Single-cycle ball-passing test main pipe foreign matter positioning ultrasonic ball
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202522432360.5
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2025-11-17
- Publication Date
- 2026-10-13
- Estimated Expiration
- 2035-11-17
AI Technical Summary
该方法操作简单、成本低，符合现有检修标准，但存在明显不足：当尼龙小球因为异位卡滞时，由于无法精确定位堵塞位置，检修人员需逐节拆卸主管排查，劳动强度大且效率低下，平均耗时约40分钟
[0013]本实用新型的有益效果是，本实用新型超声波小球能够有效穿透金属管路，配合超声波定位装置，能快速实现小球的高精度定位；具备小型化（直径＜30mm）、便捷化等特点，适用于存在金属干扰的单车过球试验主管异位定位。本实用新型超声波小球适用于单车过球试验主管异物定位装置。
Smart Images
Figure CN224851100U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This utility model relates to an ultrasonic ball for locating foreign objects in a single-vehicle ball-passing test tube, belonging to the field of ultrasonic positioning technology. Background Technology
[0002] The main brake pipe is the pipeline responsible for supplying compressed air in the braking system of railway vehicles. As an important component of the braking system, the main brake pipe runs through the entire train, connecting key components such as brake valves and brake cylinders.
[0003] During railway freight car maintenance, to ensure operational safety, it is essential to ensure that the main brake pipe is free of foreign objects. According to the "Single-Car Test of Railway Vehicle Brakes," a ball-passing test must be performed on the main brake pipe. This involves using compressed air to push a solid nylon ball through the main brake pipe to detect any foreign objects inside. This method is simple to operate, low in cost, and complies with existing maintenance standards. However, it has significant shortcomings: when the nylon ball becomes displaced and stuck, the blockage cannot be accurately located. Maintenance personnel must disassemble the main pipe section by section for inspection, resulting in high labor intensity and low efficiency, averaging approximately 40 minutes.
[0004] In addition, the metal material of the brake main tube can interfere with non-destructive testing technologies such as eddy current detection and electromagnetic wave detection. Furthermore, the RFID chip built into the existing test ball is not designed to resist metal interference, making it difficult to read signals in a metal environment. Moreover, it is difficult to modify due to procurement standards, which makes it difficult for traditional technologies to achieve accurate positioning.
[0005] Currently, there is no mature technical solution for quickly and accurately locating foreign objects inside the brake main pipe. Existing detection methods are affected by metal interference in terms of accuracy, or heavily rely on complex equipment, making it difficult to meet the needs of efficient on-site maintenance. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop a new detection method that can accurately identify the location where a small ball is stuck due to a foreign object in a metallic environment, thereby reducing unnecessary disassembly and assembly work, improving maintenance efficiency, and reducing workload. Summary of the Invention
[0006] The purpose of this invention is to quickly and accurately locate foreign objects inside the brake main pipe in a metallic environment, accurately identify the position of the ball stuck due to the foreign object, and propose an ultrasonic ball for locating foreign objects in the main pipe of a single-vehicle ball-passing test.
[0007] The technical solution of this utility model is as follows: a foreign object positioning ultrasonic ball for a single-vehicle ball-passing test includes a ball shell, a switch, a battery, LED indicator lights, a charging interface, a power cord, an NE555 chip, a centroid block, and an ultrasonic generator; the ultrasonic ball has a hollow structure, consisting of two semi-hollow balls joined together by threads; the top of the semi-hollow ball with internal threads at the ends is frustum-shaped, on which the ultrasonic generator is mounted; a centroid block is mounted inside the semi-hollow ball with internal threads at the ends near the ultrasonic generator, and a chip is placed on the centroid block, with a battery mounted on the chip; a charging interface is located at the center of the top of the semi-hollow ball with external threads at the ends, with a row of LED indicator lights installed at one end of the charging interface, namely a power indicator light, a self-test indicator light, and a sound wave emission status indicator light; a switch is installed at the other end of the charging interface; the LED indicator lights and the switch are connected to the chip through a power cord, and the charging interface is connected to the battery through a power cord.
[0008] The self-test indicator light displays green or red light. When the ultrasonic ball is started, the circuit system performs a self-test to check for system faults caused by bumps or impacts. A green light indicates no fault, while a red light indicates a possible fault. The acoustic wave emission status indicator light displays green or red light. Green light indicates that ultrasonic waves are being emitted, while red light indicates that ultrasonic wave emission has stopped. The battery indicator light displays three colors: green, yellow, and red. Green indicates that the battery level is above 70%, yellow indicates that the battery level is between 20% and 70%, and red indicates that the battery level is below 20%.
[0009] The ultrasonic generator uses an ultrasonic sound-generating module to emit ultrasonic waves at a frequency of 20kHz.
[0010] The chip in question is the NE555 integrated circuit chip.
[0011] The centroid block, installed around the ultrasonic generator, works in conjunction with the battery and the ultrasonic generator to adjust the center of mass and center of gravity of the ball, ensuring that the ultrasonic generator always faces downwards when the ultrasonic ball comes to rest.
[0012] The switch is located outside the ball. To use the ball, press and hold the switch for 3 seconds to start it; to turn it off, press and hold the switch for 3 seconds to turn it off.
