Apparatus for inspecting piping
First Claim
1. Apparatus for inspecting piping, said apparatus comprising:
- a body having an axis, said body made of a resilient material, said resilient material having a first coefficient of friction with respect to said piping;
an inspection instrument carded by said body for measuring a characteristic of said piping and generating data related to said characteristic; and
a flexible outer surface covering said body, said outer surface made of a material selected from the group consisting of polytetrafluoroethylene and polyvinyl chloride, said outer surface having a second coefficient of friction with respect to said piping, said second coefficient of friction being less than said first coefficient of friction so that said outer surface enables said apparatus to slip through said piping.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An inspection rabbit for inspecting piping systems having severe bends therein. The rabbit consists of a flexible, modular body containing a miniaturized eddy current inspection probe, a self-contained power supply for proper operation of the rabbit, an outer surface that allows ease of movement through piping systems and means for transmitting data generated by the inspection device. The body is preferably made of flexible polyvinyl chloride (PVC) tubing or, alternatively, silicone rubber with a shrink wrapping of polytetrafluoroethylene (TEFLON®). The body is formed to contain the power supply, preferably a plurality of batteries, and a spool of communication wire that connects to a data processing computer external to the piping system.
53 Citations
17 Claims
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1. Apparatus for inspecting piping, said apparatus comprising:
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a body having an axis, said body made of a resilient material, said resilient material having a first coefficient of friction with respect to said piping; an inspection instrument carded by said body for measuring a characteristic of said piping and generating data related to said characteristic; and a flexible outer surface covering said body, said outer surface made of a material selected from the group consisting of polytetrafluoroethylene and polyvinyl chloride, said outer surface having a second coefficient of friction with respect to said piping, said second coefficient of friction being less than said first coefficient of friction so that said outer surface enables said apparatus to slip through said piping. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. Apparatus for inspecting piping, said apparatus comprising:
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a body having an axis, said body made of a resilient material; an inspection instrument carried by said body for measuring a characteristic of said piping and generating data related to said characteristic; a flexible outer surface covering said body and said inspection instrument; at least one rechargeable battery carded within said body for supplying power to said inspection instrument; and means formed in said body for allowing said at least one rechargeable battery to be recharged without removing said at least one rechargeable battery from said body. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. Apparatus for inspecting piping, said apparatus comprising:
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a body having an axis, said body made of a resilient material; an inspection instrument carried by said body for measuring a characteristic of said piping and generating data related to said characteristic; a flexible outer surface covering said body and said inspection instrument; and means in electrical connection with said inspection instrument for transmitting said data from said inspection instrument, said transmitting means playing out electrical wire from said apparatus as said body moves through said piping. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 16, 17)
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15. The apparatus as recited in 12, wherein said outer surface is made of a material selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl chloride and polytetrafluoroethylene.
Specification