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Pipeline gauging vehicles

  • US 4,481,816 A
  • Filed: 02/14/1983
  • Issued: 11/13/1984
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/24/1982
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A pipeline gauging vehicle comprising:

  • (a) an axially extending support structure;

    (b) at least one resilient driving cup mounted around the support structure so as to contact the interior wall of the pipeline and thus provide a pressure differential across the driving cup which will propel the vehicle along the pipeline;

    (c) at least two first monitoring arrangements located at axially spaced positions on the support structure;

    (d) each first monitoring arrangement consisting of at least three detecting elements located at circumferentially spaced positions around the support structure and at a predetermined radial distance from the longitudinal axis of the vehicle;

    (e) the axial spacing of the first monitoring arrangements and the radial location of their individual detecting elements being commensurate with a minimum radius of curvature of bends in the pipeline which the vehicle needs to negotiate when travelling through the pipeline; and

    (f) a plurality of second monitoring arrangements mounted at axially spaced positions along the support structure;

    (g) each second monitoring arrangement having detecting portions radially spaced from the longitudinal axis of the vehicle by a distance commensurate with a predetermined minimum radial distance from the interior surface of the pipeline which must be clear when the vehicle is travelling through the pipeline;

    (h) whereby the detecting portions engage the interior surface of the pipeline and provide an indication when said minimum radial distance is exceeded.

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