Microwave probe clamp

Abstract

The invention discloses a microwave probe clamp which comprises a telescopic support, a transmission mechanism and a working groove. The working groove is driven by the transmission mechanism to move in the length direction of the rectangular frame body. The device further comprises a clamping mechanism. The clamping mechanism comprises two semicircular fixed levers which are oppositely arranged and hinged; the joint of the two semicircular fixed levers is connected with a driving gear; the middle of the semicircular fixed lever and one end away from the driving gear are connected with a driven gear; the outer sides of the driving gear and the driven gear are jointly meshed with a rotating chain; the first motor drives the two semicircular fixed levers to get away from each other or get close to each other and enclose a closed circle; a waveguide fixer is arranged on the rotating chain; and the waveguide fixer always points to the circle center direction of the semicircular fixed lever. According to the microwave probe clamp provided by the invention, the clamping mechanism adopts a lever-gear-chain structure, so that the waveguide fixer can cover the periphery of the cable accessory, and it is ensured that microwave signals of the periphery of the accessory to be detected can be obtained.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of cable accessory defect detection technology, specifically to a microwave probe clamp. Background Technology

[0002] Currently, power distribution network cables are commonly laid underground and are widely used in urban and rural areas for power transmission, communication networks, traffic signals, petrochemical facilities, and other critical sectors, providing indispensable support for the normal operation of modern society. However, with the continuous expansion of power distribution networks and the frequent aging of cables during long-term operation, cable maintenance and fault detection have become particularly important. Although many testing equipment and technologies are available, the special underground burial environment and complex working conditions of cables make defect detection a highly challenging task. The permanent burial location of cables exposes them to various uncontrollable factors, such as geological changes, humidity, temperature fluctuations, and mechanical stress. These external factors can lead to aging, wear, or damage to cables, thus affecting their normal operation. Cable accessories are key components connecting cables to transmission and distribution lines and related power distribution equipment. With the increase in urbanization, the number of cable accessories is growing rapidly. At the same time, cable accessories are also a weak link in cable insulation design. Cable accessories have complex structures and diverse technical parameters, and have more technical requirements than the cable itself during installation and operation. Various assembly defects caused by human factors and environmental factors are difficult to avoid, and there is a lack of effective detection methods, resulting in accessories operating with "hidden dangers" after assembly.

[0003] Microwave nondestructive testing (NDT) of cable accessories has become a mainstream research area in recent years, and its performance far surpasses other testing technologies. Designed based on the logic of microwave signal transmission, amplification, transmission, acquisition, conversion, and collection, the microwave NDT system consists of two parts: hardware and host computer software. The main components include: a constant voltage source, a microwave signal source, a power amplifier, a rectangular waveguide, a directional coupler, a broadband detector, a data acquisition card, and host computer software. The constant voltage source converts AC to DC, providing a stable DC operating voltage for each circuit. The microwave signal source emits microwaves, which are amplified by the power amplifier and transmitted through the rectangular waveguide. The signal enters from the input end of the directional coupler and exits from the through end. Reflection occurs at the surface and internal interfaces of the cable accessory. The directional coupler receives the reflected microwave signal and separates the negatively propagating reflected signal at the coupling end. The reflected signal is converted into a measurable DC voltage signal by the broadband detector. The data acquisition card acquires the DC voltage, and the host computer reads and processes the data. The directional coupler consists of two rectangular waveguides. The main function of the rectangular waveguides is to transmit microwaves. They are made of metal, with a rectangular cross-section and a hollow interior. The microwaves are confined in the rectangular waveguides, which reduces the loss during propagation.

[0004] However, microwave inspection equipment for cable accessories has some limitations. One major problem is that it cannot scan cables 360 degrees, resulting in blind spots, especially for cables buried underground. This is because microwave signals propagate in a straight line in free space, and the cable's location is often inaccessible, and defects are often concealed. Furthermore, due to the cable's location and the complexity of the environment, workers cannot approach the cable at close range during inspection, posing a safety hazard. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This application proposes a microwave probe fixture to solve the problem that cable accessories cannot be scanned from all angles during defect detection, which also poses a safety hazard.

