1. An ultrasonic phased array inspection device, comprising: 5 a flexible plate extending along an inner circumferential surface of a tube; an array probe that is disposed on the flexible plate and sends and receives an ultrasonic wave based on a phased array technique; and 10 a connection body that is connected to the flexible plate, wherein the array probe has a set of a predetermined number of piezoelectric elements arranged in an inner circumferential direction of the 15 tube, and the connection body has a force receiving part that receives a force to make the connection body move in an axial direction of the tube. 20 2. The ultrasonic phased array inspection device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the array probe has a plurality of array probes, and the plurality of array probes are located at different positions in the axial direction of the tube. 25

3. The ultrasonic phased array inspection device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the plurality of array 32 probes cover at least an entire length in the inner circumferential direction of the tube.

4. The ultrasonic phased array inspection device as 5 claimed in one of claims 1 to 3, comprising a hydrophilic protection film that protects the array probe.

5. The ultrasonic phased array inspection device as 10 claimed in one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the force receiving part is a pulled part that is pulled in the axial direction of the tube, and the pulled part has: an advancing pulled part that is pulled in one 15 direction along the axial direction of the tube; and a retracting pulled part that is pulled in another direction along the axial direction of the tube.

6. The ultrasonic phased array inspection device as 20 claimed in claim 5, comprising: an advancing traction member for pulling the advancing pulled part; an advancing winding device that winds up the advancing traction member; 25 a retracting traction member for pulling the retracting pulled part; and a retracting winding device that winds up the 33 retracting traction member.

7. An ultrasonic phased array inspection method that uses the ultrasonic phased array inspection device as 5 claimed in one of claims 1 to 4, comprising: performing flaw detection and/or thickness measurement with the array probe while moving the connection body. 10 8. An ultrasonic phased array inspection method that uses the ultrasonic phased array inspection device as claimed in one of claims 5 and 6, comprising: installing the connection body at one end of the tube; 15 moving the connection body from the one end to another end of the tube by pulling the retracting pulled part of the connection body; and performing flaw detection and/or thickness measurement with the array probe while moving the 20 connection body from the another end to the one end of the tube by pulling the advancing pulled part of the connection body

TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001]
The present invention relates to an ultrasonic
phased array inspection device and an ultrasonic phased
5 array inspection method using the same.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002]
An inspection device using ultrasonic waves, such
10 as an ultrasonic phased array inspection device, is
used for inspection of a tube, specifically, detection
of a flaw in a tube and measurement of the thickness
of a tube. Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-32250
(hereinafter referred to as Patent Literature 1)
15 proposes a conventional inspection device (tube
inspection device) that requires no special sensor
fitting. With the inspection device described in
Patent Literature 1, a large number of grooves
extending in the axial direction of the tube are formed
20 in a fin. The large number of grooves are provided to
cope with any obstacle in the tube.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
Technical Problem
25 [0003]
With the inspection device described in Patent
Literature 1, however, a set of piezoelectric elements
3
required for the phased array technique cannot be
arranged in the inner circumferential direction of the
tube because of the large number of grooves extending
in the axial direction of the tube. Therefore, the
5 inspection device described in Patent Literature 1
cannot use the phased array technique and therefore
has a problem that inspection of the tube, such as flaw
detection and thickness measurement, cannot be
performed with high precision.
10 [0004]
The present invention has been devised in view of
the problem, and an object of the present invention is
to provide an ultrasonic phased array inspection device
that can inspect a tube with high precision and an
15 ultrasonic phased array inspection method using the
same.
Solution to Problem
[0005]
20 According to an aspect of the present invention,
an ultrasonic phased array inspection device includes
a flexible plate, an array probe, and a connection
body. The flexible plate extends along an inner
circumferential surface of a tube. The array probe is
25 disposed on the flexible plate and sends and receives
an ultrasonic wave based on the phased array technique.
The array probe has a set of a predetermined number of
4
piezoelectric elements arranged in an inner
circumferential direction of the tube. The connection
body is connected to the flexible plate. The
connection body has a force receiving part that
5 receives a force to make the connection body move in
an axial direction of the tube.
ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS OF INVENTION
[0006]
10 With the ultrasonic phased array inspection device
and the ultrasonic phased array inspection method using
the same according to the present invention, a tube
can be inspected with high precision.
15 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0007]
[FIG. 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an
ultrasonic phased array inspection device according to
an embodiment.
