) By disposing a stopper that restricts the movement of the radiation source inside the pneumatic tube near the inspection target position, the radiation source can be reliably stopped and the radiation irradiation position can be set accurately. (4) By opening / closing the radiation source in / out of the communication hole of the casing of the radiation source shield and opening / closing the communication hole by the rotary shutter, operability such as isolation and removal of the radiation source can be improved. . (5) The flow control means is connected to both ends of the air feeding pipe, and the flow of the pressurized gas is controlled by a combination of a plurality of control valves, so that the air feeding direction can be set and switched reliably and easily. be able to. (6) By storing the radiation source inside the pneumatic capsule, it is possible to enhance the pneumaticity and accurately set the position at the time of irradiation of radiation.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing a piping system showing an embodiment of a nondestructive inspection device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of a radiation source shield portion in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a front sectional view and a side sectional view of a pipe joint and a stopper portion in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a front sectional view of a pneumatic capsule portion in FIG.

5 is an exploded front sectional view and a left side view of the pneumatic capsule portion shown in FIG. 4. FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 X radiation source T inspected object F photosensitive material (film) 1 pressurized gas generating means (pressurized air supply source) 1a pressurized gas supply tube 2 flow path control means 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d control valve 3 radiation source shielding Body 3a Casing 3c Rotary shutter 3e, 3f Communication hole 3g, 3h Shutter hole 4 Air feeding pipe 4a Pipe joint 4b Vent hole 5 Stopper 5a Vent hole 6 Air feeding capsule 6A Storage container body 6B Cap 6a Tapered hole 6b Female screw part 6c wire Source housing hole 6d Male screw part 6e Radiation source holding part 6f Guide part 6g Operation part 7 Support structure

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A radiation source shield (3) which is connected to a pressurized gas generating means (1) and accommodates a radiation source (X); and a radiation source shield (3) which is connected to the radiation source shield and is placed on an object to be inspected (T). And a pneumatic tube (4) which is arranged in the vicinity of a position opposite to the photosensitive material (F) and which moves the radiation source to the inspection target position by the pressurized gas, and the supply of the pressurized gas which is arranged in the pneumatic tube. Flow path control means (2)
A non-destructive inspection device comprising: 2. A stopper (5) for restraining the movement of the radiation source (X) is arranged inside the pneumatic tube (4) in the vicinity of the inspection target position of the inspection object (T). The nondestructive inspection device according to claim 1. 3. A casing (3a) having communication holes (3e, 3f) connected to a pneumatic tube (4) in a radiation source shield (3), and arranged rotatably with respect to the casing. The non-destructive inspection device according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising: a rotary shutter (3c) that opens and closes the communication hole by the shutter hole (3g, 3h) during a rotating operation. 4. Both ends of the pneumatic tube (4) are connected to a pressurized gas generating means (1) with a flow path control means (2) interposed, and the flow path control means is provided with a plurality of control valves. (2a, 2
The nondestructive inspection device according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the nondestructive inspection device is configured by a combination of (b, 2c, 2d). 5. Radiation source (X) is housed in the inner center of a pneumatic capsule (6) which is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the pneumatic tube (4). 4. The nondestructive inspection device described in 4.