Pipeline locator/coordinate mapping device

• US 7,100,463 B2
• Filed: 05/11/2004
• Issued: 09/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Todd Gerard Boudreaux
• Original Assignee: Todd Gerard Boudreaux
• Inventors: Boudreaux, Todd Gerard
• Primary Examiner(s): NOLAND, THOMAS
• Application Number:
  US10/843,043
• Publication Number:
  US 20050076724A1
• Time in Patent Office: 847 Days
• Field of Search: 738658-8659, 738/665, 734/89, 702/150, 702/152
• US Class Current: 73/866.5
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 55/48 Indicating the position of the pig or mole in the pipe or conduit
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/16 by integrating acceleration or speed, i.e. inertial navigation
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 9/005 Solid-state data loggers
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 3/50 for measuring linear speed G01P3/56 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 5/14 by measuring differences of pressure in the fluid
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 7/00 Measuring speed by integrating acceleration measuring travelled distance by double integration of acceleration G01C21/16

Abstract

The pipeline locator/coordinate mapping device is a tool to be utilized for the location of pipeline coordinate data points via a Cartesian coordinate system. The device will initiate from a known origin or datum with horizontal, X coordinate; longitudinal, Y coordinate; and vertical, Z coordinate respectively being equal to zero. As the device traverses internally through the pipeline, away from the origin or datum, a time increment will correspond to the recorded data, pressures and accelerations, and hence allow the positional coordinate points along the pipeline to be derived in three dimensional space for incremental positions versus time. By analysis of the data displacements from the origin or datum in succession, the pipeline may be located and mapped in an as-built position from a frame of reference, i.e. longitudinal and latitudinal coordinates along the earth.

Claims

1. A pipeline locator/coordinate mapping device, comprising:

a cylindrical housing having an outer surface, an inner surface, and an interior compartment;

two outrigger cylindrical venturi nozzles affixed to said outer surface of said housing at spaced-apart, equidistant positions;

a control instrumentation board positioned in said interior compartment of said housing; and

at least two sensor components operatively connected to said control instrumentation board.

2. The pipeline locator/coordinate mapping device according to claim 1, wherein said housing has an opening into said interior of said housing.

3. The pipeline locator/coordinate mapping device according to claim 2, wherein said device further comprises a threaded end cap capable of sealing said opening in said housing.

4. The pipeline locator/coordinate mapping device according to claim 1, wherein said inner surface of said housing contains a roller bearing seat for positioning of an inner containment shell.

5. The pipeline locator/coordinate mapping device according to claim 4, wherein said inner containment shell is a cylindrical container having open ends, an inner and an outer surface, and an interior area, said outer surface of said cylindrical container including roller bearings affixed thereto which are capable of seating within said roller bearing seat of said inner surface of said housing when said cylindrical container is positioned within said interior of said housing.

6. The pipeline locator/coordinate mapping device according to claim 5, wherein said cylindrical container further includes machined thru holes providing access from said inner area of said cylindrical container to said interior of said housing.

7. The pipeline locator/coordinate mapping device according to claim 5, wherein said inner containment shell is positioned within said interior of said housing and contains said control instrumentation board within said interior area thereof.

8. The pipeline locator/coordinate mapping device according to claim 1, wherein each of said venturi nozzles has a pipeline fluid entrance end covered with a mesh screen, a tapered interior through which a pipeline fluid is capable of flowing, and an exit end capable of discharging said pipeline fluid.

9. The pipeline locator/coordinate mapping device according to claim 8, wherein each of said nozzles is affixed to said outer surface of said housing by a pair of threaded nipples.

10. The pipeline locator/coordinate mapping device according to claim 9, wherein each of said threaded nipples has an interior orifice hole permitting sensor communication between said control instrumentation board and said tapered interior of said venturi nozzle to which said nipple is attached.

11. The pipeline locator/coordinate mapping device according to claim 10, wherein said at least two sensor components comprises four pressure sensors capable of recording differential pressure, each of said pressure sensors being positioned in a different orifice hole of said threaded nipple.

12. The pipeline locator/coordinate mapping device according to claim 11, wherein said pressure sensors seal said orifice hole of said threaded nipple in which said respective pressure sensor is positioned.

13. The pipeline locator/coordinate mapping device according to claim 11, wherein said at least two sensor components further comprises three acceleration sensors mounted on said control instrumentation board on a perpendicular axis, each of said acceleration sensors being capable of recording differential acceleration in three dimensional space with respect to an allotted Cartesian coordinate system of reference while said device traverses through a pipeline.

14. The pipeline locator/coordinate mapping device according to claim 13, wherein control instrumentation board further includes:

a central processing unit, said pressure sensors and said acceleration sensors being operatively connected to said central processing unit for recording data corresponding to a time increment;

a random access memory chip for storing said data;

a rechargeable power supply battery for operation of said control instrumentation board;

a computer communications port for retrieval of said data;

a power adapter port for recharging said power supply battery;

a power switch for powering online and offline said control instrumentation board;

an electronic circuit operatively interconnecting said central processing unit, said memory chip, said battery, said communications port, said power adapter, and said power switch.

15. The pipeline locator/coordinate mapping device according to claim 14, wherein said device further comprises an external computer program for acquisition of said data, wherein upon acquisition of said data said computer program is capable of performing a mathematical analysis for deriving each positional coordinate in three dimensional space with respect to a displacement from a frame of reference.

16. The pipeline locator/coordinate mapping device according to claim 1, wherein said device further comprises a protective encapsulation with openings allotted for said nozzles, said protective encapsulation capable of reducing flow restriction of said device and preventing damage thereto.