[0006] This application provides a microwave probe clamp, comprising:

[0007] Telescopic support frame; the telescopic support frame is a rectangular frame; the top of the telescopic support frame is connected to a transmission mechanism via a fixed lever;

[0008] A working slot located above the telescopic support; the working slot is connected to the transmission mechanism and moves along the length of the rectangular frame under the drive of the transmission mechanism;

[0009] The bottom surface of the working groove is connected to a clamping mechanism via a telescopic rod;

[0010] The clamping mechanism includes two opposing and hinged semi-circular fixed levers; a drive gear and a first motor are connected at the junction of the two semi-circular fixed levers; a driven gear is connected to the middle of the semi-circular fixed lever and the end away from the drive gear; a rotating chain meshes with the outer sides of the drive gear and the driven gear; the first motor is configured to drive the two semi-circular fixed levers away from each other, or to move closer to each other and form a closed circle.

[0011] The rotating chain is provided with a waveguide retainer; when the drive gear is driven, the waveguide retainer moves clockwise or counterclockwise with the rotating chain to surround the cable accessory located in the closed circle, and the waveguide retainer always points to the center of the semi-circular fixed lever.

[0012] In some embodiments, the transmission mechanism includes:

[0013] Support plate located at the bottom of the working groove;

[0014] The support plate is connected to the track connection devices on both sides by a fixing rod at the bottom;

[0015] The track connecting device has a first cylindrical cavity running through it; a traction steel cable is provided in the first cylindrical cavity; one end of the traction steel cable is pulled by a drive bearing, and the drive bearing is connected to a second motor; the second motor is located on a fixed lever and is used to drive the traction steel cable to pull the track connecting device.

[0016] In some embodiments, the telescopic support is driven by a third motor, which is used to change the height of the telescopic support.

[0017] In some embodiments, the track connecting device is further provided with a second cylindrical cavity and a third cylindrical cavity; the second cylindrical cavity and the third cylindrical cavity are respectively arranged parallel to the first cylindrical cavity and are located on both sides of the first cylindrical cavity;

[0018] A first fixing steel cable is threaded through the cavity of the second cylinder; a second fixing steel cable is threaded through the cavity of the third cylinder; the two ends of the first fixing steel cable and the second fixing steel cable are respectively fixed to a fixing lever.

[0019] In some embodiments, the rotating chain employs a metal link structure.

[0020] In some embodiments, the radius of the semi-circular fixed lever ranges from 10 to 200 cm;

[0021] In some embodiments, the driving gear and the driven gear have the same diameter, which ranges from 5 to 100 cm.

[0022] In some embodiments, the third motor controls the telescopic support to lift at a rate of 1 to 100 cm / min and to lift at a distance of 1 to 300 cm.

[0023] In some embodiments, the telescopic rod is driven by a fourth motor, which controls the telescopic rod to lift at a rate of 1 to 100 cm / min and to lift at a distance of 1 to 300 cm.

[0024] In some embodiments, the speed at which the drive bearing controlled by the second motor drives the traction cable to move is 1 to 200 cm / min, and the lifting distance ranges from 10 to 300 cm.

[0025] The beneficial effects of this application are as follows:

[0026] 1. This invention designs a microwave probe clamp based on microwave detection technology for cable accessory defects. It can be applied to on-site inspection of cable accessory defects, is suitable for various on-site inspection environments, and is stable, easy to disassemble, and easy to maintain. The microwave probe clamp of this invention has outstanding advantages such as novelty, flexibility, and multifunctionality, and has broad application prospects and market value.

[0027] 2. This invention designs a microwave probe clamp, which is equipped with a telescopic bracket and a telescopic rod, enabling the device to operate stably in different testing environments and providing support. This solves the problem of complex underground cable laying conditions. In addition, the telescopic bracket and telescopic rod are controlled by two different motors to move up and down, which not only makes operation convenient but also allows for better control of the working height, meeting the testing needs of underground cables at different depths and ensuring the personal safety of the personnel.

