JPH11258217A - Ultrasonic flaw detecting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ultrasonic flaw detecting device capable of displaying a B-scope image in a simple constitution. SOLUTION: As moving an ultrasonic probe 36 along the surface of a body to be inspected. ultrasonic waves are periodically transmitted to the body. The reflected echoes are received and detected to create an A-scope image through the use of the obtained waveform data. Further, the A-scope image is combined with the amount of movement of the ultrasonic probe 36 in the direction of movement to create a B-scope image. By this, flaws inside the body are inspected. An ultrasonic flaw detecting device is provided with a moved distance measuring device formed of a winding-up wire 52 and an encoder 53 to measure the amount of movement of the wire 52. The wire 52 is connected to the ultrasonic probe 36, and the amount of movement of the ultrasonic probe 53 is measured by the moved distance measuring device and is transmitted to a computation processing part. By this, the B-scope image is created and displayed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an ultrasonic flaw detector, and more particularly to an ultrasonic flaw detector capable of creating and displaying a B-scope image of a subject with a simple configuration.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An ultrasonic flaw detector is arranged on an ultrasonic probe (hereinafter referred to as "probe") on the surface of a subject, for example.
While moving the probe in a certain direction, the probe periodically transmits a pulsed ultrasonic wave to the subject, receives and detects an ultrasonic echo returned from the subject, and converts the echo waveform into digital data. Is stored in the waveform memory. According to the ultrasonic flaw detector, by reading out the data stored in the waveform memory at an appropriate timing, it is possible to display a waveform such as a defect echo on the screen of the display unit and display an A-scope image. Further, it is possible to display the B scope image on the screen of the display unit by combining the A scope and the moving distance of the probe.

[0003] Conventional ultrasonic flaw detectors for creating and displaying B-scope images are mainly installation-type devices. The stationary ultrasonic flaw detector is configured to move a probe supported by a moving mechanism with respect to an object placed on a sample table of the apparatus main body, and the moving mechanism includes a measuring device for measuring a moving amount of the probe. It is attached. When creating a B-scope image, movement amount data obtained by the measuring instrument is used.

[0004]

When the ultrasonic flaw detector is a portable device, the probe is a hand-held type used by the inspector by hand, and the inspector is required to carry out the measurement of the subject to be measured. It was configured to move the probe by applying it to the surface to create an A-scope image. On the other hand, in the conventional portable ultrasonic flaw detector, the moving amount of the probe could not be obtained structurally, so that the B scope image could not be created and displayed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problem.
It is to provide an ultrasonic flaw detector capable of performing display.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, an ultrasonic flaw detector according to the first aspect of the present invention (corresponding to claim 1) includes an ultrasonic probe along an object surface. While moving, the ultrasonic probe periodically transmits pulsed ultrasonic waves to the subject, receives and detects reflected echoes returned from the subject, and uses the obtained waveform data to generate an A-scope image. A B-scope image is created by combining the A-scope image with the moving distance in the moving direction of the ultrasonic probe, and the wound inside the subject is inspected. Equipped with a moving distance measuring device consisting of an encoder that measures the moving amount of the wire member by pulling out operation, connecting the tip of the drawing wire member to the ultrasonic probe, and measuring the moving distance of the ultrasonic probe with the moving distance measuring device Configured to transmit to the processing unit Te.

[0007] The ultrasonic flaw detector according to the present invention includes a simple moving distance measuring device, and the moving distance of the ultrasonic probe can be measured by the moving distance measuring device. The moving distance measuring device includes a retractable lead wire member and an encoder, and is made with a simple configuration. Simply by connecting the tip of the lead wire member to the ultrasonic probe, data on the moving distance of the ultrasonic probe can be obtained. Using this moving distance, a B scope image can be created and displayed.

An ultrasonic flaw detector according to a second aspect of the present invention (corresponding to claim 2) is preferably a portable ultrasonic flaw detector in the configuration of the first aspect of the invention, and the ultrasonic probe is held by an inspector. It is characterized by being used. The moving distance measuring device having the simple configuration described above exerts the maximum effect when applied to a portable device, and can display a B-scope image even with such a portable ultrasonic flaw detector. .

[0009]

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is an external view of an ultrasonic flaw detector according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a front view of the ultrasonic flaw detector having a display unit and an operation surface. Although the ultrasonic flaw detector of the present embodiment is essentially a portable device, FIG. 1 shows use in an installed state. In these drawings, an ultrasonic flaw detector 10 includes an apparatus main body 11 for performing inspection using ultrasonic waves, and an apparatus main body 11.
And a supporting housing 12 for attaching and holding the same.

