Method and system for determining quality of tubes

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9485473-B2
Application number	US-201313968887-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 16, 2013
Priority date	Sep 13, 2012
Publication date	Nov 1, 2016
Grant date	Nov 1, 2016

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a system having an optically transparent substrate having a first side and a second side that are opposed to each other, a microprocessor, a database, a camera disposed upon the first side of the optically transparent substrate and a source of illumination. The source of illumination is disposed in a ring around the camera on the first side and is operative to illuminate the object disposed on the second side of the optically transparent substrate. Further the camera is in operative communication with the microprocessor and the database. The camera is operative to capture an image of an object disposed upon the second side of the optically transparent substrate. The microprocessor is operative to calculate dimensions and geometry of the object from the image and facilitate acceptance or rejection of the object based upon a standard, a parameter or a calibration chart.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for determining quality of a tube, the system comprising
an optically transparent substrate having a first side and a second side that are opposed to each other;
a microprocessor;
a database;
a camera disposed upon the first side of the optically transparent substrate;
and a source of illumination; the source of illumination being disposed on the first side and being operative to illuminate the tube disposed on the second side of the optically transparent substrate;
wherein the camera is in operative communication with the microprocessor and the database;
wherein the camera is operative to capture an imago of a cross-sectional area disposed upon the second side of the optically transparent substrate;
wherein the microprocessor is operative to calculate dimensions and geometry of the tube from the image and determine acceptance or rejection of the tube based upon a parameter; and
wherein the source of illumination optically illuminates the cross-section of the object.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the tube is selected from the group consisting of a linear tube and a bent tube.

3. The system of claim 1 , where the optically transparent substrate is selected from the group consisting of quartz, silica, alumina, titania, polystyrene, polycarbonate, polymethylmethacrylate, polycarbonate, polyester, polyetherimide, and a combination thereof.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the source of illumination comprises a plurality of point sources of light arranged in a ring around the camera.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the entire system is enclosed in an opaque case with an opening for introducing and removing the tube.

6. The system of claim 2 , wherein data obtained on the inner tube and data tube obtained on the bent tube are compared.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the camera is in electrical communication with the microprocessor and the database; and wherein the electrical communication is selected from the group consisting of electrical hard wiring, wireless communication, or a combination thereof.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the determining quality standard is in accordance with ASME B31.1-2010 or EN 2 952-5.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the microprocessor comprises an image processing library for the tube.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the system is operative to compute a value selected from the group consisting of an inner diameter, an outer diameter, the wall thickness, an out of roundness of the tube, an area of flow, center of mass and a size of flat spots on an inner surface of the tube.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the system is operative to perform calculations required by a boiler code.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the system is operative to calculate and compile results from a plurality of tube cross-sections into an overall calculation of boiler code compliance for a bent tube.

13. The system of claim 1 , further comprising an opaque cover which prevents external light from impinging on the system and interfering with the image.

14. The system of claim 12 , wherein the system is operative to compute a value selected from the group consisting of a radius of the bend, a flow area, an average inner diameter and an average outer diameter.

15. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a monitor for viewing camera image data or triggering inspections.

16. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a user display for displaying images of the tube located on the optically transparent substrate, annotating the image or locate the tube properly on the optically transparent substrate.

Assignees

• Alstom Technology Ltd

Inventors

• Allen Matthew David
• Ferry Allan Gunn
• Konopacki Ronald Francis
• Crocker Robert F

Classifications

• G01N21/952

  Inspecting the exterior surface of cylindrical bodies or wires (G01N21/956 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G01N21/8851 Primary

  Scan or image signal processing specially adapted therefor, e.g. for scan signal adjustment, for detecting different kinds of defects, for compensating for structures, markings, edges (G01N21/8806 and G01N21/93 - G01N21/95692 take precedence; optical measurement of dimensions G01B11/00; optical scanning G02B26/10; image transformation G06T3/00; computerised image enhancement G06T5/00; image processing per se for flaw detection G06T7/0002) · CPC title

• G01B11/08 Primary

  for measuring diameters · CPC title

• H04N7/18 Primary

  Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast · CPC title