WO2007011269A1

WO2007011269A1 - Sensor system arrangement for an in-tube flaw detector

Info

Publication number: WO2007011269A1
Application number: PCT/RU2006/000391
Authority: WO
Inventors: Alexandr Maximilyanovich Popovich; Mikhail Dmitrievich Kostkin; Svyatoslav Evgenievich Lisin
Original assignee: Popovich Alexandr Maximilyanov; Mikhail Dmitrievich Kostkin; Svyatoslav Evgenievich Lisin
Priority date: 2005-07-19
Filing date: 2006-07-14
Publication date: 2007-01-25
Also published as: RU2293312C1

Abstract

The invention relates to devices for in-tube non-destructive testing of pipelines by moving therein a device consisting of one or several transport modules provided with sensors mounted on the body, more specifically to a structural design of a sensor system arrangement for an in-tube flaw detector. The inventive device comprises a row of sensor holders arranged concentrically along the flaw detector circumference. Each holder is placed in a parallel position with respect to the longitudinal axis of the flaw detector and is provided with at least one sensor mounted thereon. Each holder is hingedly connected to a lever at the front, in the direction of the flaw detector movement, end thereof, the other lever end is also hingedly connected to the flaw detector body, the rear end of each holder is fixed to the end of a spring which is in compression in the operating state of the system and whose other end is fixed to the body. The sensors mounted on the holders are oriented transversally to the flaw detector longitudinal axis. In the second embodiment, the device comprises two row of sensors positioned concentrically along the circumference of the flaw detector in staggering, wherein each holder is T- or X-shaped in the plane view thereof and is provided with cross bars arranged along and transversally with respect to the flaw detector longitudinal axis. In the third embodiment, the sensor holder consists of two parts, wherein the first part comprises the front end and is hingedly connected to the lever and, therefor is not displaceable with respect to the lever on the transversal plane. The second part of the holder is mounted on the axle, which is fixed to the holder first part and is rotatable in the transversal direction with respect thereto.

Description

The device system sensors in-line flaw detector

The inventions relate to devices for non-destructive non-destructive testing of pipelines by passing inside a pipeline a device consisting of one or more transport modules with sensors installed on the housing, more specifically, to a device of an in-pipe flaw detector sensor system.

As a rule, flaw detector sensors are installed concentrically around the perimeter of the flaw detector body in order to block its entire surface during the monitoring of the condition of the pipe. However, the pipe is not an ideal body. In the process of movement, the in-line flaw detector passes rounding, pipe sections of different diameters or different wall thicknesses. The design of the sensor system of the in-tube flaw detector during its movement should ensure a tight fit of the sensors to the pipe wall and a constant orientation of these sensors in the radial direction relative to the longitudinal axis of the flaw detector body.

Various sensor systems for an in-line flaw detector are known.

Sensor System US Pat. No. 4,330,748, May 18, 1982, IPC: G01R 033/00; G01N 027/72; G01N 027/82, as well as US patent 4468619, publication August 28, 1984, IPC G01N 027/82, contains sensors mounted on the base - the slide and located around the perimeter of the flaw detector. The base is a flexible plate bent as a parallelogram, fixed in the middle to the base on the flaw detector housing. One branch of the plate is a support for the sensors, the other supports support from bending from the pipe wall in the place where the sensors are fixed. Due to its stiffness in the transverse direction, this flaw detector system provides a constant orientation of these sensors in the radial direction, but poorly provides

SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) constant adhesion of sensors to the surface of the pipe, because due to the rigidity of the system can only track small changes in diameter.

The sensor system according to US patent 5864232, publication January 26, 1999, IPC G01 N 027/72, contains sensors mounted on holders, each of which is mounted on the flaw detector housing using a pair of levers. The levers are spaced in the longitudinal direction in a plane passing through the axis of symmetry of the flaw detector and are able to rotate in this plane. Each specified lever has an axis of rotation at the point of attachment of the holder to the lever and at the place of attachment of the lever to the housing.