20 [FIG. 2] FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view
of the ultrasonic phased array inspection device
inserted in a tube viewed from above.
[FIG. 3] FIG. 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view
of the ultrasonic phased array inspection device
25 inserted in the tube viewed from a side.
[FIG. 4] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along
the line IV-IV in FIG. 3.
5
[FIG. 5] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along
the line V-V in FIG. 3.
[FIG. 6] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an advancing
winding device or a retracting winding device.
5 [FIG. 7] FIG. 7 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view
for illustrating an ultrasonic phased array inspection
method, which shows the first half of a connection body
installation step.
[FIG. 8] FIG. 8 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view
10 for illustrating the ultrasonic phased array
inspection method, which shows the second half of the
connection body installation step.
[FIG. 9] FIG. 9 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view
for illustrating the ultrasonic phased array
15 inspection method, which shows a preliminary movement
step of moving to an inspection start position.
[FIG. 10] FIG. 10 is a longitudinal cross-sectional
view for illustrating the ultrasonic phased array
inspection method, which shows the first half of an
20 inspection step.
[FIG. 11] FIG. 11 is a longitudinal cross-sectional
view for illustrating the ultrasonic phased array
inspection method, which shows the second half of the
inspection step.
25 [FIG. 12] FIG. 12 is a longitudinal cross-sectional
view showing the end of the ultrasonic phased array
inspection method.
6
[FIG. 13] FIG. 13 is a plan view of a protection film
that protects an array probe of the ultrasonic phased
array inspection device.
[FIG. 14] FIG. 14 is a bottom view of the protection
5 film.
[FIG. 15] FIG. 15 is a schematic perspective view of
an ultrasonic phased array inspection device according
to a variation.
[FIG. 16] FIG. 16 is a schematic perspective view of
10 a traction jig for the ultrasonic phased array
inspection device.
[FIG. 17] FIG. 17 is a longitudinal cross-sectional
view for illustrating an ultrasonic phased array
inspection method using the traction jig, which shows
15 the first half of a connection body installation step.
[FIG. 18] FIG. 18 is a longitudinal cross-sectional
view for illustrating the ultrasonic phased array
inspection method using the traction jig, which shows
the second half of the connection body installation
20 step.
[FIG. 19] FIG. 19 is a longitudinal cross-sectional
view for illustrating the ultrasonic phased array
inspection method using the traction jig, which shows
a preliminary movement step of moving to an inspection
25 start position.
7
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0008]
In the following, embodiments will be described
with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the
5 same or corresponding parts are denoted by the same
reference numerals, and redundant descriptions will be
omitted. In the description below, any term indicating
a particular position or direction, such as up, down,
left, right, front or rear, is used for convenience
10 for facilitating the understanding of the embodiments
and does not mean a direction in the actual
implementation.
[0009]
With reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, an ultrasonic
15 phased array inspection device 1 according to an
embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 is a schematic
perspective view of the ultrasonic phased array
inspection device 1. FIG. 2 is a longitudinal crosssectional view of the ultrasonic phased array
20 inspection device 1 inserted in a tube P viewed from
above. FIG. 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view
of the ultrasonic phased array inspection device 1
inserted in the tube P viewed from a side.
[0010]
25 The ultrasonic phased array inspection device 1
is a device that performs inspection, specifically,
detection of a flaw in the tube P and/or measurement
8
of the thickness of the tube P. The tube P to be
inspected is not particularly limited. The tube P may
be any of various kinds of tubes, such as a tube of a
heat exchanger, a tube having a test tube-like shape
5 or a boiler tube.
[0011]
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the ultrasonic phased
array inspection device 1 includes flexible plates 2
and 3, array probes 4 and 5, and a connection body 6.
10 The flexible plates 2 and 3 extend along an inner
circumferential surface of the tube P to be inspected.
The array probes 4 and 5 are disposed on the flexible
plate 2 and 3, respectively, and sends and receives an
ultrasonic wave based on the phased array technique.
15 The array probe 4 has a set of a predetermined number
(a number required for the phased array technique) of
piezoelectric elements 40 arranged in the
circumferential direction of the tube P, and the array
probe 5 has a set of a predetermined number (a number
20 required for the phased array technique) of
piezoelectric elements 50 arranged in the
circumferential direction of the tube P. The
connection body 6 is connected to the flexible plates
2 and 3. The connection body 6 has pulled parts 61
25 and 62 to be pulled in the axial direction of the tube
P. In the following, of the axial direction of the
tube P, a direction in which the inspection proceeds
9
will be referred to as a forward direction, and a
direction opposite to the forward direction will be
referred to as a backward direction. Directions
perpendicular to the forward direction and the backward
5 direction will be referred to as a left direction and
a right direction.
