Method and device for inspecting pipelines
First Claim
1. A device for inspecting the pipe wall of a pipeline for defects, the device comprising:
- means for introducing a plurality of measuring sensors into the pipeline, each measuring sensor comprising at least one linear array of individually controllable sensor elements;
means for defining a plurality of virtual sensors, each virtual sensor comprising a group of neighboring sensor elements;
means for individually controlling said sensor elements of at least a portion of said virtual sensors to generate an ultrasound wave travelling towards and into said pipe wall at an irradiation angle which is inclined relative to a normal to the pipe wall;
means for receiving ultrasound signals reflected by bordering surfaces of the pipe wall in at least a portion of said virtual sensors; and
means for evaluating said received signals from differing bordering surfaces to determine pipe wall defects and further comprising at least one sensor support having said measuring sensors disposed substantially circularly around said sensor support, wherein said sensor support comprises, for each measuring sensor, at least two articulated arms which are hinge connected to each other and whose free end is hinge connected to one of a mounting element of a sensor rocker receiving said measuring sensor and to a central element of said sensor support, wherein said measuring sensors are fitted into a groove in an upper surface of said sensor rockers extending in a peripheral direction, wherein a depth of said groove corresponds substantially to a radial dimension of said measuring sensors.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention concerns a method and a device for inspecting pipelines, in particular for detecting defects in pipelines by means of ultrasound. Towards this end, measuring sensors transmit ultrasound signals during passage through a pipeline. The signals reflected on boundary regions of a pipeline wall, e.g. surfaces or defects, are then measured and evaluated. The invention is characterized in that partial regions of the measuring sensors (virtual sensors) formed of a plurality of neighboring sensor elements irradiate ultrasound signals into the pipe wall at at least one radiation angle which is inclined with respect to the normal to the pipe wall and the signals reflected at boundary regions of the pipe wall are received by same and/or other partial regions of the respective measuring sensors, wherein defects in the pipe wall are determined by evaluation of the acoustical signals reflected by different boundary regions.
79 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A device for inspecting the pipe wall of a pipeline for defects, the device comprising:
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means for introducing a plurality of measuring sensors into the pipeline, each measuring sensor comprising at least one linear array of individually controllable sensor elements;
means for defining a plurality of virtual sensors, each virtual sensor comprising a group of neighboring sensor elements;
means for individually controlling said sensor elements of at least a portion of said virtual sensors to generate an ultrasound wave travelling towards and into said pipe wall at an irradiation angle which is inclined relative to a normal to the pipe wall;
means for receiving ultrasound signals reflected by bordering surfaces of the pipe wall in at least a portion of said virtual sensors; and
means for evaluating said received signals from differing bordering surfaces to determine pipe wall defects and further comprising at least one sensor support having said measuring sensors disposed substantially circularly around said sensor support, wherein said sensor support comprises, for each measuring sensor, at least two articulated arms which are hinge connected to each other and whose free end is hinge connected to one of a mounting element of a sensor rocker receiving said measuring sensor and to a central element of said sensor support, wherein said measuring sensors are fitted into a groove in an upper surface of said sensor rockers extending in a peripheral direction, wherein a depth of said groove corresponds substantially to a radial dimension of said measuring sensors. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification