An imaging light curtain based tubing length measuring device

Abstract

The application provides an oil pipe length measuring device based on an imaging light curtain, which comprises a stand, upper and lower end supports, upper and lower light curtain length measuring modules, a light source, a computer, a linear array camera and the like; the two light curtain length measuring modules are fixed on the supports at the two ends of the stand and are ensured to be in the same plane; the light curtain length measuring modules are each composed of a bar-shaped collimated light beam emitting module and a fiber receiving module; the bar-shaped collimated light beam emitting module outputs collimated light beams through a light cable connected with the light source, and the corresponding fiber receiving module is a signal receiving end; when the two ends of the oil pipe sweep through the light curtain area, part of the outgoing light beams is blocked, the signal received by the corresponding fiber receiving module changes, the light spot image output by the fiber is collected by the linear array camera, and the length information of the oil pipe can be obtained through computer processing; the application solves the problem of automatic length measurement of the oil pipe and has the advantages of convenient assembly and debugging, strong anti-interference capability, fast measurement speed, high precision and the like.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of length measurement of oilfield equipment, specifically a tubing length measurement device based on an imaging light curtain. Background Technology

[0002] In oil extraction operations, tubing conveyors are used to transport and arrange oil pipes. During this process, the length of the oil pipes needs to be accurately measured to determine the well's extraction depth. Traditional methods involve manual measurement using a measuring tape, or using displacement sensors to measure the pipe's displacement during transport, indirectly determining the pipe length. These methods are time-consuming, not fully automated, and have low measurement accuracy, significantly limiting the efficiency of oil extraction operations. Summary of the Invention

[0003] To address the problems existing in the background technology, the purpose of this invention is to provide an oil pipe length measuring device based on an imaging light curtain. This device uses two light curtain length measuring modules spaced a certain distance apart to form two light curtain regions. When both ends of the oil pipe sweep across the light curtain, the length information can be obtained through signal processing. The formula for calculating the total length is:

[0004] L=L1+L2+L3 (1)

[0005] like Figure 1 In the formula, L is the total length of the oil pipe, L1 is the length of the light curtain area 4-2 that is blocked, L2 is the interval between the light curtain length measuring modules 4 and 6, and L3 is the length of the light curtain area 6-2 that is blocked.

[0006] Compared with traditional tubing length measurement methods, this invention has the advantages of high measurement accuracy, non-contact, high speed, full automation, and convenient assembly and adjustment.

[0007] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution:

[0008] An oil pipe length measurement device based on an imaging light curtain includes a column, upper and lower support brackets, upper and lower light curtain length measurement modules, a light source, a computer, and a line scan camera. The light curtain length measurement modules are mounted on the column via the upper and lower support brackets, ensuring that the two light curtain length measurement modules are in the same plane. Each light curtain length measurement module consists of a strip collimated beam emitting module and an optical fiber receiving module, forming two light curtain sections. When both ends of the oil pipe being measured sweep across the light curtain area, one optical fiber of the optical fiber receiving module cannot receive the light signal, while the matrix optical fiber at the other end is fixed within the working distance of the line scan camera lens. The line scan camera acquires the light spot image, and the length information of the oil pipe being measured can be obtained by computer processing.

[0009] The aforementioned bar-shaped collimated beam emission module consists of a U-shaped groove base, an FC flange, a threaded sleeve, and a square lens. The light source is connected to the FC flange via an optical cable. The threaded sleeve is adjusted to fix the optical cable outlet at the focal point of the square lens. After the light source is lit, the square lens emits a square collimated beam, and the beams are arranged sequentially to form a bar-shaped collimated beam.

[0010] The aforementioned fiber optic receiving modules are composed of a receiving end base, a cylindrical lens, a fine-tuning base, and a fiber optic slot. The optical fibers are densely packed and fixed in the fiber optic slot by adhesive injection. The strip collimated beam emitted by the strip collimated beam emitting module is emitted as a single beam after passing through the cylindrical lens. The optical signal is received by densely packed optical fibers. The signal from the optical fibers is collected by a linear array camera and transmitted to a computer for image processing, thereby determining the length of the oil pipe being measured.