[0028] 3. This invention designs a microwave probe clamp, which is equipped with two semi-circular fixed levers controlled by a drive motor to open and close, supporting the rotating chain to maintain its circular shape during operation. This solves the problems of inaccessibility and defect concealment in cable laying locations. At the same time, waveguide fixers are installed on the chain, which can detect defects around the cable accessories, thereby solving the problem of blind spots in microwave detection of defects in underground cable accessories.

[0029] 4. By setting up a telescopic bracket, a clamping mechanism and a transmission mechanism, and utilizing their mutual cooperation, this invention can perform all-round defect detection on cable accessories of different sizes and depths using microwave technology. Attached Figure Description

[0030] To more clearly illustrate the technical solution of this application, the drawings used in the embodiments will be briefly described below. Obviously, those skilled in the art can obtain other drawings based on these drawings without creative effort:

[0031] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the front structure of the microwave probe fixture provided in this application;

[0032] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the side structure of the microwave probe fixture provided in this application;

[0033] Figure 3 A three-dimensional appearance diagram of the clamping device and transmission mechanism of the microwave probe fixture provided in this application.

[0034] Wherein: 1-Telescopic bracket; 2-Third motor; 3-Fixed lever; 4-Working groove; 5-Telescopic rod; 6-Fourth motor; 7-First motor; 8-Semi-circular fixed lever; 9-Driving gear; 10-Driven gear; 11-Rotating chain; 12-Waveguide retainer; 13-Support plate; 14-Fixed rod; 15-Rail connection device; 16-Second cylindrical cavity; 17-First cylindrical cavity; 18-Third cylindrical cavity; 19-Traction cable; 20-First fixed cable; 21-Second fixed cable; 22-Drive bearing; 23-Second motor. Detailed Implementation

[0035] To better illustrate the technical solutions disclosed in this application, the following description, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, will provide a more complete and clear explanation of the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application. It should be noted that the following description is based only on a portion of the embodiments of the technical solutions in this application, and not all of them.

[0036] See Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the front structure of the microwave probe fixture provided in this application;

[0037] Depend on Figure 1 As can be seen, this application provides a microwave probe clamp, including:

[0038] Telescopic bracket 1; the telescopic bracket 1 is a rectangular frame; the top of the telescopic bracket 1 is connected to a transmission mechanism via a fixed lever 3; in this embodiment, the telescopic bracket 1 serves as the foundation of the entire clamp, supporting other components. Simultaneously, since it is necessary to wrap around and fix the cable accessories, the telescopic bracket 1 must be able to span the cable accessories. Therefore, it is set as a rectangular frame and positioned on both sides of the cable arrangement direction to facilitate clamping operations on the internal cables. It should be noted that the telescopic bracket 1 can be configured in various forms to achieve the telescopic function. For example, in one specific embodiment, the telescopic bracket 1 can be two interlocking column sections, with a third motor 2 positioned between the columns driving the relative position of the two column sections, thereby changing the height of the telescopic bracket 1. The form of the telescopic bracket 1 is not limited, and other specific implementation methods are also possible.

[0039] The microwave probe fixture also includes a working slot 4 located above the telescopic bracket 1; the working slot 4 is connected to the transmission mechanism and moves along the length of the rectangular frame under the drive of the transmission mechanism; in this embodiment, the working slot 4 is used to arrange the main hardware equipment of the microwave non-destructive testing system, such as a constant voltage source, microwave signal source, power amplifier, rectangular waveguide, broadband detector, data acquisition card and host computer software, etc. The principle of microwave non-destructive testing should be considered as being based on existing publicly available technology, and will not be elaborated here.

[0040] It should be noted that in this application, the transmission mechanism drives the working groove 4 to move along the length of the rectangular frame, which means that the working groove 4 can move along the cable laying direction, thereby enabling microwave testing and other operations on a section of cable. The specific testing length is related to the laying length of the telescopic bracket 1.

