Ultrasonic probe

Abstract

To provide an ultrasonic probe capable of suppressing air from entering a gap between a vibrator and an object to be inspected even if the surface of the object to be inspected is curved or there is a local recess on the surface of the object to be inspected.SOLUTION: An ultrasonic probe comprises a vibrator 2, an ultrasonic probe body 3 for fixing the vibrator 2 so as to face the object to be inspected 1, and a skirt portion 5 surrounding a gap 4 formed between the vibrator 2 and the object to be inspected 1, and the skirt portion 5 is provided with a plurality of supply ports 5b which open toward the gap 4 and supply a contact medium 7 to the gap 4.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an ultrasound probe. [Background technology]

[0002] Ultrasonic flaw detection testing of various structures can be performed using the water gap method, in which a gap is created between the transducer and the object being inspected and this gap is filled with water as a contact medium.Ultrasonic probes have been developed to perform ultrasonic flaw detection testing using this water gap method.

[0003] In this ultrasonic probe, if the water leaks from the gap and air gets into the gap, the acoustic coupling between the transducer and the object being inspected will be cut off, making measurement impossible, so it is important to fill the gap with water.

[0004] Patent Document 1 discloses an ultrasonic probe that has a skirt portion around the ultrasonic probe that has an injection port for injecting a contact medium (water) onto the object to be inspected, thereby preventing water from leaking from the gap. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-276437 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] However, with the ultrasonic probe of Patent Document 1, if the surface of the object to be inspected is curved or if there is a local depression on the surface of the object to be inspected, water in the gap may leak out and air may enter the gap, causing the acoustic coupling between the transducer and the object to be inspected to be severed, making measurement impossible, and there was room for improvement.

[0007] An object of the present invention is to provide an ultrasonic probe that can prevent air from entering the gap between the transducer and the object to be inspected, even if the surface of the object to be inspected is curved or has localized depressions on the surface of the object to be inspected. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The present application includes a number of means for solving the above problems, and one example thereof is an ultrasonic probe comprising a vibrator, an ultrasonic probe body for fixing the vibrator so as to face the object to be inspected, and a skirt portion surrounding a gap formed between the vibrator and the object to be inspected, the skirt portion having a number of supply ports that open into the gap and supply contact medium into the gap. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the present invention, even if the surface of the test object is curved or has local depressions, it is possible to prevent air from entering the gap, and to prevent the acoustic coupling between the transducer and the test object from being cut off, making measurement impossible. Problems, configurations, and effects other than those described above will become clear from the description of the following embodiments. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a cross-sectional schematic view of an ultrasonic probe and an object to be inspected according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 1 is a schematic diagram of an ultrasonic probe according to a first embodiment of the present invention, viewed from the side of an object to be inspected. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional schematic view of an ultrasonic probe and an object to be inspected according to a comparative example. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of an ultrasonic probe according to a comparative example, viewed from the side of an object to be inspected. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of an ultrasonic probe according to a second embodiment of the present invention, viewed from the side of an object to be inspected. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of an ultrasonic probe according to a third embodiment of the present invention, viewed from the side of an object to be inspected. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] The configurations and operations of ultrasound probes according to first to third embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In each drawing, the same reference numerals denote the same parts.

[0012] (First embodiment) Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of an ultrasonic probe 100 according to a first embodiment of the present invention and an object under test 1. Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of the ultrasonic probe 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention as seen from the object under test 1 side.

[0013] The ultrasonic probe 100 is a device for inspecting (non-destructively inspecting) for internal defects, foreign matter, cracks, uneven thickness, etc. without destroying an object 1 to be inspected, such as a cast part, steel material, pipeline, structure, concrete product, or welded part of various structures. Note that the object 1 to be inspected in this embodiment is a welded part of a reactor pressure vessel (RPV).

[0014] The ultrasonic probe 100 comprises a vibrator 2, an ultrasonic probe body 3 for fixing the vibrator 2 so as to face the object under test 1, and a skirt portion 5 surrounding a gap 4 formed between the object under test 1 and the vibrator 2.

[0015] The oscillator 2 is an electronic component that transmits ultrasonic waves 2a toward the object under test 1 and receives ultrasonic waves 2b reflected from the surface 1a, bottom surface 1b, internal cracks 1c, etc. of the object under test 1.

