LINKAGE ASSEMBLY FOR IN-LINE INSPECTION TOOL
First Claim
1. A sensor system comprising:
- a central body defining a central axis; and
a plurality of sensor assemblies mounted to the central body and distributed circumferentially around the central axis, each sensor assembly of the plurality of sensor assemblies includinga sensor body having at least one sensor mounted thereto; and
first and second linkage assemblies mounted to the sensor body having the at least one sensor positioned between the first and second linkage assemblies, each linkage assembly of the first and second linkage assemblies including (a) a first link, (b) a second link, (c) a first pivot coupling the first link to the central body, (d) a second pivot coupling the second link to the first link, (e) a third pivot coupling the second link to the sensor body, and (f) a block positioned to prevent rotation of at least one of the first and second links about one of the first, second, and third pivots in response to urging of the sensor body away from the each linkage assembly.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An in-line pipeline inspection tool includes a plurality of sensors assemblies distributed about a central body. Each sensor assembly includes a sensor body coupled at the ends thereof to the central body by first and second linkage assemblies. The linkage assemblies include first and second links, the first link coupled by a first pivot to the central body and by a second pivot to the second link. The second link is coupled to the sensor body by a third pivot. As the tool is moved in one direction, the sensor body is urged away from the first linkage assembly, which engages a block that prevents further rotation of about one of the pivots. As the tool is moved in another direction, the block disengages, thereby permitting rotation about all three pivots. The second linkage assembly functions in an identical fashion.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A sensor system comprising:
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a central body defining a central axis; and a plurality of sensor assemblies mounted to the central body and distributed circumferentially around the central axis, each sensor assembly of the plurality of sensor assemblies including a sensor body having at least one sensor mounted thereto; and first and second linkage assemblies mounted to the sensor body having the at least one sensor positioned between the first and second linkage assemblies, each linkage assembly of the first and second linkage assemblies including (a) a first link, (b) a second link, (c) a first pivot coupling the first link to the central body, (d) a second pivot coupling the second link to the first link, (e) a third pivot coupling the second link to the sensor body, and (f) a block positioned to prevent rotation of at least one of the first and second links about one of the first, second, and third pivots in response to urging of the sensor body away from the each linkage assembly. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for inspecting a pipeline comprising:
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providing a sensor system including (A) a central body defining a central axis and (B) a plurality of sensor assemblies mounted to the central body and distributed circumferentially around the central axis, each sensor assembly of the plurality of sensor assemblies including (i) a sensor body having at least one sensor mounted thereto and (ii) first and second linkage assemblies mounted to the sensor body having the at least one sensor positioned between the first and second linkage assemblies, each linkage assembly of the first and second linkage assemblies including (a) a first link, (b) a second link, (c) a first pivot coupling the first link to the central body, (d) a second pivot coupling the second link to the first link, and (e) a third pivot coupling the second link to the sensor body, (f) a block positioned to prevent rotation about one of the first, second, and third pivots in response to urging of the sensor body away from the each linkage assembly; inserting the sensor system in the pipeline such that the sensor bodies of the plurality of sensor assemblies engage an inner wall of the pipeline; urging the sensor system through the pipeline in a first direction such that the inner wall urges the sensor bodies of the plurality of sensor assemblies toward the first linkage assemblies thereby causing the blocks of the first linkage assemblies to prevent rotation about the one of the first, second and third pivots of the first linkage assemblies; urging the sensor system through the pipeline in a second direction opposite to the first direction such that the inner wall urges the sensor bodies of the plurality of sensor assemblies away from the first linkage assemblies thereby causing the blocks of the first linkage assemblies to cease preventing rotation about the one of the first, second and third pivots of the first linkage assemblies. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification