APPARATUS FOR INSPECTING TUBULAR GOODS HAVING AN AUTOMATIC SHUTTER

• US 3,684,887 A
• Filed: 03/26/1970
• Issued: 08/15/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gerald H. Hugonin
• Original Assignee: Gerald H. Hugonin
• Inventors: Hugonin, Gerald H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Stolwein, Walter
• Assistant Examiner(s): Frome, Morton J.
• Application Number:
  US05/022,933
• Time in Patent Office: 873 Days
• Field of Search: 250/83.3D,105,16S,5Z,83C
• US Class Current: 378/59
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 15/025 by measuring absorption
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 23/18 Investigating the presence of flaws defects or foreign matter
• CPC Class Codes: G21K 1/04 using variable diaphragms, shutters, choppers

Abstract

In the new and improved radiation apparatus disclosed herein for inspecting tubular goods, a radiation detector is coaxially positioned within a tubular member being axially translated along a selected inspection axis for receiving radiation from a radiation emitter facing the detector and mounted in a body rotating around the exterior of the tubular member. One or more radiation-attenuating devices or shutters are cooperatively arranged in the rotating body for regulating the intensity of radiation imposed on the detector. Uniquely-arranged controls are provided for selectively positioning the shutters as tubular members that are to be inspected move along the inspection axis, with these controls being adapted for operation without interrupting the rotation of the body carrying the shutters.

Claims

1. Apparatus adapted for inspecting an elongated tubular member and comprising:

conveyor means adapted for axially translating an elongated tubular member along a selected longitudinal axis;

radiation-detecting means including a radiation detector disposed generally along said axis and adapted for insertion into a tubular member being moved along said conveyor means toward said radiation detector to receive radiation directed theretoward;

radiation-emitting means including a body adapted for rotation about said axis and having a passage therein directed inwardly toward said radiation detector, a radiation source operatively arranged on said rotatable body in relation to said passage for directing a beam of radiation inwardly therethrough toward said radiation detector, and means operatively arranged for rotating said rotatable body about said axis to progressively sweep said beam of radiation around said radiation detector;

radiationcontrolling means including a member operatively arranged on said rotatable body for movement relative thereto between first and second positions, said movable member having one portion adapted to be aligned with said passage upon movement thereof to its said first position for attenuating said beam of radiation to a selected level of intensity;

actuating means mounted adjacent to said rotatable body and operatively arranged for selectively shifting said movable member between its said positions upon rotation of said rotatable body; and

control means operatively arranged between said actuating means and said conveyor means for operating said actuating means to shift said movable member to its said first position in response to movement of a tubular member in a selected direction along said conveyor means.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said control means are further adapted for operating said actuating means to shift said movable member to its said second position in response to movement of a tubular member in the other direction along said conveyor means.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said movable member has another portion thereof with an opening therethrough adapted to be aligned with said passage upon movement of said movable member to its said second position, said opening being no smaller than said passage so that said beam of radiation will not be significantly attenuated so long as said movable member is in its said second position.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the range of movement of said movable member is defined by its said positions so that shifting of said movable member from either of its said positions will carry it to the other of its said positions.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said control means are further adapted for operating said actuating means to shift said movable member to its said second position only when said radiation detector is inserted into a tubular member moving along said conveyor means and for operating said actuating means to shift said movable member to its said first position when said radiation detector is not inserted in a tubular member moving along said conveyor means.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said movable member has an end portion projecting outwardly from said rotatable body which, upon rotation of said rotatable body, is carried in a predetermined circular path about said axis;

and said actuating means include a contact member adapted for movement into and out of said circular path, and means operatively arranged between said contact member and said control means for selectively moving said contact member into said circular path to contact said end portion upon rotation thereof into engagement with said contact member and shift said movable member to its said first position.

7. Apparatus adapted for inspecting an elongated tubular member and comprising:

conveyor means adapted for axially translating an elongated tubular member along a selected longitudinal axis;

radiation-detecting means including a radiation detector disposed generally along said axis and adapted for insertion into a tubular member being moved along said conveyor means toward said radiation detector to receive radiation directed theretoward;

radiation-emitting means including a body adapted for rotation about said axis and having a first passage therein directed inwardly toward said radiation detector, a radiation source arranged in said first passage for directing a beam of radiation inwardly therethrough toward said radiation detector, and means operatively arranged for rotating said rotatable body about said axis to progressively sweep said beam of radiation around said radiation detector;

radiation-controlling means including a second passage in said rotatable body extending therethrough between the forward and rearward faces of said rotatable body and intersecting said first passage between said radiation source and the end of said first passage facing said radiation detector, and a member slidably arranged in said second passage and having first and second end portions extending beyond said forward and rearward faces, said slidable member having a first intermediate portion adapted to be in alignment with said first passage upon movement of said slidable member to a first position in relation to said rotatable body for attenuating said beam of radiation to a selected level of intensity, said slidable member having a second intermediate portion with an opening therethrough adapted to be in alignment with said first passage upon movement of said slidable member to a second position in relation to said rotatable body for passing said beam of radiation therethrough;

actuating means including first and second contact members fixed in relation to said rotatable body and respectively adapted for movement into the circular paths of rotation described by said first and second end portions of said slidable member upon rotation of said rotatable body, movement of said first contact member into said path of rotation of said first end portion being operative for shifting said slidable member to its said first position upon rotation of said first end portion into engagement with said first contact member, and movement of said second contact member into said path of rotation of said second end portion being operative for shifting said slidable member to its said second position upon rotation of said second end portion into engagement with said second contact member; and

Control means operatively arranged between said actuating means and said conveyor means for selectively moving said first contact member into said path of rotation of said first end portion in response to movement of a tubular member along said conveyor means away from said radiation detector and for selectively moving said second contact member into said path of rotation of said second end portion in response to movement of a tubular member along said conveyor means toward said radiation detector.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said second passage is substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said first passage is radially directed toward said longitudinal axis and said second passage is substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis and perpendicularly intersects said first passage.

10. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said first and second contact members are flexible straps, and said actuating means further include first and second actuators including first and second reciprocating members respectively adapted for engagement with said first and second straps for urging said straps into said paths of rotation upon operation of said first and second actuators.

11. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said first intermediate portion of said slidable member has a known thickness;

and further including;

first signal means coupled to said radiation detector and operable only when said slidable member is in its said first position for producing a first signal representative of said known thickness; and

second signal means coupled to said radiation detector and operable only when said slidable member is in its said second position for producing a succession of second signals representative of the wall thicknesses along successive portions of a tubular member moving along said conveyor means over said radiation detector.