Adsorbed Hammering Inspection for Stable High-Surface Testing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing hammering test systems face limitations in stability and reach, particularly when testing large structures like buildings and tunnels, due to the restricted length of arms and instability with air vehicles.

Innovation Solution

A hammering test system comprising a device with a traveling mechanism, adsorbing mechanism, and hammering mechanism, controlled by a device control unit, combined with a surveying instrument for tracking and measuring, allowing autonomous travel and precise testing on vertical or high surfaces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If an arm is used to extend the testing device, then the testing range is improved, but the length of the arm is limited and cannot reach high places

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetesting rangeVSAvoidarm length
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the traditional mechanical arm system with a magnetic adsorption-based traveling mechanism. The testing device uses magnetic force to adsorb onto vertical surfaces and travel along them, eliminating the need for long mechanical arms and enabling access to high places that were previously unreachable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Length of moving object

If an air vehicle is used for testing, then the reach to high places is improved, but the stability of hammering is poor

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereach heightVSAvoidhammering stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the unstable air vehicle system with a magnetically adsorbed traveling mechanism that attaches firmly to vertical surfaces. This provides a stable platform for hammering tests while maintaining the ability to reach high places, as the magnetic adsorption ensures reliable positioning and stability during testing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Measurement precision

If manual hammering test is conducted by inspector, then the testing accuracy is improved, but the testing efficiency is reduced due to manual operation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetesting accuracyVSAvoidtesting efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements an automated system where the testing device autonomously travels along the surface, performs hammering tests at predetermined locations, and records results without continuous manual intervention. The device serves itself by integrating the traveling mechanism, hammering mechanism, and data collection system, thereby maintaining testing accuracy while significantly improving efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system incorporates automatic judgment functionality that analyzes hammering test results in real-time and provides feedback on the condition of the tested surface. This automated feedback mechanism maintains the accuracy of manual inspection while enabling continuous, efficient testing across large areas without manual intervention for each measurement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables stable and thorough hammering tests on high or inaccessible surfaces without human intervention, providing accurate three-dimensional data for identifying abnormalities and marking them visibly.

Implementation Method 1

an adsorbing mechanism for adsorbing to the to-be-tested surface

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdsorption: Adsorption

Data Source

PatentEP4160177B1Hammering test system
Publication Date: 2026.02.25 TOPCON CORPORATION
  • EP4160177B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4160177B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4160177B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Provided is a hammering test system capable of stably conducting a hammering test even in high places. A hammering test system includes a hammering test device including a target, a traveling mechanism for automatically traveling on a to-be-tested surface, a marking mechanism configured to perform marking on the to-be-tested surface, an adsorbing mechanism for adsorbing to the to-be-tested surface, and a hammering test mechanism configured to conduct a hammering test on the to-be-tested surface, and a surveying instrument capable of performing automatic tracking and distance and angle measurements of the target. A hammering test is conducted by causing the hammering test device to travel to a desired position while adsorbing to a to-be-tested surface by the adsorbing mechanism. When it is determined that there is an abnormality, a marking is marked on the to-be-tested surface. The surveying instrument automatically tracks the target, and when conducting a hammering test, makes distance and angle measurements of the target. A test route and a hammering test position are accurately grasped. By repeating the test by causing the hammering test device to autonomously travel in a predetermined pattern on the to-be-tested surface, the to-be-tested surface is automatically tested thoroughly. Three-dimensional shape data of the to-be-tested surface can be calculated from traveling data.