Joined Pipe Vibration Testing for Minute Gap Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods struggle to accurately detect minute gaps between joined members or assess the swaging state in joined bodies, which is crucial for ensuring the strength of components like those in automobiles.

Innovation Solution

A testing method and device that apply elastic wave vibrations to a joined body, measuring the vibration distributions of both the first and second pipe members through a through hole, allowing for the evaluation of the joining quality across the entire joining portion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If X-ray CT testing method is used to detect joining quality, then the visual field coverage is sufficient for the entire joined body, but the detection precision for minute gaps narrower than 1 μm is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevisual field coverageVSAvoidgap detection precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the X-ray CT imaging method with a vibration-based detection method. By applying elastic wave vibrations to the joined body and measuring the vibration distributions of both pipe members, the system achieves high-precision detection of minute gaps and swaging states without relying on optical or radiographic imaging limitations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies elastic wave vibrations to the joined body and measures the vibration distributions of the first and second pipe members. The vibration characteristics change when minute gaps or insufficient swaging are present, enabling detection with high precision while maintaining full visual field coverage of the joining portion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #18Mechanical vibration

2Device complexity

If conventional testing methods are used to evaluate joining quality, then the testing process is simple, but the detection accuracy for minute gaps and swaging state is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetesting process simplicityVSAvoidjoining quality detection accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies elastic wave vibrations to the joined body and measures the vibration distributions of both pipe members. This vibration-based approach provides high detection accuracy for minute gaps and swaging states while maintaining a relatively simple testing process that can be performed on the assembled joined body without disassembly or complex preparation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #18Mechanical vibration

3Strength

If the second pipe member is expanded to form joining portion, then the joining strength is improved, but the detection of insufficient swaging or minute gaps becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvejoining strengthVSAvoiddefect detection difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies elastic wave vibrations to the joined body and measures the vibration distributions of both the first and second pipe members. The vibration characteristics provide sensitive indicators of swaging quality and minute gaps, enabling detection of defects that would be invisible to conventional methods while maintaining the joining strength benefits of the expanded second pipe member.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #18Mechanical vibration

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

This method enables reliable detection of joining failures due to minute gaps or insufficient swaging, providing high accuracy in evaluating the mechanical strength of the joined body.

Implementation Method 1

applying an elastic wave vibration to the joined body of the first pipe member and the second pipe member

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic wave vibration: Vibration

Implementation Method 2

acquiring a vibration distribution of the second pipe member measured through the through hole and a vibration distribution of the first pipe member in a visual field region including the joining portion of the first pipe member and the second pipe member, which are measured optically and in a batch

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOptical measurement:

Data Source

PatentUS12320781B2Joined body testing method, joined body testing device, and joined body

Publication Date: 2025.06.03 KOBE STEEL LTD

AI summary

A testing method for a joined body, in which a second pipe member having an outer diameter smaller than that of a first pipe member having at least one through hole is inserted into the first pipe member and the second pipe member is expanded to form a joining portion, the testing method includes: applying an elastic wave vibration to the joined body of the first pipe member and the second pipe member, for plural visual field regions at different positions in a circumferential direction of the joined body, acquiring a vibration distribution of the second pipe member measured through the through hole and a vibration distribution of the first pipe member in a visual field region including the joining portion of the first pipe member and the second pipe member, which are measured optically and in a batch, and determining quality of joining in the entire joining portion based on the acquired vibration distributions.