GB1581959A - Method and apparatus for aligning an ultrasonic testing apparatus on a weld seam - Google Patents

Method and apparatus for aligning an ultrasonic testing apparatus on a weld seam Download PDF

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Publication number
GB1581959A
GB1581959A GB3758777A GB3758777A GB1581959A GB 1581959 A GB1581959 A GB 1581959A GB 3758777 A GB3758777 A GB 3758777A GB 3758777 A GB3758777 A GB 3758777A GB 1581959 A GB1581959 A GB 1581959A
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United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
seam
path
pickups
housing
finding
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Expired
Application number
GB3758777A
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Vodafone GmbH
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Mannesmann AG
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Publication date
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Publication of GB1581959A publication Critical patent/GB1581959A/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B23Q—DETAILS, COMPONENTS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR MACHINE TOOLS, e.g. ARRANGEMENTS FOR COPYING OR CONTROLLING; MACHINE TOOLS IN GENERAL CHARACTERISED BY THE CONSTRUCTION OF PARTICULAR DETAILS OR COMPONENTS; COMBINATIONS OR ASSOCIATIONS OF METAL-WORKING MACHINES, NOT DIRECTED TO A PARTICULAR RESULT
    • B23Q35/00—Control systems or devices for copying directly from a pattern or a master model; Devices for use in copying manually
    • B23Q35/04—Control systems or devices for copying directly from a pattern or a master model; Devices for use in copying manually using a feeler or the like travelling along the outline of the pattern, model or drawing; Feelers, patterns, or models therefor
    • B23Q35/08—Means for transforming movement of the feeler or the like into feed movement of tool or work
    • B23Q35/12—Means for transforming movement of the feeler or the like into feed movement of tool or work involving electrical means
    • B23Q35/127—Means for transforming movement of the feeler or the like into feed movement of tool or work involving electrical means using non-mechanical sensing
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N29/00—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves; Visualisation of the interior of objects by transmitting ultrasonic or sonic waves through the object
    • G01N29/22—Details, e.g. general constructional or apparatus details
    • G01N29/225—Supports, positioning or alignment in moving situation
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N29/00—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves; Visualisation of the interior of objects by transmitting ultrasonic or sonic waves through the object
    • G01N29/22—Details, e.g. general constructional or apparatus details
    • G01N29/24—Probes
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N29/00—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves; Visualisation of the interior of objects by transmitting ultrasonic or sonic waves through the object
    • G01N29/22—Details, e.g. general constructional or apparatus details
    • G01N29/26—Arrangements for orientation or scanning by relative movement of the head and the sensor
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N2291/00—Indexing codes associated with group G01N29/00
    • G01N2291/02—Indexing codes associated with the analysed material
    • G01N2291/028—Material parameters
    • G01N2291/02854—Length, thickness
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N2291/00—Indexing codes associated with group G01N29/00
    • G01N2291/04—Wave modes and trajectories
    • G01N2291/044—Internal reflections (echoes), e.g. on walls or defects
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N2291/00—Indexing codes associated with group G01N29/00
    • G01N2291/26—Scanned objects
    • G01N2291/267—Welds
    • G01N2291/2675—Seam, butt welding

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Analytical Chemistry (AREA)
  • Biochemistry (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Immunology (AREA)
  • Pathology (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Automation & Control Theory (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Investigating Or Analyzing Materials By The Use Of Ultrasonic Waves (AREA)
  • Length Measuring Devices By Optical Means (AREA)