[0011] The light source is an LD light source that emits 650nm visible red light.

[0012] The square lenses are separated by a blackened light-blocking sheet.

[0013] The U-shaped groove base is provided with a threaded hole that mates with the threaded sleeve, and the light outlet of the optical cable can be fixed at the focal point of the square lens by adjusting the threaded sleeve.

[0014] The FC flange is equipped with a ball head structure, and the threaded sleeve is equipped with a ball cup structure. The ball head structure and the ball cup structure are used together to achieve arbitrary adjustment of the direction of the emitted beam.

[0015] The optical fibers are fixed at equal intervals in the fiber groove by glue injection, and the appropriate arrangement interval can be selected according to the requirements of length measurement accuracy.

[0016] The optical fiber core diameter is less than 1mm, which facilitates improved measurement accuracy.

[0017] The length of the oil pipe being measured is determined by acquiring light spot images using a line scan camera and transmitting them to a computer to analyze the changes in the number of light spots.

[0018] Compared with existing technologies, the advantages of this invention are as follows: It employs a collimated beam emission and densely packed fiber optic reception optical path design, allowing for different measurement accuracy requirements to be met by changing the fiber spacing or selecting different core diameter specifications; measurement can be completed during pipe handling without additional manual intervention, offering advantages of high measurement speed and full automation; the light curtain length measurement module adopts a modular design, allowing the optical path to be pre-adjusted and installed on upper and lower supports, with the supports simply suspended at both ends of the column during use; a line scan camera is used to capture images of the reduced number of light spots as the pipe sweeps across the light curtain area, which are then processed by a computer to output the pipe's length information; the entire device offers advantages such as convenient assembly and adjustment, simple back-end signal processing, and strong anti-interference capabilities. Attached Figure Description

[0019] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the present invention.

[0020] Figure 2 for Figure 1 Detailed structural diagrams of sections 4-3 and 6-3.

[0021] Figure 3 for Figure 1 Detailed structural diagrams of sections 4-1 and 6-1.

[0022] Figure 4 for Figure 2 A detailed structural diagram of section 4-32.

[0023] Figure 5 for Figure 2 A detailed structural diagram of section 4-33.

[0024] Figure 6 This refers to the number of light spots obtained by computer processing when no oil pipe being measured passes through the upper light curtain length measuring module.

[0025] Figure 7 The number of light spots obtained by computer processing when the oil pipe sweeps across the upper light curtain length measuring module.

[0026] Figure 1 In the middle: 1. Column; 2. Upper support; 3. Beam emission direction; 4. Upper light curtain length measuring module; 4-1. Upper fiber optic receiving module; 4-2. Upper light curtain area; 4-3. Upper strip collimated beam emitting module; 5. Oil pipe under test; 6. Lower light curtain length measuring module; 6-1. Lower fiber optic receiving module; 6-2. Lower light curtain area; 6-3. Lower strip collimated beam emitting module; 7. Optical cable; 8. Light source; 9. Computer; 10. Network cable; 11. Linear array camera; 12. Matrix fiber optic; 13. Lower support; 14. Optical fiber.

[0027] Figure 2 4-31, U-shaped groove base; 4-32, FC flange; 4-33, threaded sleeve.

[0028] Figure 3 In the middle: 4-11, receiver base; 4-12, cylindrical lens; 4-13, fine-tuning base; 4-14, fiber optic slot.

[0029] Figure 4 Chinese: 4-321, ball head structure.

[0030] Figure 5 Chinese: 4-331, spherical bowl structure. Detailed Implementation

[0031] The technical solutions of the present invention will now be clearly and completely described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the protection scope of the present invention.

[0032] like Figure 1 As shown: A pipe length measuring device based on imaging light curtain mainly includes a column 1, upper and lower end supports 2 and 13, upper and lower light curtain length measuring modules 4 and 6, a light source 8, a computer 9, a line scan camera 11, etc.

