JPH10148617A - Pipeline diagnosing method and device therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To suppress the vibration of a sensor for diagnosis, reduce the friction between an image transmission cord and the wall in a pipe, and to achieve a stable and accurate diagnosis, by sending a diagnosing device into the pipeline by means of an intermittent fluid or a spiral flow fluid. SOLUTION: A compressed air is supplied to an inlet unit 3 via an annular Coanda slit 4, thus generating a Coanda spiral flow. An image transmission code 7 and an image sensor 5 for diagnosis at the tip are inserted into a pipeline while vibration and friction with the inner wall of the pipeline are small due to the Coanda spiral flow fluid flow generated in a flexible hose 2 and the pipeline 1, thus diagnosing the pipeline at a required position. An inclination surface 9 where a diameter is reduced toward a connection part 8 is formed near a Coanda slit 4 of the inlet unit 3. A spiral flow is formed by the inclination surface 9 and an image transmission cord 7 is guided by a negative pressure suction force generated at an introduction port 6.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for diagnosing a pipeline and an apparatus therefor. More specifically, the present invention is applied to pipelines in chemical plants, oil plants, factories, general roads, office buildings, general homes, and the like.
The present invention relates to a new pipe line diagnosis method and a device therefor useful for diagnosing wear, corrosion, perforation, blockage, and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, chemical plants, petroleum plants, factories, general roads, office buildings, general households, and the like have many pipes for transporting substances, such as liquids, gases, solids, and the like. Various things such as powder and further cables and the like are transported or laid by using this pipeline.

[0003] In such pipelines, periodic in-line diagnosis is performed in order to prevent troubles caused by wear, corrosion, perforation, blockage of the pipelines, and damage to the cables. Since it is desirable to do so, various devices and methods have been tried for that purpose. For example, such pipe line diagnosis methods include a method using a self-propelled diagnosis device having a sensor at the tip end for monitoring, a method using a video transmission code and a sensor for monitoring, and a wire or wire. For example, there is known a method in which a diagnosis is performed by forcibly manually pushing the inside of a pipe line by using such a method.

However, in the former method, since it is difficult to reduce the size of a device for diagnosis, there is a limit on the applicable tube diameter, and the diagnosis becomes more difficult as the diameter of the pipe becomes smaller. In addition, although the pipe line diagnosis can be performed relatively easily with the horizontal pipe, there is a problem that the self-propelled operation of the diagnostic device is almost impossible with the vertical pipe or the bend pipe. On the other hand, in the case of the latter diagnostic method, although there is little restriction on the pipe diameter, in the case of a long-distance pipe or a pipe having a bent portion, the friction between the pipe inner wall and the video transmission code causes a problem. The disadvantage is that it is impossible to manually push in the video transmission cord with the sensor at the tip, and even if it is possible to manage the pipework with a short straight pipe, the work will be enormous. is there.

[0005] Regarding the current state of such a pipeline diagnosis method,
A method of supplying compressed air into a pipeline, inserting a diagnostic sensor into the pipeline by the fluid force of the compressed air, and performing pipeline diagnosis is being studied. However, in such a method, the supplied compressed air is very turbulent, and the diagnostic sensor at the end of the video transmission code vibrates,
Collision between the diagnostic sensor and the wall of the pipeline cannot be avoided, even in a straight pipe portion or even a bent portion. For this reason, stable sensing in the pipeline is not only impossible, but sometimes the diagnostic sensor is also damaged.

Further, in such a method,
In order to transport the transmission cord in turbulent flow, the friction between the video transmission cord and the inner wall of the pipe is so large that long-distance transport is not possible. Therefore, it is not a recommended diagnostic method from the viewpoint of energy consumption and safety.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art, and makes use of the features of the method utilizing a fluid flow while suppressing the vibration of a diagnostic sensor. It is an object of the present invention to provide a new pipe line diagnosis method and a device therefor that reduce friction with a wall, enable energy-efficient, stable and accurate sensor ring.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention is a method for diagnosing the inside of a pipeline, wherein a diagnostic device is sent into the pipeline by an intermittent fluid or a spiral flow fluid. Provided is a method for diagnosing a pipeline, wherein the diagnosis is performed in the pipeline. And this invention is
As one aspect thereof, a pipeline is characterized in that a video transmission code having a diagnostic image sensor connected to a tip thereof is sent into a pipeline by a spiral flow fluid flow, and diagnosis in the pipeline is performed by the diagnostic video sensor. Provide a diagnostic method.

