JPS6375511A - Ultrasonic thickness gauge - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To measure all measurement points of a sample by inputting pieces of coordinate information on measurement start and end points in two orthogonal coordinate axial directions among the measurement points and the moving direction of a probe means from the measurement start point. CONSTITUTION:An oscillation means 4 outputs a pulse signal to the ultrasonic wave transmitter 1 of the probe means 3. Then the time from the time when a pulse signal is outputted while the means is brought into contact with an optional measurement point of the sample to the time when the ultrasonic wave receiver 2 of the means 2 outputs an echo pulse signal is measured 5 to measure the thickness of the sample at the measurement point. A this time, the pieces of coordinate information on the measurement start and end points in two orthogonal coordinate axial directions among the plural measurement points set on the surface of the sample to be measured and the moving direction of the means 3 from the measurement start point are inputted by an input means 11. Then, the direction from a point to be measured next from the current measurement point is computed by a scanning direction arithmetic means 12 from said input data and the obtained thickness value and the next moving direction of the means 3 are displayed 13.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention (a) Industrial Application Field The present invention relates to an ultrasonic thickness gage for measuring the thickness of, for example, a pipe or a tank. The present invention relates to an ultrasonic thickness gauge comprising:

(b) Conventional technology Conventionally, ultrasonic thickness gauges (hereinafter referred to as thickness gauges), which measure the thickness of pipes, tanks, etc. using ultrasonic waves, have been used to measure the thickness of pipes, tanks, etc. using ultrasonic waves. , and a main body equipped with a display that calculates the thickness based on the signal from the probe and displays the thickness. When using this thickness gauge to measure the thickness of a material to be tested over a given range, write marks indicating multiple measurement points using chalk, for example, around the measurement sheath of the material to be measured. A probe is brought into close contact with a measurement point, and a predetermined switch is operated in order to import measurement data for each measurement point into the main body. Then, either measure the thickness indicated on the display on the main body or, if the function has a function to memorize the measured thickness inside the main body, check the display and then operate a switch etc. to memorize the measured data. , the measurement points are sequentially updated and measurements are taken.

(b) Problems to be solved by the invention However, in the above method, when there are many measurement points, in some cases, one measurement point is not measured and the next measurement point is measured, or one measurement point is The measurement accuracy may be lowered because the measurement is sometimes carried out twice.

This invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and aims to provide an ultrasonic thickness gauge that can confirm in which direction the next measurement point after the measurement point being measured is.

(c) Means and operation for solving the problems As clearly shown in FIG. 1, the configuration of the present invention is as follows: When the oscillation means 4 outputs a pulse signal to the oscillator 1 and the probe means 3 are brought into close contact with an arbitrary measurement point of the specimen, the ultrasonic receiver 2 generates an echo pulse from the moment the pulse signal is output. In an ultrasonic thickness meter for measuring the thickness of a material to be inspected at a measurement point, the ultrasonic thickness meter is equipped with a measuring means 5 for measuring the time up to the point in time when a signal is output. an input means 11 for inputting coordinate information of a measurement start point and a measurement end point in two orthogonal coordinate axes directions among the measurement points and the moving direction of the probe means 3 from the measurement point at which the measurement is to be started; A scanning direction calculation means 12 calculates in which direction the next measurement point to be measured is located from the current measurement point based on the coordinate information and the movement direction, and the thickness value output from the measurement means is calculated. The display means 13 displays the direction in which the probe means 3 should be moved next based on the output signal from the scanning direction calculation means 12.
This is an ultrasonic thickness gauge characterized by comprising:

(d) Examples Examples of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings, but the invention is not limited to the following examples.

