Ultrasound Measuring Assembly with Pivotable Wing Elements
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing measuring arrangements for detecting pipe wall thickness face challenges in accurately positioning the testing head on rounded pipes, especially for untrained personnel and in poorly accessible or invisible pipe portions, leading to unreliable measurement results.
Innovation Solution
A measuring arrangement with pivotable wing elements and synchronized toothings ensures accurate and reproducible positioning of the ultrasound probe, aided by magnets for automatic orientation on magnetic materials, and a design that allows for minimal contact medium usage and adaptability to pipe curves, enabling reliable wall thickness measurements even in hard-to-reach areas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a main body with integrated ultrasound sensor is used for wall thickness measurement, then the measurement function is integrated and portable, but correct positioning on rounded pipes requires highly trained personnel and is unreliable for poorly accessible portions
Solution Approach 1:
The wing elements are designed to pivot dynamically about pivot axes, allowing them to automatically adapt to the curvature of the pipe surface. This dynamic adjustment enables the wing element support surfaces to self-align normal to the pipe surface without requiring manual positioning by trained personnel, thus resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The synchronized pivoting mechanism with synchronizing toothings enables the wing elements to self-position automatically when pressed against the pipe surface. The system self-adjusts to maintain correct orientation without external intervention, making the device easy to operate while maintaining high measurement accuracy even on poorly accessible pipe portions.
2Measurement precision
If wing elements are made pivotable to adapt to pipe curvature, then positioning accuracy improves, but the device complexity increases due to additional pivot mechanisms and synchronizing components
Solution Approach 1:
The device is segmented into a main body and two separate wing elements that can pivot independently about their own pivot axes. This segmentation allows each wing element to adapt to the pipe curvature separately, improving positioning accuracy while keeping each individual pivot mechanism relatively simple and manageable.
Solution Approach 2:
Synchronizing toothings act as an intermediary mechanism that coordinates the pivoting movements of the two wing elements. This intermediary component ensures synchronized motion without requiring complex control systems, maintaining measurement precision while limiting the increase in overall device complexity.
3Reliability
If the ultrasound probe contact surface is offset from the main body support surface, then correct contact medium application is improved, but the spacing requires precise control to ensure proper wetting
Solution Approach 1:
The contact surface of the ultrasound probe is offset from the main body support surface, creating a localized region for contact medium application. This local quality difference ensures that the contact medium is applied precisely where needed at the probe-pipe interface, improving reliability of the measurement while the offset distance can be controlled within reasonable manufacturing tolerances.
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
The solution provides reliable and accurate wall thickness measurements without the need for specialized training, ensuring correct positioning and minimal error, even on poorly accessible or invisible pipe portions, with a compact design suitable for narrow gaps and curved surfaces.
Implementation Method 1
detect the wall thickness of a pipe by means of ultrasound
Implementation Method 2
at least one magnet is arranged on the main body support surface and/or on the wing element support surfaces... a substantially automatic orientation of the main body support surface or of the ultrasound probe occurs
Data Source
AI summary
A measuring assembly for detecting the wall thickness of a pipe, including an ultrasonic probe and a testing head with a main element which receives an ultrasonic probe and the lower face of which defines a main element support surface is provided. The testing head has two wing elements, the lower face of each of which defines a wing element support surface and which are held on the main element in a pivotal manner about pivot axes extending substantially parallel to one another in a longitudinal direction such that the wing element support surfaces can be moved towards each other and away from each other. The wing elements are connected via synchronizing means such that the pivotal movements of the wing elements about the corresponding pivot axes are carried out in a synchronous manner. An associated method is also provided.