US3863496A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Curved surface scanning apparatus
Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd
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Filing: 1973-09-07
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Granted: 1975-02-04
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Expires: 1993-09-07
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for scanning a joint portion formed by connecting a circular pipe to a drum portion of a cylindrical vessel from the interior of said vessel for the purpose of non-destructive flaw hunting and the like, is described which performs the scanning operation by displacing a scanning head such as, for example, a flaw hunting head along a guide slot having a curvature corresponding to the curved surface to be scanned while rotating the same around the axis of said circular pipe. Provision of a pilot control device in the aforementioned apparatus for automatically maintaining the distance constant between said scanning head and said curved surface to be scanned is also described.
Inventors
- 👤 Tsunehisa Hiramatsu
- 👤 Hiroshi Nosaka
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 17:45
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N29/00; G01N29/22; G01N29/26; G01N29/265; G01N27/00; G01N27/72; G01N27/82; G01N27/90; G01N27/9093
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
289 words
Apparatus for scanning the saddle shaped intersection of the bores of a first tubular member with a second tubular member from inside the base of the first tubular members, comprising: a main body; support means for disposing the main body in the first tubular member for rotation therein about the longitudinal axis of the bore of the second tubular member; means defining an arcuate track on the main body, concave toward the saddle generally about an axis which remains perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the bore of the second tubular member as the main body is rotated as aforesaid; a slider mounted on the main body for movement along the track and means for moving the slider along the track; longitudinally extensible arm means mounted on the slider and provided with means for maintaining the arm directed toward the saddle regardless of the position of the slider along the track, the arm means having a first portion secured to the slider, a second portion disposed adjacent the saddle and provided with a contact member for engaging at least one of the tubular members in the vicinity of the saddle shaped intersection to standardize the proximity of the second portion with respect to the saddle shaped intersection, and means for extending the second portion with respect to the first portion, toward the saddle shaped intersection to ensure engagement of the contact member as aforesaid; a scanning unit mounted on the second portion and and oriented to scan the saddle shaped intersection, whereby the main body may be rotated to cause the scanning unit to scan the saddle shaped intersection at a given radius, and the slider may be moved along the arcuate track to change the radius of scanning.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
289 words
Apparatus for scanning the saddle shaped intersection of the bores of a first tubular member with a second tubular member from inside the base of the first tubular members, comprising: a main body; support means for disposing the main body in the first tubular member for rotation therein about the longitudinal axis of the bore of the second tubular member; means defining an arcuate track on the main body, concave toward the saddle generally about an axis which remains perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the bore of the second tubular member as the main body is rotated as aforesaid; a slider mounted on the main body for movement along the track and means for moving the slider along the track; longitudinally extensible arm means mounted on the slider and provided with means for maintaining the arm directed toward the saddle regardless of the position of the slider along the track, the arm means having a first portion secured to the slider, a second portion disposed adjacent the saddle and provided with a contact member for engaging at least one of the tubular members in the vicinity of the saddle shaped intersection to standardize the proximity of the second portion with respect to the saddle shaped intersection, and means for extending the second portion with respect to the first portion, toward the saddle shaped intersection to ensure engagement of the contact member as aforesaid; a scanning unit mounted on the second portion and and oriented to scan the saddle shaped intersection, whereby the main body may be rotated to cause the scanning unit to scan the saddle shaped intersection at a given radius, and the slider may be moved along the arcuate track to change the radius of scanning.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the contact member comprises at least one wheel means journalling the wheel for rotation against at least one of the tubular members.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the track is constituted by a slot in the main body.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the extending means comprises compression coil spring means, and means confining the spring means in opposed engagement between the first and second portions of the extensible arm means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
155 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the support means comprises a first part and a second part and extending means including a pressurized fluid operated piston and cylinder arrangement in opposed engagement between the first and second parts of the support means; a source of pressurized fluid communicated to the piston and cylinder arrangement for extending the piston from the cylinder; a pilot valve in operating communication with the pressurized fluid source for regulating supply of pressurized fluid to the piston and cylinder arrangement; the pilot valve including an actuator means and means for biasing the actuator into surface following contact with at least one of said tubular members in the vicinity of the saddle shaped intersection, so that the pilot valve may cause the main body to be axially advanced until the actuator signals that, in effect, the desired proximity of the main body second portion to the saddle shaped intersection has been reached.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-02-03 | 1978-08-05 | 1979-02-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-02-03 | 1982-08-05 | 1983-02-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-02-03 | 1986-08-05 | 1987-02-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |