A water spray / water immersion dual-purpose ultrasonic testing transducer fixture

Abstract

The present invention discloses a transducer fixture that can be used for both water spray and water immersion ultrasonic testing. The positioning flange is connected to the wrist flange at the end of the ultrasonic testing robot arm through the positioning hole. The ultrasonic transducer is clamped by the fixed transducer fixture to follow the movement of the robot arm for scanning. A rubber sealing ring is added to introduce an interference fit to ensure that the entire bin is in a sealed state. The transducer clamp device is used to clamp the end connector of the transducer to ensure that the direction of the transducer sound beam emission is perpendicular to the plane of the flange when the water pressure is high. A small diversion tube is provided to ensure that the water pressure in the bin is not too high and the gas at the top cannot be discharged. The main water storage bin and the bottom water storage bin are responsible for the input and output of the water coupling agent. The water flow is introduced into the storage bin through the water inlet on the side of the main water storage bin and connected to the water pipe. The bubble screen is embedded in the bottom water storage bin to control the water flow rate and filter large bubbles in the water, ensuring that a steady water column is ejected from the water outlet of the bottom water storage bin, providing water coupling conditions for ultrasonic testing water spray.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a transducer fixture that can be used for both water spray and water immersion ultrasonic testing, which belongs to a water coupling auxiliary system in a multi-degree-of-freedom ultrasonic testing system for workpieces with complex surface morphology, and belongs to the technical field of non-destructive testing of defects in workpieces with complex surface morphology. Background Art

[0002] With the continuous application of new processes such as additive manufacturing (AM) and superplastic forming-diffusion bonding (SPF-DB), the quality control of new process products has brought new challenges to non-destructive testing. At present, it is widely used in the manufacture of skin structures in the fields of aviation, aerospace and rail transportation. Including simple-shaped workpieces such as flat plates and tubes, complex-shaped workpieces such as free-form surfaces, etc., all kinds of workpieces may have internal defects, posing potential accident risks to related fields. All these have prompted ultrasonic C-scan detection technology to develop in the direction of high speed, high efficiency, high reliability and high precision, and the detection range is no longer limited to conventional materials and conventional-shaped workpieces. Ultrasonic detection of multi-layer materials based on complex surface configurations has gradually become a research hotspot and difficulty.

[0003] Instruments based on ultrasonic testing technology are already widely used in factories, but traditional ultrasonic testing equipment is designed for portability and ease of operation. Inspecting large, complex components or large batches of identical parts requires significant labor, resulting in low inspection efficiency and high operator skill requirements. Automated ultrasonic scanning equipment currently predominates in the C-scan format, using a water-immersed gantry structure. Representative instruments include the KT-B series, a large water-immersed C-scan system manufactured by GE in the United States. This structure requires a large footprint and is unable to scan complex curved surfaces. Therefore, this research focuses on the application of an industrial robotic arm with six degrees of freedom, leveraging its high positioning accuracy and ability to perform complex poses and maneuvers to develop ultrasonic testing applications. The transducer is the most critical functional component in ultrasonic testing, and this fixture serves as the key structural component connecting the industrial robotic arm's ultrasonic C-scan inspection system to the transducer. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to solve the problem that there is no direct connection between the ultrasonic C-scan detection hardware system and the transducer. It has the advantages of low cost, good sealing, ensuring that the transducer is perpendicular to the end of the flange, easy disassembly and assembly, and good probe adaptability. It can provide a good structural guarantee for engineering inspection and laboratory research.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives and relevant indicators, the present invention employs a water-jet-based ultrasonic C-scan inspection system, which can also perform immersion inspection of small parts. The nozzle is functionally divided into three main structures: a positioning flange 1, a main water storage chamber 2, and a bottom water storage chamber 3. The present invention can be further subdivided into the following structures: a flange positioning hole 4; a flange fixing support 5; a transducer clamp plate 6; a transducer clamp wing plate 7; a transducer clamp bolt hole 8; a rubber sealing ring 9; a rubber ring mounting hole 10; a small diversion tube 11; a bubble screen 12; a bottom water storage chamber connection screw hole 13; and a water inlet 14.

[0006] The overall assembly diagram of the transducer fixture design is as follows Figure 1 As shown, the internal structure diagram is as follows Figure 2 shown.