As shown in FIG. 2, the ultrasonic thickness control device of the present invention is composed of a probe means 3 and a data processing section 20 to which the probe means 3 is connected. The probe means 3 includes a two-part probe 3a and a cable 3b connecting the probe 3a and the data processing section 20. The data processing section 20 has an input means 1 consisting of 16 pushbutton switches 12a on the surface of its exterior body 21.
2, a dot matrix type liquid crystal display 22, a power switch 23, etc. are installed.A printed wiring board (not shown) having an electric circuit configuration shown in FIG. 3 is housed inside the exterior body 21. 24 is a calibration test piece with a thickness of 5 mm provided on the surface of the exterior body 21.

In FIG. 3, the ultrasonic oscillator 1 built into the probe 3a includes a repeating clock generator 25 that outputs a rectangular wave signal at a constant cycle, and a pulse converter 2G that converts the rectangular wave signal into a pulse signal. and a pulse transformer 27 that transmits pulse signals to the ultrasonic oscillator 1.

Reference numeral 28 denotes an echo amplifier, which is connected to the ultrasound receiver 2 built in the probe 3a and amplifies the echo pulse signal received by the ultrasound receiver 2. echo amplifier 2
8 is connected to a one-time measurement memory 29 that outputs a signal in response to the pulse signal and stops outputting the signal in response to the echo pulse signal.

Reference numeral 30 denotes a length measurement oscillator, which outputs a time measurement signal at a constant period. is input. The length counter 32 counts the number of time signals, and a pulse signal is transmitted from the ultrasonic oscillator 1.
It divides the time it takes for the ultrasonic receiver 2 to receive the echo pulse signal reflected from the back surface of the test material, and the length data is latched by the length data latch circuit 33 and sequentially transferred to the battery 3.
The data is stored in the data memory 35 backed up at 4. The measuring means 5 is composed of the data memory 35 (again, composed of a RAM), two one-time measurement memories, a length measurement oscillator 30, a counting gate 31, a long counter 32, and a length data latch circuit 33. 36 is a measurement number counter, which decrements the number of measurements based on the signal from the one-time measurement memory 29, and the counting result is stored in the start memory 37. 38 is a micro combi coater, for example, 0
An 8-bit MO8 is preferred, and the entire system is controlled by a program stored in a program memory 40 connected via a bus 39.

The bus 39 also includes a keyboard interface 41.
, a display controller 42 that drives the display means 14,
A printer interface 43 for outputting serial data to a printer, a communication interface 44 for R8232C, etc. are connected.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained with reference to FIGS. 11 to 5.

In the automatic data reading operation when the probe 3a is brought into close contact with one measurement point of the material to be inspected, first, a pulse signal from the oscillating means 4 is oscillated from the ultrasonic oscillator 1 into the material to be inspected, and at the same time The divisor gate 31 and length counter 32 do not work properly.
Humidity measurement is started (step 100). Next, when the ultrasonic receiver 2 receives the echo pulse signal reflected from the back surface of the test material, the echo pulse signal is amplified by the echo amplifier 28 and then sent to the counting gate 31 via the measurement memory 29 once. Let's say 31 is released and the number is reduced to Goo 1.

As a result, the length counter 32 completes the measurement (step 101). The data measured by the length counter 32 is once latched by the length data latch circuit 33, and the micro combi coater 38 determines whether the data is within the measurement range (data overflow) (step 102). ).

The data determined not to have overflowed is stored in the data memory 35 as the first secondary data (step 103). The second and subsequent data is added to the previous data before being stored in the data memory 35. Next, the microcomputer 38 counts the number of times the autopsy is performed (step 104), and the number of times the autopsy is measured is counted by the microcomputer 38 (step 104).
It is determined whether the number of autopsy measurements has reached 00 (step 105), and the above step 100 is repeated until the number of measurements is reached.
-105 are repeated.

When the set number of measurements is completed, the microcomputer 38 divides the total of the measured values stored in the data memory 35 by the number of times, and calculates the average value Alt of the measured data (step 106). Average value A? is automatically corrected based on the sound velocity setting value inputted prior to thickness measurement, and the thickness of the material to be inspected is calculated (step 107). The calculated thickness is calculated by combining the thickness value before this measurement and the micro combi coater 3.
8, it is compared whether it is within a predetermined error range (step 108), and if there is no previous thickness value (step 1
09) In other words, in the case of the first measured value, the current thickness value can be stored at the address of the data memory 35 that stores the previous thickness value (Step 110).