[0012]
Next, an ultrasonic phased array inspection method
using the ultrasonic phased array inspection device 1
10 will be described.
[0013]
The ultrasonic phased array inspection method
includes an inspection step. In the inspection step,
flaw detection is performed with the array probes 4
15 and 5 while moving the connection body 6 by pulling
the pulled parts 61 and 62 of the connection body 6.
In the inspection step, measurement of the thickness
of the tube P may be performed with the array probes
4 and 5.
20 [0014]
With the ultrasonic phased array inspection device
1 and the ultrasonic phased array inspection method,
the array probes 4 and 5 disposed on the flexible
plates 2 and 3 extending along the inner
25 circumferential surface of the tube P send and receive
an ultrasonic wave based on the phased array technique,
so that the inner circumferential surface of the tube
10
P is inspected with high precision. Furthermore, the
connection body 6 connected to the array probes 4 and
5 is pulled at the pulled parts 61 and 62 thereof in
the axial direction of the tube P, so that the inner
5 circumferential surface of the tube P is inspected with
high precision in the axial direction. Therefore, the
ultrasonic phased array inspection device 1 and the
ultrasonic phased array inspection method can inspect
the tube P with high precision.
10 [0015]
In the following, with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6,
the ultrasonic phased array inspection device 1 will
be described in more detail. FIG. 4 is a crosssectional view taken along the line IV-IV in FIG. 3.
15 FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line
V-V in FIG. 3. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an
advancing winding device 101 and a retracting winding
device 102.
[0016]
20 As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the number of the
flexible plates 2 and 3 is two (any plurality of
flexible plates is possible). The flexible plate 2
has a stem part 21 and a spatula part 22, and the
flexible plate 3 has a stem part 31 and a spatula part
25 32. The stem parts 21 and 31 are connected to the
connection body 6 at the respective front ends and
connected to the respective spatula parts 22 and 32 at
11
the respective rear ends. The spatula parts 22 and 32
are made of a material that can bend along the inner
circumferential surface of the tube P. For example,
the spatula parts 22 and 32 are made of an elastic
5 material, such as rubber. The spatula parts 22 and 32
each have a portion that is wider toward the rear and
a rectangular portion. The array probe 4 is disposed
on the rectangular portion of the spatula part 22, and
the array probe 5 is disposed on the rectangular
10 portion of the spatula part 32. The array probes 4
and 5 are electrically connected to a probe cable 10.
The array probes 4 and 5 can arbitrarily change the
propagation direction and the propagation range of the
ultrasonic wave by adjusting the timings of oscillation
15 of the piezoelectric elements 40 and 50, respectively.
The array probes 4 and 5 are capable of both linear
scanning and sector scanning.
[0017]
The two stem parts 21 and 31 have different
20 lengths. Therefore, the array probe 4 disposed on the
flexible plate 2 having the shorter stem part 21 and
the array probe 5 disposed on the flexible plate 3
having the longer stem part 31 are located at different
positions in the axial direction of the tube P. In
25 other words, the two array probes 4 and 5 are located
at different positions in the forward/backward
direction. The distance between the two array probes
12
4 and 5 is appropriately determined based on the inner
diameter of the tube P and the curvature of a U-bend
part of the tube P.
[0018]
5 Therefore, the two array probes 4 and 5 do not
interfere with each other when passing through the Ubend part of the tube P. Therefore, the tube P having
the U-bend part can be inspected with high precision.
[0019]
10 Preferably, the spatula part 22 connected to the
shorter stem part 21 and the spatula part 32 connected
to the longer stem part 31 are located at different
positions in the axial direction of the tube P. In
other words, the two spatula parts 22 and 32 are
15 located at different positions in the forward/backward
direction.
[0020]
Therefore, the two spatula parts 22 and 32 do not
interfere with each other when passing through the U20 bend part of the tube P. Therefore, the tube P having
the U-bend part can be inspected with higher precision.
[0021]
The pulled parts 61 and 62 of the connection body
6 are specifically an advancing pulled part 61 and a
25 retracting pulled part 62. The advancing pulled part
61 is pulled in one direction (forward direction) along
the axial direction of the tube P. The retracting
13
pulled part 62 is pulled in the other direction
(backward direction) along the axial direction of the
tube P.