The present invention also provides, as an apparatus for the above method, an image section for imaging the inside of a pipe, a transmission section for transmitting the obtained image, a diagnosis section for diagnosing the transmitted image, The control section of each of these sections, and an in-pipe feeding section that feeds the video section into the pipe by intermittent fluid or spiral flow fluid are provided, and the feeding section inserts the video section into the pipe and diagnoses in the pipeline. A pipeline diagnostic device is provided. Then, as a mode, a spiral flow feeding unit, a diagnostic image sensor for projecting the inner wall of the pipeline is connected to the distal end thereof, and a pipeline diagnostic device including a video transmission code for transmitting an image of the diagnostic video sensor. So,
The spiral flow sending unit has an inlet for the compressed fluid, an inlet for the video transmission code, and an inlet for the video transmission code to the pipeline, and a unit for generating a spiral fluid flow by the compressed fluid, and The video transmission code is sent into the pipeline by the spiral flow fluid flow generated by the introduction, the image in the pipeline is detected by the diagnostic video sensor connected to the tip, and this is transmitted by the video transmission code. A pipeline diagnostic device characterized by performing a diagnosis,
In this pipe line diagnostic device, a plurality of angle control rods are connected to a diagnostic image sensor at their distal ends, and the rods are arranged in a video transmission code so as to be movable in the longitudinal direction, respectively. In addition to a pipeline diagnostic device that controls the angle of the video sensor, a pipeline diagnostic device that has a fiber that illuminates the tip of the diagnostic video sensor, and extends around the diagnostic video sensor to the front of it A pipe diagnostic device or the like in which a plurality of support rods are arranged, a lid is attached to the tip of the support rod, and a rotatable twist fitting is attached to the top of the lid, and a parachute is attached to the tip of the twist fitting. provide.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention makes it possible to make a diagnosis within a pipeline by the above-described configuration, and solves the drawbacks of the conventional method. Diagnosis with good images is possible. The target of diagnosis is
Not only the state of the inner wall of the pipe, but also various things such as a residue stagnating in the pipe or a cable laid in the pipe such as a cable are considered.

It is a matter of course that the type and configuration of the sensor and the transmission code are not limited as long as the diagnostic method is based on an image. Sensing by optical means, for example, imaging means, or visualization sensing by ultrasonic B mode may be used. Transmission may be by various means such as an optical fiber, an electric signal cable, or wireless.
For example, as a more specific example, as a video transmission code, a bundle fiber in which many optical fibers are bundled, and as an image sensor for diagnosis, an objective lens is used,
A pipeline diagnostic device in which an objective lens is connected to a bundle fiber via a lens holder is considered.

In the present invention, an intermittent flow or a spiral flow as a fluid flow is used. In this case, the medium may be air, an inert gas, or various other materials. In some cases, it may be a liquid medium. Regarding the spiral flow, the Coanda spiral flow, which the inventor of the present invention has been actively studying for application to various application fields, is considered.

This Coanda spiral flow has a so-called steeper velocity distribution in which the velocity difference and the density difference between the axial flow of the fluid and its surroundings are large, and the flow on the pipe axis is fast and the flow on the outside is slow. Further, for example, the turbulence degree is 0.09, which is less than half the value of 0.2 of the normal turbulence, and has a characteristic that a state different from the normal turbulence is formed. Moreover, there is a characteristic that a unique spiral flow is formed by combining the axial vector and the radial vector.

That is, in the present invention, utilizing the fact that this Coanda spiral flow is a very stable flow with little disturbance, the vibration of the diagnostic sensor and the collision with the inner wall of the pipe are suppressed, and the stable and high precision is achieved. To prevent damage to the sensor ring and the diagnostic sensor. Further, by utilizing the fact that the Coanda spiral flow is a flow converging on the pipe axis in the pipe flow, friction between the video transmission code and the pipe inner wall is reduced. Therefore, efficient diagnosis can be performed with sufficient conveyance capacity even with compressed air having a low supply pressure.

As the device, by arranging means for adjusting the angle of the diagnostic image sensor and illuminating, it is possible to make a diagnosis close to a predetermined target area or a predetermined object.
In addition, since the fluid flow is used, and since the fluid flow is the above-mentioned spiral flow, the restriction due to the pipe diameter is small, and even if the pipe is a small-diameter pipe, over a long distance. Diagnosis is possible.

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described, and embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail.

[0017]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating a diagnostic method of the present invention and a device therefor. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 1, a predetermined pipeline (1) for performing pipeline diagnosis includes:
A feeding unit (3) for generating a Coanda spiral flow as a fluid flow is connected via a flexible hose (2) or the like or without. Compressed air is supplied to the feed unit (3) toward the pipe (1) through the annular Coanda slit (4). In this state, the video transmission code (7) with the diagnostic video sensor (5) attached to the tip is inserted into the inlet (6) of the feeding unit (3).

The image transmission cord (7) and the diagnostic image sensor (5) at the tip thereof are subjected to these vibrations and pipes by the flow of the Coanda spiral flow fluid generated in the flexible hose (2) and the conduit (1). The pipe is inserted into the pipe with very little friction with the inner wall of the road, and the pipe is diagnosed at a required position. As for the feeding unit (3), for example, as shown in FIG. 2, a connection port (8) to a pipe and a video transmission code (7) having a diagnostic video sensor (5) at its tip are introduced. An inclined surface (9) having an annular Coanda slit (4) between itself and the inlet (6), the diameter of which gradually decreases toward the connection port (8) in the vicinity thereof; ), And a structure having a compressed air supply path (11) can be shown as an example.

The angle of the inclined surface (9) is, for example, 5 to 70 °.
Degree. As a result, a spiral flow is formed, and a strong negative pressure suction is generated at the inlet (6). As a result, the video transmission code (7) is guided by the negative pressure suction, and the video transmission code (7) is generated. Is transported in the pipe (1) of FIG. 1 by a Coanda spiral flow. FIG.
Fig. 1 illustrates the configuration of a diagnostic video sensor (5) and a video transmission code (7) that can be used in this pipeline diagnosis method as one embodiment.

In this example, a bundle fiber (20) in which a number of optical fibers are bundled is used as the video transmission code (7). An objective lens (21) constituting the diagnostic image sensor (5) is connected to the tip via a lens holder (22). Using the objective lens (21) on the front end face, an object or a target area in the tube is imaged, and the optical information on the end face is transmitted to the rear end face of the bundle fiber (20), and the eyepiece on the rear end face View the image using a lens.

If a CCD camera is used on the rear end face of the bundle fiber (20), information reflected on the objective lens (21) on the front end face can be viewed as a television image. In the present invention, the angle of the diagnostic image sensor (5) can be controlled using an angle control rod so that the state in the pipeline can be observed from any angle.

FIG. 4 shows an example in which an angle control rod is attached to the image transmission code (7). In order to control the angle of the diagnostic image sensor (5), for example, three angle control rods ( 23) with the bundle fiber (2
The fixing cover (24) is fixed to the outer periphery of a part of the bundle fiber by arranging them so as to be located at the vertices of an equilateral triangle in the cross section of (0). At this time, the angle control rod can be movable in the longitudinal direction.

As shown in FIG. 4, the angle control rod (2
By applying different tensile stresses and compressive stresses to the three rods (a), (b) and (c) of 3) from the rear end face of the bundle fiber (20), the angle of the objective lens (21) can be adjusted. Control becomes possible. That is, for example, a tensile stress is applied to the angle control rod of (a),
When compressive stress is applied to the angle control rods of (b) and (c), the objective lens (21) bends in the direction: d in the drawing with the fixed cover (24) as a fulcrum.

When the inside of the duct is dark, the tip of the objective lens (21) may be illuminated using a fiber for illuminating the tip of the objective lens (21). FIG. 5 shows an example of this, in which three support rods (26)
Is fixed at a position that forms an inverted triangle with respect to the angle control rod (23), and the distal end illumination fiber (25) is disposed at a position above the objective lens (21). The distal end illumination fiber (25) irradiates light in front of the objective lens (21).

At this time, the support rod (26) and the distal end illumination fiber (25) may be fixed to the bundle fiber (23) using the hood (27). In addition, a parachute is attached in front of the diagnostic image sensor (5) to increase the drag from the spiral flow so that the diagnostic image sensor (5) can travel efficiently with a smaller supply air flow rate. it can.

FIG. 6 shows an example. A conical lid (31) is attached to the tip of the support rod (26), a twisting fitting (28) is attached to the top of the lid (31), and a parachute (29) is attached to the tip.
When transported by conventional turbulence, the parachute (29) at the tip pulsates due to a very large fluctuation speed, and the diagnostic image sensor (5) vibrates under the influence of the pulsation. When the diagnostic image sensor (5) is transported, the pulsation of the shaft speed is very small, so that a stable dynamic pressure can be applied to the parachute (29). This greatly suppresses the vibration of the diagnostic image sensor, and enables highly accurate sensor ring.

Of course, since the spiral flow is a swirling flow, a turning force is applied to the parachute in a fixed direction.
8) is desirably attached, and this twist metal fitting (2)
According to 8), the parachute can have a degree of freedom in the turning direction without entanglement of the string (30).