The holder together with the sensors is made according to the “parallelogram” scheme, which is stable and, due to its rigidity in the transverse direction, ensures constant orientation of these sensors in the radial direction when passing straight sections of the pipeline. However, such a system does not provide contact of the sensors when passing roundings and in places where the diameter of the pipe changes, since the base of the sensors can practically only move parallel to the body and does not have the ability to track pipe bends.

Russian patent 2225977, publication March 20, 2004, IPC G01 MZ / 08, F17D5 / 00, G01 N27 / 72 is the closest analogue. Sensors are installed in holders installed around the perimeter around the symmetry axis of the flaw detector. Each sensor holder is mounted on the flaw detector housing using a pair of levers that can rotate in a plane passing through the axis of symmetry of the flaw detector. In each sensor holder, all sensors are located on the tail of the flaw detector with respect to both axes of rotation of a pair of levers in this sensor holder. The distance between the indicated axes of rotation in the sensor holder is not more than 0.2 length of the lever.

This design of mounting sensors ensures their pressing while moving along straight sections of the pipeline, including and when changing the diameter of the pipe, since the sensor due to the lever system and swivel joints can repeat changes in the profile of the pipe walls. But the design has a relatively low resistance to lateral influences, since two levers are mounted both at the base and at the body at almost the same point. When passing roundings or protrusions in the pipe wall, the base may shift away from the desired path of movement, in addition, the sensors may lose contact with the wall.

The claimed group of inventions solves the problem of ensuring constant contact with the pipe wall, both in straight sections, and in roundings and in places where the diameter of the pipe changes, while maintaining lateral stability during movement of the system.

The inventive device of the sensor system of an in-line flaw detector according to the first embodiment, contains a number of sensor holders mounted concentrically around the perimeter of the flaw detector. Each holder is located parallel to the longitudinal axis of the flaw detector housing, at least one sensor is mounted on the holder. Each holder at its front end along the flaw detector is pivotally attached to the lever, the other end of the lever is also pivotally mounted on the flaw detector body, one end of the spring is fixed to the holder at a distance from the lever attachment point, operating the working position of the system for compression, the other end of which is fixed to case.

The fit to the pipe wall is ensured by a structure containing two swivel joints at the points of attachment of the lever supporting the holder at its front end, which provides the holder with sensors with the necessary degree of freedom and the ability to follow the pipe wall with changes in diameter.

A compression spring attached to the rear end of the holder and the housing presses the sensors to the surface of the pipe. This arrangement of the lever and spring mounts to the holder, spaced along its length, provides the necessary rigidity of the system in the transverse direction, since the mounting of the sensors to the housing is rather rigid structure in the form of a “parallelogram”. This provides flexibility in the radial direction and the ability to rotate the holder relative to the lever in the radial plane.

This design of the sensor system allows solving two interrelated problems. Each holder during the passage of any pipe sections: roundings, sections with different diameters, as well as pipe sections with occasional obstacles, for example, local irregularities, ensures that the sensors adhere to the pipe wall and are stable on the motion path. The stability of each holder on a given trajectory of movement ensures the operability of the entire system of sensors, since they do not shift to the side, in the transverse direction and provide the removal of parameters from the entire surface of the pipe walls.

A second embodiment of the invention is as follows. The device system of the in-tube flaw detector contains two rows of sensor holders mounted concentrically around the perimeter of the flaw detector in a checkerboard pattern, each holder having a T-shaped or cross-shaped plan with crossbars located along and across the longitudinal axis of the flaw detector on the transverse crossbar of the holder a series of sensors is installed, each holder at its front end along the flaw detector is pivotally attached to a lever, the other end of which is also a hinge It is fixedly mounted on the flaw detector housing, on the holder at a distance from the lever mounting point, one end of the spring is fixed, working in the working position of the system for compression, the other end of which is fixed on the housing.

