Weld bead inspection device

Abstract

The present invention relates to a weld bead inspection device for inspecting the shape of a weld bead, and provides a weld bead inspection device capable of inspecting the quality and condition of a weld by photographing the shape of a bead formed during a pipe welding process. To this end, the weld bead inspection device according to the present invention includes an image sensor unit (10) for photographing the shape of a weld bead in an inner space formed in the middle inside of a housing unit (60) with an open bottom, and an illumination unit (30) for providing illumination light directly or indirectly to the weld bead. The housing unit (60) is placed in close contact with the outer surface of the pipe and has a curved pipe mounting surface formed on the lower side thereof so as to be slidable along the outer surface. The housing unit (60) moves and rotates along the outer surface of the pipe (P) to be inspected, thereby enabling quick and accurate inspection of the weld bead (B) with a simple inspection operation, even in a complex facility structure.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a weld bead inspection device that inspects the shape of a weld bead, and more particularly to a weld bead inspection device that photographs the shape of a bead created during a pipe welding process to inspect the quality and condition of the weld. [Background technology]

[0002] Generally, methods for inspecting weld quality and condition can be broadly divided into destructive and non-destructive testing. Non-destructive testing is a method for inspecting the product integrity and surface condition of a workpiece without deforming it. Representative methods include liquid penetrant testing, magnetic flaw detection, ultrasonic testing, acoustic emission testing, radiography, eddy current testing, thermal flaw detection, and holography, and are used to observe surface and internal defects in materials. Because of their ability to inspect materials without destroying them, non-destructive testing is primarily used to inspect and evaluate expensive parts, such as aircraft parts, and to solve and research problems while saving time and money.

[0003] For example, in the case of plastic pipes, a fusion welding method is often used in which each pipe component is joined by melting it at its end. After the welding process, the pipe components are inspected to ensure they are accurately welded. Since high-precision welding is not required for these components, the welding status is inspected by a worker visually inspecting the shape and length of the bead formed by the melting process to determine whether there are any defects. However, visual inspection of the welding status in this manner is not only time-consuming but is also subject to human factors such as the inspector's skill level and psychological state, resulting in problems with the reliability of the inspection results.

[0004] For this reason, non-destructive testing devices for inspecting welded joints have been developed, and as shown in many prior art documents, including Korean Patent Registration No. 10-1293574 and Korean Patent Registration No. 10-0532637, for example, non-destructive testing devices that use ultrasonic waves are mainly used.

[0005] However, such non-destructive testing devices using ultrasonic waves are not only too expensive, but also have the problem of requiring a long unit testing time, making them unsuitable for conducting tests in complex piping facilities and the like. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] Therefore, the present invention aims to improve the above-mentioned conventional problems by providing a structure that allows an operator to easily apply the inspection device to the pipe to be inspected and intuitively perform the inspection process, thereby improving usability and significantly reducing work time.

[0007] In addition, when using the inspection device for bead inspection, a fixing means is provided for the safety of the device, and the fixing means is configured including a detailed structure to prevent the bead from being damaged due to impact or interference that may occur to the bead, thereby providing a device that can protect the object to be inspected and ensure a long lifespan.

[0008] In addition, the fixing means is configured to include a size-adjusting structure so that the fixing means can be easily adjusted to accommodate various diameters of pipes to be inspected, thereby providing an apparatus that is more convenient to use.

[0009] The technical problems that the present invention aims to solve are not limited to the above-mentioned technical problems, and other technical problems not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains from the following description. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] In order to achieve the above-mentioned technical objectives, a weld bead inspection device according to one embodiment of the present invention is a device for inspecting the shape of a weld bead on the outer surface of a pipe, and is configured to include an image sensor unit that captures images of the shape of the weld bead in an inner space formed in the middle inside of a housing unit with an open bottom, and an illumination unit that provides illumination light directly or indirectly to the weld bead, and the housing unit is mounted on the outer surface of the pipe, and a pipe mounting curved surface is formed on the underside of the housing unit so that the housing unit can slide along the outer surface.

