JPS5975149A - Ultrasonic flaw detector - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To perform efficiently a scan on a sample to be inspected by arraying plural ultrasonic wave probes in the main scanning direction of an ultrasonic wave probe means. CONSTITUTION:A container 13 filled with an ultrasonic wave medium 14 is provided to a probe base 2 which moves the sample 15 to be inspected in a main and a subscanning direction. The lower part of the container 13 is opened and the medium 14 contacts the surface of the sample. Many ultrasonic flaw detecting elements 16 arrayed linearly or zigzag are set in the medium 14 to obtain information on the thickness of the sample by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves. The array direction of the ultrasonic flaw detecting elements 16 coincides with the main scanning direction of the probe base 2 and the scanning width is as wide as the array width of the ultrasonic probes, so the movement pitch in the main scanning direction is increased.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an ultrasonic flaw detection device, and more specifically, to a device for more efficiently scanning an ultrasonic probe in ultrasonic flaw detection.

Recently, ultrasonic flaw detection has become popular for inspecting corrosion of petroleum storage tanks, cracks in welded parts, etc., and various methods are being tried to prevent the loss of resources due to leakage or to improve safety.

However, in most conventional methods, a single probe is applied to each inspection point, which places a heavy burden on inspectors as inspections are often conducted in adverse environments. Furthermore, because the testing time required was enormous, only a sampling method could be used.

The purpose of the present invention is to meet these social needs.
By automatically scanning the entire surface of a component in a fixed plane with multiple probes, which are the key to ultrasonic flaw detection, inspection speed can be increased from spot inspection to area inspection, and further inspection can be performed. It is an object of the present invention to provide an ultrasonic flaw detection device that eliminates omissions, ensures completeness of inspection, and reduces the burden on inspectors.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained using the accompanying drawings. 1st
In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a side plate, and a screw thread 3.4 for moving the probe table 2 in the Y direction is rotatably provided in the side plate 1.

Reference numeral 5 denotes a motor fixed to the side plate 1, which is directly connected to the screw thread 3 and also connected to the thread thread 4 via a pulley 7. This motor 5 operates intermittently to move the probe table 2 in the Y direction at a constant pitch. 8 is a Y-direction mover attached to Nejibayashi 3.4 in a non-rotatable manner.
is sent in the Y direction by the rotation of . 9 is a screw thread fixed to the Y-direction mover 8, and is rotated by a motor 10 fixed to the Y-direction mover 8.

This motor 10 is also operated periodically at a constant pitch.

Reference numeral 11 denotes an X-direction mover that is non-rotatably attached to the screw forest 9 and is moved in the X-direction by the rotation of the threaded rod 9. Since this mover 11 is connected to the Y-direction mover 8 via the screw thread 9, it naturally moves in the Y-direction as well by the movement of the Y-direction mover 8. The operation of the motors 5 and 10 is controlled so that the probe stand 2 is fixed to the X-direction mover 11 and moves as shown by the arrow.

Details of this probe stand 2 are shown in FIG.

Reference numeral 12 in FIG. 2 denotes wheels for facilitating the movement of the probe table 2 as the mover 11 moves. 13 is a container filled with an ultrasonic medium, for example water 14. The lower part of this container is open, so that the water 14 is in contact with the surface 15 of the subject. Further, although this container moves integrally with the probe table in the X and Y directions, it can move independently in the two downward directions, that is, in the direction of the subject 15. Reference numeral 16 denotes a large number of ultrasonic probes arranged in a linear or staggered manner. This array of ultrasound probes is located in the water 14 and emits and receives ultrasound waves to obtain information regarding the thickness of the object. FIG. 3 shows an example of ultrasonic probes arranged in a staggered manner. The row direction of this ultrasonic probe row is X in Figure 1.
consistent with the direction. Therefore, when the probe stand 2 moves in the X direction, a scan width in the Y direction equal to the row width of the ultrasonic probe array is obtained. Therefore, the moving pitch of the probe stand 2 in the Y direction can be approximately equal to the width of the row of ultrasonic probes. Therefore, it is possible to scan in the Y direction at a coarser pitch than with a single ultrasonic probe.

