US2412174A - Radiographic inspection method - Google Patents

Radiographic inspection method Download PDF

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Publication number
US2412174A
US2412174A US678783A US67878346A US2412174A US 2412174 A US2412174 A US 2412174A US 678783 A US678783 A US 678783A US 67878346 A US67878346 A US 67878346A US 2412174 A US2412174 A US 2412174A
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United States
Prior art keywords
pipe line
weld
temporary opening
tube
pipe
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Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
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US678783A
Inventor
Russell G Rhoades
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
BECHTEL BROTHERS MCCONE Co
BECHTEL BROTHERS MCCONE COMPAN
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BECHTEL BROTHERS MCCONE COMPAN
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Application filed by BECHTEL BROTHERS MCCONE COMPAN filed Critical BECHTEL BROTHERS MCCONE COMPAN
Priority to US678783A priority Critical patent/US2412174A/en
Priority to US713430A priority patent/US2539102A/en
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Publication of US2412174A publication Critical patent/US2412174A/en
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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N23/00—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of wave or particle radiation, e.g. X-rays or neutrons, not covered by groups G01N3/00 – G01N17/00, G01N21/00 or G01N22/00
    • G01N23/02—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of wave or particle radiation, e.g. X-rays or neutrons, not covered by groups G01N3/00 – G01N17/00, G01N21/00 or G01N22/00 by transmitting the radiation through the material
    • G01N23/06—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of wave or particle radiation, e.g. X-rays or neutrons, not covered by groups G01N3/00 – G01N17/00, G01N21/00 or G01N22/00 by transmitting the radiation through the material and measuring the absorption
    • G01N23/18—Investigating the presence of flaws defects or foreign matter
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N23/00—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of wave or particle radiation, e.g. X-rays or neutrons, not covered by groups G01N3/00 – G01N17/00, G01N21/00 or G01N22/00
    • G01N23/02—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of wave or particle radiation, e.g. X-rays or neutrons, not covered by groups G01N3/00 – G01N17/00, G01N21/00 or G01N22/00 by transmitting the radiation through the material
    • G01N23/06—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of wave or particle radiation, e.g. X-rays or neutrons, not covered by groups G01N3/00 – G01N17/00, G01N21/00 or G01N22/00 by transmitting the radiation through the material and measuring the absorption
    • G01N23/083—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of wave or particle radiation, e.g. X-rays or neutrons, not covered by groups G01N3/00 – G01N17/00, G01N21/00 or G01N22/00 by transmitting the radiation through the material and measuring the absorption the radiation being X-rays

