New Type of Magnetic Actuator System for Inspection in a Complex Pipe

This paper proposes a magnetic actuator using multiple vibrating components to perform inspection in a complex pipe with a T-junction. The actuator is capable of reversible movement due to the opening and closing of a compound material by the elongation and contraction of shape-memory-alloy coils. The magnetic actuator undergoes linear and rotational movement based on the difference in frictional force between the forward and backward movement of the compound material. Measurement of the average speed was carried out in a complex pipe with a T-junction section. The experimental results show that the maximum rotational speed of the prototype magnetic actuator was 16 degree/s in a pipe with an inner diameter of 50 mm, and the system was able to inspect the wall in the complex pipe at an average speed of 10 mm/s.