Apparatus for inspecting a pipeline for leaks

• US 4,172,379 A
• Filed: 03/03/1978
• Issued: 10/30/1979
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/1977
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Shell Oil Company (Shell Plc)
• Original Assignee: Shell Oil Company (Shell Plc)
• Inventors: Lohman, Robert C., VAN Tilburg, Alfred
• Primary Examiner(s): Swisher, S. Clement
• Assistant Examiner(s): Corr, Denis E.
• Application Number:
  US05/883,088
• Time in Patent Office: 606 Days
• Field of Search: 73/40.5 A, 328/147, 328/148, 325/408, 325/406, 325/409, 325/407, 346/33 P, 346/33 F
• US Class Current: 73/40.50A
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/005 using pigs or moles G01M3/246, G01M3/2823 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/246 using pigs or probes travelling in the pipe

Abstract

A method and apparatus for automatically adjusting the gain of an ultrasonic device for inspecting a pipeline for leaks. The ultrasonic device is designed to pass through the interior of a pipeline and record noise produced by fluids leaking from the pipeline. The response of the device is adjusted automatically by controlling the gain of the amplification in response to the strength of a signal received from an ultrasonic generator positioned outside the pipeline.

Claims

1. An improved apparatus for inspecting a pipeline for leaks, said apparatus being adapted to be transported through the pipeline by fluid flow to detect, amplify and record ultrasonic vibrations caused by fluid leaking from the pipeline, the improvements comprising:

an amplifier, said amplifier having a variable gain;

circuit means disposed on the apparatus to receive and detect a frequency modulated coded acoustical signal, said coded acoustical signal being supplied from an external source acoustically coupled to said pipeline; and

additional circuit means coupled to said circuit means and responsive to the amplitude of said coded acoustic signal to adjust the gain of said amplifier.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said amplifier has a variable gain of at least 50 dB.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said circuit means comprises a filter disposed to pass the carrier frequency of the coded signal, a detector-rectifying circuit disposed to detect the code signal in the signal passed by the filter and a second filter disposed to pass the frequency of the code signal.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 and in addition said carrier frequency being in the ultrasonic range and said code signal being in the sonic range.