[0033] After the two light curtain length measuring modules 4 and 6 are assembled and debugged, they are installed on the column 1 at a certain distance through the upper and lower brackets 2 and 13. The two light curtain length measuring modules 4 and 6 need to be installed in the same plane to ensure synchronous signal output during measurement. The light curtain length measuring modules 4 and 6 are each composed of strip-shaped collimated beam emitting modules 4-3 and 6-3, and fiber optic receiving modules 4-1 and 6-1. When the oil pipe 5 under test is being transported, after both ends sweep across the light curtain areas 4-2 and 6-2, the beam in the swept area is blocked. The corresponding fiber optic receiving modules 4-1 and 4-6 do not receive the light signal. The matrix fiber optic cable 12 at the other end is fixed within the working distance of the lens of the line scan camera 11. The line scan camera 11 collects a clear light spot image, which is then transmitted to the computer 9 for image processing. Taking the light curtain length measuring module 4 as an example: Figure 6 The number of light spots obtained by computer 9 when the oil pipe 5 being measured does not pass through the light curtain length measuring module 4. Figure 7 The number of light spots obtained by computer 9 when the oil pipe 5 is scanned is given. Based on the arrangement interval of the optical fiber 14 fixed in the optical fiber slot 4-14, the blocked length L1 of the upper light curtain area 4-2 can be obtained. Similarly, L2 can be obtained. The length information of the oil pipe 5 can be obtained according to formula (1).

[0034] like Figure 2 As shown: The strip collimated beam emitting modules 4-3 and 6-3 are both composed of a U-shaped groove base 4-31, an FC flange 4-32, a threaded sleeve 4-33, and a square lens 4-34; the light source 8 is connected to the FC flange 4-32 through an optical cable 7. The U-shaped groove base 4-31 has a screw hole that matches the threaded sleeve 4-33. By adjusting the threaded sleeve 4-33, the light outlet of the optical cable 7 can be fixed at the focal point of the square lens 4-34. After the light source 8 is lit, the square lens 4-34 emits a square collimated light spot, and the light spots are arranged in sequence to form a strip collimated beam.

[0035] like Figure 3As shown: The fiber optic receiving modules 4-1 and 6-1 are each composed of a receiving end base 4-11, a cylindrical lens 4-12, a fine-tuning base 4-13, and a fiber optic slot 4-14; the fiber optic 14 is tightly packed and fixed in the fiber optic slot 4-14 by glue injection, and the fine-tuning base 4-13 has slots; the bar collimated beam emitted from the bar collimated beam emitting modules 4-3 and 6-3 forms a beam after passing through the cylindrical lens 4-12. By adjusting the fine-tuning base 4-13, the tightly packed fiber optic 14 is positioned at the focal line of the cylindrical lens 4-12. The signal from the fiber optic 14 is collected by the line scan camera 11 and transmitted to the computer 9 for data processing, thereby obtaining the length of the oil pipe 5 under test.

[0036] The light source 8 is an LD light source that emits 650nm visible red light, which makes the assembly and adjustment of the entire device more convenient and reduces the cost of use.

[0037] The square lenses 4-34 are separated by a blackened light-blocking sheet to reduce the influence between adjacent optical paths and ensure the collimation of the entire optical path. The blackening treatment can reduce the influence of reflection on the optical path.

[0038] The U-shaped groove base 4-31 is provided with a threaded hole that mates with the threaded sleeve 4-33. The light outlet of the optical cable 7 can be fixed at the focal point of the square lens 4-34 by adjusting the threaded sleeve 4-33.

[0039] The FC flange (4-32) is equipped with a ball head structure (4-321), and the threaded sleeve (4-33) is equipped with a ball cup structure (4-331). The ball head structure (4-321) and the ball cup structure (4-331) are used together to realize arbitrary adjustment of the direction of the emitted beam.

[0040] The optical fibers 14 are fixed at equal intervals in the optical fiber slots 4-14 by glue injection. The appropriate arrangement interval can be selected according to the requirements of length measurement accuracy. The core diameter of the optical fiber 14 is less than 1mm, which can improve the measurement accuracy.

[0041] The line scan camera 11 acquires light spot images and transmits the signals to the computer 9 for data processing, making the back-end signal processing of the entire device simpler and its anti-interference capability stronger.