[0022]
5 The pulled parts 61 and 62 of the connection body
6 are pulled in the forward direction and the backward
direction respectively by being the advancing pulled
part 61 and the retracting pulled part 62. When the
connection body 6 is being pulled in the forward
10 direction in the tube P, the connection body 6 may be
caught in the tube P. In such a case, the connection
body 6 can be pulled in the backward direction to make
the connection body 6 move in the opposite direction
(or to retract the connection body 6), thereby clearing
15 the clogging of the tube P. Similarly, when the
connection body 6 is being pulled in the backward
direction in the tube P, the connection body 6 and
large-diameter members 81 and 82 described later may
be caught in the tube P. In such a case, the connection
20 body 6 can be pulled in the forward direction to make
the connection body 6 move in the opposite direction
(or to advance the connection body 6), thereby clearing
the clogging of the tube P. In this way, the advancing
pulled part 61 and the retracting pulled part 62
25 facilitate clearing of the clogging of the tube P with
the connection body 6 and the large-diameter members
81 and 82.
14
[0023]
The ultrasonic phased array inspection device 1
further includes a traction fitting 7 for pulling the
pulled parts 61 and 62. The traction fitting 7
5 includes a frame holder 70, an advancing chain 71 (an
example of an advancing traction member), a retracting
chain 72 (an example of a retracting traction member),
a first flange part 91, a second flange part 92 and
the large-diameter members 81 and 82. Specifically,
10 the large-diameter members 81 and 82 are a first largediameter member 81 and a second large-diameter member
82.
[0024]
The frame holder 70 is a frame that surrounds and
15 holds the connection body 6 at the front, rear and
sides of the connection body 6. The frame holder 70
comes into contact with a rear surface 61 and a front
surface 62 of the connection body 6. Therefore, the
frame holder 70 transmits an advancing force to the
20 rear surface 61 of the connection body 6, and transmits
a retracting force to the front surface 62 of the
connection body 6. Therefore, the rear surface 61 of
the connection body 6 constitutes the advancing pulled
part 61, and the front surface 62 of the connection
25 body 6 constitutes the retracting pulled part 62.
[0025]
The advancing chain 71 is connected to a front end
15
part of the frame holder 70. The retracting chain 72
is connected to a rear end part of the frame holder
70. The advancing chain 71 and the retracting chain
72 are both roller chains, for example. The advancing
5 chain 71 and the retracting chain 72 have the same pin
direction, that is, bend in the same direction. The
retracting chain 72 is provided with the first flange
part 91, the second flange part 92, the first largediameter member 81 and the second large-diameter member
10 82.
[0026]
Since the advancing chain 71 and the retracting
chain 72 are roller chains, the advancing chain 71 and
the retracting chain 72 bend along the U-bend part of
15 the tube P and therefore smoothly pass through the Ubend part. Therefore, the tube P having the U-bend
part can also be inspected with high precision.
[0027]
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the first flange part
20 91 comes into contact with a rear end of the spatula
part 22 connected to the shorter stem part 21.
Therefore, the first flange part 91 transmits an
advancing force to the flexible plate 2 having the
shorter stem part 21. As shown in FIG. 4, the first
25 flange part 91 leaves a space through which the longer
stem part 31 passes in the forward/backward direction.
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the second flange part 92
16
comes into contact with a rear end of the spatula part
32 connected to the longer stem part 31. Therefore,
the second flange part 92 transmits an advancing force
to the flexible plate 3 having the longer stem part 31.
5 [0028]
As shown in FIG. 4, the first large-diameter
member 81 presses the spatula part 22 against the inner
circumferential surface of the tube P at the part where
the array probe 4 is disposed. Similarly, as shown in
10 FIG. 5, the second large-diameter member 82 presses
the spatula part 32 against the inner circumferential
surface of the tube P at the part where the array probe
5 is disposed. To this end, as shown in FIGS. 4 and
5, each of the first large-diameter member 81 and the
15 second large-diameter member 82 has three pressing
parts 83 and three compression springs 84. The three
pressing parts 83 have an outer circumferential shape
that conforms to the inner circumferential surface of
the tube P. The three compression springs 84 urge the
20 three pressing parts 83 from the retracting chain 72
to the inner circumferential surface of the tube P.
[0029]
As shown in FIG. 4, the array probe 4 disposed on
the spatula part 22 extends from a lower right position
25 to the top and then to a lower left position in the
inner circumferential direction of the tube P. As
shown in FIG. 5, the array probe 5 disposed on the
17
spatula part 32 extends from a upper right position to
the bottom and then to a upper left position in the
inner circumferential direction of the tube P.
Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the two array
5 probes 4 and 5 cover at least the entire length in the
inner circumferential direction of the tube P. In
other words, the two array probes 4 and 5 are disposed
over the entire length in the inner circumferential
direction of the tube P. Therefore, the inner
10 circumferential surface of the tube P is inspected over
the entire length in the circumferential direction with
the two array probes 4 and 5. As a result, the tube P
can be inspected with higher precision.
[0030]
15 As shown in FIG. 6, the ultrasonic phased array
inspection device 1 further includes an advancing
winding device 101 and a retracting winding device 102.
The advancing winding device 101 winds up the advancing
chain 71. The retracting winding device 102 winds up
20 the retracting chain 72.
[0031]
Since the ultrasonic phased array inspection
device 1 includes the advancing winding device 101 and
the retracting winding device 102, the advancing chain
25 71 and the retracting chain 72 are under tension in
the inspection. Therefore, the tube P can be inspected
with higher precision.
18
[0032]
The advancing winding device 101 and the
retracting winding device 102 may have the same
configuration. For example, each of the advancing
5 winding device 101 and the retracting winding device
102 includes a housing 103, a sprocket 104, a set of
gear and pinion 109, a manual handle 105 with a grip
105h, a small encoder 106, air pickers 107 fixed to a
Y-shaped jig 107y, and a circumferential position
10 adjuster 108.
[0033]
The housing 103 rotatably houses the sprocket 104
and the set of gear and pinion 109. The advancing
chain 71 or the retracting chain 72 is wound around
15 the sprocket 104. The sprocket 104 rotates to feed
the advancing chain 71 or the retracting chain 72 while
turning the chain around from the forward/backward
direction to the up/down direction. The manual handle
105 is disposed outside the housing 103. The manual
20 handle 105 transmits a rotation caused by hand to the
sprocket 104. The distance between the axis of
rotation of the manual handle 105 and the grip 105h is
equal to or less than 130% of the radius of the sprocket
104. That is, the manual handle 105 is small. The
25 small encoder 106 measures the rotational speed of the
sprocket 104 based on the rotation of the sprocket 104
transmitted by the set of gear and pinion 109. The
19
air pickers 107 can be fixed to tubes other than the
tube P to be inspected. The circumferential position
adjuster 108 allows adjustment and fixing of the
position of the Y-shaped jig 107y (the position in the
5 circumferential direction of a circle centered on the
advancing chain 71 or the retracting chain 72 extending
in the forward/backward direction). The Y-shaped jig
107y allows adjustment and fixing of the positions of
the air pickers 107 (positions closer to or farther
10 from the advancing chain 71 or the retracting chain 72
extending in the forward/backward direction).
[0034]
When the manual handle 105 is manually rotated in
the state where the air pickers 107 are fixed to the
15 tubes other than the tube P to be inspected, the
sprocket 104 also rotates to feed the advancing chain
71 or the retracting chain 72 in the forward direction
or the backward direction.
[0035]
20 Next, with reference to FIGS. 7 to 12, the
ultrasonic phased array inspection method will be
described in more detail. The ultrasonic phased array
inspection method includes a connection body
installation step and a preliminary movement step
25 before the inspection step.
[0036]
FIG. 7 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view for
20
illustrating the ultrasonic phased array inspection
method, which shows the first half of the connection
body installation step. FIG. 8 is a longitudinal
cross-sectional view for illustrating the ultrasonic
5 phased array inspection method, which shows the second
half of the connection body installation step. FIG. 9
is a longitudinal cross-sectional view for
illustrating the ultrasonic phased array inspection
method, which shows the preliminary movement step. FIG.
10 10 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view for
illustrating the ultrasonic phased array inspection
method, which shows the first half of the inspection
step. FIG. 11 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view
for illustrating the ultrasonic phased array
15 inspection method, which shows the second half of the
inspection step. FIG. 12 is a longitudinal crosssectional view showing the end of the ultrasonic phased
array inspection method.
[0037]
20 As shown in FIG. 7, in the connection body
installation step, the retracting chain 72 is passed
through the tube P to be inspected. The tube P to be
inspected is a tube P of a heat exchanger (an example
of the tube P having a U-bend part), and therefore,
25 the tube P is connected to a tube plate PL and is
adjacent to a plurality of tubes P1 and P2. The
retracting chain 72 may be passed through the tube P
21
from an inspection end side E (one end) to an
inspection start side S (the other end) of the tube P
or from the inspection start side S (the other end) to
the inspection end side E (one end) of the tube P.
