Inspection method, inspection device, and method for repairing member

The combined use of an eddy current flaw detector and electromagnetic ultrasonic thickness gauge on a self-propelled vehicle effectively identifies and measures defects in hollow components, ensuring accurate detection and prevention of leakage.

JP2025152397AActive Publication Date: 2025-10-09JFE STEEL CORP
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Patent Information

Application Number
JP2024054269
Authority / Receiving Office
JP · JP
Patent Type
Applications
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2024-03-28
Publication Date
2025-10-09
Estimated Expiration
2044-03-28

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Existing inspection methods for detecting defects in hollow components like pipes and tanks, such as corrosion and cracks, are inadequate as they either fail to detect localized corrosion or cannot accurately measure thickness changes, leading to potential leakage issues.

Method used

A combined inspection method using an eddy current flaw detector and an electromagnetic ultrasonic thickness gauge to detect defects, where the eddy current flaw detector identifies cracks and pit-like thinning, and the ultrasonic thickness gauge measures thickness, with a self-propelled vehicle for automated detection.

Benefits of technology

Accurately detects defects like cracks, pit-like thinning, and uniform thinning in hollow components, preventing leakage by identifying and repairing defective parts.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Abstract

To provide an inspection method and an inspection device capable of accurately detecting a defective part from an inspection object member.SOLUTION: An inspection method for detecting a defective part from an inspection object member includes: a first detection step of detecting a first signal using an eddy current flaw detector from an inspection region on a surface of the inspection object member; a second detection step of detecting a second signal using an ultrasonic thickness gauge from the inspection region; and a determination step of determining that a defective part exists in the inspection region when at least one of the first signal and the second signal indicates an abnormal value.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3
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Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an inspection method and an inspection device for detecting defective parts such as corroded parts and cracks in an inspection target component, and a method for repairing the component. [Background technology]

[0002] When inspection target components, such as hollow components such as pipes and tanks, become corroded or damaged, problems such as leakage of contents can occur. For this reason, various inspection methods have been proposed for detecting defects such as corroded areas and cracks in inspection target components. For example, Patent Document 1 describes a method for detecting defects in pipes using an ultrasonic thickness gauge. Furthermore, Patent Document 2 describes a method for detecting cracks and corrosion-induced thinning in pipes using an eddy current flaw detector. Furthermore, Patent Document 3 describes a method for detecting defects such as thinning and cracks in inspection target components using an eddy current flaw detector. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 124458 / 1983 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-32508 [Patent Document 3] Patent No. 7205642 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The method described in Patent Document 1 is a point-measurement technique, and therefore cannot detect localized corrosion unless the entire surface of the inspected component is measured. Furthermore, ultrasonic thickness gages typically detect multiple reflections of ultrasonic waves between two parallel surfaces, and calculate the thickness by multiplying the time interval between these reflections by the known speed of sound for each material of the inspected component. Therefore, if the surface is uneven due to corrosion or if the target surfaces are not parallel, the multiple reflections cannot be detected and thickness measurement cannot be performed. As a result, the method described in Patent Document 1 may miss corroded areas. As a result, while thickness inspection requires measuring the thickness of the inspection area, even if the thickness of the intact portion can be measured, it may not be possible to measure the thickness of the corroded thinning portion, potentially resulting in failure to detect the corroded thinning portion.

[0005] On the other hand, because eddy current flaw detectors are devices that detect changes in the thickness of the component being inspected, the absolute value of the thickness of the component being inspected cannot be measured using the methods described in Patent Documents 2 and 3. Furthermore, because the strength of the signal detected by an eddy current flaw detector depends on the amount of change in the thickness of the component being inspected, it is difficult for the methods described in Patent Documents 2 and 3 to detect corroded areas where the amount of change in thickness is small, such as areas where the metal has been uniformly thinned.

[0006] The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an inspection method and an inspection device that can accurately detect defective parts in an inspected component. Another object of the present invention is to provide a component repair method that can prevent problems caused by defective parts in the component. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] [1] The inspection method of the present invention is an inspection method for detecting defective parts from an inspected component, and includes a first detection step of detecting a first signal from an inspection area on the surface of the inspected component using an eddy current flaw detector, a second detection step of detecting a second signal from the inspection area using an ultrasonic thickness gauge, and a determination step of determining that there is a defective part in the inspection area if at least one of the first signal and the second signal indicates an abnormal value.

