JPS63120250A - Rolling wheel housing type ultrasonic probe mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To automatically turn ultrasonic beam to the contact part of a rolling wheel and a body to be inspected, by mounting an ultrasonic probe to the crank shaft journal supporting the rolling wheel in a freely revolvable manner. CONSTITUTION:The rolling wheel shaft 6 of a crank arm 7 is used as the journal to receive an ultrasonic transmitter-receiver 1 and supports a rolling wheel 3 filled with an ultrasonic wave transmitting medium in a freely revolvable manner. The transmitter-receiver 1 is mounted to the shaft 6 and the direction of ultrasonic beam A always becomes parallel to the arm 7. Therefore, when the arm 7 is turned to the contact part of the rolling wheel 3 and a body 5 to be inspected, the ultrasonic beam is automatically turned to the contact part and can be effectively transmitted even to the body to be inspected having a curved surface.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a mechanism for holding an ultrasonic flaw detection probe, and in particular, an ultrasonic transducer is housed in a rolling wheel,
This article relates to a mechanism of an ultrasonic flaw detection probe that is suitable for performing smooth scanning while maintaining acoustic contact even when the test surface of the test object is a curved surface. [Prior art] Ultrasonic flaw detection probe When scanning the probe along the surface of the object,
It is well known that a system in which the transducer and receiver are housed inside the rolling wheels (tires) is used to ensure smooth running while maintaining acoustic contact, and the technical details of this technology can be found in, for example, US Patent Publication No. 3205702. is also listed. However, in the conventional technology as described above, in order to always direct the transducer toward the contact area between the subject and the rolling wheel, a mechanism is used in which the transducer is supported by a base with a considerable opening. [Problems to be solved by the invention] -J Due to the circumstances mentioned above, the surface of the object to be examined to which this method can be applied is limited to relatively flat cases. It is difficult to apply this to a test object that has an arbitrary curved surface shape. A simple and reliable means for always directing the contact point between the rolling wheel and the object to be examined is desired.

The present invention has been made in response to the above-mentioned demands, and an object of the present invention is to provide a mechanism in which the direction of ultrasound transducer is automatically directed to the contact portion between the rolling wheel and the subject.

[Means for solving problems]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems in the prior art, the present invention provides a mechanism that uses the force of pressing the rolling wheel against the test object to constantly orient the transducer automatically toward the contact area between the rolling wheel and the test object. It is applied to a rolling-wheel storage type sonic probe in which an ultrasonic transmitter/receiver is housed in a hollow rolling wheel and the remaining space is filled with an ultrasonic transmission medium. It is rotatably supported by a journal, and the ultrasonic probe is attached to the journal and transmits and receives ultrasonic waves substantially parallel to the crank arm.

[Function] According to the above configuration, the pointing direction of the ultrasonic transducer is equal to the direction of the crank arm. Therefore, when the crank arm is made perpendicular to the surface of the subject, the pointing direction of the ultrasonic transducer is aligned with the direction of the subject. Stay perpendicular to the surface. the result,
The orientation direction of the transducer is directed toward the contact portion between the rolling wheel and the subject.

〔Example〕

FIG. 1 is a side view showing one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway front view. Reference numeral 1 denotes an ultrasonic transducer which transmits and receives an ultrasonic beam 2. The transducer/receiver element is housed in the rolling wheel 3 and makes the ultrasonic beam 2 enter the subject 5 through the transmission medium 4 filled in the wheel 3 and the tread 31 of the rolling wheel 3. The tread 31 is made of a flexible material such as rubber in order to make smooth acoustic contact with the surface 51 of the object to be examined. A moving scan is performed. At this time, the ultrasonic beam 2 always connects the rolling wheel tread 31 and the object surface 51.
It is necessary to adjust the direction of the transducer 1 so that it passes through the contact part A with the transducer 1.

In the mechanism of the present invention, the transducer/receiver 1 is supported by the shaft 6 of the rolling wheel, and is also connected to the crank arm 7 connected to the shaft 6. It is also assumed that the orientation direction of 1 and the longitudinal direction of 7 are in the same direction. Therefore, rolling wheel 3
When contacting the test object 5, by pressing the crank arm 7 in the normal direction of the test object surface 51, the transducer] is directed toward the contact part A, and the transducer is directed toward the test object 5. A transmission path for the acoustic beam 2 is formed.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show an embodiment different from the above.

Reference numeral 8 denotes an auxiliary wheel provided at the end of the arm 7, and its radius r and arm 7
The sum of the length α and the length α is taken to be equal to the radius R of the rolling wheel.

In this way, by rolling the auxiliary wheel 8 while pressing it against the subject 5, the arm 7 faces the direction of the contact part A.
Therefore, since the transducer J is also directed toward A, the ultrasound beam 2 passes through A and the ultrasound is transmitted to the subject.

4 and 5 show a probe mechanism according to the present invention.

6 roll l! which is a configuration diagram regarding other embodiments! lJ import 3
has a side plate 32 provided with a rim 33, and has a side plate 32 with a rim 33 and a side plate 1. By applying F2 and pressing the rim 33 with the auxiliary wheel 8 and driving the entire body forward (toward the left or right as viewed from the page), the rolling wheel 3 also moves forward, and the probe moves and scans. .

Fig. 7 shows a modified version of the probe mechanism shown in Fig.
Give an example.

The crank arm 7' of this example includes an arm 7a that supports the auxiliary wheel 8, and a sub arm 7b extending in the opposite direction to the arm 7n is integrally connected to the sub arm 71. ) supports the sub-auxiliary wheel 81.

Sub-auxiliary letter 81 above. is supported at a position symmetrical to the auxiliary wheel 8 with respect to the center point G of the rolling wheel 3 and rotates on the rim 33, and is interlocked with the auxiliary wheel m8 via the belt f).

By applying the forward driving force arrow a to a part of the arm 7 by the drive arm]O pivoted to the arm 7g, the auxiliary wheel 8. Arrows in order to bell 1-9 and sub-auxiliary wire 81,
Acting forces C and d act 2, resulting in the rotation of @driving wheel 3 111j
A moment of 0 is given to perform the J motion.

Although the belt 9 is used in this example, the same effect can be obtained by using a mechanism such as a gear instead.

As described above, according to the rotating IJ-axis retractable ultrasonic probe mechanism of the present invention, the direction of the ultrasonic transducer can be changed without using a mechanism having a base surface of a considerable range as in the past. Since the ultrasonic beam is always automatically directed to the contact point between the driving wheel tread and the test object, even if the test object has an arbitrary shape and the detection surface is curved, the ultrasonic beam between the probe and the test object is The effect it brings on the industrial side is extremely inhuman, as ultrasonic flaw detection on curved objects, which was previously considered technically difficult, can be carried out easily and smoothly. .

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 and 2 show one embodiment of the present invention, with FIG. 1 being a side view and FIG. 2 being a partially new front view. FIGS. 3 and 4 are explanatory diagrams of an embodiment different from the above. FIGS. 5 and 6 are explanatory diagrams of further different embodiments. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing an improved example of the above embodiment. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Ultrasonic transducer, 3... Rolling wheel, 5... Subject, 7... Crank arm, 8.81... Auxiliary wheel, 9... Belt, 10... Drive Arm, 1]...
Angle detector, 12... Drive control device, 33... Rolling wheel side plate rim.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In a rolling wheel-housed ultrasonic probe in which an ultrasonic transmitter/receiver is housed in a hollow rolling wheel and the remaining space is filled with an ultrasonic transmission medium, the rolling wheel is connected to a crankshaft. The ultrasonic probe is rotatably supported by a journal, and the ultrasonic probe is attached to the journal and configured to transmit and receive ultrasonic waves substantially parallel to the crank arm. Rolling wheel retractable ultrasonic probe mechanism. 2. The above-mentioned crank arms are provided as a pair, each having an auxiliary wheel attached to its tip, and the two auxiliary wheels and the above-mentioned rolling wheel are arranged so as to be in contact with one surface. A rolling wheel storage type ultrasonic probe mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that: 3. The rolling wheel has a cylindrical rim concentric with the crank journal on its side plate, and an auxiliary wheel is supported at the tip of the crank arm, and the auxiliary wheel rolls into contact with the rim. The rolling wheel storage type ultrasonic probe mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that the ultrasonic probe mechanism is arranged so that the ultrasonic probe mechanism has a rolling wheel storage type. 4. The above-mentioned crank arm has a sub-arm extending in a direction different from the rolling wheels with respect to the crank journal, and a sub-auxiliary wheel is attached to the tip of the sub-arm so that it rolls into contact with the rim, and the auxiliary wheel and sub-auxiliary wheel are connected to each other. The rolling wheel storage type ultrasonic probe mechanism according to claim 3, further comprising means for interlocking the wheels.