[0013] The beneficial effects of this invention are that the ultrasonic ball can effectively penetrate metal pipes, and when used with an ultrasonic positioning device, it can quickly achieve high-precision positioning of the ball; it features miniaturization (diameter <30mm) and convenience, and is suitable for the misalignment positioning of the main pipe in a single-vehicle ball-passing test where metal interference exists. This ultrasonic ball is suitable for foreign object positioning devices in the main pipe of a single-vehicle ball-passing test. Attached Figure Description
[0014] Figure 1 This is a front view of the ultrasonic ball of this utility model; Figure 2 for Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of the ultrasonic microsphere; Figure 3 for Figure 1 BB cross-sectional view of ultrasonic microsphere; Figure 4 This is a rear view of the ultrasonic ball of this utility model; In the diagram, 1 is the charging port; 2 is the power indicator; 3 is the self-test indicator; 4 is the sound wave emission status indicator; 5 is the power cord; 6 is the battery; 7 is the chip; 8 is the centroid; 9 is the ultrasonic generator; and 10 is the switch. Detailed Implementation
[0015] This embodiment describes a foreign object positioning ultrasonic ball for a single-vehicle ball-passing test, comprising a switch 10, a battery 6, LED indicator lights, a charging interface 1, a power cord 5, a chip 7, a centroid 8, and an ultrasonic generator 9. The ultrasonic ball is designed with three LED indicator lights, including a sound wave emission status indicator light 4, a self-test indicator light 3, and a power indicator light 2; it is equipped with a USB charging interface 1 and a switch 10.
[0016] In this embodiment, an ultrasonic generator 9 is designed at the bottom of the ultrasonic ball; the inside of the ball is hollow, and the battery 6 and the USB charging interface 1 are connected by a power cord 5. The battery 6 and the ultrasonic generator 9 are integrated into one unit and driven by an NE555 chip 7. A centroid block 8 is set around the ultrasonic generator 9.
[0017] This embodiment describes the use of an ultrasonic ball for locating foreign objects in a single-vehicle ball-passing test main pipe in conjunction with a foreign object locating device for the same test main pipe. The method for locating foreign objects in the brake main pipe using the ultrasonic ball of this embodiment comprises the following steps: (1) The worker presses the switch for 3 seconds to turn on the ultrasonic ball and checks whether the sound wave emission status indicator 4, self-test indicator 3, and power indicator 2 are displayed normally; (2) If the display is normal, push the ball into the pipeline. The ball will stop after hitting the foreign object. (3) Squat down directly under the vehicle main pipe with the handheld foreign object positioning device, point the probe at the vehicle main pipe, and scan the pipe one by one. (4) When the stuck ultrasonic ball enters the detection radius (300mm), the buzzer will trigger an alarm, thereby quickly determining the location of the foreign object.
Claims
1. A foreign object positioning ultrasonic ball for a single-vehicle ball-passing test tube, characterized in that, The ultrasonic sphere includes a shell, a switch, a battery, LED indicators, a charging interface, a power cord, an NE555 chip, a centroid, and an ultrasonic generator. The ultrasonic sphere has a hollow structure, consisting of two semi-hollow spheres joined together by threads. The top of the semi-hollow sphere with internal threads at one end is frustum-shaped, on which the ultrasonic generator is mounted. A centroid is mounted inside the semi-hollow sphere near the ultrasonic generator, with a chip placed on it and a battery mounted on the chip. A charging interface is located at the center of the top of the semi-hollow sphere with external threads at one end. One end of the charging interface has a row of LED indicators: a power indicator, a self-test indicator, and a sound wave emission status indicator. The other end of the charging interface has a switch. The LED indicators and the switch are connected to the chip via a power cord, and the charging interface is connected to the battery via a power cord.
2. The ultrasonic ball for locating foreign objects in a single-vehicle ball-passing test tube according to claim 1, characterized in that, The self-test indicator light displays green or red light. When the ultrasonic ball is started, the circuit system performs a self-test to check for system faults caused by bumps or impacts. A green light indicates no fault, while a red light indicates a possible fault. The acoustic wave emission status indicator light displays green or red light. Green light indicates that ultrasonic waves are being emitted, while red light indicates that ultrasonic wave emission has stopped. The battery indicator light displays three colors: green, yellow, and red. Green indicates that the battery level is above 70%, yellow indicates that the battery level is between 20% and 70%, and red indicates that the battery level is below 20%.
3. The ultrasonic ball for locating foreign objects in a single-vehicle ball-passing test main tube according to claim 1, characterized in that, The ultrasonic generator uses an ultrasonic sound-generating module to emit ultrasonic waves at a frequency of 20kHz.
4. The ultrasonic ball for locating foreign objects in a single-vehicle ball-passing test tube according to claim 1, characterized in that, The centroid block, installed around the ultrasonic generator, works in conjunction with the battery and the ultrasonic generator to adjust the center of mass and center of gravity of the ball, ensuring that the ultrasonic generator always faces downwards when the ultrasonic ball comes to rest.
5. The ultrasonic ball for locating foreign objects in a single-vehicle ball-passing test tube according to claim 1, characterized in that, The switch is located outside the ball. To use the ball, press and hold the switch for 3 seconds to start it; to turn it off, press and hold the switch for 3 seconds to turn it off.