[0008] [2] The inspection method according to the present invention is the inspection method according to [1] above, wherein the determination step includes the steps of determining that there is a crack in the inspection area when the first signal indicates an abnormal value and the second signal indicates a normal value, determining that there is pit-like thinning in the inspection area when both the first signal and the second signal indicate abnormal values, and determining that there is uniform thinning in the inspection area when the first signal indicates a normal value and the second signal indicates an abnormal value.

[0009] [3] A method for repairing a component according to the present invention includes a repair step of repairing or replacing a defective part of the component detected using the inspection method according to [1] or [2] above.

[0010] [4] The inspection device of the present invention is an inspection device that detects defective parts from an inspected part, and includes an eddy current flaw detector that detects a first signal from an inspection area on the surface of the inspected part, an ultrasonic thickness gauge that detects a second signal from the inspection area, and an information processing device that determines that there is a defective part in the inspection area if at least one of the first signal and the second signal shows an abnormal value.

[0011] [5] The inspection device according to the present invention is the inspection device according to [4] above, further comprising a moving unit that moves the eddy current flaw detector and the ultrasonic thickness gauge on the surface of the inspection target component. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] According to the inspection method and inspection device of the present invention, it is possible to accurately detect defective parts in an inspection target component, and according to the member repair method of the present invention, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of problems caused by defective parts in a component. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the results of evaluating the relationship between the output signals of an eddy current flaw detector and an electromagnetic ultrasonic thickness gauge and the corroded portions and cracks. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the self-propelled carriage shown in FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the flow of an inspection method according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the test results of the example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] [Concept of the present invention] First, the concept of the inspection method and inspection device according to the present invention will be described.

[0015] Defective parts in hollow components such as pipes and tanks include corrosion and cracks, and corrosion can take the form of pit-like thinning or uniform thinning. Such defects must be detected early because they can lead to problems such as leakage of contents. Therefore, the inventors of the present invention evaluated the relationship between the output signals of an eddy current flaw detector and an electromagnetic ultrasonic thickness gauge and defects (particularly corrosion and cracks) in order to detect corrosion and cracks. Specifically, a steel plate S with artificial flaws simulating corrosion and cracks, as shown in FIG. 1(b), was prepared. A self-propelled vehicle 1 equipped with an eddy current flaw detector and an electromagnetic ultrasonic thickness gauge was run over the steel plate S to evaluate the relationship between the output signals of the eddy current flaw detector and the electromagnetic ultrasonic thickness gauge and the corrosion and cracks.

[0016] Specifically, a mortar-shaped defect D1 (30 mm diameter, 40% of the original thickness (12 mm) of the steel plate S) simulating a pit-like thinning and a V-groove D2 (5 mm deep, 100 mm wide) simulating uniform thinning were formed on the steel plate S. The V-groove D2 reduced the thickness of the steel plate S by approximately 42% of its original thickness, which is generally detectable. Furthermore, the edge of the steel plate S with the mortar-shaped defect D1 and the edge of the steel plate S with the V-groove D2 were butted against each other to simulate a crack at the joint of the steel plate S. The self-propelled vehicle 1 was designed to be attracted and run by magnetic drive wheels 1a, and travel and flaw detection instructions were sent to the self-propelled vehicle 1 via wireless communication from an external computer. An encoder was attached to one of the magnetic drive wheels 1a (see Figure 2), and the travel distance of the self-propelled vehicle 1 was measured and saved.

[0017] An E-type coil was used as the eddy current flaw detector 2 (see Figure 2), and it was positioned so that the difference in the detection signal could be obtained along the direction of travel of the self-propelled carriage 1. The E-type coil had a foot spacing of 20 mm, 200 turns, an excitation frequency of 10 kHz, and a lift-off of 3 mm. The E-type coil had three channels arranged at a 30 mm pitch along the width direction of the self-propelled carriage 1, and measurements were taken by switching channels every 100 ms. The E-type coil was powered by a battery, which was a separate system from the self-propelled carriage 1 as a noise countermeasure. The detection signal was then converted into analog form within each E-type coil, and the detection signal was transmitted to an external computer via wireless communication every 100 ms and recorded.

[0018] The electromagnetic ultrasonic thickness gauge 3 (see Figure 2) was a shear wave generating type, and measurements were taken in the so-called echo-echo mode with a center frequency of 4 MHz. To detect the multiple bottom echoes, gates were set for the so-called B1 and B2 echoes, and the time difference between them was used to calculate the thickness of the steel plate S. The shear wave sound velocity for this calculation was set to 3240 m / s. Synchronous addition was set to eight times, and the auto-gain was set to 100 dB. If the B1 and B2 echoes could not be detected in this auto-gain state, the thickness was deemed unmeasurable. The measurement results were transmitted to an external computer via wireless communication and recorded in sync with the measurement results of the eddy current flaw detector 2.

[0019] The evaluation results are shown in Figure 1(a). As shown in Figure 1(a), the output signal (eddy current testing signal) of eddy current flaw detector 2 shows changes at the cone-shaped defect D1 (pit-shaped thinning) and the seam (crack) in steel plate S, and the cone-shaped defect D1 and the seam were successfully detected. In contrast, there was no significant change in the eddy current testing signal at the V-groove D2 (uniform thinning), and the V-groove D2 could not be detected with a realistic S / N ratio. Specifically, the intensity of the eddy current testing signal was weaker than that of the cone-shaped defect D1, which is roughly the same depth. This is thought to be because the width of V-groove D2 is wider than that of eddy current flaw detector 2, so the amount of change in plate thickness detected is small.

[0020] In contrast, the output (thickness gauge reading) of the electromagnetic ultrasonic thickness gauge 3 always indicated the original thickness (12 mm) of the steel plate S at the seam. Also, at the mortar-shaped defect D1, an indication indicating the plate thickness (remaining thickness) of the bottom was obtained only at the position corresponding to the bottom, and the reflected signal was weaker at the slope, so no indication was obtained. Also, at the V-groove D2, an indication of a plate thickness (remaining thickness) thinner than the original thickness of the steel plate S was obtained throughout, confirming the presence of a thinned portion.

[0021] The above evaluation results can be summarized as shown in Table 1 below. That is, as shown in Table 1, in healthy sections, there is no reaction to the eddy current testing signal, and the thickness gauge reading indicates the original thickness of steel plate S. Also, in cracks, there is a reaction to the eddy current testing signal, and the thickness gauge reading indicates the original thickness of steel plate S. Also, in pit-shaped thinning, there is a reaction to the eddy current testing signal, and the thickness gauge reading indicates either that measurement is not possible or the thickness reading indicates the remaining thickness of steel plate S. Also, in uniform thinning, there is no reaction to the eddy current testing signal, and the thickness gauge reading indicates the remaining thickness of steel plate S.

[0022] [Table 1]

[0023] Therefore, as shown in Table 2 below, we have newly discovered that by combining the output signals of an eddy current flaw detector and an electromagnetic ultrasonic thickness gauge, it is possible to determine whether the inspection area is sound, has a crack, has pit-like thinning, or has uniform thinning. That is, as shown in Table 2, if there is no response to the eddy current flaw detector signal and the thickness gauge reading indicates the original thickness of steel plate S, the inspection area can be determined to be sound. Also, if there is a response to the eddy current flaw detector signal and the thickness gauge reading indicates the original thickness of steel plate S, it can be determined that there is a crack in the inspection area. Also, if there is a response to the eddy current flaw detector signal and the thickness cannot be measured or the thickness reading indicates the residual pressure of steel plate S, it can be determined that there is pit-like thinning in the inspection area. Also, if there is no response to the eddy current flaw detector signal and the thickness gauge reading indicates the original thickness of steel plate S, it can be determined that there is uniform thinning in the inspection area.

[0024] [Table 2]

[0025] Therefore, the inspection method and inspection device of the present invention determine whether the inspection area is a healthy area or a defective area, and further whether the defective area is a crack, pit-like thinning, or uniform thinning, based on a combination of the output signal of the eddy current flaw detector and the output signal of the electromagnetic ultrasonic thickness gauge.

