Self-contained pipeline inspecting system

• US 3,243,697 A
• Filed: 07/03/1961
• Issued: 03/29/1966
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/1961
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Thomas R. Schmidt
• Original Assignee: Thomas R. Schmidt
• Inventors: Schmidt, Thomas R.
• Application Number:
  US04/121,508
• Time in Patent Office: 1,730 Days
• US Class Current: 324/221
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 2101/30 Inspecting, measuring or testing
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/005 using pigs or moles G01M3/246, G01M3/2823 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/18 for pipes, cables or tubes; for pipe joints or seals; for valves; for welds; for containers, e.g. radiators
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/84 by applying magnetic powder or magnetic ink
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/9093 Arrangements for supporting the sensor; Combinations of eddy-current sensors and auxiliary arrangements for marking or for rejecting

Claims

1. A PROBE FOR THE INTERNAL INSPECTION OF TUBULAR MEMBERS COMPRISING:

AN EXCITER COIL AND A PICKUP COIL, SAID COILS BEING SPACED A DISTANCE SUFFICIENT TO CAUSE THE VOLTAGE INDUCED IN SAID PICKUP COIL AS A RESULT OF A VOLTAGE APPLIED TO SAID EXCITER COIL TO VARY EXPONENTIALLY WITH THE THICKNESS OF THE WALL OF SAID TUBULAR MEMBER;

A BATTERYOPERATED ALTERNATING CURRENT POWER SUPPLY COUPLED TO SAID EXCITER COIL;

A TRIGGER CIRCUIT COUPLED TO SAID PICKUP COIL AND DISPOSED TO TRIGGER AT A PREDETERMINED POINT IN THE CYCLE OF THE SIGNAL INDUCED IN SAID PICKUP COIL;

SAID TRIGGER CIRCUIT BEING COUPLED TO A STOBOSCOPE CIRCUIT TO FLASH A NEON LIGHT WHENEVER SAID TRIGGER CIRCUIT TRIGGERS;

A TUBULAR ELEMENT DISPOSED TO BE ROTATED BY A SYNCHRONOUS MOTOR COUPLED TO SAID POWER SUPPLY, THE EDGE OF SAID TUBULAR ELEMENT HAVING A HELICAL SHAPE, THE AXIS OF THE HELIX BEING COAXIAL WITH THE AXIS OF THE TUBULAR ELEMENT, SAID NEON LIGHT BEING DISPOSED WITHIN SAID TUBULAR ELEMENT;

A LIGHT SENSITIVE RECORDING MEDIUM DISPOSED TO BE MOVED PAST SAID TUBULAR ELEMENT;

A SCANNING SLOT DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID TUBULAR ELEMENT, AND SAID RECORDING MEDIUM TO MASK ALL OF SAID RECORDING MEDIUM EXCEPT THE PORTION ALIGNED WITH SAID SLOT.