[0041] Depend on Figure 1 It is known that the bottom surface of the working groove 4 is connected to a clamping mechanism via a telescopic rod 5. It should be noted that in this application, the clamping mechanism is not intended to "clamp" or directly contact the cable accessories, but rather to form a stable enclosure around them so that the probe can acquire data from the surface of the cable accessories. In this application, the clamping mechanism, as a component for direct cable inspection, needs to be designed according to the specific characteristics of underground cables, as detailed below:

[0042] The clamping mechanism includes two opposing and hinged semicircular fixed levers 8; a drive gear 9 and a first motor 7 are connected at the junction of the two semicircular fixed levers 8; a driven gear 10 is connected to the middle of the semicircular fixed lever 8 and the end away from the drive gear 9; a rotating chain 11 meshes with the outer sides of the drive gear 9 and the driven gear 10; the first motor 7 is configured to drive the drive gear 9 to rotate, thereby driving the rotating chain 11 to move, so that the two semicircular fixed levers 8 move away from each other, or move closer to each other and form a closed circle;

[0043] Specifically, in this application, the two semi-circular fixed levers 8 are designed to be moved and assembled into a complete circular structure so as to fully wrap the cable accessories. In practical applications, depending on different needs, more than two fixed levers can also be set, such as three 120° arc fixed levers, etc. The same effect can be achieved through reasonable connection.

[0044] In this application, a lever-gear-chain structure is used. The first motor 7 is driven in the following ways: when the first motor 7 drives forward, the two semi-circular fixed levers 8 move closer together, eventually forming a closed circle; when the first motor 7 drives in reverse, the two semi-circular fixed levers 8 move away from each other, forming a downward opening. This opening should be larger than the outer diameter of the cable to allow the cable to enter or exit. When the drive gear 9 is driven, the rotating chain 11 also begins to rotate in the specified direction according to the clockwise / counterclockwise rotation of the drive gear 9. The position of the drive gear 9 is relatively fixed, and the driven gear 10 changes position with the movement of the semi-circular fixed levers 8, thereby changing the shape of the rotating chain 11. Figure 1As shown, the rotating chain 11 is an irregular ring at this time. When the two semi-circular fixed levers 8 are closed, the rotating chain 11 will become an approximately circular ring (not shown in the figure).

[0045] A waveguide retainer 12 is provided on the rotating chain 11. When the drive gear 9 is driven, the waveguide retainer 12 moves clockwise or counterclockwise with the rotating chain 11 to surround the cable accessory located in the closed circle. The waveguide retainer 12 always points towards the center of the semi-circular fixing lever 8. The waveguide retainer 12 is used to fix the directional coupler. The microwave signal emitted by the waveguide is usually a linear signal. During the rotation of the waveguide retainer 12 on the circular track of the rotating chain 11, it can surround the cable accessory once, and the linear signal emitted by the waveguide retainer 12 is always along the center direction of the semi-circular fixing lever 8, that is, the center direction of the cable accessory, thereby ensuring a full scan of the microwave signal.

[0046] As can be seen from the above technical solution, the microwave probe clamp provided in this application, by setting a transmission mechanism and a telescopic bracket 1, allows the clamping mechanism to be adjustable in height and position along the cable accessory, making it suitable for testing cable accessories in different positions; at the same time, the clamping mechanism adopts a lever-gear-chain structure, which allows the waveguide fixer to cover 100 circumference of the cable accessory, ensuring that microwave signals from 100 circumference of the accessory under test can be obtained.

[0047] See Figure 1 and Figure 2 In some feasible embodiments, the transmission mechanism includes:

[0048] The support plate 13 is located at the bottom of the working groove 4;

[0049] The support plate 13 is connected to the track connecting devices 15 on both sides by a fixing rod 14 at the bottom;

[0050] The track connecting device 15 has a first cylindrical cavity 17 extending through it; a traction steel cable 19 is provided in the first cylindrical cavity 17; one end of the traction steel cable 19 is pulled by a drive bearing 22, and the drive bearing 22 is connected to a second motor 23; the second motor 23 is located on a fixed lever 3 and is used to drive the traction steel cable 19 to pull the track connecting device 15.

[0051] In this embodiment, the transmission mechanism uses a steel cable traction method. When it is necessary to adjust the position of the working groove 4 and the clamping mechanism relative to the detection cable accessory, the second motor 23 can be activated to drive the traction steel cable 19, thereby pulling the track connecting device 15 to move. The transmission mechanism can also adopt other structures not shown in this embodiment, such as direct motor drive, slider, magnetic drive, etc.

[0052] In some feasible embodiments, such as Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the track connecting device 15 is further provided with a second cylindrical cavity 16 and a third cylindrical cavity 18; the second cylindrical cavity 16 and the third cylindrical cavity 18 are respectively arranged parallel to the first cylindrical cavity 17 and are respectively located on both sides of the first cylindrical cavity 17.

[0053] A first fixing cable 20 is threaded through the second cylindrical cavity 16; a second fixing cable 21 is threaded through the third cylindrical cavity 18; the two ends of the first fixing cable 20 and the second fixing cable 21 are respectively fixed to the fixing lever 3.

[0054] In this embodiment, by setting two fixed steel cables, the structural strength can be increased, and the stability of the working groove 4 can be increased when it moves horizontally.

[0055] In some feasible embodiments, the rotating chain 11 adopts a metal link structure. The metal link structure can flexibly change shape during the opening and closing of the semi-circular fixed lever 8 without causing excessive mechanical wear on the device.

[0056] In some feasible embodiments, the radius of the semi-circular fixing lever 8 is in the range of 10 to 200 cm; the radius of the semi-circular fixing lever 8 is slightly longer than the radius of the cable accessory, so that it can completely surround the cable accessory and also ensure that the waveguide fixer 12 will not touch the cable accessory during rotation.

[0057] In some feasible embodiments, the driving gear 9 and the driven gear 10 have the same diameter, both ranging from 5 to 100 cm. This ensures that the rotation trajectory of the rotating chain 11 is closer to a circle.

[0058] In some feasible embodiments, the third motor 2 controls the telescopic support 1 to rise and fall at a rate of 1–100 cm / min, with a lifting distance ranging from 1 to 300 cm. This ensures stable movement of the entire device and meets the needs of working environments at different depths. Furthermore, when the device is not in use, the telescopic support 1 can be retracted for easy storage and transportation. Additionally, in testing sites where cables are laid underground at a certain depth, it can support the stable operation of the microwave testing device.

[0059] In some feasible embodiments, the telescopic rod 5 is driven by a fourth motor 6, which controls the lifting speed of the telescopic rod 5 to be 1–100 cm / min and the lifting distance to be 1–300 cm. This maintains the stable movement of the conveying device and meets the testing requirements of cables of different sizes.

[0060] In some feasible embodiments, the drive bearing 22 controlled by the second motor 23 drives the traction cable 19 to move at a speed of 1-200 cm / min, with a lifting distance range of 10-300 cm. This maintains the traction vehicle at a constant speed and works in conjunction with the rotating chain 11 to scan cable accessories in all directions.

[0061] As can be seen from the above technical solution, the working principle and usage process of the microwave probe clamp provided in this application can be found in [reference needed]. Figure 2 and Figure 3 The explanation is as follows:

[0062] See Figure 2 The second motor 23 controls the rotation of the drive bearing 22, and the drive bearing 22, moving in the same direction, winds the traction cable 19, driving the clamping mechanism and the transmission mechanism to move. It should be noted that the shape and structure of the working groove designed in this invention are not limited to those shown in the accompanying drawings; users can change the shape and structure of the working groove according to their own requirements.

[0063] See Figure 3 The microwave detection equipment is placed in the working slot 4, and the waveguide is connected to the waveguide holder 12. After the telescopic rod 5 reaches the designated position controlled by the fourth motor 6, the first motor 7 drives the semi-circular fixed lever 8 to close, causing the rotating chain 11 to circle around the cable accessory. Then, the drive gear 9 starts to operate, and the rotating chain 11 rotates clockwise, and the waveguide holder 12 also rotates to scan the cable. When the working slot 4 moves to the end point, the entire scanning process ends.

[0064] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of this application, enabling those skilled in the art to understand or implement this application. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be implemented in other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of this application. Therefore, this application is not to be limited to the embodiments shown herein, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A microwave probe clamp, characterized in that, include: Telescopic support (1); the telescopic support (1) is a rectangular frame; the top of the telescopic support (1) is connected to a transmission mechanism via a fixed lever (3); The working groove (4) is located above the telescopic bracket (1); the working groove (4) is connected to the transmission mechanism and moves along the length of the rectangular frame under the drive of the transmission mechanism; The bottom surface of the working groove (4) is connected to a clamping mechanism via a telescopic rod (5); The clamping mechanism includes two opposing and hinged semicircular fixed levers (8); a drive gear (9) and a first motor (7) are connected at the junction of the two semicircular fixed levers (8); a driven gear (10) is connected to the middle part of the semicircular fixed lever (8) and the end away from the drive gear (9); a rotating chain (11) meshes together on the outer sides of the drive gear (9) and the driven gear (10); the first motor (7) is configured to drive the two semicircular fixed levers (8) to move away from each other, or to move closer to each other and form a closed circle; The rotating chain (11) is provided with a waveguide retainer (12); when the drive gear (9) is driven, the waveguide retainer (12) moves clockwise or counterclockwise with the rotating chain (11) to surround the cable accessory located in the closed circle, and the waveguide retainer (12) always points to the center of the semi-circular fixed lever (8).

2. The microwave probe clamp according to claim 1, characterized in that, The transmission mechanism includes: The support plate (13) is located at the bottom of the working groove (4); The support plate (13) is connected to the track connecting devices (15) on both sides by a fixing rod (14); The track connecting device (15) has a first cylindrical cavity (17) that runs through it; the first cylindrical cavity (17) has a traction cable (19) inside it; one end of the traction cable (19) is pulled by a drive bearing (22), and the drive bearing (22) is connected to a second motor (23); the second motor (23) is located on a fixed lever (3) and is used to drive the traction cable (19) to pull the track connecting device (15).

3. The microwave probe clamp according to claim 1, characterized in that, The telescopic support (1) is driven by a third motor (2), which is used to change the height of the telescopic support (1).

4. The microwave probe clamp according to claim 2, characterized in that, The track connecting device (15) is also provided with a second cylindrical cavity (16) and a third cylindrical cavity (18); the second cylindrical cavity (16) and the third cylindrical cavity (18) are respectively arranged parallel to the first cylindrical cavity (17) and are respectively located on both sides of the first cylindrical cavity (17); A first fixed steel cable (20) is inserted into the second cylindrical cavity (16); a second fixed steel cable (21) is inserted into the third cylindrical cavity (18); the two ends of the first fixed steel cable (20) and the second fixed steel cable (21) are respectively fixed to the fixed lever (3).

5. The microwave probe clamp according to claim 1, characterized in that, The rotating chain (11) adopts a metal chain link structure.

6. The microwave probe clamp according to claim 1, characterized in that, The radius of the semi-circular fixed lever (8) ranges from 10 to 200 cm.

7. The microwave probe clamp according to claim 1, characterized in that, The driving gear (9) and the driven gear (10) have the same diameter, which ranges from 5 to 100 cm.

8. The microwave probe clamp according to claim 3, characterized in that, The third motor (2) controls the telescopic bracket (1) to lift at a rate of 1 to 100 cm / min and a lifting distance of 1 to 300 cm.

9. The microwave probe clamp according to claim 1, characterized in that, The telescopic rod (5) is driven by a fourth motor (6), which controls the telescopic rod (5) to rise and fall at a rate of 1 to 100 cm / min and a distance of 1 to 300 cm.

10. The microwave probe clamp according to claim 2, characterized in that, The second motor (23) controls the drive bearing (22) to drive the traction cable (19) at a speed of 1 to 200 cm / min, and the lifting distance ranges from 10 to 300 cm.

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