[0011] In addition, the weld bead inspection device according to one embodiment of the present invention may further include a background member positioned opposite the image sensor unit, and the lighting unit may be configured to provide the illumination light to the weld bead in the form of reflected light reflected by a front surface of the background member.

[0012] In addition, the weld bead inspection device according to one embodiment of the present invention may further include a background member positioned opposite the image sensor unit, and the lighting unit may be configured to provide the illumination light to the weld bead in the form of transmitted light transmitted through a rear surface of the background member.

[0013] Furthermore, the weld bead inspection device according to one embodiment of the present invention may have a structure that changes the surface color of the background member or changes the illumination light color of the illumination unit depending on the hue of the outer surface of the pipe.

[0014] In addition, the weld bead inspection device according to one embodiment of the present invention may further include a fixing unit that maintains the weld bead inspection device in a stationary state on the pipe so that the inspection device can stably run along the outer surface of the pipe, and the fixing unit may be at least partially formed of an elastic material or may be formed with a structure that includes an elastic element at least in part.

[0015] In addition, in one embodiment of the weld bead inspection device according to the present invention, the fixing portion may include a band member formed of a flexible material and having a length sufficient to wrap around the outer surface of the pipe from one side of the housing portion to the other, and a band fixing member disposed on at least one of the one side and the other side of the housing portion and releasably fixed to form a pipe-mounted state of the weld bead inspection device.

[0016] In addition, in the weld bead inspection device according to one embodiment of the present invention, the fixing portion may be configured to have a length adjusting portion on either one side or the other side of the housing portion, so that the length of the band member can be adjusted to a length corresponding to the outer diameter dimension of the pipe.

[0017] In addition, in the weld bead inspection device according to one embodiment of the present invention, the fixing portion may be configured by providing a bead passage groove or a slip member along the length direction of the band member to prevent interference with the weld bead.

[0018] In addition, the weld bead inspection device according to one embodiment of the present invention may further include a light-shielding portion that reduces or blocks light transmitted from the outside at both ends of the pipe-mounting curved surface formed on the lower side of the housing portion. [Effects of the Invention]

[0019] According to the means for solving the above-mentioned problems, the weld bead inspection device of the present invention is configured so that the inspection device is placed on the pipe to be inspected, is tightly attached with a band, and then is easily fixed in place, and then the worker can rotate the device by hand, which has the effect of significantly reducing work time.

[0020] In addition, the bead passage groove is provided to prevent interference with the weld bead, thereby reducing the possibility of damage to the bead and the device, and providing improved inspection precision and convenience.

[0021] In addition, the band is configured with a buckle so that the length of the band can be adjusted, which significantly increases the convenience of using the device.

[0022] The effects of the present invention are not limited to the effects described above, but should be understood to include all effects that can be inferred from the configuration of the invention described in the detailed description of the present invention or the claims. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0023] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a weld bead of a welded pipe. [Figure 2] 1 is a perspective view showing a weld bead inspection device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view showing a housing of a weld bead inspection device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] 2 is a diagram showing a detailed structure of a weld bead inspection device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 5] 1 is a diagram illustrating a state in which a weld bead inspection device according to an embodiment of the present invention is used. [Figure 6] 10 is a diagram showing a variable length setting structure of a fixed portion in a weld bead inspection device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 7] 10A and 10B are diagrams showing a modified embodiment of the variable length setting structure of the fixing portion in the weld bead inspection device according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] 10A and 10B are diagrams showing a bead interference prevention structure of a fixed portion in a weld bead inspection device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] 10A to 10C are diagrams showing various embodiments of a band fixing member of a fixing portion in a weld bead inspection device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating a friction reduction structure of a band member of a fixed portion in a weld bead inspection device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11]10 is a diagram showing a scale display unit of a fixed part in the weld bead inspection device according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 12] 10A and 10B are diagrams showing a light-shielding complementary structure that corresponds to various diameters of the pipe to be inspected in the weld bead inspection device according to one embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0024] The present invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein.