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to the radiographic examination of welds and more particularly to an improved method and apparatus for radiographing circumferential welds in pipe lines and the like.
  • radiographic inspection of pipe line welds is effected by introducing through an open end of the line either a film carrier or a radiation emanating means in the form of X-ray apparatus or a capsule of radioactive material, an I interruption of construction work on the pipe line is necessary for each inspection. If, on the other hand, both the source of radiation and the lm are disposed exteriorly of the pipe line, at least two separate exposures are necessary to inspect welds even where the pipe is of small diameter, and methods in which both the film and source of radiation are outside the pipe line are impracticable for other reasons when the pipe is of large diameter.
  • the principal object of my invention is to make possible the radiographic examination of pipe line welds by a single exposure without requiring access to an open end of the line.
  • a further and more specific object of my invention is to provide apparatus facilitating the carrying out of the radiographing method of my invention.
  • Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preferred form of apparatus embodying the present invention; the same being illustratedY iny place on a pipe line; v
  • Figure 2 is a detail'view of a portion of the apparatus illustrated in Figure l;
  • Figure 3 is a detail view illustrating a preferred way of sealing the temporary opening referred to herein.
  • FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawing there is illustrated a portion of a conventional pipe line I0 provided with the usual covering II and constructed in sections yjoined together by circumferential welds such as that illustrated at I2.
  • a radiograph of any circumferential weld I2 in a pipe line I0 which may extend for many miles, can
  • the apparatus comprises an orienting device l5 adapted to rest in stable equilibrium on thev curved upper surface of a cylindrical object such as a pipe line I0.
  • the device I5 is preferably made in the form of a plate having four legs I6 by means of which the device may be firmly and stably supported on the curved surface of a pipe during any period required for a complete radiograph exposure.
  • a carrier I'B Secured to the orienting device I5 is a carrier I'B preferably in the form of a tube secured to the orienting device I5 by welding as indicated at I9.
  • the tube I8 is curved as indicated in Figures 1 and 2 and proportioned so that its lower ⁇ end lies outside of the area which the orienting device I5 overlies when it is disposed in the operating position in which it is shown in Figure 1.
  • a flexible wire 2l the upper end of which is secured to a handle 22 provided with'a hooked portion 23 adapted to engage over the upper end of the tube I8.
  • a spring 24 the lower end of lwhich is in turn connected to a second flexible wire 25 provided with a hook 26 at its lower end.
  • a conventional radium capsule 21 which is preferably employed as the radiation emanating means in the practice of the present invention, although equivalent devices such as X-ray emanating means are, of course, well known in the art.
  • a temporary opening such as that illustrated at 30 in Figure 1 of the accompanying drawing is made in the'wall of the pipe line at such a distance from the plane of the weld I2 as will bring the radium capsule 21 into the general plane of the weld i2 when the jig is positioned as illustrated in Figure l with the tube I8 extending through the temporary opening 30.
  • the tube I8 is so positioned with respect to the orienting device I5 that, when the latter isv in the stable position illustrated, the radium capsule 21 is substantially on the longitudinal axis of the p-ipe line.
  • V a nlm 32 which is preferably placed in position before the tube I8 is inserted through the hole 33 and which overlies all of the weld I2 exteriorly of the pipe line II), will be uniformly exposed and will provide a radiograph of uniform density'showing all portions of the weld I2.
  • the tube I8 is withdrawn from the temporary opening 30 by lifting the orienting device I5 preferably by such means as the hooked handle 33 illustrated in Figure l, and the temporary opening is permanently sealed by means such as a screw plug 44 ( Figure 3) inserted in the opening 30 and welded in place as illustrated at 45.
  • a method of radiographing a circumferential weld in a pipe line access to which from an open end is impracticable comprising ⁇ the steps of ymaking a temporary opening in the wall of said pipe line at a point adjacent said weld, introducing radioactive material through said temporary opening, positioning said radioactive material in the general plane of said weld and substantially on the axis of said pipe line, exposing to the emanation of said radioactive material iilm wrapped around said pipe line exteriorly thereof at said weld, withdrawing said radioactive material through said temporary opening, and sealing said temporary opening.
  • a method of radiographing a circumferential weld in a pipe line access to which from' an open end is impracticable comprising the' steps of making a temporary opening. in the wall of said pipe line at a point spaced a predetermined distance from said weld, utilizing a jig having orienting means engageable withY the exterior wall of said pipe line adjacent ⁇ said temporary opening and v radioactive material positioning means offset with respect yto said orienting means by the aforesaid predetermined distance and extendible through said opening to introduce radioactive material through said temporary opening and position said material in the general plane Vof said weld and substantially on the axis of said pipe line, exposing to the emanation Vof said radioactive material film wrappedr ⁇ around said pipe line exteriorly thereofatL said weld, withdrawing said radioactive material .through Asaid temporary opening, and sealing said temporary opening.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Analytical Chemistry (AREA)
  • Biochemistry (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Immunology (AREA)
  • Pathology (AREA)
  • Analysing Materials By The Use Of Radiation (AREA)
  • Apparatus For Radiation Diagnosis (AREA)