[0026] While uniform wall thinning refers to a smooth, uniformly corroded surface, continuous pitting due to drainage pools and other factors can occur. This condition is intermediate between the two, but the unevenness of the surface makes ultrasonic waves scattering, making measurement with an electromagnetic ultrasonic thickness gauge difficult. However, continuous pitting indicates frequent and continuous thickness changes. When inspecting such areas with an eddy current flaw detector, large-amplitude signals are detected continuously. Therefore, continuous pitting can be detected by combining an electromagnetic ultrasonic thickness gauge with an eddy current flaw detector. Thus, even when uniform wall thinning and sound sections are indistinguishable using an eddy current flaw detector alone, the presence or absence of wall thinning can be detected by the difference in the electromagnetic ultrasonic thickness gauge readings. Furthermore, single pitting and continuous pitting can be detected by the continuity of the eddy current flaw detector signal. In addition, since the ultrasonic thickness gauge may indicate the thickness of the original thick part surrounding the pit-like thinning, it is advisable to give priority to the eddy current testing signal when determining thinning.

[0027] FIG. 3 shows an example of the process flow for detecting defects in a component to be inspected using Table 2. The judgment operation described below is performed by an information processing device such as a computer, which compares the measured eddy current testing signal and thickness with the data shown in Table 2. More specifically, at least steps S2 to S4, S7, and S10, which will be described later, are performed by the information processing device. As shown in FIG. 3, when detecting defects in a component to be inspected using Table 2, first, an eddy current testing signal and thickness are measured in the inspection area of ​​the component to be inspected using an eddy current flaw detector and an electromagnetic ultrasonic thickness gauge, and these measurement results are recorded in the information processing device (step S1). Note that the measurement position may be shifted depending on the placement positions of the eddy current flaw detector and the electromagnetic ultrasonic thickness gauge, so it is desirable to correct or modify it.

[0028] Next, it is determined whether the plate thickness in the inspection area can be measured (Step S2). If the plate thickness can be measured (Step S2: Yes), it is determined whether the measured plate thickness indicates the original thickness of the inspection target component (Step S3). If the measured plate thickness indicates the original thickness of the inspection target component (Step S3: Yes), it is determined whether there is a reaction in the eddy current inspection signal (Step S4). If there is a reaction in the eddy current inspection signal (Step S4: Yes), it is determined that there is a crack in the inspection area (Step S5). On the other hand, if there is no reaction in the eddy current inspection signal (Step S4: No), it is determined that the inspection area is sound (Step S6).

[0029] On the other hand, if it is determined in the processing of step S3 that the measured plate thickness indicates a value different from the original thickness of the inspected component (step S3: No), it is determined whether or not there is a reaction in the eddy current inspection signal (step S7). Then, if there is a reaction in the eddy current inspection signal (step S7: Yes), it is determined that there is single or continuous pit-like thinning in the inspection area (step S8). On the other hand, if there is no reaction in the eddy current inspection signal (step S7: No), it is determined that there is uniform thinning in the inspection area (step S9). Also, if the plate thickness cannot be measured in the processing of step S2 (step S2: No), it is determined whether or not there is a reaction in the eddy current inspection signal (step S10). Then, if there is a reaction in the eddy current inspection signal (step S10: Yes), it is determined that there is single or continuous pit-like thinning in the inspection area (step S11).

[0030] On the other hand, if there is no response to the eddy current testing signal (Step S10: No), it is determined that there may be a malfunction in the equipment, and the equipment is inspected (Step S12). For example, if the electromagnetic ultrasonic thickness gauge shows no indication and no eddy current testing signal is detected, this indicates that the inner surface is so rough that the reflected signal of the electromagnetic ultrasonic signal does not return, but no eddy current testing signal is generated, suggesting a malfunction of the eddy current testing instrument. Alternatively, the lift-off of the eddy current testing instrument may be poor, resulting in the failure to detect eddy current testing signals or electromagnetic ultrasonic signals. Both of these are equipment malfunctions that require inspection and repair. Note that in the example of Figure 3, the determination is made based on the results of the thickness measurement, but it can also be made based on the results of the eddy current testing. It is also possible to simultaneously compare the results of the thickness measurement and the results of the eddy current testing to determine whether the problem corresponds to any of the conditions in Table 2.

[0031] Thereafter, after recording the judgment result, the system moves to the next inspection area and performs the same process to inspect the entire surface of the inspection area of ​​the inspection target component. The following describes in detail the configurations of the self-propelled carriage 1, eddy current flaw detector 2, and electromagnetic ultrasonic thickness gauge 3 used in the inspection method and inspection device according to the present invention.