[0025] Throughout this specification, a part being "coupled (connected, contacted, or bonded)" to another part includes not only a "directly coupled" part, but also an "indirectly coupled" part with another member interposed therebetween. Furthermore, unless otherwise specified, a part "comprises" a certain component does not exclude other components, but may further comprise other components.

[0026] The terms used in this specification are merely used to describe particular embodiments and are not intended to limit the present invention. The singular expressions include the plural expressions unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. In this specification, the terms "comprise" or "have" are intended to specify the presence of features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof described in the specification, and should be understood not to preclude the possibility of the presence or addition of one or more different features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof.

[0027] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings so that those skilled in the art can easily carry out the present invention.

[0028] Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 is an exemplary view showing a weld bead of a welded pipe, illustrating a typical shape of a weld bead B formed by melting between two pipes joined by a predetermined welding method. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a weld bead inspection device according to an embodiment of the present invention, illustrating a state in which the device is attached and fixed to the outer surface of a pipe by a band member so that the shape of the weld bead can be photographed via an image sensor and inspected using the photographed image. Fig. 3 is a bottom perspective view of a housing of a weld bead inspection device according to an embodiment of the present invention, illustrating a contact member and a housing having a bead passage groove formed on the underside.

[0029] Fig. 4 is a diagram showing the detailed structure of a weld bead inspection device according to one embodiment of the present invention, where Fig. 4(a) is a diagram showing the detailed structure within the device, and Fig. 4(b) is a cross-sectional view (AA) of Fig. 4(a) showing the overall layout of an image sensor unit that captures an image of weld bead B and an enlarged view of a portion thereof. Fig. 5 is a diagram showing the state of use of a weld bead inspection device according to one embodiment of the present invention, where Fig. 5(a) is a diagram showing the process of the weld bead inspection device being temporarily mounted on a pipe and then being tightly fixed to the pipe by a band member, which is a fixing means, thereby preparing the weld bead inspection device for bead inspection, and Fig. 5(b) is a diagram showing the state in which the weld bead inspection device is rotating around the pipe and inspection is in progress.

[0030] Fig. 6 is a view showing a variable length setting structure of a fixing part in a weld bead inspection device according to an embodiment of the present invention, illustrating an exemplary structure that can accommodate pipes of various diameters through a structure that can variably fix one end of a band member. Fig. 7 is a view showing a modified embodiment of the variable length setting structure of a fixing part in a weld bead inspection device according to an embodiment of the present invention, illustrating an exemplary structure for adjusting the length of the band member through a buckle structure or the like.

[0031] 8(a) is a diagram showing a band member having a bead passage groove to prevent interference with bead B, and FIG. 8(b) is a diagram showing two band members spaced apart to prevent interference with bead B and attached to pipe P. FIG. 9 shows various embodiments of the band fixing member of the fixed portion in the weld bead inspection device according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9(a) is a diagram showing a band fixing member having a Velcro (registered trademark) structure that prevents the band member from loosening during weld bead inspection, FIG. 9(b) is a diagram showing a band fixing member having a one-touch button structure, FIG. 9(c) is a diagram showing a band fixing member having a buckle structure, and FIG. 9(d) is a diagram showing a band fixing member having a hook locking structure.

[0032] Figure 10 is a diagram showing a friction reduction structure of a fixed part in a weld bead inspection device according to one embodiment of the present invention, where Figure 10(a) is a diagram showing a structure in which a slip member is arranged on the contact surface of the band member to reduce friction between the band member and the pipe, Figure 10(b) is a diagram showing a structure in which at least one slip member with a rolling wheel is arranged in the middle of the band member, and Figure 10(c) is a diagram showing a structure in which a rolling wheel is directly fixed to the band member to form a slip member.