[0042] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention, but the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited thereto. Any equivalent substitutions or modifications made by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technology disclosed in the present invention, based on the technical solution and inventive concept of the present invention, should be covered within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A pipe length measuring device based on an imaging light curtain, comprising a column (1), upper and lower end supports (2, 13), upper and lower light curtain length measuring modules (4, 6), a light source (8), a computer (9), and a line scan camera (11), characterized in that: The light curtain length measuring modules (4, 6) are mounted on the column (1) by the upper and lower end brackets (2, 13) to ensure that the two light curtain length measuring modules (4, 6) are in the same plane. The light curtain length measuring modules (4, 6) are composed of a strip collimated beam emitting module (4-3, 6-3) and an optical fiber receiving module (4-1, 6-1) to form two light curtains (4-2, 6-2). When the two ends of the oil pipe (5) being measured sweep across the light curtain (4-2, 6-2) area, the optical fiber (14) of the optical fiber receiving module (4-1, 6-1) cannot receive the light signal. The matrix optical fiber (12) at the other end is fixed within the working distance of the lens of the line array camera (11). The line array camera (11) collects a clear light spot image, which is then processed by the computer (9) to obtain the length information of the oil pipe (5) being measured. The strip collimated beam emission modules (4-3, 6-3) are all composed of a U-shaped groove base (4-31), an FC flange (4-32), a threaded sleeve (4-33), and a square lens (4-34). The light source (8) is connected to the FC flange (4-32) through an optical cable (7). The threaded sleeve (4-33) is adjusted to fix the light outlet of the optical cable (7) at the focal point of the square lens (4-34). After the light source (8) is lit, the square lens (4-34) emits a square collimated light spot, and the light spots are arranged in sequence to form a strip collimated beam. The optical fiber receiving modules (4-1, 6-1) are all composed of a receiving end base (4-11), a cylindrical lens (4-12), a fine-tuning base (4-13), and an optical fiber slot (4-14). The optical fiber (14) is fixed in the optical fiber slot (4-14) by injection. The strip collimated beam emitted by the strip collimated beam emitting module (4-3, 6-3) is emitted as a light ray after passing through the cylindrical lens (4-12). The optical signal is received by the closely packed optical fiber (14). The signal of the optical fiber (14) is collected by the line array camera (11) and transmitted to the computer (9) for image processing, thereby obtaining the length of the oil pipe (5) under test.

2. The oil pipe length measuring device based on an imaging light curtain according to claim 1, wherein the light source (8) is an LD light source that emits 650nm visible red light.

3. The oil pipe length measuring device based on an imaging light curtain according to claim 1, wherein the square lenses (4-34) are separated by a blackened light-blocking sheet.

4. The oil pipe length measuring device based on imaging light curtain according to claim 1, wherein the U-shaped groove base (4-31) is provided with a threaded hole that cooperates with the threaded sleeve (4-33), and the light outlet of the optical cable (7) can be fixed at the focal point of the square lens (4-34) by adjusting the threaded sleeve (4-33).

5. The oil pipe length measuring device based on an imaging light curtain according to claim 1, wherein the FC flange (4-32) is provided with a ball head structure (4-321) and the threaded sleeve (4-33) is provided with a ball cup structure (4-331). The ball head structure (4-321) and the ball cup structure (4-331) are used together to realize arbitrary adjustment of the direction of the emitted beam.

6. In the oil pipe length measuring device based on imaging light curtain according to claim 1, the optical fiber (14) is fixed at equal intervals in the optical fiber groove (4-14) by glue injection, and the appropriate arrangement interval can be selected according to the length measuring accuracy requirements.

7. The oil pipe length measuring device based on imaging light curtain according to claim 1, wherein the core diameter of the optical fiber (14) is less than 1 mm, which facilitates the improvement of measurement accuracy.

8. The oil pipe length measuring device based on imaging light curtain according to claim 1, acquires light spot images by using a line array camera (11) and transmits them to a computer (9) to count the changes in the number of light spots, thereby obtaining the length of the oil pipe (5) being measured.

Images