This embodiment differs from the first in that the system contains two rows of sensor holders mounted concentrically around the perimeter of the flaw detector in a checkerboard pattern, each holder having a T-shaped or cross-shaped plan with crossbars located along and across the longitudinal axis of the flaw detector . A number of sensors are mounted on the crossbar of the holder. In this case, the system can work in a wider the range of changes in the internal diameters of the pipe examined by the flaw detector. The advantages of the first option are complemented by the fact that two rows of sensors arranged in a checkerboard pattern, while mounted on the transverse crossbar of the holder, are capable of blocking a large surface of the pipe when its diameter changes.

The second row of sensors is separated from the first along the longitudinal axis of the flaw detector by a distance in plan not less than the width of the transverse beam of the sensor holder.

A third embodiment of the invention is as follows. The device system of the in-line flaw detector sensors contains two rows of sensor holders mounted concentrically around the perimeter of the flaw detector body in a checkerboard pattern, each holder having a T-shaped or cross-shaped plan with crossbars located along and across the longitudinal axis of the flaw detector body. A number of sensors are mounted on the crossbar of the holder. Each holder at its front end along the flaw detector is pivotally attached to a lever, the other end of which is also pivotally mounted on the flaw detector body. On the holder at a distance from the lever attachment point, one end of the spring is fixed, working in the working position of the compression system, the other end of which is fixed to the housing. The sensor holder is made of two parts, the first includes the front end of the holder, and the second crossbar and the rear end of the holder. The second part of the holder is mounted on an axis fixed in the first part of the holder, with the possibility of rotation in the transverse direction.

The difference between the third option and the second is that the sensor holder is made of two parts, the first includes a front end and is attached to the lever with a hinge, therefore, in the transverse plane, it cannot be displaced relative to the lever. The second part of the holder is mounted on an axis fixed in the first part of the holder, and can be rotated in the transverse direction relative to the first part. Thanks to such a device, the holder has an additional degree of freedom and the sensors can more accurately track the inside of the pipe. For example, on pipe turns, when its internal profile has a complex geometry, the surface of the sensors is always pressed against the pipe surface, since the second part of the holder can rotate in the transverse direction. This design is also less susceptible to breakdowns due to technological protrusions on the inside of the pipe, such as the ends of bolts. Hitting the crossbar in such an obstacle, the second part of the holder rotates around the axis and passes the obstacle without breaking. Further, after an obstacle, the position of the sensors is restored automatically, they are pressed to the surface of the pipe due to the entire structure, in particular the lever and the spring.

Common to each of the options, special cases of the invention are described below. The end of the spring is fixed to the holder under the sensors. In this case, the best clamping of the sensors to the pipe wall is ensured.

In the particular case of execution, a unit for primary processing of sensor signals can be installed on each holder.

In addition, the front end of each holder contains a chipper, made with a bevel directed forward, in the direction of the flaw detector. This chipper protects the system element from breakage when it encounters a technological protrusion located along the axis of the holder.

In order to ensure the best stability of the system in the transverse direction and its fit to the pipe wall during the passage of various sections, the ratio of the length of the lever and the length of the sensor holder lies in the range 1: 2.5 - 1: 3.5.

In order to further improve the lateral stability of the system, each of the articulated joints comprises an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the flaw detector housing.

The invention is illustrated by the following drawings. In FIG. 1 shows a general view of the sensor system of an in-line flaw detector; FIG. 2 sensor holder. In FIG. 3 is a top view of a cross-shaped holder with sensors, FIG. 4 - holder T-shaped. In FIG. 5 shows a separate element of the sensor system. In FIG. 6, FIG. 7 and FIG. Figure 8 shows a system of sensors installed on the flaw detector housing in top, front and side views, respectively.

An example of the device system sensors in-line flaw detector shown in Fig.1. FIG. 2, FIG. 5 - FIG. 8. The device system sensors in-line flaw detector (Fig. 1,

FIG. 6 - FIG. 8), contains two rows of holders 1 of the sensors 3, mounted staggered around the perimeter of the flaw detector body 2 in a checkerboard pattern, each holder 1 having a cross-shaped shape 17 in plan view. The sensor holders 1 can also have a T-shape 18, as shown in FIG. . four.

The holder 1 (see Fig. 2, Fig. 3, Fig. 5) has a longitudinal crossbar 11 and a transverse 12. A number of sensors 3 are installed on the transverse crossbar 12 of the holder 1 (Fig. 3 and Fig. 4). On the crossbars 11 and 12 of the holder 1 is also located the block 6 of the primary signal processing. Each holder 1 at its front end along the flaw detector is pivotally attached with the help of axis 9 to the lever 4. The other end of the lever is pivotally attached with the help of axis 10 to the flaw detector body 2. The end of the compression spring 5 is mounted on the holder 1 under the sensors 3, its other end is mounted on the housing 2. The sensors 1 holder 1 is made of two parts, the first part 13 includes the front end of the holder 1. The second part 14 of the holder 1 is mounted on the axis 15, fixed in the first part 13 of the holder 1, which allows the second part 14 to rotate in the transverse direction relative to the axis of the holder 1. Each first part 13 of the holder 1 has a chipper 7.

Each unit 6 of the primary signal processing of the sensors 3 through a cable 16 is connected to the signal processing units of the flaw detector sensors, which are not shown in the figures. The ratio of the length of the lever 5 and the length of the holder 1 of the sensors 3 lies in the range 1: 2.5 - 1: 3.5, which allows the system to best track pipe irregularities, ensuring the fit of the sensors

3 to the pipe wall. It should be noted that the spring 5 is attached to the holder 1 not at the extreme point, but at a distance from the extreme point of the holder 1 of 0.1 to 0.2 of the length of the holder 1, which creates the effect of "reinforcement" and ensures that the holder 1 fits to the pipe surface in the plane of the sensors 3 on the crossbar

12. The sensor system of the in-line flaw detector operates as follows.

The flaw detector (Fig. 1) moves inside the pipe. The sensor system located concentrically around the perimeter of the flaw detector body 2 has contact with the inner surface of the pipe (not shown in FIG.). The data from the sensors 3 enter the primary processing unit 6, where in particular, signal amplification, digitalization, switching, and signal transmission via cables 16 to the subsequent processing units can be performed.

If the sensors 3 are in one row, then the crossbar 12 of the holders will be located with the ends to each other. At the same time, the strip of readout of these sensors 3 overlaps the surface of the pipe. With an increase in the diameter of the pipe, the crossbars 12 with the sensors 3 diverge, with a decrease they approach each other. The range of extreme sensors 3 can be calculated in such a way as to overlap the usual changes in the diameter of the pipe. In the two-row version, due to the fact that the transverse crossbars 12 of the sensor holders 1, located side by side, but in different rows and in a checkerboard pattern, go one after another, in areas with a significant expansion of the pipe diameter, the sensor system 3 still overlaps the generatrix of the inner surface of the pipe and read the necessary data. This allows you to use the system without readjustment in pipes with different diameters.

The sensors 3 are pressed against the pipe surface due to the spring 5, which, due to its location and hinges, by which the lever 4 is attached, provides the positioning of the sensors 3 at the pipe wall. The system is “flexible” in the radial direction, which allows you to press the sensors 3 to the surface of the pipe when passing bumps, with different pipe diameters and rounding. An additional effect is provided by the implementation of the holder 1 of the sensors 3 of two parts, the first 13 - stationary and the second 14 - rotating. Firstly, during the passage of the pipe roundings, the rotating part 14 of the holder 1 rotates around its axis 15 and ensures that the sensors 3 are in contact with the pipe wall. Secondly, when encountering an obstacle in the form of a protrusion in the pipe wall, with the crossbar 12, part 14 of the holder 1 rotates and passes the obstacle without breaking, then returning, due to contact with the wall and the action of the spring 5, to the working position.

If the obstacle in the form of a protrusion in the pipe wall meets the chipper 7 located in the first part 13 of the holder 1, then thanks to the swivel joints 8 and 9 ,. the system “crashes” and passes the obstacle.

The system is sufficiently rigid in the transverse direction and provides accurate positioning of the sensors 3 along the generatrix of the pipe, which makes it possible according to the measurement results to precisely tie defects to points on the surface of the pipe. The rigidity of the system is ensured by all structural elements associated with the holders 1. It is also important that the articulated joints of the lever have axes 8 and 9, which also provide rigidity in the transverse direction. Moreover, as noted above, the system can easily pass obstacles and is more resistant to breakdowns.