[0016] The ultrasonic probe body 3 is a housing that fixes the transducer 2 on the side facing the object under test 1, and has lead wires 3d inside for transmitting and receiving electrical signals to the transducer 2. It is preferable that a supply port 3b is provided on the facing surface 3a of the ultrasonic probe body 3 that faces the object under test 1, for supplying a contact medium 7 to the gap 4 between the transducer 2 and the object under test 1. In this embodiment, two supply ports 3b are provided on either side of the transducer 2, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0017] Furthermore, it is preferable that a connector 6 for electrically connecting the lead wire 3d to an external device of the ultrasonic probe 100 is provided on an opposite surface 3c of the ultrasonic probe body 3 located opposite the opposing surface 3a.

[0018] Furthermore, it is preferable that a fitting portion 3e is provided on the side surface of the ultrasonic probe body 3, which is inserted into a through hole 5a formed in the center of the skirt portion 5 and fits into the through hole 5a.

[0019] The supply port 3b is an opening formed in the facing surface 3a by a vertical hole 3f extending from the facing surface 3a toward the opposite surface 3c inside the ultrasonic probe body 3. The vertical hole 3f preferably communicates with each of the horizontal holes 3g provided inside the ultrasonic probe body 3.

[0020] The horizontal hole 3g is an elongated hole extending from one side surface to the opposite side surface of the ultrasonic probe body 3. A water supply device that supplies the contact medium 7 to the ultrasonic probe 100 is preferably connected to the horizontal hole 3g via a hose.

[0021] The couplant 7 is a substance filled in the gap 4 to improve the transmission and reception efficiency of ultrasonic waves, and is made of water, glycerin, machine oil, etc. In this embodiment, it is preferable to use water as the couplant 7.

[0022] The connector 6 is a device that electrically connects a cable that electrically connects the ultrasonic probe 100 to external equipment (for example, a generator that generates an electrical signal to generate ultrasonic waves, or a receiver that amplifies and analyzes the ultrasonic signal received by the transducer 2) to the lead wire 3d inside the ultrasonic probe body 3, and fixes it to the ultrasonic probe body 3.

[0023] Gap 4 is a gap formed between the object under test 1 and vibrator 2, and is surrounded on all four sides by inner circumferential surfaces 5c to 5f of through hole 5a of skirt portion 5, and during measurement, a contact medium 7 is stored in gap 4. The inventors have found through experiments that the distance D between object under test 1 and vibrator 2 in gap 4 is preferably set to 0.5 to 2.0 mm.

[0024] The skirt portion 5 is a component that surrounds the gap 4 from its sides, and is preferably an annular member having a through hole 5a in the center into which the fitting portion 3e of the ultrasonic probe body 3 is inserted and fitted. In this embodiment, the ultrasonic probe body 3 is square. Therefore, it is preferable that the cross section of the through hole 5a is rectangular.

[0025] The skirt portion 5 is preferably detachably attached to the ultrasonic probe body 3. The skirt portion 5 is preferably made of resin (for example, acrylic resin, polyetherimide resin, polyimide resin, or polystyrene resin).

[0026] Furthermore, it is preferable that the facing surface 5g of the skirt portion 5 facing the object under test 1 is formed so as to follow the shape of the surface 1a of the object under test 1 (for example, a curved surface when the object under test 1 is a pipe).

[0027] The skirt portion 5 is also provided with a plurality of supply ports 5b that open toward the gap 4 and supply the contact medium 7 into the gap 4.

[0028] Furthermore, the skirt portion 5 preferably has an inclined surface 5h formed to connect an opposing surface 5g opposing the object under test 1 with inner circumferential surfaces 5c to 5f in contact with the gap 4, the inclined surface 5h being inclined relative to the opposing surface 5g and the inner circumferential surfaces 5c to 5f. The inclined surface 5h is also a chamfered portion provided at the lower end of the inner circumferential surfaces 5c to 5f of the skirt portion 5. Furthermore, it is preferable that a plurality of supply ports 5b be provided on the inclined surface 5h.

[0029] 1 and 2, the skirt portion 5 of this embodiment is provided with a facing surface 5g facing the test object 1, four inner peripheral surfaces 5c to 5f surrounding the gap 4 from all sides, and four inclined surfaces 5h formed to connect the facing surface 5g to the lower ends of the four inner peripheral surfaces 5c to 5f and inclined relative to the facing surface 5g and the four inner peripheral surfaces 5c to 5f, and the multiple supply ports 5b are preferably provided on two opposing inclined surfaces of the four inclined surfaces 5h. Alternatively, the multiple supply ports 5b may be provided on two opposing surfaces of the four inner peripheral surfaces 5c to 5f.