[0033] 11 is a view showing a scale display unit of a fixed part in a weld bead inspection device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and is a view showing an example of a structure in which the scale display unit is arranged along the length direction of the band member to guide setting of the length of the band member. FIG. 12 is a view showing a light-shielding complementary structure corresponding to various diameters of the pipe to be inspected in a weld bead inspection device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and is a view showing a structure in which an expandable or foldable light-shielding unit blocks inflow of external light that interferes with measurement of a bead image.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 1, a weld bead inspection device according to one embodiment of the present invention inspects a weld between two welded pipes P. When the ends of the pipes are melted and welded, a bead B is formed, and the weld quality and weld condition can be estimated with a relatively high degree of accuracy from the external shape of the bead B. Shape data of the weld bead B captured by the image sensor unit 10 is preferably stored in a storage medium provided in the control module unit 50 or transmitted by wire or wireless to a computer, portable electronic device, etc., so that the worker can use it. When determining whether or not there is an abnormality in the bead, the weld bead inspection device may use not only previously measured bead inspection data but also recently accumulated bead inspection data in addition to preset reference values.

[0035] 2 to 12, a weld bead inspection device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention is a device for inspecting a welded portion of a pipe P. The device is mounted on a welded portion between two pipes P to prepare for inspection, and rotates circumferentially while in close contact with the outer surface of the pipe P to inspect the external shape of a weld bead B. The device may include, in detail, an image sensor unit 10 for capturing an image of the outer shape of the weld bead B, a background member 20 for providing a background to facilitate detection of the outer shape of the weld bead when the image sensor unit 10 captures the outer shape of the weld bead B, an illumination unit 30 for providing a light source for capturing the outer shape of the weld bead B, and a housing unit 60 for fixing the image sensor unit 10 and the background member 20 thereto and shielding the space for capturing the weld bead from external light. The background member 20 provides a background for the weld bead image when the outer shape of the weld bead is photographed by the image sensor unit 10 from the tangential direction of the pipe, and the lighting unit 30 may provide illumination light to the weld bead in the form of reflected light reflected from the front surface of the background member 20 or in the form of transmitted light (or backlight) transmitted from the rear surface of the background member 20.

[0036] In a weld bead inspection device 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention, the housing portion 60, which forms the exterior of the device, has a structure in its central inner space in which the image sensor portion 10, background member 20, and lighting portion 30 can be placed, and as shown in Figure 3, a pipe mounting curved surface is formed on the underside as a curved structure into which part of the outer surface of the pipe P is inserted, and a bead passing groove 61 is provided at a position on the contact surface with the pipe P corresponding to the bead B, preferably forming a structure that prevents interference with the bead.

[0037] When the inspection device is placed on the pipe P, a portion of the outer circumferential surface of the pipe P is inserted, and the weld bead B is within the imaging range of the image sensor unit 10. When the device is rotated, the inspection device moves along the weld bead B with the weld bead B inserted into the bead passage groove 61. The housing unit 60 is not limited to any one of the configurations or structures presented in the above-described embodiments. For example, it is preferable that a grip portion be provided to enable smooth handling of the device during installation or inspection, and the grip portion may be formed as a finger insertion type grip and / or a friction surface type grip portion.

[0038] In the weld bead inspection device 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention, the image sensor unit 10 is disposed on one side of the housing unit 60 so as to smoothly capture an image of the weld bead B. The image sensor unit 10 generally refers to a sensor capable of capturing an image of the outer shape of the weld bead B, and functions to measure the image in the form of an image such as black and white or color, and transmit the image data to components such as the control module unit 50. The above-described embodiment exemplifies a structure in which the image sensor unit 10 is disposed in a structure for capturing an image of the shape of the weld bead from a tangential direction of the pipe, capturing an image of the boundary line of the shape of the weld bead B against the background member 20. Such tangential capture may be used, for example, for quality inspection or condition inspection of fusion beads in butt welding of plastic pipes, but is not limited thereto.

[0039] In addition, the technical concept of the present invention may be embodied in a method of taking an image from the vertical top surface of the weld bead B for quality inspection, condition inspection, etc. of the weld bead using various welding methods, or in a method of taking an image from both the tangential direction and the normal direction of the outer surface of the pipe.

[0040] In the weld bead inspection device 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention, the background member 20 is disposed at a position facing the image sensor unit 10, forms a background when the weld bead B is photographed, and is configured to directly or indirectly receive light generated from the illumination unit 30. The background member 20 is not limited to any one of the configurations or structures presented in the above-described embodiments, and may be configured, for example, by attaching a plate member of a predetermined color or by attaching colored paper, or by disposing at least a portion of the illumination unit 30 on the back surface of the background member 20 to output a predetermined color light in the form of a backlight.

[0041] The background member 20 may have a control structure for changing the color or adjusting the luminance, etc., in consideration of the color of the pipe or the internal illuminance of the shooting space in order to improve the quality of shooting the weld bead B. Such a change or adjustment structure may be, for example, by controlling the chromaticity and luminance of the lighting unit 30, changing the RGB mixture ratio of the backlight, or by changing and detaching a plate member.

[0042] In the weld bead inspection device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention, the lighting unit 30 is configured to provide light directly or indirectly to the background member 20 or the weld bead B, thereby providing active lighting for capturing an external image of the weld bead B. The lighting unit 30 may be equipped with at least one of white, red, blue, and green light sources and configured to output a single visible light or a combination of these colors. That is, for example, unlike iron pipes, plastic pipes P are manufactured in a variety of colors. If the light output from the pipe and the lighting unit 30 is the same or similar color, capturing an image of the shape of the weld bead on the pipe P may be insufficient. Therefore, by providing multiple light sources capable of emitting multiple colors in the lighting unit 30 or the background member 20 and selecting the color of the lighting unit 30 or the background member 20 to provide during weld bead inspection based on the color of the pipe P, the inspection accuracy can be further improved.

[0043] In addition, the illuminance of the lighting unit 30 or the background member 20 may be selected taking into consideration the sensitivity of the image sensor unit 10, and it is preferable to ensure sufficient illuminance to reduce the influence of ambient light that may unexpectedly enter from outside the housing unit 60.

[0044] In the weld bead inspection device 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention, the contact member 40 is slidably disposed on the outer surface of the pipe P, and functions as a base working surface that stably mounts the weld bead inspection device around the weld bead and allows it to travel over the pipe. The boundary of the contact member 40, in the area corresponding to the weld bead, is provided with a groove 41, as shown in Fig. 3, to prevent interference with the weld bead. Here, the contact member 40 may be formed integrally with the housing 60, or may be formed separately and assembled for installation.

[0045] In the weld bead inspection device 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention, the control module unit 50 is configured to control the entire device, for example, to control the light source color of the lighting unit 30, and may further include a storage device such as a memory for storing information such as the shape of the weld bead photographed while traveling along the outer surface of the pipe, or may further include communication means for transmitting the information to a nearby station or a remote server.

[0046] The control module unit 50 may further include an acceleration sensor for detecting the movement of the inspection device and / or a gyro sensor for detecting the spatial rotation angle of the inspection device, which may be used as information for determining the traveling speed, position, and status of the inspection device traveling along the outer surface of the pipe.

[0047] Weld bead inspection device 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention may further include a fixing unit 80 that holds weld bead inspection device 100 in a state where it is mounted on a pipe P, in order to allow the inspection device to stably travel along the outer surface of the pipe. That is, by fixing the inspection device in a slidable and close contact state while mounted on pipe P using fixing unit 80, a structure is formed that allows an inspector or user to stably run weld bead inspection device 100 along the outer surface of pipe P to photograph the weld bead.

[0048] If the equipment structure including the pipe P is complex or the point to be inspected is far from the ground, it is difficult and time-consuming to inspect multiple welds. However, by inspecting by rotating the device circumferentially along the welds while it is tightly attached to the pipe P using the fixing part 80, it is possible to inspect the weld bead B quickly and accurately with a simple inspection operation, even when inspecting a complex equipment structure or multiple points.

[0049] In terms of detailed structure, one end of the fixing portion 80 is fixed to one side of the inspection device, and the other end wraps around the outer surface of the pipe and is fixed to the other side of the inspection device, thereby preventing damage to the weld bead inspection device due to dropping during the movement and allowing the user to stably move the weld bead inspection device of the present invention along the outer surface of the pipe during the inspection process. This stationary structure allows a single user to smoothly use the inspection device and easily perform the inspection work without the help of others, when inspecting the weld portion of a pipe located at a high place.

