Patent EP-2361718-A1 (EP)
Inventor: ROSENFELD DIRK
IPC: B23K31/02
Filed: 2011-02-17
Abstract: The guiding device for an optical device (17) for testing welding seams of a tube (9), comprises a guiding unit (1a), which forms a hollow body (11) for receiving the optical device with a first insertion opening for inserting the optical device into the hollow body, and two supporting units for supporting the hollow body at an inner wall of the tube, where an elongated gap (19) is formed in the hollow body and the supporting unit is adapted, so that the elongated gap is opened towards the inner wall of the tube and extends itself along the inner wall of the tube. The guiding device for an optical device (17) for testing welding seams of a tube (9), comprises a guiding unit (1a), which forms a hollow body (11) for receiving the optical device with a first insertion opening for inserting the optical device into the hollow body, and two supporting units for supporting the hollow body at an inner wall of the tube, where an elongated gap (19) is formed in the hollow body and the supporting unit is adapted, so that the elongated gap is opened towards the inner wall of the tube and extends itself along the inner wall of the tube. A visible field limited by the elongated gap tangentially runs to the inner wall of the tube. An insertion tube is connected with the guiding unit for inserting the optical device into the hollow body through the first insertion opening. A second insertion opening is formed in the hollow body for inserting an optical device towing rope or an optical device towing chain into the hollow body. The hollow body forms a circular tube. The hollow body is concentrically arranged between the supporting units. A device guiding rope is connectable with the guiding device or a device guiding chain is connectable with the guiding device for maintaining and/or changing the position of the guiding device along the longitudinal axis of the tube. The supporting unit and the hollow body are formed, so that the supporting unit, the hollow body and the inner wall of the tube form a first hollow space. Two boundary walls are connectable with the hollow body, are arranged above or behind the hollow body in the longitudinal direction of the tube and are designed, so that the boundary walls and the tube form a second hollow space. The hollow spaces form a forming chamber for receiving forming gases. The guiding device has a flow chamber filled with metal wool or steel wool for introducing the forming gases, where the flow chamber is fluidically connected with the forming chamber. The guiding unit has a straight longitudinal part, which extends in axial direction along the center line, a circular-arc-shaped middle part subsequent to the longitudinal part, and a straight end part subsequent to the middle part and extending in radial direction of the tube. The end part has an opening, which is arranged opposite to the inner wall of the tube. The guiding unit is rotatably arranged around an axis, which coaxially runs to the longitudinal axis of the straight longitudinal part. Independent claims are included for: (1) an arrangement for investigating a welding seam of a tube; (2) a testing device for testing welding seams of a tube; and (3) a method for optically investigating an inner wall of a tube.