Then, the number of thickness calculations is counted (step 111), and it is determined whether a predetermined number of measurements, for example three times, has been completed (step 112). Execute. Here, before moving on to the next measurement, a delay time is provided so that the close contact state of the probe 3a can be taken into account and a positive H measurement can be performed. Then, the second thickness calculation is performed and Step 1
If the thickness value almost matches the previous thickness value at J5 at 08, it is compared with the thickness value from the time before the previous time (step 113). If there is no previous thickness value (step 114), the previous thickness value is stored in the address of the data memory 35 that stores the previous thickness value (step 115), and thereafter steps 110 to 11 are performed.
Execute 2.

When the predetermined number of measurements are completed as described above, each of the measured values of the predetermined number of times is within the predetermined error range. is stored in the address of this measurement point in the data memory 35, and the automatic measurement of the thickness at this measurement point is completed.The end is notified by a buzzer sound of 5.

In the above explanation, each time the automatic thickness measurement is completed, the microcombi coater 38 outputs a signal to the display controller 42 and displays the true thickness stored in the data memory 35 on the display means 14. and measure O
The character rOKJ representing K is displayed.

Therefore, multiple measured values are automatically compared, and if each value is within a predetermined error range, one of them is determined to be the thickness of the material to be inspected, so do not worry about the adhesion to the material. This makes it possible to perform highly accurate measurements without having to

Next, the operation of supporting the moving direction of the probe 3a will be explained.

In order to measure the thickness of a certain surface of a material to be inspected, a large number of measurement points are set within that range. Here, the X-axis,
Set the Y-axis in the vertical direction of the measurement surface perpendicular to the axis,
Coordinates of the measurement starting point (Xz.

The data of Y, S') are inputted by the input means 12 (step 200). Similarly, input the data of the coordinates (XF:, Yg) of the measurement end point (step 201
). Then, the total number of measurement points is calculated by the microcomputer 38 from these coordinate data (step 202). Next, the coordinates (XE.

Ys), (XE, Yp), (X,
y, YE) is input from the measurement point (steps 293 to 205).

Now, let us move in the X-axis direction from a measurement point with coordinates (X, r, Y, r>) (step 203). After inputting the movement direction, move to the first measurement point, that is, coordinates
It is determined whether the measurement at the measurement point YS> has been completed, that is, whether the operations in steps 100 to 112 have been completed (step 206). When the measurement is completed, the coordinates of the next measurement point and the address of the measurement data are calculated (step 207), and the arrow "→J" pointing right in the X-axis direction is displayed on the display means 14 (step 208). According to the next measurement point (X, y + 1.Y, r)
The microcomputer 38 confirms that the measurement has been completed (step 209).
The coordinates of the next measurement point and the address of the measurement data are calculated (step 210), and an arrow "→" pointing right in the X-axis direction is displayed on the display means 14 (step 211). Here, the measurement point whose measurement has been completed at this point has the coordinates (X, , Y, g
), step 212), coordinates (X[,
If the measuring point is not at the coordinates (XE, Ys), repeat steps 209 to 212, and when the measuring point at the coordinates (XE, Ys) is finished, it is determined whether the measuring point at all the measuring points is finished (step 213). If the measurement of the measurement point is not completed, the coordinates of the next measurement point (XE.