The support housing 12 is formed in a box shape using, for example, a metal plate, and has a strength necessary to support the apparatus main body 11. The support housing 12 is provided on the front side of the apparatus main body 11.
It has an opening for attaching. A rotatable handle 13 is provided between both side walls of the support housing 12 at a position near the opening. The handle 13 functions as a support when used in an installation type.

A display section 21 made of liquid crystal is provided on a front portion of the apparatus main body 11. For example, a TFT is used as the liquid crystal of the display unit 21, and is preferably formed in a horizontally long shape to form a large color screen. The display unit 21 displays an echo waveform and the like obtained by the measurement. Around the display unit 21, a plurality of various operation keys 22 used for measurement,
A power switch 23, a buzzer 24, an LED 25, an input terminal 26, an output terminal 27, and the like are provided. Device body 1
At the top of 1 is a hook 2 for attaching a portable band
8 are provided at two places on both sides.

A main board is built in the apparatus main body 11, and an electric circuit section for performing various control processing and signal processing for the purpose of performing ultrasonic measurement is provided on the main board. . FIG. 3 shows a system configuration of the electric circuit unit 30. The electric circuit unit 30 controls transmission and reception of ultrasonic waves, calculates and processes measurement data, and displays
MPU 31 for controlling the display contents of. An input / output control circuit 32 is provided between the MPU 31 and the input unit and the output unit. I / O control circuit 32
Controls an input unit or an output unit in response to a command from the MPU 31. The input unit includes a key switch 33.
The key switches 33 correspond to the various operation keys 22 described above, and are actually provided with a plurality of key switches. The output unit includes, for example, the pulsar 34, the receiver 35, and the LED 25 and the buzzer 24 described above.

The ultrasonic wave output signal output from the input / output control circuit 32 is supplied to a pulser 34, which outputs a pulse signal to an ultrasonic probe (hereinafter referred to as a probe) 36. The probe 36 includes a piezoelectric element, and converts a pulse signal into an ultrasonic wave 37 by a piezoelectric conversion operation. The ultrasonic wave 37
Is transmitted inside the subject 38. If there is a defect inside the subject 38, a reflected ultrasonic wave, that is, a defect echo is generated, returned to the probe 36, and received. The defective echo is converted by the probe 36 into an electrical echo signal.
This echo signal is supplied to the receiver 35. The receiver 35 receives a control signal from the input / output control circuit 32 and sets a gain and the like. The echo signal (waveform signal) captured by the receiver 35 is converted from an analog signal to a digital signal by the A / D converter 39 and stored in the waveform memory 40.

Various operation signals input through a plurality of key switches 33 in response to operation of the operation keys are input to an input / output control circuit 32. Various commands related to measurement are input to the MPU 31 via the input / output control circuit 32 by ON / OFF operations of various key switches 33. Examples of the instruction content from the plurality of key switches 33 include gain setting, pulse and gate positions, gate width, waveform enlargement, and the like. Also, the input / output control circuit 32
The buzzer 24 is driven to provide a necessary message to the measurement operator (examiner).

MPU 3 for calculating and processing measured data
1, the timing memory 41, the ROM 42, the RAM 43, and the display controller 44 are connected via a bus 45. The timing circuit 41 adjusts the timing of the output operation of the pulser 34, the conversion operation of the A / D converter 39, and the storage operation of the waveform memory 40. The ROM 42 stores programs for forming various functional units in the MPU 31. In the present embodiment, the ROM 42 stores a program 42a for forming a calculation unit (such as calculation of the depth of a defect), a waveform display unit program 42b, an A-scope image creation program 42c, a B-scope image creation program 42d, and the like. . The MPU 31 reads out a program stored in the ROM 42 and implements necessary functional units. MPU
31 executes the program 42b and executes the display unit 2
1, a waveform display section is formed, and the measured waveform data stored in the waveform memory 40 is processed by executing the programs 42a and 42c to create image signals and control signals.
Display controller 44 while temporarily storing data in
Send to The display controller 44 controls the image content of the display 21 based on an image signal or the like, that is, a signal for displaying an image. Thus, the A-scope image is displayed on the display unit 21. By executing the program 42d, a B-scope image is displayed on the display unit 21 in the same manner.
The display unit 21 is a liquid crystal display unit.

Next, a description will be given of a measuring instrument for obtaining probe moving distance information essential for creating and displaying a B-scope image.
As shown in FIG. 1, the ultrasonic flaw detector 10 includes an encoder 5
1 is attached. The encoder 51 includes a wire (lead wire member) 52 having a winding structure. The wire 52 is normally in a winding state, and when the wire 52 is pulled out, the encoder 51 outputs a pulse corresponding to the amount of the wire 52 pulled out. Therefore, by counting the number of pulses output from the encoder 51, it is possible to measure the amount of withdrawal of the wire 52.

