Semi-automatic scanner for ultrasonic flaw detection

Claim 2

A semi-automatic scanner for ultrasonic flaw detection comprising: carriage means travelling on a guide rail; arm means extending in a direction transverse to the travel direction of said carriage means and mounted on said carriage means for pivotal movement in a plane transverse to the travel direction; probe holder means slidably mounted on said arm means; probe means pivotably mounted by said probe holder means so that said probe means follows a curved surface to be inspected, said probe holder means including first means for enabling pivoting movement of said probe means about a first axis transverse to the travel direction of said carriage means, and second means for enabling pivoting movement of said probe means about a second axis transverse to said first axis, said carriage means being driven by motor means, and said probe holder means being slidably moved along said arm means by a manual operation; and means for controlling the driving speed of said motor means in proportion to the force applied to said probe means.

Claim 3

The scanner as defined in claim 1, wherein said probe holder means includes means for allowing relative movement to said probe holder means, and said controlling means comprises a potentiometer provided in said probe holder means and electrically connected to said motor means, and a lever for actuating said potentiometer according to the movement of said probe means.

Claim 4

A semi-automatic scanner for ultrasonic flaw detection comprising: carriage means travelling on a guide rail; arm means extending in a direction transverse to the travel direction of said carriage means and mounted on said carriage means for pivotal movement in a plane transverse to the travel direction; probe holder means slidably mounted on said arm means; probe means pivotably mounted by said probe holder means so that said probe means follows a curved surface to be inspected, so that said probe means follows a curved surface to be inspected, said probe holder means including first means for enabling pivoting movement of said probe means about a first axis transverse to the travel direction of said carriage means, and second means for enabling pivoting movement of said probe means about a second axis transverse to said first axis, said carriage means being driven by motor means, and said probe holder means being slidably moved along said arm means by a manual operation, and intermittent shifter means for axially shifting said probe means along said arm means one pitch by one pitch, said intermittent shifter means including a rotatable shaft engaged with said arm means through transmission means so that shifting movement of said probe holder means is changed to rotational movement, a disc secured to said rotatable shaft and having ball receiving grooves spaced from one another by a distance corresponding to said one pitch, and a spring holder having a spring and ball pressed on said disc to prevent said rotatable shaft from freely rotating and to allow the rotation of said rotatable shaft when a rotary force applied to said rotatable shaft exceeds a predetermined value.

Claim 5

A semi-automatic scanner for ultrasonic flaw detection comprising: carriage means travelling on a guide rail; arm means extending in a direction transverse to the travel direction of said carriage means and mounted on said carriage means for pivotal movement in a plane transverse to the travel direction; probe holder means slidably mounted on said arm means; probe means pivotably mounted by said probe holder means so that said probe means follows a curved surface to be inspected, so that said probe means follows a curved surface to be inspected, said probe holder means including first means for enabling pivoting movement of said probe means about a first axis transverse to the travel direction of said carriage means, and second means for enabling pivoting movement of said probe means about a second axis transverse to said first axis, said carriage means being driven by motor means, and said probe holder means being slidably moved along said arm means by a manual operation, and intermittent shifter means for axially shifting said probe means along said arm means one pitch by one pitch, said intermittent shifter means including a rotatable shaft engaged with said arm means through transmission means so that shifting movement of said probe holder means is changed to rotational movement, a disc secured to said rotatable shaft and having ball receiving grooves spaced from one another by a distance corresponding to said one pitch, and a spring holder having a spring and ball pressed on said disc to prevent said rotatable shaft from freely rotating and to allow the rotation of said rotatable shaft when a rotary force applied to said rotatable shaft exceeds a predetermined value.

Claim 6

The scanner as defined in claim 1 or 3, wherein said first and second axes are perpendicular.

Claim 7

A semi-automatic scanner for ultrasonic flaw detection comprising: carriage means travelling on a guide rail mounted on the surface of an object to be inspected, said carriage means having spaced side portions; arm means having a plurality of rods each extending in parallel to each other in a direction transverse to the travel direction of said carriage means, said arm means being mounted on said carriage means at an axially central portion so as to be pivotable about an axis extending in the travel direction of said carriage means; probe holder means slidably supported by said arm means for sliding movement from one side portion of said carriage means to the other side portion of said carriage means; and a probe mechanically connected to said probe holder means.

Claim 8

A semi-automatic scanner for ultrasonic flaw detection comprising: carriage means travelling on a guide rail mounted on the surface of an object to be inspected, said carriage means having spaced side portions; arm means having a plurality of rods each extending in parallel to each other in a direction transverse to the travel direction of said carriage means, said arm means being mounted on said carriage means at an axially central portion so as to be pivotable about an axis extending in the travel direction of said carriage means; probe holder means slidably supported by said arm means for sliding movement from one side portion of said carriage means to the other side portion of said carriage means; and a probe mechanically connected to said probe holder means.

Claim 9

The scanner as defined in claim 5, further including a first rotary encoder mounted on said carriage means and driven by a roller through gear means, and a second rotary encoder mounted on said probe holder means and engaged with one of said rods so as to rotate in response to axial movement of said probe holder means on said arm means.

Claim 10

The scanner as defined in claim 5, including tying means for tying said rods, said tying means including a L-shaped member having two ends, said rods being secured to the end portions of said L-shaped member, respectively.

Claim 11

The scanner as defined in claim 5, wherein said probe holder means includes a holder housing and a probe holder unit, said probe holder unit including a ring-shaped member for fitting therein said probe, and means for connecting said ring-shaped member to said holder housing to be pivotable about two axes transverse to each other.

Claim 12

The scanner as defined in claim 5, further including a guide rail circumferentially travelling on a pipe to be inspected, said guide rail having at least three poles with rollers at their ends.

Claim 13

The ultrasonic flaw detector as defined in claim 9, wherein each of said poles is provided with adjustable means for adjusting the spacing between said guide rail and said pipe.