5 [0038]
As shown in FIG. 8, in the connection body
installation step, the connection body 6 is then
installed at the inspection end side E of the tube P.
The advancing chain 71 and the retracting chain 72 are
10 then connected to the connection body 6. The
connection between the connection body 6 and the
advancing chain 71 and the retracting chain 72 may be
achieved by the frame holder 70 of the traction fitting
7 holding the connection body 6. Furthermore, the
15 retracting winding device 102 is fixed to the tubes P2
adjacent to (or in the vicinity of) the inspection
start side S of the tube P. The retracting chain 72
is then passed through the retracting winding device
102 so that the retracting winding device 102 can wind
20 up the retracting chain 72. Any excess part of the
advancing chain 71 and the retracting chain 72 may be
accommodated in a chain reservoir R.
[0039]
As shown in FIG. 9, in the preliminary movement
25 step, the retracting winding device 102 then winds up
the retracting chain 72. As a result, the connection
body 6 is pulled in the backward direction and moves
22
to the inspection start side S of the tube P. In other
words, the retracting pulled part 62 of the connection
body 6 is pulled to move the connection body 6 from
one end E to the other end S of the tube P. In addition,
5 the advancing winding device 101 is fixed to the tubes
P1 adjacent to (or in the vicinity of) the inspection
end side E of the tube P. The advancing chain 71 is
then passed through the advancing winding device 101
so that the advancing winding device 101 can wind up
10 the advancing chain 71.
[0040]
As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, in the inspection
step, the advancing winding device 101 then winds up
the advancing chain 71. As a result, the connection
15 body 6 is pulled in the forward direction, and flaw
detection is performed with the array probes 4 and 5
while the connection body 6 moves to the inspection
end side E of the tube P. In other words, while the
advancing pulled part 61 of the connection body 6 is
20 pulled to move the connection body 6 from the other
end S to the one end E of the tube P, flaw detection
is performed with the array probes 4 and 5. When the
connection body 6 reaches the one end E, the flaw
detection ends. In the inspection step, not only the
25 flaw detection but also measurement of the thickness
of the tube P can be performed with the array probes
4 and 5. When the connection body 6 is caught in the
23
tube P in the flaw detection, the retracting chain 72
is wound up by the retracting winding device 102. In
this way, the clogging of the tube P with the
connection body 6 can be cleared.
5 [0041]
As shown in FIG. 12, finally, the advancing chain
71 is removed from the connection body 6, and the
advancing winding device 101 is removed from the tube
P1. The retracting chain 72 is then removed from the
10 connection body 6. After that, the retracting chain
72 is wound up by the retracting winding device 102.
After the retracting chain 72 is wound up and removed
out of the other end S of the tube P, the retracting
winding device 102 is also removed from the tube P2.
15 [0042]
Since the ultrasonic phased array inspection
method includes the connection body installation step
and the preliminary movement step before the inspection
step, the connection body 6 passes through the tube P
20 before the flaw detection, so that the connection body
6 is less likely to be caught in the tube P in the flaw
detection. Therefore, the tube P can be inspected
with high precision.
[0043]
25 The embodiments of the present invention have been
described with reference to the drawings. However,
the present invention is not limited to the embodiments,
24
and various other implementations are possible without
departing from the spirit of the present invention.
The drawings are schematic diagrams showing main
components for ease of understanding, and the thickness
5 and length of each component, the numbers of the
components, the distances between the components and
the like shown in the drawings are different from those
in the actual implementation for convenience of drawing.
The speed, material, shape, dimensions and the like of
10 each component shown in the embodiments are just
examples and are not intended to limit the present
invention, and various modifications can be made
without substantially departing from the configuration
according to the present invention.
15 [0044]
In the embodiments, no protection for the array
probes 4 and 5 has been described. As shown in FIGS.
13 and 14, however, the ultrasonic phased array
inspection device 1 may further include a protection
20 film 110 for protecting the array probes 4 and 5 and
the spatula parts 22 and 32. The protection film 110
includes an outer transparent film 111, an inner
transparent film 112 and a bonding part 113. The outer
transparent film 111 is preferably a hydrophilic film.