Description

(54) A METHOD AND AN APPARATUS FOR ALIGNING AN ULTRASONIC TESTING ARRANGEMENT ON A WELD SEAM (71) We, MANNESMANN AKTIENGESELL SCHAFT, a German Body Corporate, of Mannesmannufer 2, 4000 Dusseldorf 1, Federal Republic of Germany, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- The invention relates to a method for the fully automatic finding and following of weld seams in the non-destructive ultrasonic testing of welded tubes, and an apparatus for carrying out the method.
As is known, finding the weld seam in the testing arrangement is used for bringing the test piece or the testing arrangement respectively into the testing position. This is necessary more particularly since the testing position varies in dependence on the test piece within the testing arrangement.
In hitherto known testing operations the seam finding has been effected visually by the person operating, possibly with the aid of optical or television apparatus, or proximity switches.
Seam following, i.e. following-up the testing arrangement at the test piece, is ab solutely necessary since owing to material, welding, or transport defects the weld seam migrates out of the testing position. Hitherto, seam following has been effected mechanically i.e. by guide rollers, electromechanically by means of sensing rollers, or by visual scanning.
It has already been proposed to carry out weld seam following with the use of inductive measuring methods. The known methods have the disadvantage that the apparatus has to be reset each time because of varying weld seam width and different weld seam cambers within the allowable tolerances, more especially in the case of extremely flat weld seams.
A further disadvantage in the known methods is that with two-position measuring precise regulation of the follow-up arangement is not possible, since the weld seam width is not always the same even at the same test piece.
Seam following arrangements of known construction are also not able to carry out precise regulation where there is metal plate edge offset allowable on tolerance grounds.
The aim of the invention is to provide a method and an apparatus with which, independently of the operating personnel, after weld seam finding the weld seam following arrangement is switched-on, the following arrangement for the testing operation is operated, and the following is monitored during the testing; also geometric irregularities in the test piece are to be detected and compensated for by control techniques.
To this end, apparatus according to the invention comprises a housing supporting a first path pickup for detecting a said seam and second path pickups for following said seam and an electrical circuit interlocking the pickups whereby the first pickup monitors the location of the seam and the second pickups control the relative orientation of a said seam with respect to the housing and a said pipe is moved axially relative to the housing.
The invention also provides a method of finding and following a weld seam on a pipe in the non-destructive testing of the weld seam, which method comprises rotating the pipe relative to a housing to locate the seam with respect thereto by means of a first pickup mounted in the housing; halting rotation of the pipe; moving the pipe axially relative to the housing; and controlling the angular position of the pipe with respect to the housing during such axial movement by means of at least two second path pickups also mounted in the housing, the first and second path pickups being operatively interconnected to align the seam with a non-destructive testing device therefor.
The method according to the invention dispenses with adjustment to different weld bead widths. A further advantage is that when dimensions differ it is not necessary to carry out any conversion work in the installation. The follow-up precision for keeping to the weld seam centre can be maintained within + 1 mm for the test spacings.
Since the method can operate without physical contact there is no necessity for wear on the path pickups. The detection range of weld seam superelevation is possible from 1 mm onwards.
After seam finding has been achieved, the entire testing installation can be stopped in the event of failure of an analog path pickup of the seam following arrangement by means of a control function of the seam finding arangement. This allows fully automatic testing.
One possible constructional form of an aparatus according to the present invention is shown in the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, wherein: Figure 1 shows a view of the apparatus in perspective; and Figure 2 shows the apparatus in diagram form.
The apparatus shown in Figure 1 comprises a vertically adjustable housing 1 which is mounted to be moveable in the axial direction of the test piece and in which the path pickup 2 for seam finding and both the path pickups 5 for weld seam following and also the path pickups 6 for correction of the pickups 5 are arranged jointly in an interchangeable insert 9. Ball roller elements 10, which ensure a constant spacing relative to the test piece, are incorporated in the surface of the housing 1.
Fig. 29shows a simplified diagram illustrating the connection of pickups 2, 5 and 6 with the respective associated preamplifiers 3 and 7 and the electronic evaluating units 4 and 8, in a block diagram. The installation also includes a hydraulic servo system with an adjusting cylinder 11, an actual value setting device 12 and an adjusting and monitoring arrangement 13.
When carrying out the method according to the invention, for finding and following a weld seam, the test piece is run in per se known manner to a basic or starting position. At the same time the seam finding and following arrangement is brought to the test piece. The test piece is then turned about its axis by the turning apparatus until the seam finding arrangement indicates the seam. When the seam is indicated, the turning apparatus is stopped at the same time, lowered, and the seam following arrangement switched-on, and the test piece is moved onwards at the same time as testing commences.
As testing proceeds, the seam finding arangement by means of the path pickup 2 takes over the monitoring of the seam position, and thus controls the use of the seam following arrangement. The seam following arrangement with the path pickups 5 and 6 is, like the pickup 2 of the seam finding arrangement, in communication with the preamplifiers 7 and the electronic evaluating unit 8. When there are inaccuracies in the test piece, for example by the seam moving out of line, plate edge offset and the like, the test mechanism adjusts to the modified position by the path pickups 5 and 6 by means of a hydraulic servo system with an adjusting cylinder. Control of the desired and actual positions is effected by the elements 11 and 12. When the test piece leaves the apparatus the latter is lowered by means of known switching elements, and is run back to the basic position together with the test arangement by means of the setting device 12.
The actual position of the apparatus including the test arrangement is indicated and, if necessary, corrected, by means of the monitoring and adjusting arrangement 13.
Within the housing 1 a conduit system for compressed air is situated, which with suitably directed nozzles is used for constantly cleaning the surfaces of the path pickups.
WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. Apparatus for finding and following a weld seam on a pipe in the non-destructive testing of the seam, which apparatus comprises a housing supporting a first path pickup for detecting a said seam and second path pickups for following said seam and an electrical circuit interlocking the pickups whereby the first pickup monitors the location of the seam and the second pickups control the relative orientation of a said seam with respect to the housing as a said pipe is moved axially relative to the housing.
2. Apparatus according to Claim 1 wherein each path pickup operates inductively to determine its lateral spacing from the weld seam.
3. Apparatus according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein each path pickup is an analog path pickup and is connected to an associated pre-amplifier.
4. Apparatus according to any preceding Claim wherein the path pickups are supported in a common insert removably mounted in the housing.
5. Apparatus according to any preceding Claim including a plurality of roller bearing elements mounted in the housing for engag
**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (11)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. the seam with a non-destructive testing device therefor. The method according to the invention dispenses with adjustment to different weld bead widths. A further advantage is that when dimensions differ it is not necessary to carry out any conversion work in the installation. The follow-up precision for keeping to the weld seam centre can be maintained within + 1 mm for the test spacings. Since the method can operate without physical contact there is no necessity for wear on the path pickups. The detection range of weld seam superelevation is possible from 1 mm onwards. After seam finding has been achieved, the entire testing installation can be stopped in the event of failure of an analog path pickup of the seam following arrangement by means of a control function of the seam finding arangement. This allows fully automatic testing. One possible constructional form of an aparatus according to the present invention is shown in the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, wherein: Figure 1 shows a view of the apparatus in perspective; and Figure 2 shows the apparatus in diagram form. The apparatus shown in Figure 1 comprises a vertically adjustable housing 1 which is mounted to be moveable in the axial direction of the test piece and in which the path pickup 2 for seam finding and both the path pickups 5 for weld seam following and also the path pickups 6 for correction of the pickups 5 are arranged jointly in an interchangeable insert 9. Ball roller elements 10, which ensure a constant spacing relative to the test piece, are incorporated in the surface of the housing 1. Fig. 29shows a simplified diagram illustrating the connection of pickups 2, 5 and 6 with the respective associated preamplifiers 3 and 7 and the electronic evaluating units 4 and 8, in a block diagram. The installation also includes a hydraulic servo system with an adjusting cylinder 11, an actual value setting device 12 and an adjusting and monitoring arrangement 13. When carrying out the method according to the invention, for finding and following a weld seam, the test piece is run in per se known manner to a basic or starting position. At the same time the seam finding and following arrangement is brought to the test piece. The test piece is then turned about its axis by the turning apparatus until the seam finding arrangement indicates the seam. When the seam is indicated, the turning apparatus is stopped at the same time, lowered, and the seam following arrangement switched-on, and the test piece is moved onwards at the same time as testing commences. As testing proceeds, the seam finding arangement by means of the path pickup 2 takes over the monitoring of the seam position, and thus controls the use of the seam following arrangement. The seam following arrangement with the path pickups 5 and 6 is, like the pickup 2 of the seam finding arrangement, in communication with the preamplifiers 7 and the electronic evaluating unit 8. When there are inaccuracies in the test piece, for example by the seam moving out of line, plate edge offset and the like, the test mechanism adjusts to the modified position by the path pickups 5 and 6 by means of a hydraulic servo system with an adjusting cylinder. Control of the desired and actual positions is effected by the elements 11 and 12. When the test piece leaves the apparatus the latter is lowered by means of known switching elements, and is run back to the basic position together with the test arangement by means of the setting device 12. The actual position of the apparatus including the test arrangement is indicated and, if necessary, corrected, by means of the monitoring and adjusting arrangement 13. Within the housing 1 a conduit system for compressed air is situated, which with suitably directed nozzles is used for constantly cleaning the surfaces of the path pickups. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:
1. Apparatus for finding and following a weld seam on a pipe in the non-destructive testing of the seam, which apparatus comprises a housing supporting a first path pickup for detecting a said seam and second path pickups for following said seam and an electrical circuit interlocking the pickups whereby the first pickup monitors the location of the seam and the second pickups control the relative orientation of a said seam with respect to the housing as a said pipe is moved axially relative to the housing.
2. Apparatus according to Claim 1 wherein each path pickup operates inductively to determine its lateral spacing from the weld seam.
3. Apparatus according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein each path pickup is an analog path pickup and is connected to an associated pre-amplifier.
4. Apparatus according to any preceding Claim wherein the path pickups are supported in a common insert removably mounted in the housing.
5. Apparatus according to any preceding Claim including a plurality of roller bearing elements mounted in the housing for engag
ing the external surface of a said pipe for maintaining said surface spaced from the path pickups.
6. Apparatus according to any preceding Claim including means for continuously directing a stream of compressed air past the path pickups to clean same.
7. Apparatus for finding and following a weld seam on a pipe in the non-destructive testing of the seam substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
8. A method of finding and following a weld seam on a pipe in the non-destructive testing of the weld seam, which method comprises rotating the pipe relative to a housing to locate the seam with respect thereto by means of a first pickup mounted in the housing; halting rotation of the pipe; moving the pipe axially relative to the housing; and controlling the angular position of the pipe with respect to the housing during such axial movement by means of at least two second path pickups also mounted in the housing, the first and second path pickups being operatively interconnected to align the seam with a non-destructive testing device therefor.
9. A process according to Claim 8 wherein each pickup operates inductively to determine its spacing from the weld seams.
10. A process according to Claim 8 or Claim 9 wherein the pickups are continuously cleaned by a stream of compressed air while the method is carried out.
11. A process for finding and following a weld seam on a pipe in the nondestructive testing of the weld seam substantially as described herein with reference to and as ilustrated by the accompanying drawings.
GB3758777A 1976-09-17 1977-09-08 Method and apparatus for aligning an ultrasonic testing apparatus on a weld seam Expired GB1581959A (en)

