Magnetic flux pipe inspection apparatus for analyzing anomalies in a pipeline wall
First Claim
1. An apparatus for analyzing anomalies in a pipeline wall comprising:
- a body of generally cylindrical shape;
means for supporting the body in relation to the pipeline wall;
means for propelling the body through the pipeline;
means for providing electrical power to the body;
means for storing data;
a plurality of bars disposed circumferentially around the body, each bar flexibly mounted on the body to allow the bar to move radially inwardly and radially outwardly to provide clearance for the apparatus in the event that it encounters obstructions as it travels through the pipeline;
means mounted on the bars for generating and transmitting a magnetic field through portions of the pipeline wall adjacent the body;
means mounted on the bars for measuring magnetic flux leakage adjacent the body caused by anomalies in the pipeline wall;
means for transmitting the magnetic flux leakage measurements to the data storage means; and
a plurality of wheels mounted on the bars adjacent the magnetic field generating means for bearing against the pipeline wall as the body moves through the pipeline so as to reduce wear on the magnetic field generating means and the magnetic flux leakage measuring means.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for analyzing anomalies such as cracks, corrosion and the like in a pipeline wall is provided. The apparatus is formed of one or more cylindrical body sections. A series of magnetizing units are mounted around the circumference of the body. Each magnetizing unit is formed by a backing bar, brushes which are capable of inducing a magnetic field, sensors which are capable of measuring magnetic flux leakage caused by anomalies in the wall and bearing wheels which reduce wear on the brushes and sensors. The backing bar is flexibly mounted on the body so that it can follow the contour of the pipeline wall as the apparatus moves through the pipeline. The backing bar has steel-containing brushes mounted on either end atop magnets of opposite polarities such that a magnetic field may be transmitted to the pipeline wall. The brushes are ideally formed by steel cables encased in polyurethane and mounted on a steel shell. The sensors are mounted in the central part of the backing bar, between the brushes. The sensors preferably have a parallelogram cross-sectional shape and are molded of polyurethane or other suitable material so that they are flexible enough to follow the contour of the pipeline wall as the apparatus travels through the pipeline and, hence, maintain the orientation of the sensing element in the sensor body in relation to the pipeline wall. A wear plate and wear pads may be mounted on top of the sensor body for reducing wear on the sensor.
-
Citations
15 Claims
-
1. An apparatus for analyzing anomalies in a pipeline wall comprising:
-
a body of generally cylindrical shape; means for supporting the body in relation to the pipeline wall; means for propelling the body through the pipeline; means for providing electrical power to the body; means for storing data; a plurality of bars disposed circumferentially around the body, each bar flexibly mounted on the body to allow the bar to move radially inwardly and radially outwardly to provide clearance for the apparatus in the event that it encounters obstructions as it travels through the pipeline; means mounted on the bars for generating and transmitting a magnetic field through portions of the pipeline wall adjacent the body; means mounted on the bars for measuring magnetic flux leakage adjacent the body caused by anomalies in the pipeline wall; means for transmitting the magnetic flux leakage measurements to the data storage means; and a plurality of wheels mounted on the bars adjacent the magnetic field generating means for bearing against the pipeline wall as the body moves through the pipeline so as to reduce wear on the magnetic field generating means and the magnetic flux leakage measuring means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. An apparatus for analyzing anomalies in a pipeline wall comprising, in any order,:
-
a first section of generally cylindrical shape housing means for providing electrical power to the apparatus; a second section of generally cylindrical shape having means for generating and transmitting a magnetic field through portions of the pipeline wall adjacent the section and means for sensing magnetic flux leakage caused by anomalies in the pipeline wall; a third section of generally cylindrical shape having means for storing data retrieved by the apparatus; a plurality of bars disposed circumferentially around the second section, each bar flexibly mounted on the second section to allow the bar to move radially inwardly and radially outwardly to provide clearance for the apparatus in the event that it encounters obstructions as it travels through the pipeline; means mounted on the bars for generating and transmitting a magnetic field through portions of the pipeline wall adjacent the second section; means mounted on the bars for measuring magnetic flux leakage adjacent the second section caused by anomalies in the pipeline wall; means for supporting the sections in relation to the pipeline wall; means for propelling the sections through the pipeline; means for transmitting the magnetic flux leakage measurements to the data storage means; a plurality of wheels mounted on the bars adjacent the magnetic field generating means for bearing against the pipeline wall as the apparatus moves through the pipeline so as to reduce wear on the magnetic field generating means and the magnetic flux leakage measuring means; and wherein adjacent sections are connected by flexible links so as to permit movement of the apparatus through bends and restrictions in the pipeline.
-
Specification