JPS61288153A - Aligning device for probe - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To pass a probe on the internal surface of a small-diameter tube which has a curvature part and a different-diameter part and to align the probe through remote operation by coupling the probe with front and a rear alignment part rotatably by springs and aligning the alignment part by performing external positive/negative pressure switching. CONSTITUTION:A device consists of the alignment parts 17 and 27 which performs alignment by cylinders 11 and 21 driven by supplying external air pressure and the probe 31 coupled therewith rotatably by the springs 10 and 20. Then, the springs 10 and 20 move in the tube with a hydraulic flow while displacing the springs 10 and 20 according to the state of curvature, etc., of the tube. When positive air pressure is supplied to the tube 41 from outside so as to align the probe 31, the cylinders 11 and 21 of the alignment parts 17 and 27 operate at the same time to press alignment bars 15 and 25 against the internal surface of the tube. Further, when the probe is passed through a small-diameter part 8, the alignment parts 17 and 27 shrink and when alignment is performed by a large-diameter part 9 and inspection is performed, the alignment parts 17 and 27 are expanded to align the probe 31 are expanded to align the probe 31.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Field of Application of the Invention] The present invention relates to an apparatus for inspecting thin tubes such as heat exchanger tubes, and in particular, an ultrasonic probe that can follow the inner surface of a thin tube with curves and different diameter parts. This invention relates to an alignment device suitable for inspections such as the following.

[Background of the invention]

The conventional device has a mechanism in which the centering lever is driven by a spring, as described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 59-143955. However, since the spring's expansion and contraction forces change depending on the operating stroke, if the difference in level between the different diameter parts becomes large, the reaction force when passing through the small diameter part becomes large, and there may be cases where the spring cannot run due to high frictional resistance. This tendency is particularly noticeable in small curvature parts, and this point has not been taken into account. In addition, those related to this type of device are disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 49-2
9692, etc.

[Purpose of the invention]

An object of the present invention is to provide a device that can pass through the inner surface of a small-diameter tube that has a curved portion or a different diameter portion, and that can remotely align a probe portion.

[Summary of the invention]

The front and rear alignment parts of the probe part are rotatably connected by a spring, and the four core parts are aligned by the operation of an air cylinder by switching between positive and negative pressure from the outside. When passing through a small diameter part and a curved part, the entire air cylinder is made to have full pressure and is contracted in the entire circumferential direction of the link of the alignment part to reduce the outer diameter. In addition, in the case of a large-diameter portion, the middle probe portion can be aligned by applying pressure to the air cylinder to extend the links of both alignment portions in the circumferential direction.

[Embodiments of the invention]

An embodiment of the present invention will be explained below with reference to FIG. The object to be inspected is the large diameter section 9, but it is necessary to pass through the small diameter section 8, which includes a curved section. In other words, the different diameter portion 6
It is necessary to expand and contract the alignment device 1 inserted in the circumferential direction of the tube depending on the front and back of the tube.

This device consists of a centering part 17.27, a probe part 31, and a spring 10.20 connecting these parts. In other words, the spring 10.
20 can be deformed and moved within the tube. In this case, this driving force is a hydraulic flow.

When passing through the small diameter section 8, the centering section 17.27 must be in a contracted and small state; when inspecting with alignment at the large diameter section 9, the centering section 17.27i should be extended and probed. Child part 3
Align 1. Examples will be described in detail below.

The centering part f1 inserted into the pipe 8 has two centering parts 17.2.
7 and a probe section 31, which are connected by a flexible spring 10, 20 to allow the curved section 8 to pass through. In this case, the aligning portion 17.27 is configured such that negative air pressure from the outside is guided to the air cylinder 11.21 via the tube 41, so the slider 12.22 contracts in the axial direction and the link connected thereto. Both the levers -14 and 24 and the inner diameter of the small diameter portion 8 contract in the circumferential direction. As a result, the small diameter portion 8 is moved by the force of the hydraulic flow.

Next, the details of the centering portion 17.27 are as shown in FIG. The negative air pressure applied through the tube 41 and the hole 55 causes the slider 12 to contract in the axial direction. Therefore, the angle of the lever 14 becomes smaller due to the distance between the shaft 54 that is integrated with the slider 12 and the shaft 59 that is integrated with the shaft 13, and the lever 14 is in a contracted state in the circumferential direction. In this case, the inside of the air cylinder 11 is kept airtight by the O-rings 19, 56, so that even if water in the small diameter portion 8 enters the inside, air will not leak out to the outside.

Note that the spring 10 for connecting with the probe section is fixed to a pipe 58 at the end of the alignment section 17.

FIG. 3 shows a switching system diagram for the air pressure provided outside the tube. In order to supply positive or negative air pressure to the tube 41 that communicates with the alignment device inside the tube, a positive air pressure generator 49 is used. Each air pressure generated by the negative air pressure generator 48 is adjusted to a predetermined pressure by a pressure regulator 46,47. Next, based on the command signal 45, the solenoid valve 44 sends out one of the air pressures to the tube 41.

