Device for the inspection and maintenance of tubes with small bending radii

Abstract

Abstract In order to detect faults in the metal material of tubes (7, 7') in machines and installations having very small tube bends, for the purpose of optically signalling and cleaning their inner surface, ultrasonic and eddy-current inspection probe elements (10, 10'), light guides (18) and mechanical actuating devices (16, 16') are integrated in a tubular probe, which can be bent in all directions and is constructed in three different embodiments. In a first embodiment, a plurality of guide elements (1, 3) arranged one after another have spherical guide surfaces (F) which are arranged in a rotationally symmetric fashion with respect to central, cylindrical recesses (2, 4) in the guide elements (1, 3). Supported in these spherical guide surfaces (F) are neighbouring guide elements (1, 3) which are operationally connected to one another in an articulated fashion. Situated inside the recesses (2, 4) of the guide elements (1, 3) is a flexible connecting element (5) which holds the tubular probe together by means of clamping elements (6a, 6b; 21a, 21b; 25a, 25b). In a second embodiment, the guide elements (12) are constructed in a hollow-cylindrical fashion and have flanges (12') for engaging with the flanges (12'') of neighbouring guide elements (12). In a third embodiment, the guide elements are constructed as an articulated coupling (26), and are connected to one another in an articulated fashion via connecting shackles (27, 27'; 28, 28'). <IMAGE>

Inventors

• 👤 Arthur Dipl.-Phys. Scholz

Bibliographic Details