[0007] The specific design concepts are as follows: 1. The positioning flange 1 is equipped with four flange locating holes 4, which are primarily used for connecting to the flange at the end of the ultrasonic testing robot arm. The fixture is manufactured using additive manufacturing methods, so the flange fixing support 5 is tightly connected to the positioning flange machine, and the support is thickened and widened to ensure sufficient structural strength. The positioning hole distribution is consistent with the positioning hole distribution of the end flange of the SIASUN T12A-14 industrial robot arm selected by the system, ensuring that the normal vector of the fixture flange is consistent with the normal vector of the robot arm end flange, while also ensuring that the fixture and robot arm end maintain synchronous movement. 2. The rubber sealing ring 9 is clamped into the rubber ring mounting hole 10 of the composite structure composed of the positioning flange 1 and the main water storage chamber 2. This structure reduces the number of structural components and solves the problem of structural leakage caused by the difficulty of machining this part. 3. The ultrasonic transducer is mounted within the sealing rubber ring 9. The transducer clamping plate 6, the positioning flange 1, and the main water storage chamber 2 are secured together using 3D printing. Tightening the transducer clamping devices 6 and 7 through the transducer clamping bolt holes 8 locks the transducer's rear end fixture. This prevents the transducer from being ejected by the water pressure when increasing the water pressure, while also ensuring that the direction of ultrasonic wave propagation is aligned with the normal vector of the manipulator flange. 4. A small flow guide tube 11 is located at the lower end of the positioning flange to effectively prevent poor sealing due to excessive pressure within the chamber. This conduit structure directs the water flow away from the measured area, preventing interference with the detection signal. It also allows for immediate removal of air from the top of the main chamber, preventing bubbles from forming and causing fluctuations in the detection signal. An additional hose can also be added for further removal. 5. The three water storage chamber connection screw holes 13 allow the water storage chamber 3 to be positioned and assembled with the main water storage chamber 2. The rubber ring mounting hole 10 extends 6mm into the bin and is molded to the outer diameter, which can buffer the water pressure on the rubber ring and increase the fitting area between the rubber ring and the clamp, thereby maintaining the posture of the rubber ring. 6. The water inlet 14 developed by the structural arm of the main water storage bin 2 can be connected to an external water pipe for water spray detection. The water pipe can be removed for water immersion detection, and a liquid surface can be formed inside the water bin through the principle of a communicating vessel for water immersion detection, so the two detection modes are easy to switch. The water flow input and output are formed by cooperating with the diversion tube 11 and the water outlet of the bottom bin 3. 7. The bubble screen 12 has different diameters and shapes of apertures to filter bubbles and buffer bubbles caused by the collision of water flow on the inner wall of the bin. The outside of the screen has an external thread structure, which cooperates with the internal thread structure of the water outlet of the bottom bin. The convex water outlet is conducive to the formation of water flow and increases the ejection distance of the water column. The assembly method is as follows:

[0008] The positioning flange 1 is threadedly connected to the end flange of the robotic arm using standard M5 bolts;

[0009] The transducer clamp plate 6 and the transducer clamp wing plate 7 are threadedly matched with standard M3 bolts to clamp the transducer back cover;

[0010] The ultrasonic transducer is connected to the rubber sealing ring 9 by interference fit;

[0011] The rubber sealing ring 9 is connected to the rubber ring mounting hole 10 through a transition fit;

[0012] The main water storage tank 2 and the bottom water storage tank 3 are connected by threaded connection using standard M3 screws;

[0013] The water outlet of the water storage bottom bin 3 is connected to the bubble screen 12 through internal and external threads;

[0014] The diversion tube 11 is connected to the peripheral water pipe by direct plug-in and fastened by a clamp;

[0015] The water injection port 14 is connected to the peripheral water pipe by direct plug-in and is fastened by a clamp.

[0016] To ensure a tight seal and lightweight design, the entire nozzle fixture is constructed of aluminum alloy, with the exception of the TPU rubber ring. The elasticity of TPU allows for excellent micro-deformation for both interference and clearance fits. For enhanced waterproofing, additional tape can be applied to the joints. The baffle in this transducer fixture features three different pore structures. First, a densely packed area on the sidewall effectively buffers water flow and filters large air bubbles. The remaining larger pores provide secondary filtration without excessive impact on the screen. Drain holes, similar to floor drains, are designed to increase water flow while mitigating any inadequate filtration caused by larger pore sizes. Finally, smaller pores are located near the outlet for final, finer filtration. Testing has shown that this filter effectively filters large bubbles and mitigates water impact. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the overall assembly of the nozzle fixture;

[0018] Figure 2 Schematic diagram of the internal structure of a common baffle nozzle fixture;

[0019] Figure 3 Front view of the sprinkler fixture;

[0020] Figure 4 Top view of the nozzle fixture;

[0021] Figure 5 Three views of the bubble screen; DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] The specific implementation of the transducer fixture is further described below.