[0050] The fixing part 80 is preferably made of a flexible material, and may be made of, for example, a fiber material or an elastic band material, etc. However, the detailed structure or material of the fixing part 80 is not limited thereto, and may be made to include an elastic element in a section or at an end thereof.

[0051] The fixing portion 80 has a band fixing portion 84 at the other end thereof, and in the process of mounting and placing the inspection device on the pipe P, the band fixing portion 84 can be optionally fixed to the other side of the inspection device to form a stationary state of the inspection device, and the band fixing portion 84 will be further described in detail below.

[0052] 4, the weld bead inspection device 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention is arranged with the image sensor unit 10, background member 20, and lighting unit 30 at the center of a downwardly open space arranged inside the middle of the housing unit 60, and the downwardly open space together with the surface of the pipe P forms an overall light-shielded space. In the lighting environment provided by the lighting unit 30, the image sensor unit 10 captures a bead image of the pipe P to obtain an inspection image. At this time, the weld bead inspection device 100 is maintained in slidable contact with the pipe P by the fixing unit 80 and can capture bead images of the pipe P continuously, periodically, or at required intervals while traveling along the outer circumferential surface of the pipe P.

[0053] As shown in FIG. 5 , a weld bead inspection device according to one embodiment of the present invention is installed on a welded portion between two pipes P and, in a bead inspection preparation state in close contact with the pipe P to be inspected using a fixing unit 80, moves along the welded portion of the pipe P to photograph the weld bead B. For example, an operator may wrap the device installed on the pipe P to be inspected with a band member 81 to close the device in preparation for inspection, and then manually rotate the device to perform the inspection. To inspect the welded portion, it is preferable to rotate the device once or twice or more times around a predetermined outer peripheral surface section or the entire outer peripheral surface section using an image of the outline of the weld bead B to inspect the welded portion and then complete the bead inspection. The weld bead inspection method is not limited to one of the above. For example, a separate motor structure may be provided to allow the weld bead inspection device to rotate by itself, enabling smooth inspection even when the device is far from the ground or difficult to rotate by hand.

[0054] Meanwhile, the fixing part 80 may have an additional configuration or structure to accommodate various diameters of pipes. For example, by further including a plurality of band members 81 formed with respective lengths corresponding to pipes of various diameters, the band member 81 corresponding to the diameter size may be adopted and used as needed.

[0055] Alternatively, the fixing unit 80 may further include a length adjusting unit 82 that fixes one end of the band member 81 and adjusts and limits the length of the band member 81. That is, for example, as shown in FIG. 6, the length adjusting unit 82 may have a structure in which a hinge rotation unit 82-1 with interlocking teeth is provided at one end of the band member 81 to prevent the fixation of the one end of the band member 81 from loosening. When the hinge rotation unit 82-1 is in an open state, the band member 81 within the length adjusting unit 82 is free to move and the length can be freely adjusted. When the hinge rotation unit 82-1 is rotated in the other direction to a closed state, the band member 81 is fixed at a predetermined length by the interlocking teeth of the hinge rotation unit 82-1. The length adjusting unit 82 of the fixing unit 80 is not limited to any one of the configurations or structures presented in the above-described embodiments and may be modified as necessary.

[0056] 7, the length adjusting unit 82 may have a conventional wrap buckle structure that defines one end of the band member 81. The length adjusting unit 82 may be directly fixed to one side of the housing 60, or may be connected to one side of the housing 60 by a connecting link 82-2, and the connecting link 82-2 may be formed in the shape of a simple bar.

[0057] As another modified embodiment of the length adjuster 82, in addition to the configuration of the above-described embodiment, the connecting link body 82-2 may be formed in a spring shape as shown in Fig. 7. In this case, since the elastic deformation of the connecting link body 82-2 can be used in the process of mounting and fixing the weld bead inspection device, the band member 81 may be made of leather or a non-elastic fiber material, like a bag strap.