Description

' Dec. 3, 194e.
R. Gl. RHOADES 2,412,174 RADIOGRAPHIC INSPECTION METHO Filed June 24,1946
FIIE E Patented Dec. 3,1946
RADIOGRAPHIC INSPECTION METHOD Russell G. Rhoades, San Francisco, Calif., as-
signor to Bechtel Brothers McCone Company, a corporation of Delaware Application June 24, 1946, Serial No. 678,783
(Cl. Z50-65) 2 Claims.
The present invention relates to the radiographic examination of welds and more particularly to an improved method and apparatus for radiographing circumferential welds in pipe lines and the like.
The radiographic examination of welds in pipe lines presents problems not encountered in the radiographing of welds in pressure Vessels such as boilers which are provided with openings through which either a radiation emanating means or a lm carrier' may be introduced into the interior of the vessel. Pipe lines are laid in lengths of many miles and are devoid of any such (,)peiiiiigs and this has made it necessary to take advantage of theV open end in order to obtain the necessary access to the interior thereof for radiographic weld inspection.
Where radiographic inspection of pipe line welds is effected by introducing through an open end of the line either a film carrier or a radiation emanating means in the form of X-ray apparatus or a capsule of radioactive material, an I interruption of construction work on the pipe line is necessary for each inspection. If, on the other hand, both the source of radiation and the lm are disposed exteriorly of the pipe line, at least two separate exposures are necessary to inspect welds even where the pipe is of small diameter, and methods in which both the film and source of radiation are outside the pipe line are impracticable for other reasons when the pipe is of large diameter.
The principal object of my invention is to make possible the radiographic examination of pipe line welds by a single exposure without requiring access to an open end of the line.
A further and more specific object of my invention is to provide apparatus facilitating the carrying out of the radiographing method of my invention.
The foregoing principal object, together with other objects and advantages which will appear hereinafter, is accomplished, ln general, by making a relatively small temporary opening in the wall of a pipe line adjacent but spaced from a circumferential weld therein, and utilizing said opening to introduce into the interior of thepipe line a source of radiation; so positioning the latter as to insure a clear path for radiation therefrom to the circumferential weld to be radiographed and through said weld to a film held on the exterior of the pipe over the weld. After the necessary exposurel time has elapsed, the radiation source is withdrawn and the temporary opening, which is of only sufficient size to freely admit a holder for the radiation source, is permanently sealed. l
The method and apparatus by which the foregoing objects are attained will be best understood from the following description ofv preferred procedure and apparatus, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preferred form of apparatus embodying the present invention; the same being illustratedY iny place on a pipe line; v
Figure 2 is a detail'view of a portion of the apparatus illustrated in Figure l; and
Figure 3 is a detail view illustrating a preferred way of sealing the temporary opening referred to herein.
In Figure 1 of the accompanying drawing there is illustrated a portion of a conventional pipe line I0 provided with the usual covering II and constructed in sections yjoined together by circumferential welds such as that illustrated at I2.
According to the present invention, a radiograph of any circumferential weld I2 in a pipe line I0, which may extend for many miles, can
be made Without access to an open end of the pipe line. To facilitate the carrying out of the radiographing method of the present invention, there is preferably pro-vided apparatus of the character illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 which comprises an orienting device l5 adapted to rest in stable equilibrium on thev curved upper surface of a cylindrical object such as a pipe line I0. For this purpose the device I5 is preferably made in the form of a plate having four legs I6 by means of which the device may be firmly and stably supported on the curved surface of a pipe during any period required for a complete radiograph exposure.
Secured to the orienting device I5 is a carrier I'B preferably in the form of a tube secured to the orienting device I5 by welding as indicated at I9.
The tube I8 is curved as indicated in Figures 1 and 2 and proportioned so that its lower` end lies outside of the area which the orienting device I5 overlies when it is disposed in the operating position in which it is shown in Figure 1.
When the apparatus is to be used, there is extended through the tube IB an assembly consisting of a flexible wire 2l the upper end of which is secured to a handle 22 provided with'a hooked portion 23 adapted to engage over the upper end of the tube I8. Attached to the lower end of the flexible wire 2I is a spring 24 the lower end of lwhich is in turn connected to a second flexible wire 25 provided with a hook 26 at its lower end. Removably secured to the lower end of the wire 25 by the hook 2B is a conventional radium capsule 21 which is preferably employed as the radiation emanating means in the practice of the present invention, although equivalent devices such as X-ray emanating means are, of course, well known in the art.A
'I'he length ofthe wire and spring assembly 2 I, 24, 25 is so proportioned to the length of the tube I8 that when the radium pill 21 is engaged in the open lower end of the tube I8 as shown, substantial tension must be applied to the spring 24 in order to engage the hook 23- over the open upper end of the tube I8. This spring tension serves to maintain the radium capsule 21 in position at the lower open end of the tube I8.
In carrying out the method of the present invention utilizing the above described apparatus, which is known in the art as a jig, a temporary opening such as that illustrated at 30 in Figure 1 of the accompanying drawing is made in the'wall of the pipe line at such a distance from the plane of the weld I2 as will bring the radium capsule 21 into the general plane of the weld i2 when the jig is positioned as illustrated in Figure l with the tube I8 extending through the temporary opening 30. It is also to be noted that the tube I8 is so positioned with respect to the orienting device I5 that, when the latter isv in the stable position illustrated, the radium capsule 21 is substantially on the longitudinal axis of the p-ipe line. With the device thus positioned,V a nlm 32, which is preferably placed in position before the tube I8 is inserted through the hole 33 and which overlies all of the weld I2 exteriorly of the pipe line II), will be uniformly exposed and will provide a radiograph of uniform density'showing all portions of the weld I2.
After the necessary exposure time, determined in'a manner well known in the art, has elapsed, the tube I8 is withdrawn from the temporary opening 30 by lifting the orienting device I5 preferably by such means as the hooked handle 33 illustrated in Figure l, and the temporary opening is permanently sealed by means such as a screw plug 44 (Figure 3) inserted in the opening 30 and welded in place as illustrated at 45.
What is claimed is:
1. A method of radiographing a circumferential weld in a pipe line access to which from an open end is impracticable, comprising` the steps of ymaking a temporary opening in the wall of said pipe line at a point adjacent said weld, introducing radioactive material through said temporary opening, positioning said radioactive material in the general plane of said weld and substantially on the axis of said pipe line, exposing to the emanation of said radioactive material iilm wrapped around said pipe line exteriorly thereof at said weld, withdrawing said radioactive material through said temporary opening, and sealing said temporary opening.
2. A method of radiographing a circumferential weld in a pipe line access to which from' an open end is impracticable, comprising the' steps of making a temporary opening. in the wall of said pipe line at a point spaced a predetermined distance from said weld, utilizing a jig having orienting means engageable withY the exterior wall of said pipe line adjacent `said temporary opening and v radioactive material positioning means offset with respect yto said orienting means by the aforesaid predetermined distance and extendible through said opening to introduce radioactive material through said temporary opening and position said material in the general plane Vof said weld and substantially on the axis of said pipe line, exposing to the emanation Vof said radioactive material film wrappedr` around said pipe line exteriorly thereofatL said weld, withdrawing said radioactive material .through Asaid temporary opening, and sealing said temporary opening.
' u RUSSELL G. RHOADES.
US678783A 1946-06-24 1946-06-24 Radiographic inspection method Expired - Lifetime US2412174A (en)

