Pipe Insertion Device With Ultrasonic Sensors For Centering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pipe processing devices lack the capability to accurately guide themselves into the center of a pipe, especially in nuclear paraphernalia with small diameters, due to the absence of means for obtaining pipe position information and guidance during insertion.
Innovation Solution
A pipe processing device equipped with axial and radial ultrasonic sensors that control a movement mechanism to position the insertion body within the pipe, ensuring it aligns with the pipe's center axis by detecting distances and rotating to match the pipe's inner face, allowing precise insertion and processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a processing device is inserted into a small-diameter pipe by remote operation, then safety is improved, but positioning precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The processing device uses its own ultrasonic sensors to detect the pipe's inner face and calculate the pipe axis position, then automatically corrects its own positioning. This self-service mechanism enables precise centering without requiring external guidance, resolving the contradiction between remote operation safety and positioning precision in small-diameter pipes.
Solution Approach 2:
The device incorporates a position correcting unit that receives feedback from ultrasonic sensors about the pipe axis position, compares it with the device's current position, and generates corrective control signals. This closed-loop feedback system enables automatic positioning correction, allowing safe remote operation while achieving high positioning precision.
2Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If ultrasonic sensors are used for flaw detection, then detection capability is improved, but position information acquisition capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The ultrasonic sensors serve dual functions: detecting flaws in the pipe and measuring the position of the pipe's inner face to calculate the pipe axis. By making the sensors multi-functional, the device eliminates the need for separate position sensing equipment, resolving the contradiction between flaw detection capability and position information acquisition.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the flaw detection function and position measurement function into a single ultrasonic sensing system. The same sensors that detect flaws also provide position information by measuring distances to the pipe's inner face, combining previously separate functions into one integrated system.
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 the device to accurately insert and process pipes with high precision, preventing contact with the inner face and following the pipe's shape, thereby ensuring safe and reliable inspection or repair operations.
Implementation Method 1
an axial ultrasonic sensor that transmits and receives a sonic wave in an insertion direction with respect to a front end of the insertion end portion
Implementation Method 2
a radial ultrasonic sensor that transmits and receives a sonic wave in a direction intersecting the center axis at a side portion of the insertion end portion
Data Source
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AI summary
A pipe processing device is provided with a subject insertion body (1) that is inserted into a pipe from an opening portion of the pipe to be movable by a movement mechanism in an axial direction along a center axis (S1) of the subject insertion body, a radial direction perpendicular to the center axis, a rotation direction of rotating about the center axis, and an oblique direction with respect to the center axis. The pipe processing device includes an insertion end portion (2) that is provided on a front side of the subject insertion body inserted into the pipe and is formed on an outer diameter smaller than an inner diameter of the pipe, an axial ultrasonic sensor (21) that transmits and receives a sonic wave in an insertion direction with respect to a front end of the insertion end portion, a radial ultrasonic sensor (22) that transmits and receives a sonic wave in a direction intersecting the center axis at a side portion of the insertion end portion, and a control unit that controls the movement mechanism according to detection results of the axial ultrasonic sensor and the radial ultrasonic sensor.