Claims

Claim

1. The device of the sensor system of the in-line flaw detector, characterized in that it contains a number of sensor holders mounted concentrically around the perimeter of the flaw detector body, each holder being parallel to the longitudinal axis of the flaw detector housing, at least one sensor is mounted on the holder, each holder at its front end the flaw detector is pivotally attached to the lever, the other end of the lever is also pivotally mounted on the flaw detector housing, on the holder at a distance from the mounting point Nia lever secured one end of the spring operating system working in compression position, the other end of which is fixed on the housing.

2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that said end of the spring is mounted on a holder under the sensors.

3. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that on each holder an additional unit for primary processing of sensor signals is additionally installed.

4. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the front end of each holder comprises a chipper made with a bevel directed forward along the flaw detector.

5. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the ratio of the length of the lever and the length of the sensor holder lies in the range 1: 2.5 - 1: 3.5.

6. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that each of the articulated joints contains an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the flaw detector housing.

7. The device system sensors in-line flaw detector, characterized in that it contains two rows of sensor holders mounted concentrically around the perimeter of the flaw detector in a checkerboard pattern, each holder has a T-shaped or cross-shaped plan with crossbars located along and across the longitudinal axis corps flaw detector, a number of sensors are installed on the crossbar of the holder, each holder at its front end along the flaw detector is pivotally attached to the lever, the other end of which is also pivotally mounted on the flaw detector body, one end of the spring, working working, is fixed on the holder at a distance from the lever mounting point the position of the system in compression, the other end of which is fixed to the housing.

8. The device according to claim 7, characterized in that said end of the spring is mounted on a holder under the sensors.

9. The device according to p. 7, characterized in that the second row of sensors is separated from the first along the longitudinal axis of the flaw detector by a distance in plan not less than the width of the transverse crossbar of the sensor holder.

10. The device according to claim 7, characterized in that on each holder an additional unit for primary processing of sensor signals is additionally installed.

11. The device according to claim 7, characterized in that the front end of each holder comprises a chipper made with a bevel directed forward along the flaw detector.

12. The device according to claim 7, characterized in that the ratio of the length of the lever and the length of the sensor holder lies in the range 1: 2.5 - 1: 3.5.

13. The device according to claim 7, characterized in that each of the articulated joints contains an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the flaw detector housing.

14. The device system sensors in-line flaw detector, characterized in that it contains two rows of sensor holders mounted concentrically around the perimeter of the flaw detector in a checkerboard pattern, each holder has a T-shaped or cross-shaped plan with crossbars located along and across the longitudinal axis flaw detector housing, a number of sensors are installed on the transverse crossbar of the holder, each holder at its front end along the flaw detector movement is pivotally attached to the lever, the other end of which is also pivotally mounted on the flaw detector housing, one end of the spring, working in the working position of the compression system, the other end of which is mounted on the housing, is fixed on the holder at a distance from the lever mounting point, while the sensor holder is made of two parts, the first includes the front end of the holder, and the second bar and the rear end of the holder, while the second part of the holder is mounted on an axis fixed in the first part To rotatably in the transverse direction.

15. The device according to p. 14 characterized in that the said end of the spring is mounted on a holder under the sensors.

16. The device according to 14, characterized in that the second row of sensors is separated from the first along the longitudinal axis of the flaw detector by a distance in plan not less than the width of the transverse beam of the sensor holder.

17. The device according to claim 14, characterized in that on each holder an additional unit for primary processing of sensor signals is additionally installed.

18. The device according to p. 14 characterized in that the front end of each holder contains a chipper made with a bevel directed forward, along the flaw detector.

19. The device according to p. 14 characterized in that the ratio of the length of the lever and the length of the sensor holder lies in the range 1: 2.5 - 1: 3.5.

20. The device according to p. 14 characterized in that each of the articulated joints contains an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the flaw detector housing.