METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FRAME ASSEMBLY FOR RTR SCANNER ASSEMBLY

• US 20200132239A1
• Filed: 10/25/2019
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Desert NDT LLC (Shawcor Limited)
• Original Assignee: Shawcor Limited
• Inventors: MIMS, Steven, GREEN, Ryan, LOIACONO, Julian
• Granted Patent: US 11,287,073 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 55/07 Arrangement or mounting of devices, e.g. valves, for venting or aerating or draining apparatus for draining F16T
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2223/628 tubes, pipes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2223/629 welds, bonds, sealing compounds
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 23/18 Investigating the presence of flaws defects or foreign matter

Abstract

A frame assembly for inspection of pipeline girth weld, having a support frame releasably coupled to a mounting band that comprises of two clamshell halves. The clamshell halves are coupled via quick release coupling mechanisms. By removing one of the clamshells, or uncouple the two clamshells at one coupling point, the frame assembly permits a RTR scanner assembly to be laterally displaced along the length of the pipeline.

Claims

1. An apparatus for external inspection of a pipeline girth weld, the apparatus comprising:

a band releasably mounted circumferentially in close proximity of the pipeline girth weld;

a guide rail mounted circumferentially on the band body;

a frame assembly movable along the guide rail;

a scanner assembly comprising a source emitter and a detector which are operably coupled to the frame assembly, the source emitter capable of generating a detection signal receivable by the detector which provides information regarding the pipeline girth weld.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein

the guide rail is a gear rack, and

the frame assembly further comprises a pinion gear for operably engaging the gear rack;

wherein upon the pinion gear traversing the gear rack, the frame assembly is circumferentially displaced around the band.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the frame assembly further comprises a drive system for rotating the pinion gear along the gear rack.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein

the band further comprises a first band section and a second band section;

and

the guide rail further comprises a first guide rail section coupled to the first band section, and a second guide rail section coupled to the second band section;

wherein the first and second band sections are coupled at a first coupling point and a second coupling point such that when coupled, the first and second guide rail sections form a continuous guide rail.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the first coupling point is a quick release buckle and the second couple point is a hook-over hinge.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein when the frame assembly is coupled to one of the first and second band section that is positioned over a top portion of the pipeline, the other band section may be dismounted such that the apparatus is laterally displaceable along the pipeline.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising

a displacement tool for engaging the frame assembly in order to vertically displace the apparatus above the top portion of the pipeline;

wherein the displacement tool further comprises travelling means for traversing along the pipeline.

8. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein one of the first and second band sections is engaged at one of the first and second coupling points such that a vertical displacement of the frame assembly creates an opening between the uncoupled ends of the first and the second band sections so as to permit the apparatus to be vertically displaced away from the pipeline.

9. A method for displacing an apparatus for external inspection of a pipeline girth weld, the method comprises:

removing a first band section positioned over a bottom portion of a pipeline from a second band section that is positioned over a top portion of the pipeline;

lifting the second band section, to which the apparatus is connected, vertically above the top portion of the pipeline;

displacing the apparatus along the length of the pipeline.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the lifting further comprises:

engaging a frame assembly of the apparatus to which the scanner assembly is coupled with a displacement tool;

manipulating a control mechanism of the displacement tool to vertically raise the displacement tool; and

wherein the displacing further comprises operating a travelling mechanism of the displacement tool.

11. A method for displacing an apparatus for external inspection of a pipeline girth weld, the method comprises:

uncoupling one of two coupling points between a first band section and a second band section, where the uncoupled coupling point is in proximity of a bottom portion of the pipeline and the coupled point is in proximity of a top portion of the pipeline;

lifting a frame assembly of the apparatus to which the first and second band sections are coupled such that the first and second band sections are dislodged from the surface of the pipeline; and

and displacing the apparatus laterally along the pipeline.

12. A jack tool for displacing a frame assembly over a pipeline, the jack tool comprises:

a frame;

a travelling mechanism coupled to the frame for traversing an exterior surface of the pipeline in a lengthwise direction of the pipeline;

a control member coupled to the frame; and

a vertical displacement member configured to engage and vertically displace the frame assembly upon manipulation of the control member;

wherein when the frame assembly is vertically displaced by the vertical displacement member, the jack tool is capable of traversing along the lengthwise direction of the pipeline.