[0023] A transducer fixture that can be used for both water spraying and immersion ultrasonic testing, wherein the positioning flange 1, the main water storage bin 2 and the bottom water storage bin 3 are the main components of the nozzle fixture, and the flange positioning hole 4 is used to connect the wrist flange at the end of the ultrasonic testing robot arm; the bottom water storage bin connection screw hole 13 is positioned and assembled with the main water storage bin 2, and the fixture is waterproof and sealed with raw tape on the outside; the rubber ring mounting hole 10 is used to install the rubber sealing ring 9, and the inner hole of the rubber ring is used to insert the ultrasonic transducer, and the transducer back cover can be positioned by the transducer clamp structure 6 and 7 through bolt clamping; the diversion tube 11 is opened above the main water storage bin 2, and can be connected to an external water pipe according to the detection conditions to discharge water, reduce the water pressure in the bin, expel bubbles, and detect whether the water tank is full; the water inlet 14 injects water into the main water storage bin 2 under the pressure of the water pump; the bubble screen 12 can buffer the water flow, filter bubbles, and ensure the continuity of the water output.

[0024] The positioning flange 1 is located below the wrist flange at the end of the manipulator arm and is threadedly connected using standard M5 bolts. The water storage compartment 3 is located below the main water storage compartment 2 and is threadedly connected using standard M3 screws. The transducer clamp plate 6 is located on the flange fixing support 5, and the transducer clamp wing plate 7 is threadedly connected using standard M3 bolts. The bubble screen 12 is located inside the water storage compartment 3 and is threadedly connected using internal and external threads. For electromagnetic shielding before use, it can be secured using M5 plastic screws and M5 plastic washers. A plastic shielding ring can be designed in the middle, hollowed out to fit the flange positioning holes. The positioning flange 1 and storage compartment 2 are integrally 3D-printed to enhance the structural seal. The tapered surface at the bottom of the storage compartment 2 has a 90° angle. The water storage compartment 3 has an approximately 37° bevel with a height of 6mm. A 9mm diameter protrusion with a height of 5mm is located in the center. The bubble screen 12 is installed in the water storage bin 3 via internal and external threads. The screen's sidewall taper has a 90° angle, while the filter's taper has an angle of approximately 15°. The diversion tube 11 is connected to the surrounding water pipe via a straight-through connection and secured with a clamp on the outside of the pipe. The water inlet 14 is also connected to the surrounding water pipe via a straight-through connection and secured with a clamp on the outside of the pipe.

[0025] The method of use is as follows: first, embed the bubble screen 12 into the bottom of the water storage bottom bin 3 and fix it through the internal and external threads. The water storage bottom bin 3 is connected to the water storage main bin 2 through the three water storage bottom bin connecting screw holes 13 using M3 standard screws. After connection, the raw tape can be tied to the outside for further sealing and waterproofing; insert the rubber sealing ring 9 into the rubber ring mounting hole 10 under the positioning flange 1 through a transition fit, and then connect it with the flange positioning hole 4 and the SIASUN robot arm end wrist flange positioning hole; insert the ultrasonic transducer with a rubber sleeve on the outside into the inner hole of the rubber sealing ring 9 through an interference fit The tail end of the ultrasonic transducer is further clamped by the transducer clamp plate 7 and the transducer clamp wing plate 8 to prevent the probe from being ejected during operation and to ensure that its posture is perpendicular to the plane of the wrist flange at the end of the manipulator arm. The tank body is then filled with water, and the water pump provides water pressure to fill it. The bottom water pressure is adjusted through the water inlet 14 to connect the peripheral water pipe and fix it with a clamp until the small guide tube 12 at the top of the tank body sprays a continuous and regular water column, indicating that the gas in the tank has been discharged. The water pressure is slowly increased until the required water column length is adjusted to avoid bubbles in the water column from interfering with the ultrasonic detection signal. If immersion ultrasonic testing is performed, external water pipes and water pressure adjustment are not required.

[0026] The present invention designs a transducer fixture for ultrasonic testing that can be used for both water spraying and immersion. The positioning flange is connected to the wrist flange at the end of the ultrasonic testing robot arm through a positioning hole. The ultrasonic transducer is clamped by connecting and fixing the transducer fixture to follow the movement of the robot arm for scanning. A rubber sealing ring is added to introduce an interference fit to ensure that the entire chamber is in a sealed state. The transducer clamp device clamps the end connector of the transducer to ensure that the direction of the transducer sound beam is perpendicular to the plane of the flange when the water pressure is high. A small diversion tube is provided to ensure that the water pressure in the chamber is not too high and the gas at the top cannot be discharged. The main water storage chamber and the bottom water storage chamber are responsible for the input and output of water coupling agent. The water flow is introduced into the storage chamber through the water inlet on the side of the main water storage chamber and connected to the water pipe. The bubble screen is embedded in the bottom water storage chamber to control the water flow rate and filter large bubbles in the water, ensuring that a steady water column is sprayed out from the water outlet of the bottom water storage chamber, providing conditions for ultrasonic testing water spraying.

[0027] The transducer fixture designed in the present invention has a simple structure, fewer parts, is easy to assemble, has low cost, good sealing, and high reliability, and can meet the detection requirements of water spray / water immersion ultrasonic detection means.

Claims

1. A transducer fixture for ultrasonic testing in both water spray and immersion modes, characterized by: The positioning flange (1), the main water storage chamber (2) and the bottom water storage chamber (3) are the main structural parts of the transducer fixture; the positioning flange (1) is located below the wrist flange at the end of the robotic arm, and the positioning flange (1) is connected to the wrist flange at the end of the ultrasonic detection robotic arm through four positioning holes; The main water storage compartment (2) is fixed below the positioning flange (1) through 3D printing processing; the bottom water storage compartment (3) is located below the main water storage compartment (2) and has three bottom water storage compartment connection screw holes (13) that are threadedly connected using standard M3 screws; The bubble screen (12) is located inside the water storage bottom bin (3) and is connected by internal and external threads; the flange fixing support (5) is connected to the positioning flange (1), the transducer clamp hoop plate (6) is located on the flange fixing support (5), and is threadedly connected to the transducer clamp wing plate (7) by standard M3 bolts to fix the transducer end; the flange positioning hole (4) is used to connect the wrist flange at the end of the ultrasonic detection robot arm, and the flange fixing support (5) is used to connect the water storage bin body structure; the water storage bottom bin connection screw hole (13) is positioned and assembled with the water storage main bin (2), and the external raw material tape is tied for waterproofing. The rubber sealing ring (9) is inserted into the rubber ring mounting hole (10) through a transition fit, and the ultrasonic transducer is inserted into the inner hole of the sealing ring through an interference fit, thereby increasing the sealing performance during the detection process; the end of the transducer is fixed by the transducer clamping plate (6) and the transducer clamping wing plate (7); the diversion tube (11) is opened at the upper end of the water storage main chamber (2), and the external water pipe is used to remove the air on the top of the chamber body and reduce the water pressure in the chamber; the water injection port (14) injects water into the water storage main chamber (2) under the pressure of the water pump; the bubble screen (12) effectively removes bubbles in the water through the arrangement of different apertures, thereby slowing down the impact speed of the water flow; The transducer clamping plate (6) is connected to the flange fixing support (5) during the 3D printing process, and is combined with the transducer clamping wing plate (7) to fix the rear end outer cover of the transducer, and is threaded and clamped by M3 standard bolts; since the rubber ring mounting hole (10) and the water outlet of the water storage bottom bin (3) are coaxial, the transducer sound beam line and the water outlet are coaxial through the clamping structure, ensuring that the transducer is detected in an effective posture; the cone angle of the side wall of the bubble screen (12) is a right angle, and the cone angle of the leakage screen is between 10° and 20°, with different apertures and imitation floor drain structures; the diversion tube (11) is selected to be connected to the external water pipe, and adopts a direct plug-in connection, or is clamped and fixed with a clamp; The water inlet (14) is connected to the peripheral water pipe by a straight plug-in connection and a clamp is added to clamp and fix it; When the water injection port (14) is not plugged into the external hose, a communicating vessel structure is formed inside and outside the water tank, and coupling liquid is contained in the water tank, thereby realizing water immersion detection; water spray detection can be carried out by plugging in the water pipe.

2. The transducer fixture for ultrasonic testing in both water spray and water immersion modes according to claim 1, characterized in that: The positioning flange (1) is connected to the wrist of the robot arm through threaded connection using standard M5 bolts.

3. The transducer fixture for ultrasonic testing in both water spray and water immersion modes according to claim 1, characterized in that: The positioning flange (1) and the main water storage chamber (2) are seamlessly connected through 3D printing, and the cone angle of the lower part of the main water storage chamber (2) is a right angle.

4. The transducer fixture for ultrasonic testing in both water spray and water immersion modes according to claim 1, characterized in that: The rubber sealing ring (9) is inserted into the rubber ring mounting hole (10) through a transition fit, and the ultrasonic transducer is installed in the hole of the rubber sealing ring (9) through an interference fit.

5. The transducer fixture for ultrasonic testing in both water spray and water immersion modes according to claim 1, characterized in that: The water storage bottom bin (3) is positioned and installed under the water storage main bin (2) through three water storage bottom bin connecting screw holes (13) and is installed with M3 standard screws.

6. The transducer fixture for ultrasonic testing in both water spray and water immersion modes according to claim 1, characterized in that: The slope of the water storage bottom bin (3) is 30° to 40°, the slope height is 5 to 10 mm, and a boss with a hole diameter of 10 mm and a height of 5 mm is provided in the center.

7. The transducer fixture for ultrasonic testing in both water spray and water immersion modes according to claim 1, characterized in that: The water outlet of the water storage bottom bin (3) is connected to the bubble screen (12) through internal and external threads.

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