Flexible device for remote field eddy current inspection of ferrous pipeline containing turns
First Claim
1. A remote field eddy current inspection device for water pipelines comprising:
- (a) an exciter unit housing an exciter means for producing a time-varying magnetic field in response to an exciting signal;
(b) a detector unit housing at least one detector means for producing a detecting signal representative of the time-varying magnetic field proximal to said detector means and resulting from the exciter means;
the detector unit having a centralizer to assist in positioning the unit centrally within the pipeline;
(c) at least one processing unit housing signal processing components, the detector unit being in electrical communication with the processing unit; and
(d) elongate flexible connectors spacedly interconnecting the exciter unit with the detector unit and the at least one processing unit, the elongate flexible connectors being selected to space the exciter means from the detector means a distance suitable for measurement of the remote field eddy current effect.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A device is taught for inspecting the integrity of water distribution pipelines. The device is constructed of housing units, for housing inspection circuitry. The housing units are connected by flexible connectors which permit the units to move out of axial alignment to pass bends. In some embodiments, communication ports are provided between the units. As such, the device is able to negotiate bends and pass through openings of reduced size in the pipeline. The device can be used with various inspection technologies including remote field eddy current inspection technology. A method for inspecting the integrity of a water pipeline system is disclosed wherein water hydrants can be used to access the system.
65 Citations
54 Claims
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1. A remote field eddy current inspection device for water pipelines comprising:
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(a) an exciter unit housing an exciter means for producing a time-varying magnetic field in response to an exciting signal; (b) a detector unit housing at least one detector means for producing a detecting signal representative of the time-varying magnetic field proximal to said detector means and resulting from the exciter means;
the detector unit having a centralizer to assist in positioning the unit centrally within the pipeline;(c) at least one processing unit housing signal processing components, the detector unit being in electrical communication with the processing unit; and (d) elongate flexible connectors spacedly interconnecting the exciter unit with the detector unit and the at least one processing unit, the elongate flexible connectors being selected to space the exciter means from the detector means a distance suitable for measurement of the remote field eddy current effect. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 34, 35)
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2. A remote field eddy current inspection device for water pipelines comprising:
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(a) an exciter unit housing an exciter means for producing a time-varying magnetic field in response to an exciting signal; (b) a first detector unit housing at least one first detector means for producing a first detecting signal representative of the time-varying magnetic field proximal to said first detector means and resulting from the exciter means; (c) a second detector unit housing at least one second detector means for producing a second detecting signal representative of the time-varying magnetic field proximal to said second detector means and resulting from the exciter means; (d) at least one processing unit housing signal processing components, the first and second detector units being in electrical communication with the at least one processing unit; (d) a first elongate flexible connector spacedly connecting the exciter unit to the first detector unit, the elongate flexible connector being selected to space the exciter means from the first detector means a distance suitable for measurement of the remote field eddy current effect; (e) a second elongate flexible connector spacedly connecting one of the exciter unit and the first detector unit to the second detector unit, the elongate flexible connector being selected to space the exciter means from the second detector means a distance suitable for measurement of the remote field eddy current effect; (f) a third elongate flexible connector connecting the at least one processing unit to at least one of the exciter unit, the first detector unit, and the second detector unit. - View Dependent Claims (8, 24, 33)
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23. A remote field eddy current inspection device for water pipelines comprising:
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(a) an exciter unit housing an exciter means for producing a time-varying magnetic field in response to an exciting signal; (b) a first detector unit housing at least one first detector means for producing a first detecting signal representative of the time-varying magnetic field proximal to said first detector means and resulting from the exciter means; (c) a second detector unit housing at least one second detector means for producing a second detecting signal representative of the time-varying magnetic field proximal to said second detector means and resulting from the exciter means; (d) an elongate flexible connector spacedly connecting the exciter unit to the first detector unit, the elongate flexible connector being selected to space the exciter means from the first detector means a distance suitable for measurement of the remote field eddy current effect; (e) an elongate flexible connector spacedly connecting one of the exciter unit and the first detector unit to the second detector unit, the elongate flexible connector being selected to space the exciter means from the second detector means a distance suitable for measurement of the remote field eddy current effect, wherein the detector means includes an outer ring of spot coils disposed to measure the radial component of the magnetic field and an inner ring of spot coils disposed to measure the radial component of the magnetic field, the rings of coils being positioned at substantially the same position along the axis of the device and the outer ring of coils being disposed between an outer wall of the device and the inner ring of coil, each coil in the outer ring of coils being positioned such that its axis is substantially aligned with the axis of one coil from the inner ring of coils.
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36. A remote field eddy current method for inspecting water pipelines comprising:
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(a) moving an inspection device through pipeline using a moving means, wherein the inspection device includes an exciter unit housing an exciter means, a detector unit housing at least one detector means, a processing unit housing processing components, and elongate flexible connectors spacedly connecting the exciter unit with the detector unit and the processing unit, the elongate flexible connectors being selected to space the exciter means from the detector means a distance suitable for measurement of the remote field eddy current effect;
the detector unit having a centralizer to position the unit centrally within the pipeline;(b) inducing a time-varying magnetic field in the pipeline with the exciter means in response to an exciting signal; (c) producing a detecting signal representative of the magnetic field proximal to the detector means and resulting from the exciter means; (d) producing data representative of the detecting signal. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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51. A remote field eddy current inspection device for water pipelines comprising:
an exciter unit housing an exciter means for producing a time-varying magnetic field in response to an exciting signal and spacedly connected thereto a detector unit housing at least one detector means for producing a detecting signal representative of the time-varying magnetic field proximal to said detector means and resulting from the exciter means, the detector means includes an outer ring of spot coils disposed to measure the radial component of the magnetic field and an inner ring of spot coils disposed to measure the radial component of the magnetic field, the rings of coils being positioned at substantially the same position along the axis of the device and the outer ring of coils being disposed between an outer wall of the device and the inner ring of coil, each coil in the outer ring of coils being positioned such that its axis is substantially aligned with the axis of one coil from the inner ring of coils.
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52. The inspection device as claimed in 52 further comprising a means for determining a differential signal from any of the coils having their axis aligned.
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53. The inspection device as claimed in 52 wherein the means is a differential connection between the coils.
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54. The inspection device as claimed in 52 wherein the means is an algorithm for differentially comparing detecting signals generated by the coils.
Specification