[0028]

According to the present invention, a more stable and highly accurate in-pipe diagnosis can be performed. In particular, by feeding by a spiral flow having a very stable flow with little disturbance, vibration of the diagnostic image sensor and collision with the inner wall of the pipe are suppressed, and stable and high-precision sensor ring is enabled.

Furthermore, the spiral flow of the present invention as a fluid flow converging on the pipe axis in the pipe flow,
The friction between the video transmission cord and the inner wall of the pipe is reduced, and therefore, there is a sufficient transfer capacity even with compressed air having a low supply pressure, and stable and efficient diagnosis can be performed from the viewpoint of energy consumption and the like.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the method of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a feeding unit for purifying a Coanda spiral flow.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a main part showing an embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a main part showing an embodiment of the device of the present invention having an angle control rod.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a main part showing an embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention having tip irradiation.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a main part showing an embodiment of the device of the present invention having a parachute.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Pipeline 2 Flexible hose 3 Sending unit 4 Coanda slit 5 Diagnostic image sensor 6 Inlet 7 Image transmission code 8 Connection 9 Slope 10 Distribution room 11 Compressed air supply path 20 Bundle fiber 21 Objective lens 22 Lens holder 23 Angle Control rod 24 Fixed cover 25 Tip illumination fiber 26 Support rod 27 Hood 28 Twist fitting 29 Parachute 30 String 31 Lid

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Shigeyuki Tsurumi 3-19-2 Nishi Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo Japan Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (72) Inventor Yukio Shimo 3-192-1, Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo No. Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (72) Yoshiichi Ishii 1-3-1 Gotenyama, Musashino City, Tokyo NTT Advanced Technology Corporation (72) Inventor Masahiro Seki Gotenyama, Musashino City, Tokyo 1-3-1 NTT Advanced Technology Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Kiyoyuki Horii 5-8-15-501 Kameguro 5-chome, Meguro-ku, Tokyo

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A method of diagnosing an inside of a pipeline, wherein a diagnostic device is sent into the pipeline by an intermittent fluid or a spiral flow fluid to diagnose the interior of the pipeline. 2. A pipeline diagnosis, wherein an image transmission code having a diagnostic image sensor connected to a tip thereof is sent into a pipeline by a spiral flow fluid flow, and the diagnosis in the pipeline is performed by the diagnostic video sensor. Method. 3. A video section for visualizing the inside of a pipeline, a transmission section for transmitting the obtained video, a diagnosis section for diagnosing the transmitted video, a control section for each of these sections, and an intermittent video section. A pipeline diagnostic device, comprising: an in-pipe delivery unit that sends a fluid or a spiral flow fluid into a pipe, wherein the in-pipe is inserted into the pipe and diagnosed in the pipeline by the delivery unit. 4. A spiral flow feeding unit and a diagnostic image sensor for projecting an inner wall of a pipe are connected to a tip of the unit.
A pipeline flow diagnostic unit comprising a video transmission code for transmitting a video of a diagnostic video sensor, wherein the spiral flow sending unit includes an inlet for a compressed fluid, a video transmission code inlet, and a pipeline for the video transmission code. And a generator for spiral fluid flow generated by the compressed fluid, and the video transmission code is fed into the pipeline by the spiral flow fluid flow generated by the introduction of the compressed fluid, and connected to the end of the pipe. 4. The pipeline diagnosis device according to claim 3, wherein an image in the pipeline is detected by a diagnostic video sensor and transmitted by a video transmission code for diagnosis. 5. A pipeline diagnostic device according to claim 4, wherein a plurality of angle control rods are connected to a diagnostic image sensor at their distal ends, and each of said rods is disposed on an image transmission code so as to be movable in a longitudinal direction. A pipeline diagnostic device that controls the angle of a diagnostic image sensor by moving the rod. 6. The pipeline diagnostic device according to claim 4, further comprising a fiber illuminating a tip of the diagnostic image sensor. 7. The pipeline diagnostic device according to claim 4, wherein a plurality of support rods extending to the front of the diagnostic image sensor are arranged around the diagnostic image sensor, and a lid is provided at a tip of the support rod. This is a pipeline diagnostic device that has a rotatable twisting fitting placed at the top of the lid and a parachute attached to it. 8. The pipeline diagnostic device according to claim 4, wherein the image transmission code is an image fiber in which a number of optical fibers are bundled, the diagnostic image sensor is an objective lens, and the objective lens is a lens holder. Pipeline diagnostic device connected to the video fiber via