Ys +1) and the address of the measurement data are calculated (step 214), and an arrow pointing downward in the Y-axis direction is displayed on the display means 14.
↓" is displayed (step 215). At this point, the buzzer 4G will notify you with an intermittent tone. Thereafter, in the same way as above, once the measurement of the measurement point is completed (steps 216, 219, 22
6) Calculate the coordinates of the next measurement point and the address of the measurement data (steps 7.217, 220° 224), and display the arrows that support the direction of movement (steps 218, 22).
1,225>. Then, it is determined whether all the measurement points arranged in the X-axis direction have been measured (Step 222), and whether the measurement of all measurement points has been completed (Step 223>
, When all measurements are completed, the buzzer will sound continuously,
Notifies the user that the measurement is complete.

As described above, the direction in which the probe 3a is moved is always displayed by an arrow, the address of the measurement data is updated, and the measurement data is automatically stored in the data memory 35.

What is shown in FIG. 5 C-H is a flowchart when the X-axis side direction, Y-axis downward direction, and Y-axis upward direction are respectively input as the moving directions of the probe 3a, and are as explained above. Since the direction of the displayed arrow is different from that of , a detailed explanation will be omitted.

In addition, in the above example, if the measurement range is circular, for example, if a square virtual measurement surface circumscribed to the circumference is set and a large number of measurement points are set within that square, measurement points that protrude from the circular measurement surface exists. In this case, if you input the coordinate data of the next measurement point without measuring the protruding measurement point, an arrow will be displayed indicating the direction of movement from that measurement point to the next measurement point. It is. Therefore, even if the order is changed to any position within the initially determined coordinates, the direction of movement instructions will be displayed according to the set pattern.

Furthermore, in the above example, the thickness value at a certain measurement point was taken as the last measurement value that fell within the error range, but the average value of the three thickness values was calculated and the average value was used at the measurement point. It may be as thick as . The number of thickness values may be other than three, and the length of time may be measured more than 100 times, as long as it is increased or decreased depending on the time required for the entire measurement.

Although not described above, the scale is calibrated using the test piece 24 prior to measuring the material to be tested, and the sound velocity is also set at the same time.

In the above description, the thickness of the material to be inspected is automatically measured and stored in the data memory 35, but it is also possible to measure and store it manually as in the past.

Furthermore, the stored measurement data can be output to a printer at the site via the printer interface, so that a hard copy of the measurement data can be obtained at the measurement site.

Furthermore, since it is equipped with a communication interface 44,
For example, it can be connected to other computers installed in an office or company, and is effective when processing data at high speed or when outputting to an XY plotter.

(G) Effects of the Invention According to the present invention, it is possible to obtain an ultrasonic thickness gage that can perform measurements without losing all of a large number of measurement points because it displays which direction the next measurement point is.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention, Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing the electric circuit structure of the embodiment, and Figs. 4 A and B are automatic data reading. FIGS. 5A to 5H are flowcharts showing the operations of changing the address of the measurement point and displaying the moving direction of the probe. 1... Ultrasonic oscillator, 2... Ultrasonic receiver, 3... Probing means, 4...
...oscillation means, 5...measuring means,
11... Input means, 12... Scanning direction calculation means, 13... Display means. 16-15 Meat E

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A probe device comprising an ultrasonic oscillator and an ultrasonic receiver, an oscillation device for outputting a pulse signal to the ultrasonic oscillator, and a probe device capable of performing arbitrary measurements on a test material. and measuring means for measuring the time from the time when the pulse signal is output when the ultrasound receiver outputs the echo pulse signal when the ultrasonic receiver is brought into close contact with the point, and the thickness of the material to be inspected at the measurement point is measured. In an ultrasonic thickness gage for measurement, coordinate information of a measurement start point and a measurement end point in two orthogonal coordinate axes directions among a plurality of measurement points set on the measurement surface of a material to be measured, and measurement start point are provided. An input means for inputting the direction of movement of the probe from the measurement point, and a direction from which the next measurement point to be measured is located from the current measurement point based on the input coordinate information and movement direction. A scanning direction calculating means for calculating, and a display means for displaying the thickness value output from the measuring means and the direction in which the probe means should be moved next based on the output signal from the scanning direction calculating means. An ultrasonic thickness gauge characterized by: