EP0104655A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Ultrasonic flaw detector driving apparatus of a trackless type
Assignee: Hitachi Ltd
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Filing: 1983-09-28
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2003-09-28
Abstract
Abstract An ultrasonic flaw detector driving apparatus with no guide rail type including a traveling member (2) capable of being freely mounted to and dismounted from piping (1) to be inspected, and a turning member (3) detachably attached to the traveling member (2) for turning movement thereabout. The traveling member (2) is equipped with a multiplicity of sets of traveling rolling elements (9), maintained in contact with an outer peripheral surface of the piping (1) and spaced apart from one another circumferentially of the piping while the traveling rolling elements (9) of each set which are two in number are spaced apart from each other axially of the traveling member (2). The turning member (3) is equipped with at least one ultrasonic wave probe (4) which scans the outer peripheral surface of the piping (1) to inspect it. As the traveling rolling elements (9,) are rotated, the traveling member (2) travels on the pipe (1) axially thereof, and the turning member (3) moves in turning movement about the traveling member (2) as it is driven, so that the ultrasonic wave probe (4) can scan both axially and circumferentially of the piping (1) to inspect the whole area of the outer peripheral surface of the piping (1).
Inventors
- 👤 Kenji Tsuchita
- 👤 Kozo Domon
- 👤 Fuminobu Takahashi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 18:16
CPC Classifications
B; B82; B82Y; B82Y15/00; G; G01; G01N; G01N29/00; G01N29/22; G01N29/26; G01N29/265; G01N2291/00; G01N2291/26; G01N2291/263; G01N2291/2634
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
188 words
A ultrasonic flaw detector driving apparatus of a type having no guide rail enabling inspection of piping to be achieved, comprising: a traveling member (2) capable of being mounted to and dismounted from the piping (1); and a turning member (3) detachably attached to the traveling member (2); wherein the traveling member (2) is equipped with a multiplicity of sets of traveling rolling elements (9, 9a) located in positions on an outer peripheral surface of the piping (1) spaced apart from one another circumferentially of the piping while the traveling rolling elements of each set which are two in number are in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the piping and spaced apart from each other axially of the piping so that as the traveling rolling elements (9, 9a) are rotated the traveling member (2) can travel axially of the piping on the outer peripheral surface thereof, and wherein the turning member (3) is equipped with at least one ultrasonic wave probe (4) for effecting scanning to perform inspection of the piping (1) and capable of turning about the traveling member (2) circumferentially of the piping (1).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
188 words
A ultrasonic flaw detector driving apparatus of a type having no guide rail enabling inspection of piping to be achieved, comprising: a traveling member (2) capable of being mounted to and dismounted from the piping (1); and a turning member (3) detachably attached to the traveling member (2); wherein the traveling member (2) is equipped with a multiplicity of sets of traveling rolling elements (9, 9a) located in positions on an outer peripheral surface of the piping (1) spaced apart from one another circumferentially of the piping while the traveling rolling elements of each set which are two in number are in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the piping and spaced apart from each other axially of the piping so that as the traveling rolling elements (9, 9a) are rotated the traveling member (2) can travel axially of the piping on the outer peripheral surface thereof, and wherein the turning member (3) is equipped with at least one ultrasonic wave probe (4) for effecting scanning to perform inspection of the piping (1) and capable of turning about the traveling member (2) circumferentially of the piping (1).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
61 words
A ultrasonic flaw detector driving apparatus of a type having no guide rail as claimed in claim 1, wherein the traveling member (2) is further equipped with drive means (5, 7, lla - llc) for causing the traveling rolling elements (9, 9a) to rotate, and drive means (6, 13, 14) for causing the turning member (3) to move in turning movement.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
102 words
A ultrasonic flaw detector driving apparatus of a type having no guide rail type as claimed in claim 2, wherein the drive means for causing the traveling rolling elements to rotate comprises a traveling member drive motor (5) and gear means (7, lla - llc) for transmitting motive force from the drive motor to the traveling rolling elements, and wherein the drive means for causing the turning member to move in turning movement comprises a turning member drive motor (6) and gear means (13, 14) for transmitting motive force from the drive motor to an internal gear fitted to the turning member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
122 words
A ultrasonic flaw detector driving apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1-3, wherein at least one set (9a) of traveling rolling elements of the multiplicity of sets of traveling rolling elements spaced apart from one another circumferentially of traveling member (2) is pivotably connected to the traveling member (2) and movable between a closed position in which the rolling elements of the set spaced apart from each other axially of the traveling member are located on the traveling member and an open position in which the rolling elements (9a) of the set are away from the traveling member (2) transversely thereof to allow the traveling member (2) to be mounted to and removed from the piping (1) from the side.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
78 words
A ultrasonic flaw detector driving apparatus of a type having no guide rail as claimed in claim 2, wherein component parts of the traveling member (2) including the drive motor (5) for causing the traveling rolling elements (9, 9a) to rotate and the drive means (7, lla - llc) for causing the turning member to move in turning movement are arranged in scattered relationship in such a manner that the traveling member is balanced in weight peripherally thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
A ultrasonic flaw detector driving apparatus of a type having no guide rail as claimed in any one of claims 1-5, wherein the traveling rolling elements (9, 9a) comprise rollers.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
A ultrasonic flaw detector driving apparatus of a type having no guide rail as claimed in claim 6, wherein the traveling rollers comprise a multiplicity of sets of rollers each set consisting of two rollers (9b) arranged at a caster angle.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
A ultrasonic flaw detector driving apparatus of a type having no guide rail as claimed in any one of claims 1-5, wherein the traveling rolling elements comprise crawlers.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
50 words
A ultrasonic flaw detector driving apparatus of a type having no guide rail as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic wave probe (4) is connected to one end face of the turning member (2) through a retractile arm member (23) capable of expansion and contraction lengthwise of the piping.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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