[0030] Furthermore, it is preferable that a lateral hole 5i is provided inside the skirt portion 5, which is connected via a hose to a water supply device that supplies the contact medium 7 to the ultrasonic probe 100. The lateral hole 5i in this embodiment is formed by two elongated holes extending from one outer circumferential surface 5j of the four outer circumferential surfaces 5j to 5m toward the opposite outer circumferential surface 5l.

[0031] Furthermore, it is preferable that a plurality of communication passages 5n that connect each of the plurality of supply ports 5b to the lateral hole 5i are provided inside the skirt portion 5. With this, water supplied from the water supply device is supplied into the gap 4 from the plurality of supply ports 5b via the lateral hole 5i and the plurality of communication passages 5n.

[0032] In the ultrasonic probe 100 of this embodiment configured as described above, water, which is a contact medium 7, is supplied into the gap 4 from the supply port 3b provided on the facing surface 3a of the ultrasonic probe body 3 and the multiple supply ports 5b provided on the inclined surface 5h of the skirt portion 5. During measurement, as shown in FIG. 1 , the gap 4 is filled with water, and the distance D between the object under test 1 and the transducer 2 in the gap 4 is maintained at 0.5 to 2.0 mm. The water in the gap 4 is allowed to overflow to the outside from between the surface 1a of the object under test 1 and the facing surface 5g of the skirt portion 5 to prevent air from entering the gap 4.

[0033] [effect] Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of an ultrasonic probe 1000 according to a comparative example and an object under test 1. Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram of the ultrasonic probe 1000 according to the comparative example as viewed from the object under test 1 side.

[0034] The ultrasonic probe 1000 according to the comparative example has a plurality of injection ports 105b on the opposing surface 5g of the skirt portion 105, which are open toward the object under test 1 and inject a contact medium onto the object under test 1.

[0035] As shown in Figures 1 and 3, the inventors created a groove 1d (width W: 30 mm, maximum depth D: 3 mm) on the surface 1a of the test object 1, with an arc-shaped depression extending in one direction (the front-to-back direction in Figures 1 and 3), and performed an ultrasonic flaw detection test across the groove 1d using an ultrasonic probe 1000 according to a comparative example and an ultrasonic probe 100 according to this embodiment.

[0036] When grooves 1d are present on surface 1a of test subject 1, water overflows from grooves 1d to the outside of gap 4, and the amount of water overflowing from between surface 1a of test subject 1 and opposing surface 5g of skirt portion 5 becomes greater than when grooves 1d are not present on surface 1a of test subject 1, causing air to enter gap 4. Therefore, the inventors thought that by increasing the amount of water supplied into gap 4, they could prevent air from entering gap 4, and conducted an experiment in which the amount of water supplied into gap 4 was increased.

[0037] When this was done, in the ultrasonic probe 1000 according to the comparative example, not only did the ultrasonic probe 1000 rise up and sway unstably, but air also entered the gap 4.

[0038] On the other hand, in the ultrasonic probe 100 according to this embodiment, the distance D between the object under test 1 and the transducer 2 can be maintained at 0.5 to 2.0 mm, and the intrusion of air into the gap 4 can be prevented.

[0039] Therefore, the ultrasonic probe 100 according to this embodiment includes a transducer 2, an ultrasonic probe body 3 that fixes the transducer 2 so as to face the object under test 1, and a skirt portion 5 that surrounds a gap 4 formed between the transducer 2 and the object under test 1, and the skirt portion 5 is provided with a plurality of supply ports 5b that open toward the gap 4 and supply a couplant 7 to the gap 4. As a result, even if the surface 1a of the object under test 1 is curved or has a localized depression, the couplant 7 is supplied into the gap 4 from the plurality of supply ports 5b that open toward the gap 4, thereby preventing air from entering the gap 4 and preventing the acoustic coupling between the object under test 1 and the transducer 2 from being cut off, making measurement impossible.

[0040] Moreover, the skirt portion 5 preferably has an inclined surface 5h formed to connect the facing surface 5g facing the object under test 1 with the inner peripheral surfaces 5c to 5f in contact with the gap 4, the inclined surface 5h being inclined relative to the facing surface 5g and the inner peripheral surfaces 5c to 5f. Providing the inclined surface 5h in this manner not only increases the amount of contact medium 7 stored in the gap 4 but also allows water to smoothly overflow from between the surface 1a of the object under test 1 and the facing surface 5g of the skirt portion 5, thereby preventing air from entering the gap 4 and preventing the acoustic coupling between the object under test 1 and the transducer 2 from being cut, making measurement impossible.