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Cited By (18)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2494740A (en) * 1948-05-18 1950-01-17 Cormack E Boucher Film holder
US2532536A (en) * 1948-06-09 1950-12-05 Cormack E Boucher Method and apparatus for locating welds in hollow metal bodies
US2622209A (en) * 1950-04-26 1952-12-16 Crane Co Radiographic inspection device
US2702864A (en) * 1951-04-04 1955-02-22 Texaco Development Corp Measuring device
US2719926A (en) * 1952-08-15 1955-10-04 Isotope Products Ltd Method and apparatus for radiographic examination of hollow articles
US2733353A (en) * 1956-01-31 Auto-radiography of wells
US2798164A (en) * 1954-04-20 1957-07-02 Untermyer Samuel Portable X-ray or gamma source
US2859349A (en) * 1955-08-01 1958-11-04 Phillips Petroleum Co Radiological examination of hollow articles
US2916628A (en) * 1955-03-16 1959-12-08 Technical Operations Inc Radiographic device
US3017514A (en) * 1956-02-03 1962-01-16 Kellogg M W Co Radioactive isotope combination
US3087058A (en) * 1958-09-15 1963-04-23 Travel Ray Corp Method and apparatus for radiographic inspection
US3124687A (en) * 1964-03-10 figure
US3214586A (en) * 1962-10-29 1965-10-26 Gen Motors Corp Underwater radiographic exposure device
US3434568A (en) * 1966-09-30 1969-03-25 Mobil Oil Corp Three-dimensional display of borehole logs
US3958120A (en) * 1973-11-12 1976-05-18 Combustion Engineering, Inc. Radiographic inspection of steam generator tubes
US3993906A (en) * 1975-06-25 1976-11-23 Paul Nelson English Underwater radiographic apparatus
US4063101A (en) * 1973-04-27 1977-12-13 Agfa-Gevaert Package for films
DE102004027389A1 (en) * 2004-06-04 2005-12-29 Alstom Technology Ltd Method for nondestructive testing of a welded connection of a welded rotor and arrangement for carrying out the method

Cited By (18)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2733353A (en) * 1956-01-31 Auto-radiography of wells
US3124687A (en) * 1964-03-10 figure
US2494740A (en) * 1948-05-18 1950-01-17 Cormack E Boucher Film holder
US2532536A (en) * 1948-06-09 1950-12-05 Cormack E Boucher Method and apparatus for locating welds in hollow metal bodies
US2622209A (en) * 1950-04-26 1952-12-16 Crane Co Radiographic inspection device
US2702864A (en) * 1951-04-04 1955-02-22 Texaco Development Corp Measuring device
US2719926A (en) * 1952-08-15 1955-10-04 Isotope Products Ltd Method and apparatus for radiographic examination of hollow articles
US2798164A (en) * 1954-04-20 1957-07-02 Untermyer Samuel Portable X-ray or gamma source
US2916628A (en) * 1955-03-16 1959-12-08 Technical Operations Inc Radiographic device
US2859349A (en) * 1955-08-01 1958-11-04 Phillips Petroleum Co Radiological examination of hollow articles
US3017514A (en) * 1956-02-03 1962-01-16 Kellogg M W Co Radioactive isotope combination
US3087058A (en) * 1958-09-15 1963-04-23 Travel Ray Corp Method and apparatus for radiographic inspection
US3214586A (en) * 1962-10-29 1965-10-26 Gen Motors Corp Underwater radiographic exposure device
US3434568A (en) * 1966-09-30 1969-03-25 Mobil Oil Corp Three-dimensional display of borehole logs
US4063101A (en) * 1973-04-27 1977-12-13 Agfa-Gevaert Package for films
US3958120A (en) * 1973-11-12 1976-05-18 Combustion Engineering, Inc. Radiographic inspection of steam generator tubes
US3993906A (en) * 1975-06-25 1976-11-23 Paul Nelson English Underwater radiographic apparatus
DE102004027389A1 (en) * 2004-06-04 2005-12-29 Alstom Technology Ltd Method for nondestructive testing of a welded connection of a welded rotor and arrangement for carrying out the method

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