[0058] The band member 81 of the fixing part 80 is fixed to one side of the housing part 60 by the length adjusting part 82 to set the length, then wraps around the pipe P, extends to the other side of the housing part 60, and is fixed to the other side of the housing part 60 by the band fixing part 84, thereby forming a fixed mounted state of the weld bead inspection device. In this way, in order to prevent interference with the weld bead in the section where the band member 81 wraps around the pipe P, a bead passing groove 83 is formed along the length direction at the middle of the width direction of the band member 81, as shown in FIG. 8(a), or As shown in FIG. 8(b), the band member 81 may be provided in a structure in which grooves are formed at intervals in the middle in the width direction.

[0059] 9, the fixing unit 80 may include various types of band fixing portions 84 for fixing the band to the other side of the housing unit 60. That is, for example, the band fixing portion 84 may have a Velcro® structure 84-1 to prevent the band member 81 from loosening during inspection of the weld bead B as shown in FIG. 9(a), a snap button or one-touch button structure 84-2 as shown in FIG. 9(b), an insert-type clip-buckle structure 84-3 as shown in FIG. 9(c), or a hook-and-loop structure 84-4 as shown in FIG. 9(d). The band fixing portions 84 of the fixing unit 80 are not limited to any one of the configurations or structures presented in the above-described embodiments, and each band fixing portion 84 fixes the end of the band member 81 to the other side of the housing unit 60 to form a fixed state.

[0060] Furthermore, the weld bead inspection device according to one embodiment of the present invention may further include a slip member 85 to prevent contact between the weld bead or the surface of the pipe P and the band member 81 or to assist sliding movement when the weld bead inspection device 100 rotates and moves along the outer surface of the pipe P. For example, as shown in FIG. 10(a), the slip member 85 may be formed as a protrusion structure made of a hard material such as plastic or metal and provided on the band member 81.

[0061] Alternatively, the slip member 85 may be formed of a structure including rolling wheels 86, and as shown in FIG. 10(b), the band members 81 are formed of a structure that connects the band members 81 at predetermined sections via intermediaries, and the band members 81 of each element are fixed to one side and the other side in the length direction, and a wheel-type slip member 85 with a rolling wheel 86 rotatably fixed thereto is provided in the middle, thereby smoothing the movement of the inspection device.

[0062] 10(c), a partial cut groove in which a rolling wheel 86 is fixed is formed in the band member 81, and the central shaft of the rolling wheel 86 is fixed to both sides of the partial cut groove. A slip member 85 is provided in which the rolling wheel 86 is rotatable about the central shaft, thereby smoothing the movement of the inspection device. In this case, the central shaft may be fixed by overlapping a cloth or the like on the band member 81 and fastening it by sewing or gluing so that it does not come off, but the method is not limited to this. This structure prevents contamination and damage to the band member 81 and has the effect of smoothing the rotation and movement of the inspection device.

[0063] Preferably, the band member 81 further includes a scale indicator 89 that displays the outer diameter of the pipe P to be inspected. That is, as shown in FIG. 11 , the scale indicator 89 is provided on a portion of the band member 81 to guide the weld bead inspection device 100 onto the pipe P after the length of the band member 81 is adjusted and set before installation. A band member 81 that is longer than necessary compared to the diameter of the pipe P may cause instability when the band member 81 moves along the outer surface of the pipe P after installation. A band member 81 that is too short may cause the end of the band member 81 to be difficult to secure after installation or may form an unstable fixed state, resulting in the band member 81 becoming unsecured during operation. Therefore, by adjusting the length of the band member 81 and fixing it using the scale indicator 89 provided on the band member 81 to form a fixed state corresponding to the diameter of the pipe P, weld bead inspection can be performed more stably and easily.

