Sensor system for an in-line inspection tool

• US 20060248966A1
• Filed: 03/17/2006
• Published: 11/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PII Ltd (Baker Hughes Company)
• Original Assignee: PII Ltd (Baker Hughes Company)
• Inventors: Envy, Christopher, Houldey, Peter
• Granted Patent: US 7,458,289 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/865.800
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 55/28 Constructional aspects

Abstract

An in-line pipe inspection tool has a sensor carrier carrying a plurality of sensor for monitoring the pipe. In order to permit the sensor carrier and hence the sensors, to conform to changes in the diameter of the pipe being inspected, the sensor carrier is a part cylindrical body which is resiliently flexible. However, to stop one part of the sensor carrier twisting torsionally relative to another part, a bracing unit is fixed to one part the sensor carrier and engages another part of the sensor carrier to resist said torsional twisting.

Claims

1. A sensor module for an in-line pipe inspection tool, comprising:

a sensor carrier carrying a plurality of sensors, the sensor carrier being a part-cylindrical body, the part corresponding to part of the circumference of the cylinder, and being resiliently flexible such that the radius of curvature relative to the central axis of the cylinder, is variable; and

a bracing unit fixed to a part of the sensor carrier and engaging at least one other part of the sensor carrier, the engagement being such as to resist deformation of said other part of the sensor carrier,

which deformation is such as to cause the surface of said other part of said sensor carrier to be inclined relative to the central axis of the cylinder.

2. A sensor module according to claim 1 wherein the bracing unit is fixed to a central part of the sensor carrier and engages two parts of the sensor carrier respectively on appropriate sides of that central part of the sensor carrier.

3. A sensor module according to claim 2, wherein said two parts are at, adjacent or towards the lateral edges of said sensor carrier.

4. A sensor module according to claim 1, wherein the bracing unit is adapted to deform to conform to the radius of curvature of the sensor carrier.

5. A sensor module according to claim 4, wherein the bracing unit comprises bracing parts hingedly connected together.

6. A sensor module according claim 1, wherein the bracing unit engages the sensor carrier at its leading and trailing edges.

7. A sensor module according to claim 6, wherein said engagement of said bracing unit and said sensor carrier is a sliding engagement.

8. An in-line pipe inspection tool having a sensor module, said sensor module comprising:

a sensor carrier carrying a plurality of sensors, the sensor carrier being a part-cylindrical body, the part corresponding to part of the circumference of the cylinder, and being resiliently flexible such that the radius of curvature relative to the central axis of the cylinder, is variable; and

a bracing unit fixed to a part of the sensor carrier and engaging at least one other part of the sensor carrier, the engagement being such as to resist deformation of said other part of the sensor carrier, which deformation is such as to cause the surface of said other part of said sensor carrier to be inclined relative to the central axis of the cylinder.

9. An in-line pipe inspection tool according to claim 8, wherein said sensor module is connected to the body of the tool via a deformable linkage, said linkage permitting said sensor module to move radially relative to said body.

10. An in-line pipe inspection tool having a plurality of sensor modules arranged circumferentially around the body of the tool, each of said plurality of sensor modules comprising:

a sensor carrier carrying a plurality of sensors, the sensor carrier being a part-cylindrical body, the part corresponding to part of the circumference of the cylinder, and being resiliently flexible such that the radius of curvature relative to the central axis of the cylinder, is variable; and

a bracing unit fixed to a part of the sensor carrier and engaging at least one other part of the sensor carrier, the engagement being such as to resist deformation of said other part of the sensor carrier, which deformation is such as to cause the surface of said other part of said sensor carrier to be inclined relative to the central axis of the cylinder.