Moving device for intervening inside small-diameter pipework
First Claim
1. A moving device for intervening inside small-diameter pipework, the device comprising a drive piston made up of at least two annular tractor cups each having a flexible and strong peripheral skirt of the same outside diameter, and each defining a sealed section of inside surface, wherein said drive piston includes at least a third non-sealing centering cup disposed between said two tractor cups, and supports for said cups, said supports being interconnected axially in pairs by means of a cable and a fixed spring surrounding said cable and having ends that bear against said supports for two consecutive cups, said fixed spring providing traction between two consecutive cups with said cable being slack when said device is in a straight position and said fixed spring enabling said cable to be tensioned when said device is in a laterally flexed position.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to a moving device for intervening inside small-diameter pipework. The technical field of the invention lies in constructing measurement apparatus for monitoring pipework and capable of moving along the inside of the pipework in substantially independent manner driven by thrust from the substance conveyed by the pipework acting on the device. According to the present invention, the device comprises a drive piston itself made up of at least two flexible and strong annular tractor cups and defining a sealed section of inside surface, and at least one third centering cup disposed between said two tractor cups. The supports for said cups are interconnected axially in pairs by respective traction cables associated with respective springs surrounding said cables, each spring bearing at each end against said supports of two consecutive cups, and serving to keep said cable under tension.
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Citations
10 Claims
- 1. A moving device for intervening inside small-diameter pipework, the device comprising a drive piston made up of at least two annular tractor cups each having a flexible and strong peripheral skirt of the same outside diameter, and each defining a sealed section of inside surface, wherein said drive piston includes at least a third non-sealing centering cup disposed between said two tractor cups, and supports for said cups, said supports being interconnected axially in pairs by means of a cable and a fixed spring surrounding said cable and having ends that bear against said supports for two consecutive cups, said fixed spring providing traction between two consecutive cups with said cable being slack when said device is in a straight position and said fixed spring enabling said cable to be tensioned when said device is in a laterally flexed position.
Specification