The output line 53 of the encoder 51 is connected to a connection terminal of a sub-board 54 (shown in FIG. 3) provided inside the support housing 12. The sub-substrate 54 is provided near the side wall of the support housing 12, and can be connected to the connection terminals of the sub-substrate 54 by opening the lid 55 formed on the side wall. As shown in FIG. 3, the sub board 54 is connected to the MPU 31 via the input / output control circuit 32. The MPU 31 has a counting function, counts the number of pulses provided from the encoder 51, and obtains information on the amount of wire to be pulled out.

On the other hand, the distal end of the wire 52 is connected to the probe 36 as shown in FIGS.
The probe 36 is connected to the input terminal 26 on the front part of the apparatus main body 11 via the cable 56, and is in a state where a scanning operation (scanning operation) for flaw detection can be performed on the subject.

In the above configuration, as shown in FIG. 4, when the measurement operator grips the probe 36 and performs a scanning operation on the subject 38, information inside the subject 38 is obtained by the reflected echo of the ultrasonic wave. In addition, since the wire 52 is pulled out in accordance with the operation amount of the probe 36 in conjunction with the operation of the probe 36, the encoder 51 outputs a pulse in accordance with the movement amount of the probe 36 as described above, and the MPU 31 side The moving distance of the probe 36 can be measured.

According to the above configuration, the ultrasonic flaw detector 10
Can display an A-scope image as shown in FIG. 5 based on the echo signal from the subject 38 obtained by the ultrasonic probe 36. Further, since the moving distance of the probe 36 during the scanning operation can be obtained by the function of the encoder 51 having the winding type structure, by combining the moving distance and the A-scope image data, as shown in FIG. A B-scope image can be created and displayed. In FIG. 6, 61 indicates the surface of the subject, 62 indicates a scratch inside the subject, and 63 indicates the bottom surface of the subject. As described above, the encoder 51 having the winding type structure
By using this, it is possible to easily display the B scove image, and thereby it is possible to effectively check the internal state of the subject, measure the length of the wound and measure the thickness reduction, and the like.

In the above embodiment, an example in which a B scope image is displayed simply by applying the present invention to a portable ultrasonic flaw detector has been described. However, a moving distance measuring instrument using the encoder can be replaced with another type of ultrasonic flaw detector. Of course, it can be applied to

[0023]

As apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, a moving distance measuring device is realized by using an encoder having a winding type structure, and the moving distance measuring device is attached to an ultrasonic flaw detector. With this configuration, a B scope image can be displayed with a simple configuration in an ultrasonic flaw detector, which is effective for checking the internal state and measuring the length of a flaw.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view showing an embodiment of an ultrasonic flaw detector according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of an apparatus main body of the ultrasonic flaw detector.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of the ultrasonic flaw detector.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a state in which a subject is scanned by an ultrasonic probe.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of an A-scope image.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a B scope image.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Ultrasonic flaw detector 11 Device main body 12 Support housing 21 Display part 36 Ultrasonic probe 51 Encoder 52 Wire 53 Output line

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Shigeru Miwa 650 Kandamachi, Tsuchiura City, Ibaraki Prefecture Within Hitachi Construction Machinery Engineering Co., Ltd. Engineering Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Takenori Hiroki 650, Kandamachi, Tsuchiura-shi, Ibaraki Hitachi Construction Machinery Engineering Co., Ltd. (72) Tetsuo Taguchi 5-2-2, Omika-cho, Hitachi City, Ibaraki Prefecture Hitachi, Ltd. Hitachi factory

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A reflected echo that periodically transmits a pulsed ultrasonic wave from the ultrasonic probe to the subject while moving the ultrasonic probe along the surface of the subject, and returns from the subject. Is received and detected, an A-scope image is created using the obtained waveform data, and
An ultrasonic flaw detector for creating a B-scope image by combining a scope image with a moving distance in a moving direction of the ultrasonic probe and inspecting a flaw inside the subject, a retractable lead line member and the lead line A moving distance measuring device comprising an encoder for measuring a moving amount of the member by a pull-out operation, connecting a tip of the lead wire member to the ultrasonic probe, and measuring the moving distance of the ultrasonic probe to the moving distance An ultrasonic flaw detector characterized in that it is measured by a detector and transmitted to an arithmetic processing unit. 2. The ultrasonic flaw detector according to claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic flaw detector is a portable ultrasonic flaw detector, and the ultrasonic probe is used by being gripped by an inspector.