Although one embodiment has been described above, the following configuration is also possible in order to achieve the object of the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows one arrangement in which the scanning range in the X direction is made variable, and the side plates 20 are fixed with magnets 21 so that the step movement screws 3.4 are approximately parallel to each other. . The step movement motor 5 rotates almost synchronously to move the probe table 2 in steps in the Y direction.

The scanning movement in the X direction is carried out by moving the guide shaft 22 to the probe table 2 through a sliding member "A" whose one end is rotatably attached, and a chain fixing member 24 fixed on the member.
Motor 1 for scanning movement moves chain 25 with both ends fixed to
This is done via a sprocket 24 for transmitting zero power.

In the present invention, these drive systems are not limited to screws and chains, but methods that drive the wheels of the probe table, methods that use rack and pinion gears, methods that wind wires, etc. are applicable, and In the case of motor scanning movement, it can be placed on a conveyance frame, and in the case of step movement, it can be placed on a female screw member.

As a couplant holding container, in addition to the method of pressing a blade-shaped object made of an elastic material as shown in FIG. 2, as shown in FIG. Wheels 28 and axles 29 may be arranged to position the frame portion at a height that provides some degree of deformation when the wheels 27 are attached.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 6, a mechanism may be used in which a rotatable roller 31 made of an elastic material is fixed to the frame part 30 by an axle 32.

In addition to using a plurality of independent probes, it is also possible to use a so-called array type probe in which a large number of strip-shaped probes are arranged.

As explained above, since flaw detection is performed by scanning a group of probes arranged in a horizontal line, the flaw detection speed is increased several times compared to the conventional flaw detection per point. In addition, since the range set by the device is mechanically and precisely scanned, it is possible to prevent flaw detection from being omitted.

Further, although the ultrasonic flaw detection signals were not described in detail here, as a general trend, a medium, particularly water, was used between the probe employed here and the object to be inspected. The so-called water immersion method improves the propagation of ultrasonic waves between the object and the object, and there is no resistance such as bumps between the objects, making high-speed scanning possible.

As a result, the inspection time can be reduced to about 1/20, and there is no need to manually press the probe and the wheel to be tested, allowing work to be done in harsh working environments such as tank bottom plates. This reduces the mental and physical burden on people and improves testing efficiency and quality.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the ultrasonic flaw detection apparatus of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram explaining the probe stand of FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the row of probes of FIG. The figure shows another embodiment of the present invention,
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a container with a different configuration from the container in FIG. 1, and FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a container with a still different configuration. Applicant Chubu Electric Power Co., Inc. Canon Holosonics Co., Ltd.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] (1) The ultrasonic probe is moved relative to the object to be inspected along the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction to area-scan the object to be inspected; In an ultrasonic flaw detection device for detecting flaws on an object, the ultrasonic probe means is composed of a plurality of ultrasonic probes, and the plurality of ultrasonic probes are arranged along the main scanning direction. and a movement pitch in the main scanning direction is approximately equal to a magnitude in the main scanning direction of irradiation by the plurality of ultrasonic probes. (2. The ultrasonic flaw detection device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of ultrasonic probes are arranged in a linear or staggered manner. ( 3) In the ultrasonic flaw detection device according to claim 1, the plurality of ultrasonic flaw detectors are in contact with a medium in an ultrasonic medium holding container whose lower surface is in contact with the surface of the test object. (4) In the ultrasonic flaw detection device according to claim 3, the ultrasonic medium holding container is located in the main and sub-scanning directions of the ultrasonic flaw detector. An ultrasonic flaw detection device that moves as one unit and moves as a separate unit toward the surface of an object to be inspected.