METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR THE AUTOMATIC NON-DESTRUCTIVE INSPECTION OF TUBULAR AXLE PINS HAVING VARIABLE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE RADIUS PROFILES

摘要

The invention relates to an axle pin inspection apparatus consisting of: (i) an inspection bench (BC) for receiving a tubular axle pin (AE) including a wall (PA) having known variable outside and inside radius profiles; (ii) at least one ultrasound probe (SU) for analysing at least one selected portion of the wall (PA) in a selected angular sector and, thereby, acquiring analysis data; (iii) inspection means (MC) for controlling the inspection bench (BC) in order to position each probe (SU) on the outer surface (SE) or the inner surface (SI) of the wall (PA) at at least a first location selected as a function of the profiles thereof and optionally the loading of the pin (AE), so that the probe analyses the first and second selected portions of the wall (PA) respectively in at least a first and at least a second selected angular sector oriented along first and second opposing longitudinal or transverse directions, and so that the probe acquires analysis data for different relative angular positions of the pin in relation to the probe; and (iv) processing means (MT) for producing charts on the basis of said analysis data, which charts are represent the transverse or longitudinal orientations and the echo indication positions inside the wall (PA).