[0032] [Self-propelled cart] The self-propelled vehicle 1 corresponds to the moving unit in the inspection device according to the present invention. The self-propelled vehicle 1 is a vehicle that adheres to the inspection target component and moves by itself. To perform flaw detection while moving over the inspection target component, the self-propelled vehicle 1 is equipped with an adhesion mechanism and a self-propelled mechanism. As an example, the self-propelled vehicle 1 is equipped with magnetic wheels so that it can adhere to the inspection target component while moving over it. In this case, the magnetic wheels may serve as both an adhesion mechanism and a traveling mechanism. As an example, a magnetic drive wheel is preferred as a traveling mechanism and adhesion mechanism. As another example, the vehicle may be equipped with a permanent magnetic endless track. A configuration may be adopted in which the self-propelled vehicle has a magnetic adhesion mechanism and a driving device such as wheels or endless tracks for traveling. Furthermore, it is preferable that the vehicle be designed to be able to overcome and travel over weld beads and other obstacles. The position (travel distance, etc.) of the self-propelled vehicle 1 may be measured using an encoder or the like and recorded as the inspection position. Attitude measurement using an inertial measurement unit (IMU), a surveying / position measurement device such as a total station, or self-position detection using a GPS or the like may be used. The flaw detection position of the self-propelled cart 1 is recorded by some method. The self-propelled cart 1 is preferably a device that operates wirelessly. If it is wireless, it is possible to inspect any range without being restricted by drive and signal transmission cables. Of course, the moving part in the present invention is not limited to the self-propelled cart 1 described above. A normal cart may be used instead of the self-propelled cart 1 and moved manually. Furthermore, instead of the self-propelled cart 1, it may be combined with an arm that can be operated by a drive device and installed as part of the manufacturing equipment.

[0033] [Eddy current flaw detector] The eddy current flaw detector 2 is equipped with an excitation coil, a detection coil, and a signal processing unit including phase detection. When inspecting steel pipes, etc., the eddy current flaw detector 2 is equipped with an external magnetization exciter. The eddy current flaw detector 2 applies an excitation signal of any (appropriate) frequency to the excitation coil, generating eddy currents in the material being inspected. The eddy currents generated near the surface of the material being inspected are detected by the detection coil. If the material being inspected has a flaw or a change in thickness, the distribution of the eddy currents changes, and the signal detected by the detection coil also changes. The detected signal is processed in the signal processing unit, including phase detection, to extract the detection voltage and phase information. When a differential detection coil is used, any thickness differences or flaws that occur near the detection coil are output as a voltage signal. This makes it possible to detect thickness changes, cracks, flaws, etc. between the detection coils.

[0034] The size of the detector coil should be appropriately designed, taking into account the size of the defect to be detected and factors such as lift-off. When using a differential detector coil, the difference in the detector coil impedance and the change in the AC magnetic field near the detector coil is detected as a flaw detection signal. Therefore, if the size of the pit-like thinning to be detected is too large compared to the detector coil, there will be no difference between the two detector coils, and no detection signal will appear. Pit-like thinning is generally a cone-shaped thinning area approximately 10 to 30 mm in size, so it is preferable to use an eddy current detector with a similar size. When the test object is a ferromagnetic material, eddy currents are distributed only on the very surface. Therefore, to detect thickness changes in ferromagnetic materials, a magnetic field close to magnetic saturation is applied externally to reduce the magnetic permeability and distribute the eddy currents to the interior. For this reason, in this case, the eddy current detector 2 has a magnetizer for applying external magnetization. Considering that the magnetizer will be mounted on the self-propelled vehicle 1, a permanent magnet is preferable, and rare-earth magnets such as neodymium magnets are preferable from the standpoints of cost and magnetic field strength. A strong magnet contributes to miniaturization and weight reduction.

[0035] The eddy current flaw detector 2 detects changes in eddy current between differential detection coils, and generates an output if there is a difference in thickness at each position of the differential coil. In defective areas, the thickness of the metal part decreases due to loss of material or oxidation, etc. This causes a change in the eddy current distribution, making it possible to detect thinning using eddy current flaw detection. There is a correlation between the amplitude of the eddy current flaw detection signal and the rate of thinning, which can be quantified in advance using test pieces, etc. By creating an artificial defect of the detection target (depth / thickness), the corrosion depth can be quantified from the detected amplitude.