[0041] Furthermore, it is preferable that multiple supply ports 5b be provided on the inclined surface 5h. Supplying the couplant 7 into the gap 4 from the supply ports 5b on the opposing surface 5g not only allows the couplant 7 to be supplied into the gap 4 without reducing the momentum of the flow of the couplant 7 near the supply ports 5b, but also suppresses the momentum of the flow of the couplant 7 flowing out of the gap 4, thereby reducing the amount of couplant 7 supplied into the gap 4.

[0042] Furthermore, it is preferable that the opposing surface 5g of the skirt portion 5 that faces the test subject 1 is formed so as to follow the shape of the surface 1a of the test subject 1. As a result, even if the test subject 1 is a pipe and its surface 1a is curved, for example, the opposing surface 5g of the skirt portion 5 is curved along the surface 1a of the test subject 1, so that it is possible to prevent air from entering the gap 4 and to prevent the acoustic coupling between the test subject 1 and the vibrator 2 from being cut off, making measurement impossible.

[0043] Moreover, it is preferable that the skirt portion 5 is detachably attached to the ultrasonic probe body 3. This allows the skirt portion 5 to be replaced even if it wears out, thereby extending the life of the ultrasonic probe 100.

[0044] Moreover, it is preferable that the skirt portion 5 is made of resin, which allows ultrasonic flaw detection to be performed without damaging the object under test 1.

[0045] (Second embodiment) FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of an ultrasonic probe 200 according to the second embodiment of the present invention, viewed from the side of the object under test 1. In FIG.

[0046] The ultrasonic probe 200 according to this embodiment differs from the ultrasonic probe 100 according to the first embodiment in that a plurality of supply ports 5b are provided on four inclined surfaces 5h.

[0047] 5, the skirt portion 25 has a facing surface 5g facing the object under test 1, four inner circumferential surfaces 5c to 5f surrounding the gap 4 from both sides, and four inclined surfaces 5h formed to connect the facing surface 5g to the lower ends of the four inner circumferential surfaces 5c to 5f and inclined relative to the facing surface 5g and the four inner circumferential surfaces 5c to 5f, and the multiple supply ports 5b are provided on the four inclined surfaces 5h. Alternatively, the multiple supply ports 5b may be provided on the four inner circumferential surfaces 5c to 5f.

[0048] In addition, it is preferable that horizontal holes 25i to 25l are provided inside the skirt portion 25, which are connected via hoses to a water supply device that supplies the contact medium 7, and which supply the contact medium 7 from the supply port 5b into the gap 4 via the connecting passage 5n.

[0049] Each of the horizontal holes 25i-25l may be an elongated hole that opens on one of the outer peripheral surfaces 5j-5m and extends from the opening toward the opposite outer peripheral surface 5j-5m. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the horizontal hole 25i may be an elongated hole extending from the outer peripheral surface 5j toward the outer peripheral surface 5l, the horizontal hole 25j may be an elongated hole extending from the outer peripheral surface 5k toward the outer peripheral surface 5m, the horizontal hole 25k may be an elongated hole extending from the outer peripheral surface 5l toward the outer peripheral surface 5j, and the horizontal hole 25l may be an elongated hole extending from the outer peripheral surface 5m toward the outer peripheral surface 5k. The horizontal holes 25i-25l may also be connected to form one or two flow paths. In this case, it is preferable that the opening be formed on one of the outer peripheral surfaces 5j-5m. This allows a hose connected to a water supply device to be attached to one of the outer peripheral surfaces 5j-5m.

[0050] [effect] The skirt portion 25 in this embodiment has an opposing surface 5g facing the test object 1, four inner peripheral surfaces 5c to 5f surrounding the gap 4 from the sides, and four inclined surfaces 5h formed to connect each of the lower ends of the four inner peripheral surfaces 5c to 5f to the opposing surface 5g and inclined relative to each of the four inner peripheral surfaces 5c to 5f, and multiple supply ports 5b are provided on the four inclined surfaces 5h or the four inner peripheral surfaces 5c to 5f.

[0051] This allows the contact medium 7 to be supplied into the gap 4 from all sides even if the surface 1a of the test object 1 is curved or has a local depression on the surface 1a, thereby further preventing air from entering the gap 4 and further preventing the acoustic coupling between the test object 1 and the vibrator 2 from being cut off, making measurement impossible.