25 If the outer transparent film 111 is a hydrophilic
film, water droplets are less likely to be formed on
the outer transparent film 111, and therefore
25
reflection of the ultrasonic wave from water droplets,
which is a cause of noise, is prevented. The bonding
part 113 bonds the outer transparent film 111 and the
inner transparent film 112 to each other. The bonding
5 part 113 is an adhesive or a double-faced tape, for
example. The double-faced tape is preferably
waterproof.
[0045]
As shown in FIG. 13, the outer transparent film
10 111 covers the entire surface of the spatula parts 22
and 32 on the side on which the array probes 4 and 5
are disposed. As shown in FIG. 14, the inner
transparent film 112 covers the spatula parts 22 and
32 on the side on which the array probes 4 and 5 are
15 not disposed. The inner transparent film 112 does not
cover a central part of the spatula parts 22 and 32
that corresponds to an extension of the stem parts 21
and 31. Therefore, the part of the inner transparent
film 112 that does not cover the spatula parts 22 and
20 32 serves as an opening through which the spatula parts
22 and 32 are removed or inserted.
[0046]
The opening through which the spatula parts 22 and
32 are removed or inserted facilitates replacement of
25 the protection film 110 for the spatula parts 22 and
32. When the spatula parts 22 and 32 extend along the
inner circumferential surface of the tube P, the inner
26
transparent film 112 is located on the inner side of
the curved spatula parts 22 and 32. Since the inner
transparent film 112 has the opening, the inner
transparent film 112 can be prevented from being
5 wrinkled because of the curving.
[0047]
In the embodiments, no coupling medium required
for the flaw detection with the ultrasonic wave has
not been described. However, a coupling medium (such
10 as water or glycerin) may be supplied to the gap
between the spatula parts 22 and 32 and the inner
circumferential surface of the tube P. The coupling
medium may also be supplied to the gap between the
spatula parts 22 and 32 and the outer transparent film
15 111.
[0048]
In the embodiments, as shown in FIG. 1, two
flexible plates 2 and 3 (or a plurality of flexible
plates) have been described. As shown in FIG. 15,
20 however, there may be only one flexible plate 23. The
one flexible plate 23 has a stem part 21, a left spatula
part 22 and a right spatula part 32. The left spatula
part 22 is located forward (or rearward) of the right
spatula part 32. The two array probes 4 and 5 are
25 disposed on the left spatula part 22 and the right
spatula part 32, respectively. Therefore, the two
array probes 4 and 5 are located at different positions
27
in the forward/backward direction. The left spatula
part 22 projects to the left from a stem part 21. The
right spatula part 32 projects to the right from an
extension of the stem part 21 in the backward direction.
5 The array probes 4 and 5 disposed on the left spatula
part 22 and the right spatula part 32, respectively,
cover at least the entire length in the inner
circumferential direction of the tube P in which the
two array probes 4 and 5 are inserted. In other words,
10 the two array probes 4 and 5 are disposed over the
entire length in the inner circumferential direction
of the tube P.
[0049]
In the embodiments, the connection body 6 has been
15 described as having the pulled parts 61 and 62 that
are to be pulled in the axial direction of the tube P.
The connection body 6 is not limited to having the
pulled parts 61 and 62 and can have any force receiving
part for receiving a force to make the connection body
20 6 move (including scan) in the axial direction of the
tube P. As the force to make the connection body 6
move in the axial direction of the tube P, the force
receiving part receives a pressing force from a
pressing member, a pressure such as water pressure or
25 air pressure, or a negative pressure such as water
pressure or air pressure. The pressing member can be
inserted into the tube P and has a bar-like shape, for
28
example. When the tube P has a U-bend part, the
pressing member is preferably flexible to be curved.
[0050]
In the embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, an
5 example has been described in which in the connection
body installation step, the retracting chain 72 is
passed through the tube P, and the connection body 6
is connected to the retracting chain 72. As shown in
FIG. 16, however, a traction jig 7C (an example of a
10 traction fitting) may be used instead of the retracting
chain 72. The traction jig 7C has a slit extending in
the longitudinal direction so that the traction jig 7C
can be opened at the slit (that is, the traction jig
7C has a C-shaped lateral cross section). The traction
15 jig 7C is a corrugated tube having a slit extending in
the longitudinal direction, for example. When the
traction jig 7C is used instead of the retracting chain
72, as shown in FIG. 17, in the connection body
installation step, the traction jig 7C is passed
20 through the tube P to be inspected. As shown in FIG.
18, the connection body 6 is then inserted into a front
end part of the traction jig 7C at the inspection end
side E of the tube P. The front end part of the
traction jig 7C may be provided with an attachment that
25 enables or facilitates the insertion of the connection
body 6. The advancing chain 71 is connected to the
connection body 6 inserted in the front end part of
29
the traction jig 7C. Furthermore, a jig winding device
102C is installed outside the inspection start side S
of the tube P so that the jig winding device 102C can
wind up the traction jig 7C. The jig winding device
5 102C is a winding device for a water hose, for example.
[0051]
As shown in FIG. 19, in the preliminary movement
step, the jig winding device 102C then winds up the
traction jig 7C. The connection body 6 is pulled in
10 the backward direction and moves to the inspection
start side S of the tube P. In other words, the
retracting pulled part 62 of the connection body 6 is
pulled to move the connection body 6 from the one end
E to the other end S of the tube P. In addition, the
15 advancing winding device 101 is fixed to the tubes P1
adjacent to (or in the vicinity of) the inspection end
side E of the tube P. The advancing chain 71 is then
passed through the advancing winding device 101 so that
the advancing winding device 101 can wind up the
20 advancing chain 71. Furthermore, the traction jig 7C
is removed from the connection body 6 having moved to
the other end S of the tube P, and the retracting chain
72 is connected to the connection body 6 instead. In
addition, the retracting winding device 102 is fixed
25 to the tubes P2 adjacent to (or in the vicinity of)
the inspection start side S of the tube P. The
retracting chain 72 is then passed through the
30
retracting winding device 102 so that the retracting
winding device 102 can wind up the retracting chain 72.
The connection body installation step and the
preliminary movement step described with reference to
5 FIGS. 17 to 19 facilitate the movement of the array
probes 4 and 5 along with the connection body 6 to the
inspection start side S. The inspection step following
the preliminary movement step is as described with
reference to FIGS. 10 to 12.
10
Industrial Applicability
[0052]
The present invention provides an ultrasonic
phased array inspection device and an ultrasonic phased
15 array inspection method using the same and has an
industrial applicability.
31
We claim:
1. An ultrasonic phased array inspection device,
comprising:
5 a flexible plate extending along an inner
circumferential surface of a tube;
an array probe that is disposed on the flexible
plate and sends and receives an ultrasonic wave based
on a phased array technique; and
10 a connection body that is connected to the
flexible plate,
wherein the array probe has a set of a
predetermined number of piezoelectric elements
arranged in an inner circumferential direction of the
15 tube, and
the connection body has a force receiving part
that receives a force to make the connection body move
in an axial direction of the tube.
20 2. The ultrasonic phased array inspection device as
claimed in claim 1, wherein the array probe has a
plurality of array probes, and
the plurality of array probes are located at
different positions in the axial direction of the tube.
25
3. The ultrasonic phased array inspection device as
claimed in claim 2, wherein the plurality of array
32
probes cover at least an entire length in the inner
circumferential direction of the tube.
4. The ultrasonic phased array inspection device as
5 claimed in one of claims 1 to 3, comprising a
hydrophilic protection film that protects the array
probe.
5. The ultrasonic phased array inspection device as
10 claimed in one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the force
receiving part is a pulled part that is pulled in the
axial direction of the tube, and
the pulled part has:
an advancing pulled part that is pulled in one
15 direction along the axial direction of the tube; and
a retracting pulled part that is pulled in another
direction along the axial direction of the tube.
6. The ultrasonic phased array inspection device as
20 claimed in claim 5, comprising:
an advancing traction member for pulling the
advancing pulled part;
an advancing winding device that winds up the
advancing traction member;
25 a retracting traction member for pulling the
retracting pulled part; and
a retracting winding device that winds up the
33
retracting traction member.
7. An ultrasonic phased array inspection method that
uses the ultrasonic phased array inspection device as
5 claimed in one of claims 1 to 4, comprising:
performing flaw detection and/or thickness
measurement with the array probe while moving the
connection body.
10 8. An ultrasonic phased array inspection method that
uses the ultrasonic phased array inspection device as
claimed in one of claims 5 and 6, comprising:
installing the connection body at one end of the
tube;
15 moving the connection body from the one end to
another end of the tube by pulling the retracting
pulled part of the connection body; and
performing flaw detection and/or thickness
measurement with the array probe while moving the
20 connection body from the another end to the one end of
the tube by pulling the advancing pulled part of the
connection body