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DE19762642481 DE2642481C3 (en) 1976-09-17 1976-09-17 Method and device for aligning a US test facility

Publications (1)

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GB1581959A true GB1581959A (en) 1980-12-31

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JP (1) JPS5338393A (en)
CA (1) CA1111129A (en)
DE (1) DE2642481C3 (en)
FR (1) FR2365155A1 (en)
GB (1) GB1581959A (en)
IT (1) IT1084749B (en)

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* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS56168214A (en) * 1980-05-29 1981-12-24 Idec Izumi Corp Process step-forward type sequence controller
JPS56168219A (en) * 1980-12-19 1981-12-24 Idec Izumi Corp Process step-forward type sequence controller
JPS56168215A (en) * 1980-12-19 1981-12-24 Idec Izumi Corp Process step-forward type sequence controller
JPS56168217A (en) * 1980-12-19 1981-12-24 Idec Izumi Corp Process step-forward type sequence controller
JPS56168218A (en) * 1980-12-19 1981-12-24 Idec Izumi Corp Process step-forward type sequence controller
JPS56168216A (en) * 1980-12-19 1981-12-24 Idec Izumi Corp Process step-forward type sequence controller
JPS56168220A (en) * 1980-12-19 1981-12-24 Idec Izumi Corp Process step-forward type sequence controller
JPS57111704A (en) * 1980-12-29 1982-07-12 Idec Izumi Corp Process count-up type sequence controller
DE102013106475A1 (en) * 2013-06-20 2014-12-24 Intelligendt Systems & Services Gmbh Testing device for non-destructive testing of a component of a rolling bearing, rolling bearing and wind turbine

Family Cites Families (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR1390463A (en) * 1963-02-12 1965-02-26 J U H Krautkramer Ges Fuer Ele Ultrasonic weld line inspection process
JPS4311750Y1 (en) * 1964-04-14 1968-05-21
US3346807A (en) * 1964-04-24 1967-10-10 American Mach & Foundry Reciprocating apparatus with means to maintain the reciprocation centered over an anomaly
LU61704A1 (en) * 1970-09-17 1972-06-27
DE2239735A1 (en) * 1972-08-12 1974-02-21 Krautkraemer Gmbh SYSTEM FOR DETECTION AND ULTRASONIC TESTING OF WELD SEAMS
JPS5742208B2 (en) * 1974-08-27 1982-09-07

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
IT1084749B (en) 1985-05-28
FR2365155B1 (en) 1984-01-06
DE2642481C3 (en) 1984-04-05
DE2642481A1 (en) 1978-03-23
FR2365155A1 (en) 1978-04-14
JPS5338393A (en) 1978-04-08
CA1111129A (en) 1981-10-20
DE2642481B2 (en) 1979-09-13

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