[0052] (Third embodiment) FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of an ultrasonic probe 300 according to a third embodiment of the present invention, viewed from the side of an object under test 1. In FIG.

[0053] The ultrasonic probe 300 according to this embodiment differs from the ultrasonic probe 200 according to the second embodiment in that the multiple supply ports 5b are arranged so that the contact medium 7 supplied from the multiple supply ports 5b swirls within the gap 4.

[0054] 6, the plurality of supply ports 5b are arranged on four inclined surfaces 5h, biased toward one side in the circumferential direction (clockwise in this embodiment) of the skirt portion 35. This allows the ultrasonic probe 300 according to this embodiment to rotate the contact medium 7 supplied from the plurality of supply ports 5b within the gap 4.

[0055] [effect] In the ultrasonic probe 300 of this embodiment, the plurality of supply ports 5b are arranged so that the contact medium 7 supplied from the plurality of supply ports 5b swirls within the gap 4. As a result, even if the surface 1a of the test object 1 is curved or has a local depression, the water in the gap 4 flows so as to remain within the gap 4, which further prevents air from entering the gap 4 and further prevents the acoustic coupling between the test object 1 and the transducer 2 from being cut off, making measurement impossible.

[0056] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and includes various modifications. For example, the above-described embodiments have been described in detail to clearly explain the present invention, and are not necessarily limited to those including all of the described configurations. Furthermore, it is possible to replace part of the configuration of one embodiment with the configuration of another embodiment, or to add the configuration of another embodiment to the configuration of one embodiment. Furthermore, it is possible to add, delete, or replace part of the configuration of each embodiment with other configurations. [Explanation of symbols]

[0057] 1...object to be inspected, 1a...surface, 2...vibrator, 3...ultrasonic probe body, 4...gap, 5...skirt portion, 5b...supply port, 5c to 5f...inner peripheral surface, 5h...inclined surface, 5g...opposing surface, 7...coupling medium

Claims

1. A vibrator and an ultrasonic probe body that fixes the transducer so as to face an object to be inspected; a skirt portion surrounding a gap formed between the vibrator and the device under test, 10. An ultrasonic probe according to claim 9, wherein the skirt portion is provided with a plurality of supply ports that open into the gap and supply a contact medium into the gap.

2. 2. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, an inclined surface inclined relative to the inner peripheral surface and the opposing surface facing the object to be inspected, the inclined surface being inclined relative to the inner peripheral surface;

3. 3. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 2, An ultrasonic probe, wherein the plurality of supply ports are provided on the inclined surface.

4. 2. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, the skirt portion is provided with an opposing surface facing the object under test, four inner circumferential surfaces surrounding the gap from all sides, and four inclined surfaces formed to connect lower ends of the four inner circumferential surfaces to the opposing surface and inclined relative to the opposing surface and the four inner circumferential surfaces, The ultrasonic probe is characterized in that the plurality of supply ports are provided on two opposing inclined surfaces of the four inclined surfaces.

5. 2. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, the skirt portion is provided with an opposing surface facing the object under test, four inner circumferential surfaces surrounding the gap from all sides, and four inclined surfaces formed to connect lower ends of the four inner circumferential surfaces to the opposing surface and inclined relative to the opposing surface and the four inner circumferential surfaces, The ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of supply ports are provided on the four inclined surfaces.

6. 2. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, The skirt portion has four inner circumferential surfaces surrounding the gap from all sides, The ultrasonic probe is characterized in that the plurality of supply ports are provided on two opposing surfaces of the four inner circumferential surfaces.

7. 2. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, The skirt portion has four inner circumferential surfaces surrounding the gap from all sides, The ultrasonic probe, wherein the plurality of supply ports are provided on the four inner circumferential surfaces.

8. 2. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, 10. An ultrasonic probe, comprising: a skirt portion having a surface facing the object under test, the surface being formed to conform to the shape of the surface of the object under test.

9. 2. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, The ultrasonic probe, wherein the skirt portion is detachably attached to the ultrasonic probe body.

10. 2. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, An ultrasonic probe, wherein the skirt portion is formed of resin.

11. 2. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, 10. An ultrasonic probe according to claim 9, wherein the plurality of supply ports are arranged so that the contact medium supplied from the plurality of supply ports swirls within the gap.

12. 2. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, An ultrasonic probe, characterized in that the distance between the transducer and the object to be inspected is 0.5 to 2.0 mm.

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