US 12,474,301 B2
System and method for inspecting metal parts
Antônio Sérgio Medeiros Fonseca, Belo Horizonte (BR); Edson José Eufrásio, Belo Horizonte (BR); Lucas Kling E Silva, Petrópolis (BR); Cesar Giron Camerini, Niterói (BR); and Gabriela Ribeiro Pereira, Rio de Janeiro (BR)
Assigned to VALLOUREC SOLUÕES TUBULARES DO BRASIL S.A., Belo Horizonte (BR)
Appl. No. 18/254,678
Filed by VALLOUREC SOLUÇÕES TUBULARES DO BRASIL S.A., Belo Horizonte (BR)
PCT Filed Nov. 25, 2021, PCT No. PCT/BR2021/050519
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jul. 28, 2023,
PCT Pub. No. WO2022/109704, PCT Pub. Date Jun. 2, 2022.
Claims priority of application No. 102020024201 6 (BR), filed on Nov. 26, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2024/0044842 A1, Feb. 8, 2024
Int. Cl. G01N 27/9093 (2021.01); G01N 27/83 (2006.01); G01N 27/90 (2021.01)
CPC G01N 27/9093 (2013.01) [G01N 27/83 (2013.01); G01N 27/9053 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An inspection system for internal and/or external surfaces of metal parts, comprising:
a frame;
a plurality of geometric profile sensors attached to the frame at spaced intervals through at least one geometric profile sensor support;
a plurality of eddy current sensors attached to the frame at spaced intervals through at least one eddy current sensor support and facing an internal and/or external surface of a metal part to be inspected, wherein during operation of the inspection system, there is a relative displacement between the frame and the inspected metal part;
an electronic circuit for multiplexing electromagnetic signals that receives and processes in real time signals obtained by the plurality of geometric profile sensors and the plurality of eddy current sensors; and
an interpretation and evaluation unit that receives processed signals from the electronic circuit and identifies flaws on the internal and/or external surface of the inspected metal part,
wherein the at least one geometric profile sensor support has a section compatible with a cross section of a segment of the inspected metal part, and
wherein at least some geometric profile sensors from among the plurality of geometric profile sensors are articulatedly attached to the frame and comprise:
a rod with a first side articulatedly coupled to either the frame or the at least one geometric profile sensor support, and a second side coupled to a contact tip; and
a magnet attached to the first side of the rod coupled to the frame, wherein the contact tip of each geometric profile sensor moves over the internal and/or external surface of the inspected metal part during the relative displacement between the inspected metal part and the frame.