SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR INSTALLATION INSPECTION IN PIPELINE REHABILITATION

• US 20090080980A1
• Filed: 08/21/2007
• Published: 03/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Western Pipeway LLC
• Original Assignee: Western Pipeway LLC
• Inventors: Cohen, Dan
• Granted Patent: US 7,669,614 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 405/184.200
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 2101/30 Inspecting, measuring or testing
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 55/16455 a part of the tool defining, together with the inner wall of the pipe, an enclosed space into which sealing material is injected

Abstract

A method for pipeline rehabilitation grout coverage inspection according to embodiments of the present invention includes installing a tubular liner within a pipeline by filling a space between the tubular liner and the pipeline with grout, creating a heat transfer across the tubular liner, and observing an inside of the tubular liner with an infrared camera to detect an infrared signal differential between areas of the tubular liner in contact with the grout and areas of the tubular liner not in contact with the grout. Observing and inspecting the inside of the tubular liner may be accomplished simultaneously with rounding of the liner and smoothing of the grout by harnessing an infrared camera to a swab and advancing the swab with chilled compressed air to cool the liner, according to embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method for pipeline rehabilitation grout coverage inspection, the method comprising:

installing a tubular liner within a pipeline by filling a space between the tubular liner and the pipeline with grout;

creating a heat transfer across the tubular liner; and

observing an inside of the tubular liner with an infrared camera to detect an infrared signal differential between areas of the tubular liner in contact with the grout and areas of the tubular liner not in contact with the grout.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein creating a heat transfer across the tubular liner comprises cooling the inside of the tubular liner.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the tubular liner and the pipeline each have a front end and a back end, the method further comprising:

mounting the infrared camera on a camera frame with two or more wheels;

coupling the camera frame with a swab;

advancing the swab through the tubular liner from the front end to the back end of the tubular liner to distribute the grout between the tubular liner and the pipeline; and

observing the inside of the tubular liner with the infrared camera during advancing of the swab.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein advancing the swab through the tubular liner from the front end to the back end of the tubular liner comprises applying compressed air into the tubular liner behind the swab.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein cooling the inside of the tubular liner comprises routing the compressed air through a heat exchanger to reduce a temperature of the compressed air.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the temperature is twenty-five to thirty degrees Fahrenheit below an ambient air temperature.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein creating a heat transfer across the tubular liner comprises heating the inside of the tubular liner.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

mounting the infrared camera to a camera frame with two or more wheels;

mounting a heating element to the camera frame, the heating element creating the heat transfer across the tubular liner.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

mounting a visual camera to the camera frame;

observing the inside of the tubular liner with the visual camera to detect tears in the tubular liner, wherein the heating element is also a visual light source.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein observing the inside of the tubular liner with the infrared camera comprises observing the inside of the tubular liner with the infrared camera before the grout hardens.

11. A system for pipeline rehabilitation installation inspection, the system comprising:

a tubular liner deployed along an inside of a pipeline;

a swab configured to advance through the tubular liner to open the tubular liner and distribute grout between the tubular liner and the pipeline;

a means for creating a heat transfer across the tubular liner; and

an infrared camera coupled to the swab, the infrared camera configured to detect gaps in grout coverage by detecting an infrared signal differential between areas of the tubular liner in contact with the grout and areas of the tubular liner not in contact with the grout.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

a camera frame with two or more wheels, the infrared camera mounted to the camera frame, the infrared camera coupled to the swab by a coupling between the camera frame and the swab.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the camera frame is removably coupled to the swab, and wherein the camera frame is operable to detach from the swab and propel itself within the tubular liner.

14. A method for pipeline rehabilitation grout coverage inspection, the method comprising:

installing a tubular liner within a pipeline and inserting grout between the tubular liner and the pipeline;

mounting an infrared camera on a camera frame with two or more wheels;

coupling the camera frame to a swab;

routing compressed air through a heat exchanger to reduce a temperature of the compressed air;

applying the compressed air into the tubular liner behind the swab to advance the swab and the camera frame through the tubular liner and to cool the tubular liner; and

observing an inside of the tubular liner with the infrared camera to detect an infrared signal differential between areas of the tubular liner in contact with the grout and areas of the tubular liner not in contact with the grout.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein coupling the camera frame to the swab comprises swivelably coupling the camera frame to the swab, such that a rotation of the swab as the swab advances through the tubular liner does not overturn the camera frame.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein observing the inside of the tubular liner with the infrared camera occurs prior to hardening of the grout.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

uninstalling the tubular liner based on the detection of areas of the tubular liner not in contact with the grout.