Device for ultrasonic weld seam testing of longitudinally welded pipes for longitudinal and transversal errors

• US 6,931,931 B2
• Filed: 07/04/2002
• Issued: 08/23/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mannesmannröhren-Werke AG (Salzgitter AG)
• Original Assignee: Mannesmannröhren-Werke AG (Salzgitter AG)
• Inventors: Oesterlein, Ludwig, Kersting, Thomas, Verhoeven, Jürgen, Graff, Alfred
• Primary Examiner(s): NOORI, MAX H
• Application Number:
  US10/482,812
• Publication Number:
  US 20040237653A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,146 Days
• Field of Search: 735/88, 736/20, 736/22, 736/24, 736/25, 738/50
• US Class Current: 73/622
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 2101/06 Tubes
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 31/12 relating to investigating the properties, e.g. the weldability, of materials
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/044 Internal reflections (echoes), e.g. on walls or defects
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/2634 cylindrical from outside
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/2675 Seam, butt welding
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/223 Supports, positioning or alignment in fixed situation mounting transducers per se G10K11/004
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/265 by moving the sensor relative to a stationary material
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/28 providing acoustic coupling , e.g. water impedance matching G10K11/02

Abstract

A device for ultrasonic weld seam testing of longitudinally includes two testing carriages swingably suspended and moveable on the pipe surface to the right and left of the weld seam for longitudinal flaw inspection, and one testing carriage swingably suspended in central relationship to the weld seam and moveable on the pipe surface for transverse flaw inspection. Each testing carriage has a mount for accommodating at least one testing head which includes an oscillator, and at least one coupling medium connection having a channel ending in the region of the oscillator and configured as nozzle in the outlet area. The test head for longitudinal flaw inspection can be arranged at various fixed and predefined angle positions at variable distance to the nozzle in the mount, and the test head for transverse flaw inspection can be arranged, together with the mount, at a variable distance to the pipe surface in a support element accommodating the mount.

Claims

1. A device for ultrasonic weld seam testing of a longitudinally welded pipe, in particular a large pipe, for longitudinal and transverse flaws, comprising:

a swingably suspended first test carriage, movable on a surface of a pipe on one side next to a weld seam, for longitudinal flaw inspection; and

a swingably suspended second test carriage, disposed in alignment with a center of the weld seam and movable on the surface of the pipe, for transverse flaw inspection,

wherein each of the first and second test carriages includes a mount for accommodating at least one test head, which has an oscillator, and at least, one coupling medium connection having a channel which ends in an area of the oscillator and has an outlet zone configured in the form of a nozzle which is secured to the mount,

wherein the test head for longitudinal flaw inspection is constructed for arrangement in different, fixed and predefined angle positions at a variable distance to the nozzle in the mount, and

wherein the mount for the test head for transverse flaw inspection is arranged at a variable distance to the surface of the pipe in a support element.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the first test carriage defines a pivot axis and has a base plate, and further comprising two upright side panels which are secured to the base plate in parallel relationship and have each on an inside a recess which extends at an angle, said mount of the first test carriage being provided with two confronting nose-like protrusions which complement the recesses of the side panels for securement between the side panels, wherein the recesses are so angled that an axis of the test head in the mount of the first test carriage extends through an intersection defined by a vertical, which extends through the pivot axis of the test carriage, and a horizontal, which is established by contact points of the test carriage.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the mount of the first test carriage is secured by at least one screw which is insertable through each side panel and rotatable into the mount.

4. The device of claim 2, further comprising a connection piece for interconnecting the two side panels to form an exchangeable unitary structure.

5. The device of claim 1, further comprising a frame, wherein the support element for holding the mount and the test head is surrounded by and vertically adjustably guided in the frame.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the support element is connected on each side with two guide parts which are movable in recesses arranged in the frame, and wherein an end surface of the support element is connected with an adjustment nut which interacts with a knurled nut.

7. The device of claim 5, further comprising spring elements for bracing the support element to the frame.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the second test carriage is provided with three test heads, with a first one of the test heads being fixed, and a second one of the other test heads being movable axially relative to the fixed test head for the transverse flaw inspection, and with a third one of the test head being fixed for doubling inspection.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the nozzle of each of the test heads is made of wear-resistant plastic.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the nozzle is made of Teflon.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the nozzle is secured to the mount by a fastening screw which is insertable from below through the nozzle and rotatable into the mount.

12. The device of claim 8, further comprising a spindle drive for realizing an axial movement of the second test head, said spindle drive including two spindles which are arranged in the support element and which have each an end surface for attachment of a toothed disk which is wrapped around by an endless toothed belt.

13. The device of claim 12, further comprising a knurled nut secured to the toothed disk of one of the spindles.