[0036] In this embodiment, three eddy current flaw detectors are arranged in the width direction of the moving part (self-propelled carriage 1 in this case). The width direction of the moving part is on the same plane as, and perpendicular to, the traveling direction of the self-propelled carriage 1. Arranging multiple eddy current flaw detectors in the width direction in this manner is preferable because it allows for a wider measurement range than a single detector. The dimensions of each eddy current flaw detector can be determined appropriately. However, sensitivity tends to decrease when the eddy current flaw detector is larger compared to the pit-like thinning. Therefore, using multiple eddy current flaw detectors rather than a single one is preferable because it maintains sensitivity, expands the measurement range, and shortens the measurement time. However, care should be taken when increasing the number of eddy current flaw detectors too much, as this can result in problems such as the moving part becoming larger, making it difficult to handle the entire inspection device, including the moving part, and complicating the tracking structure between the inspection object and the eddy current flaw detector.

[0037] [Electromagnetic ultrasonic thickness gauge] The electromagnetic ultrasonic thickness gauge 3 comprises a coil and a magnet, and induces ultrasonic waves in the test object, which is a conductive material, by Lorentz force or magnetostriction force, which is generated by the interaction between a magnetic field applied by the magnet placed close to the test object and eddy currents generated in the test object when a current pulse is applied to a coil placed close to the test object. A permanent magnet or electromagnet can be used to apply the magnetic field to the test object. When the gauge is loaded onto the self-propelled cart 1, it is preferable to use a rare earth magnet (permanent magnet) such as a neodymium magnet from the viewpoint of weight.

[0038] When using a permanent magnet, the permanent magnet is brought within a few millimeters (approximately 1 to 5 mm) of the test object and a magnetic field is applied. Next, a coil is placed within the area where the magnetic field is applied, and a single or multiple burst current of several hundred kHz to 5 MHz is applied. This induces eddy currents on the surface of the test object facing the coil, causing an interaction between the eddy current and the static magnetic field applied by the magnet, resulting in a Lorentz force on the test object. As a result, ultrasonic waves with the same frequency as the applied current are generated and propagate within the test object. The ultrasonic vibrations generated on the surface propagate within the test object, return to the surface, and vibrate it.

[0039] Since the signal can be detected by a coil, which is the reverse process of generation, the transmitting probe and receiving probe can be the same. The detected signal is amplified by an appropriate preamplifier, then input to a computer or microcomputer via AD conversion, and averaged (noise removed) by appropriate synchronous addition to calculate the ultrasonic propagation time. When used as a plate thickness gauge, the plate thickness can be determined by calculating the time difference between the reflection times when multiple reflections occur on the surface and bottom of the object to be measured, and multiplying this by the known speed of sound. For example, the speed of sound in steel can be calculated using the known speed of sound, approximately 3240 m / s (for shear waves). The speed of sound is calibrated appropriately based on the type of steel and alloy composition.

[0040] Because electromagnetic ultrasonic waves are generated by eddy currents induced by a coil and a static magnetic field applied by a magnet or the like, they can be used without being placed in close contact with the object to be measured. Furthermore, thickness gauges using electromagnetic ultrasonic waves are stable against changes in the probe angle and other disturbances. These advantages make the use of electromagnetic ultrasonic thickness gauges extremely suitable when automating the inspection method and / or inspection device according to the present invention.

[0041] The captured ultrasonic waveform and plate thickness calculation results are preferably transmitted wirelessly to an external computer, etc. Alternatively, they are transmitted to the control unit of the self-propelled carriage 1 or the eddy current flaw detector 2, and are recorded and saved together. These are used as plate thickness measurement results together with the eddy current flaw detection results and the carriage travel results (position, posture, etc.).

[0042] In explaining the present invention, an electromagnetic ultrasonic thickness gauge has been used as an example of an ultrasonic thickness gauge. As described above, this is because electromagnetic ultrasonic thickness gauges are relatively easy to use. However, the effects of the present invention can be similarly achieved with ultrasonic thickness gauges other than electromagnetic ultrasonic thickness gauges. In this case, a suitable medium is simply passed between the test object and the ultrasonic thickness gauge. For example, water, ultrasonic gel, or the like is applied to or interposed between the test object and the ultrasonic thickness gauge, and the thickness of the test object is measured using the ultrasonic thickness gauge. [Example]

[0043] In this example, a pipe with actual corrosion thinning was inspected using the present invention. As shown in Figure 4(a), a quarter of the circumference of pipe P was inspected from the bottom to the side using a self-propelled vehicle. The original wall thickness of the pipe was 10 mm, and aluminum tape (conductive tape) was applied to two locations on the intact section to simulate cracks. It was also known that the lower part of the pipe had adjacent pit-like thinning areas due to corrosion and uniform thinning areas. An E-type coil was used as the eddy current flaw detector 2, and it was positioned so that the difference in detection signals could be obtained in the direction of travel of the self-propelled vehicle 1. The E-type coil had a leg spacing of 20 mm, 200 turns, an excitation frequency of 10 kHz, and a lift-off of 3 mm. Three E-type coil channels were arranged at a 30 mm pitch along the width of the self-propelled vehicle 1, and measurements were taken by switching channels every 100 ms. Furthermore, the E-type coils were powered by batteries, and the detection signals were converted into analog signals within each E-type coil, and the detection signals were transmitted every 100 ms via wireless communication to an external computer (information processing device), where they were recorded and judged.Meanwhile, the measurements from the electromagnetic ultrasonic thickness gauge were aggregated at 100 mm intervals, and a variation of ±50 mm (±1σ) was calculated as the error bar.

[0044] The measurement results are shown in Figure 4(b). As shown in Figure 4(b), the amplitude of the eddy current testing signal is small in the sound section. In contrast, the amplitude of the eddy current testing signal is large in the simulated flaw area and near the bottom of the pipe, clearly indicating a change in the pipe's wall thickness. Meanwhile, the electromagnetic ultrasonic thickness gauge measurement values ​​indicate a wall thickness of approximately 10 mm in the sound section, with little variation. In contrast, near the bottom of the pipe, the electromagnetic ultrasonic thickness gauge measurement values ​​indicate a wall thickness thinner than the original thickness, with greater variation. From these results, it was determined that the pipe had a simulated crack flaw on the side, a pit-like thinning area near the bottom of the pipe, and a uniform thinning area next to it. The pipe was determined to be sound except for these two locations. This confirms that the present invention can accurately detect defective sections in pipes.

[0045] Although the present invention has been described above as an embodiment, the present invention is not limited to the descriptions and drawings that form part of the disclosure of the present invention. In other words, other embodiments, examples, and operational techniques that can be made by those skilled in the art based on the present invention are all included in the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0046] 1 Self-propelled cart 1a Drive wheel 2 Eddy current flaw detector 3. Electromagnetic ultrasonic thickness gauge D1 Mortar-shaped defect D2 V groove P piping S steel plate

Claims

1. An inspection method for detecting a defective part from an inspection target member, comprising: a first detection step of detecting a first signal from an inspection region on a surface of the inspection target member using an eddy current flaw detector; a second detection step of detecting a second signal from the inspection area using an ultrasonic thickness gauge; a determining step of determining that a defective portion exists in the inspection area when at least one of the first signal and the second signal indicates an abnormal value; 12. A testing method comprising:

2. 2. The inspection method according to claim 1, wherein the determining step includes the steps of determining that there is a crack in the inspection area when the first signal indicates an abnormal value and the second signal indicates a normal value, determining that there is pit-like thinning in the inspection area when the first signal and the second signal both indicate abnormal values, and determining that there is uniform thinning in the inspection area when the first signal indicates a normal value and the second signal indicates an abnormal value.

3. A method for repairing a component, comprising a repair step of repairing or replacing a defective portion of the component detected by the inspection method according to claim 1 or 2.

4. An inspection device for detecting a defective part from an inspection target member, an eddy current flaw detector for detecting a first signal from an inspection region on a surface of the inspection target component; an ultrasonic thickness gauge for detecting a second signal from the inspection area; an information processing device that determines that there is a defective part in the inspection area when at least one of the first signal and the second signal indicates an abnormal value; An inspection device comprising:

5. 5. The inspection device according to claim 4, further comprising a moving unit that moves the eddy current flaw detector and the ultrasonic thickness gauge on the surface of the inspection target member.

Citation Information

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