Apparatus for and method of detecting and measuring corrosion damage in pipe
First Claim
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1. Apparatus for detecting corrosion damage to electrically conductive pipe, comprising:
- (a) a movable conductive ring within said pipe; and
(b) means for moving said conductive ring longitudinally of said pipe;
said conductive ring and the wall of said pipe forming the electrodes of a varying electrical capacitance means such that the capacitance of said varying capacitance means changes whenever said movable conductive ring passes a corrosion portion of the inner pipe wall; and
(c) means electrically connected to said varying capacitance means for detecting the variations in its electrical capacitance.
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Abstract
Apparatus for and a method of detecting and measuring the presence and degree of corrosion damage in pipe by using a probe which forms a capacitor with the wall of the pipe is disclosed. The probe is moved interior to and longitudinally of the pipe, and the variation in capacitance occuring whenever the probe passes a corrosion portion of the interior pipe wall is detected.
54 Citations
25 Claims
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1. Apparatus for detecting corrosion damage to electrically conductive pipe, comprising:
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(a) a movable conductive ring within said pipe; and (b) means for moving said conductive ring longitudinally of said pipe; said conductive ring and the wall of said pipe forming the electrodes of a varying electrical capacitance means such that the capacitance of said varying capacitance means changes whenever said movable conductive ring passes a corrosion portion of the inner pipe wall; and (c) means electrically connected to said varying capacitance means for detecting the variations in its electrical capacitance. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. Apparatus for detecting corrosion damage to electrically conductive pipe, comprising:
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(a) a plurality of conductive members; (b) non-conductive means for carrying said plurality of conductive members, said carrier means and said conductive members being located interior to and being movable longitudinally of said pipe, said conductive members being positioned substantially symmetrically and substantially uniformly over the outer surface of said carrier means; and (c) means interacting with said carrier means for moving said plurality of conductive members longitudinally of said pipe; each said conductive member and the wall of said pipe forming the electrodes of a varying electrical capacitor such that the capacitance of each said varying capacitor changes whenever the associated conductive member of said plurality of conductive member passes a corrosion portion of the inner pipe wall; (d) a first varying capacitance means comprised of said varying electrical capacitors formed by said plurality of conductive members and the pipe wall; and (e) first detecting means electrically connected to said first varying capacitance means for detecting the variations in its electrical capacitance. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for detecting corrosion damage to electrically conductive pipe, comprising:
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(a) forming a varying electrical capacitor using the pipe as an electrode of said capacitor and a conductive ring movable within said pipe as another electrode of said capacitor; (b) moving said conductive member interior to and longitudinally of said pipe; and (c) detecting with electrical circuit means the variations in the capacitance of said varying electrical capacitor occurring whenever said moving conductive member passes a corrosion portion interior to said pipe. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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14. A method for detecting corrosion damage to electrically conductive pipe, comprising:
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(a) forming a plurality of first varying electrical capacitors using the pipe as one electrode of each of said plurality of first capacitors, and one of a plurality of first movable conductive members in said pipe as another electrode of each of said plurality of first capacitors;
said plurality of first conductive members being substantially uniformly and substantially symmetrically positioned over the surface of an insulating cylindrical member in the pipe;(b) moving said plurality of first conductive members and said cylindrical member longitudinally of the pipe; and (c) detecting with electrical circuit means the changes in the capacitance of said first varying capacitors. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. A probe for detecting corrosion damage to electrically conductive pipe, comprising:
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(a) a non-conductive cylindrical member having an outside diameter less than that of the inside diameter of the pipe, said cylindrical member being adapted and constructed to be movable within said pipe longitudinally of the pipe; (b) a pair of insulating rings, one encircling each end of said cylindrical member, the outside diameter of each said ring being slightly less than the inside diameter of said pipe; and (c) a first conductive member substantially encircling said cylindrical member between said insulating rings, the outside diameter of said first conductive member being less than that of said insulating rings, said first conductive member being arranged and adapted to form with the wall of said pipe the electrodes of a first varying electrical capacitance whose capacitance changes whenever said first conductive member passes a corrosion portion of the inner pipe wall as said cylindrical member is moved within said pipe longitudinally of the pipe. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. Apparatus for detecting the presence and degree of corrosion damage to electrically conductive pipe, comprising:
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(a) a first conductive member movable within said pipe; (b) means for moving said conductive member within said pipe, longitudinally of the pipe; (c) electrical means circuit connected between said first conductive member and said pipe for establishing an electric field between said first conductive member and the walls of said pipe, the lines of force of said electric field impinging on a substantial portion of the inner circumference of said pipe wall;
said conductive member, said electrical circuit means and said pipe forming a first varying electrical capacitance such that the capacitance of said first varying capacitance changes when said first movable conductor passes a corrosion portion of said inner pipe wall; and(d) first detecting means electrically connected to said first varying capacitance for detecting the changes in its electrical capacitance. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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Specification