Ultrasonic flaw detector

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10101302-B2
Application number	US-201414915386-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 27, 2014
Priority date	Aug 30, 2013
Publication date	Oct 16, 2018
Grant date	Oct 16, 2018

Abstract

An ultrasonic flaw detector includes: a flaw detection head including a probe that transmits an ultrasonic wave to an inspection object formed by a composite member and receives the ultrasonic wave that has reflected on the inspection object; a moving mechanism, which causes the flaw detection head to perform scanning; and a support mechanism disposed such that the support mechanism comes into contact with a lower surface of the inspection object, the support mechanism supporting the inspection object. The support mechanism is configured to come into contact with the inspection object over a predetermined area such that a waveform of the ultrasonic wave that has reflected on a position where the support mechanism is in contact with the inspection object and that is received by the probe is within a noise level.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An ultrasonic flaw detector comprising:
a flaw detection head including a probe that transmits an ultrasonic wave to an inspection object formed by a composite member and receives the ultrasonic wave that has reflected on the inspection object;
a moving mechanism that causes the flaw detection head to perform scanning; and
a support mechanism disposed such that the support mechanism comes into contact with a lower surface of the inspection object, the support mechanism supporting the inspection object, wherein
the support mechanism is configured to come into contact with the inspection object over a predetermined area such that a waveform of the ultrasonic wave that has reflected on a position where the support mechanism is in contact with the inspection object and that is received by the probe is within a noise level,
the support mechanism includes:
a base;
a plurality of protruding portions provided upright on the base and configured such that distal ends of the respective protruding portions come into contact with the lower surface of the inspection object; and
a rotating portion that causes a state of the protruding portions to change between an upright state where the protruding portions are upright and a laid-down state where the protruding portions are laid down, and

the support mechanism is configured to come into contact with the inspection object when the protruding portions are in the upright state, and not to come into contact with the inspection object when the protruding portions are in the laid-down state.

2. The ultrasonic flaw detector according to claim 1 , wherein
each of the distal ends of the protruding portions is formed in a tapered shape.

3. The ultrasonic flaw detector according to claim 1 , further comprising a retaining mechanism that retains the inspection object.

4. The ultrasonic flaw detector according to claim 3 , wherein
the retaining mechanism includes a pair of arm members, and is configured to retain the inspection object by sandwiching, by the pair of arm members, both ends of the inspection object that are not subjected to the scanning.

5. The ultrasonic flaw detector according to claim 2 wherein
the support mechanism further includes a rotating portion that causes a state of the protruding portions to change between an upright state where the protruding portions are upright and a laid-down state where the protruding portions are laid down.

6. The ultrasonic flaw detector according to claim 1 , further comprising a retaining mechanism that retains the inspection object.

7. The ultrasonic flaw detector according to claim 2 , further comprising a retaining mechanism that retains the inspection object.

8. The ultrasonic flaw detector according to claim 5 , further comprising a retaining mechanism that retains the inspection object.

9. The ultrasonic flaw detector according to claim 6 , wherein
the retaining mechanism includes a pair of arm members, and is configured to retain the inspection object by sandwiching, by the pair of arm members, both ends of the inspection object that are not subjected to the scanning.

10. The ultrasonic flaw detector according to claim 7 , wherein
the retaining mechanism includes a pair of arm members, and is configured to retain the inspection object by sandwiching, by the pair of arm members, both ends of the inspection object that are not subjected to the scanning.

11. The ultrasonic flaw detector according to claim 8 , wherein
the retaining mechanism includes a pair of arm members, and is configured to retain the inspection object by sandwiching, by the pair of arm members, both ends of the inspection object that are not subjected to the scanning.

Assignees

• Kawasaki Heavy Ind Ltd

Inventors

• Yamaoka Toshihiro

Classifications

• G01N29/043

  in the interior, e.g. by shear waves · CPC title

• G01N2291/044

  Internal reflections (echoes), e.g. on walls or defects · CPC title

• G01N29/265

  by moving the sensor relative to a stationary material · CPC title

• G01N2291/2694

  Wings or other aircraft parts · CPC title

• G01N29/225 Primary

  Supports, positioning or alignment in moving situation · CPC title