FIG. 4 shows a probe alignment device for ultrasonic flaw detection. In the case of flaw detection or plate thickness measurement, keeping the distance between the probe 32 and the tube inner surface, which is the object to be inspected, constant at all times leads to accurate measurements. Therefore, if positive air pressure is supplied from the outside to the tube 41 in order to fully align the probe section 31, the air cylinders 11.21 of the alignment section 17.27 will operate at the same time and the inner surface of the tube 15.25i will be activated. to press. Since the probe part 31 is connected to this alignment part 17.27 via the spring 10.20i, the probe part 31 is aligned with the large diameter part, and the probe part 31 and the tube surface are aligned with each other. You can maintain a constant distance from

In addition, the ultrasonic cable 42 and tube 41 are connected to the shaft 2.
3, 13, spring 10, 20, etc., it is possible to prevent troubles caused by entanglement with the lever 24, etc.

FIG. 5 shows the operating state when positive air pressure is supplied to the alignment part 17, and the air pressure introduced by the tube 41 is supplied into the air cylinder 11 via the hole 55. . As a result, the slider 12 and the shaft 54 move along the shaft 13 until they are stopped by the stopper 51. Therefore, the lever 14 also changes its angle around the hinge 18 depending on the other hinges 53 and 57, and the alignment bar 1
5 against the inner surface of the large diameter portion 9. In this case hinge 57
also moves along the elongated hole 16. Since four sets of the same lever 14 and centering bar 15 are arranged circumferentially, they can be aligned and brought into close contact with the large diameter portion 9. In this case as well, the air pressure supplied to the air cylinder 11 by the O-ring 19° 56 will not leak to the outside.

When moving the large diameter portion 9 again, use the air cylinder 11
By reducing the air pressure to the shaft 13, the slider 12 moves to the shaft 13.
, the angle between both levers 14 becomes smaller and the alignment bar 15 can be brought into a contracted state.

According to this embodiment, there are the following effects.

(1) Alignment and release can be reliably achieved by switching between positive and negative air pressure from the outside.

(2) In order to shorten the length of the pipe in the axial direction, it is divided into parts and connected with springs, so it can pass through curved parts with small diameters.

(3) Since the probe section is aligned with the front and rear alignment sections, reliable alignment can be achieved.

(4) Since the alignment bar is pressed with an air cylinder, the pressing force does not change depending on the stroke.

(5) Since it is a simple mechanism, it can be miniaturized and high reliability can be obtained.

(6) Air pressure is not discharged from the tube or air cylinder, so there is no problem with air bubbles during flaw detection.

(7) Since the tube and cable are passed through the centering part, probe part, and spring, troubles such as cables getting tangled with the drive mechanism can be prevented.

In the embodiment, a method has been described in which the probe is fully aligned using the front and rear alignment parts, but the method is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. Child part 31
can be aligned.

The pin 61 connected to the slider 12 of the air cylinder 11 moves along the elongated hole 62, moves the shaft 63, and the shaft 64 integrated with the probe part 31 is attached to the tapered part 66 at the end of the pipe 58. Insert the tapered portion 67. This allows the alignment section 17 and the probe section 31 to be fixed. That is, the probe section 31 can be aligned by pressing it against the inner surface of the large diameter section 9 using the alignment bar 15 and fixing the probe section 31 to the alignment section 17 .

When passing through a curved part of a small diameter part, in order to allow the alignment part 17 and the probe part 31 to freely rotate and move independently, the pin 61 should be moved by reducing pressure from the entire outside of the slider 12. 61C, the ball 64 of the shaft 63 is also
The shaft 65 is moved away from the pipe 58 and connected to the spring 10 by the ball 64c. As a result, the probe section 31C can move centered around the ball 64ci at the tip of the shaft 63, so it can move along the curvature of the tube, making it possible to further reduce the size.

The arrangement of the alignment part 17 and the probe 31 is not limited to that shown in FIG. 6, and the purpose can be achieved without any problems even if they are arranged in the forward and backward directions.

Although the method of movement within the pipe using hydraulic flow has been described, the method is not limited to this, and other methods of movement such as self-propulsion using a motor can be applied without any problem. Further, sensors other than the ultrasonic probe can be attached.

In the embodiment, a method was explained in which the alignment bar is extended by positive air pressure and contracted by negative air pressure.
There is no problem even if you reverse this and expand and contract. Furthermore, the link expansion/contraction method is not limited, and other link methods may be used depending on the purpose.

You can use cams etc.

〔Effect of the invention〕

According to the present invention, it is possible to completely pass through a small diameter tube having a curved portion, and the probe portion can be reliably aligned and released by remote control.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Figure 1 is a side view showing the state of movement in the pipe, Figure 2 is a side sectional view of the alignment mechanism, Figure 3 is a system diagram of the drive source for alignment operation, and Figure 4 is the side showing the alignment state. 5 is a side sectional view of the alignment mechanism, and FIG. 6 is a side sectional view of the alignment mechanism of another embodiment. 10.20... Spring, 11.21... Air cylinder, 14... Pipe, 17... Aligning part, 27...
...Aligning part, 31...Probe part, 41...Tube, 61...Pin, 63...Shaft, 64...Ball, 65...Shaft.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A cylinder driven by external fluid pressure, an alignment section aligned by the cylinder, and a probe section rotatably connected to at least one alignment section. A probe alignment device comprising: 2. The probe alignment device according to claim 1, wherein the alignment operation and the fixing operation of the alignment section and the probe section are performed simultaneously by a fluid pressure cylinder. 3. The probe alignment device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the alignment portion, the probe portion, and the connecting portion thereof have a hollow structure.