[0064] As shown in FIG. 12 , a weld bead inspection device according to an embodiment of the present invention may further include a light-shielding portion 70 on both sides of the lower side of the housing portion 60 to reduce or block light transmitted from the outside. The light-shielding portion 70 is configured to block the gap between the housing portion 60 and the pipe P. The housing portion 60 is preferably configured with a larger curvature radius at its lower portion to accommodate various outer diameters of the pipe P, and the light-shielding portion 70 is preferably further provided at the lower portion of the housing portion 60. This structure allows the bead measurement position to be relatively consistent even for various outer diameters of the pipe P, thereby maintaining good measurement accuracy. The light-shielding portion 70 is not limited to any one of the configurations or structures presented in the above-described embodiments, and may be formed of, for example, a flexible, wrinkled material, a fiber material, a brushed material, etc.

[0065] Furthermore, the above description of the present invention is for illustrative purposes only, and those skilled in the art will understand that the present invention can be easily modified into other specific forms without changing the technical spirit or essential features of the present invention. Therefore, the above-described embodiments should be understood to be illustrative in all respects and not limiting. For example, each component described as a single component may be implemented in a distributed or divided form. Similarly, components described as distributed or divided may be implemented in a combined form within the understanding of a person skilled in the art. Furthermore, method steps may be implemented independently multiple times, or multiple times in combination with at least certain other steps.

[0066] The scope of the present invention is defined by the claims that follow, and all modifications and variations that fall within the meaning and scope of the claims and their equivalents should be interpreted as being included within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A weld bead inspection device for inspecting the shape of a weld bead on the outer surface of a pipe, an image sensor unit configured to capture an image of the shape of the weld bead in an inner space formed inside the middle of the housing unit and having an open bottom; an illumination unit that provides illumination light directly or indirectly to the weld bead, The housing portion is placed in close contact with the outer surface of the pipe, and a pipe placement curved surface is formed on the lower side of the housing portion so that the housing portion can slide along the outer surface, a background member is further provided at a position facing the image sensor unit; The lighting unit provides the illumination light to the weld bead in the form of reflected light reflected by a front surface of the background member, A weld bead inspection device characterized in that the surface color of the background member is replaced or the illumination light color of the illumination unit is changed depending on the hue of the outer surface of the pipe.

2. A weld bead inspection device for inspecting the shape of a weld bead on the outer surface of a pipe, comprising: an image sensor unit configured to capture an image of the shape of the weld bead in an inner space formed inside the middle of the housing unit and having an open bottom; an illumination unit that provides illumination light directly or indirectly to the weld bead, The housing portion is placed in close contact with the outer surface of the pipe, and a pipe placement curved surface is formed on the lower side of the housing portion so that the housing portion can slide along the outer surface, a background member is further provided at a position facing the image sensor unit; The lighting unit provides the illumination light to the weld bead in the form of transmitted light transmitted through a rear surface of the background member, A weld bead inspection device characterized in that the surface color of the background member is replaced or the illumination light color of the illumination unit is changed depending on the hue of the outer surface of the pipe.

3. a fixing unit for maintaining the weld bead inspection device in a stationary state on the pipe so that the inspection device can stably travel along the outer peripheral surface of the pipe; The weld bead inspection device according to claim 1, wherein the fixing portion is at least partially made of an elastic material or has a structure including an elastic element at least partially.

4. The fixing portion is a band member made of a flexible material and having a length sufficient to enclose the outer circumferential surface of the pipe from one side of the housing portion to the other side; 4. The weld bead inspection device according to claim 3, further comprising: a band fixing member disposed on at least one of one side and the other side of the housing portion and releasably fixed to form a pipe-mounted state of the weld bead inspection device.

5. The fixing portion is 5. The weld bead inspection device according to claim 4, wherein a length adjusting portion is provided on one side or the other side of the housing portion, and the length of the band member is adjusted to a length corresponding to the outer diameter dimension of the pipe.

6. The fixing portion is 6. The weld bead inspection device according to claim 4, wherein a bead passage groove or a slip member is provided along the length of the band member to prevent interference with the weld bead.

7. 2. The weld bead inspection device according to claim 1, further comprising a light-shielding portion for reducing or blocking light transmitted from the outside at both ends of the pipe-mounting curved surface formed on the lower side of the housing portion.

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