End area inspection tool for automated nondestructive inspection

Claim 2

In nondestructive inspection apparatus for inspecting the end region of a ferromagnetic member wherein the apparatus includes a freestanding housing unit having driven wheels or rollers thereon for supporting and moving the unit on the surface of the member, the unit including nondestructive inspection means and magnet means on the unit for establishing a magnetic circuit with the member to produce an attractive force therebetween which is sufficient in magnitude to maintain the wheels or rollers on the surface irrespective of the disposition of the housing unit, and wherein means are included on the housing unit for moving it along a desired path a fixed distance from an end of the member, an improvement in said last named means comprising, an axle on which at least one of said rollers or wheels is supported, saId axle being obliquely inclined with respect to a line that is normal to said desired path, whereby rotation of said one roller or wheel in a given direction creates a force tending to move the housing unit away from said end, and said housing unit including follower means engaging said end of the member for resisting said force and maintaining the housing unit on the desired path.

Claim 3

The improvement claimed in claim 1 further including, a second axle spaced from said first axle and being oppositely inclined relative to said normal line, at least one other of said wheels or rollers supported on the second axle, whereby rotation of said wheels or rollers in a direction opposite to said given direction also produces a force tending to move the housing unit away from said end of the member.

Claim 4

The improvement claimed in claim 1 wherein the follower means comprises means mounted on said axle for engaging said end of the member, said means mounted on the axle comprising circular washer means having a diameter greater than said wheel or roller, whereby the peripheral portion of the washer will extend over the edge of and contact said end of the member.

Claim 5

In nondestructive inspection apparatus for inspecting an end region of a cylindrically shaped ferro-magnetic member by use of a housing unit having wheels thereon for supporting and moving the unit circumferentially about a surface of the member in a freestanding manner, the housing unit including nondestructive inspection means and magnet means for establishing a magnetic circuit with the member to produce a magnetic attractive force therebetween which is sufficient in magnitude to maintain the wheels on the surface irrespective of the circumferential position of the unit on said surface, and wherein means are included on the housing unit for moving it along a desired path a fixed distance from an end of the member, an improvement in said last named means comprising, first and second spaced apart axles supporting respective ones of said wheels, said axles being non-parallel and oppositely canted or inclined relative to a line normal to said desired path to produce axial forces tending to move the housing unit inwardly on the member away from the end thereof irrespective of the direction of rotation of the wheels, and a follower washer on each of said axles adapted to overhang the end of said member to resist said forces and maintain the moving housing unit in a circular path about said member.

Claim 6

In nondestructive inspection apparatus for inspecting an end region of a cylindrically shaped ferro-magnetic member by use of a housing unit having wheels thereon for supporting and moving the unit circumferentially about a surface of the member in a freestanding manner, the housing unit including nondestructive inspection means and magnet means for establishing a magnetic circuit with the member to produce a magnetic attractive force therebetween which is sufficient in magnitude to maintain the wheels on the surface irrespective of the circumferential position of the unit on said surface, and wherein means are included on the housing unit for moving it along a desired path a fixed distance from an end of the member, an improvement in said last named means comprising, first and second spaced apart axles supporting respective ones of said wheels, said axles being non-parallel and oppositely canted or inclined relative to a line normal to said desired path to produce axial forces tending to move the housing unit inwardly on the member away from the end thereof irrespective of the direction of rotation of the wheels, and a follower washer on each of said axles adapted to overhang the end of said member to resist said forces and maintain the moving housing unit in a circular path about said member.

Claim 7

The improvement claimed in claim 4 wherein said axles are spaced farther apart at their ends closest the end of said member.