Pipe-inspection system
First Claim
1. A pipe-inspection system for the inspection of a pipeline, said system comprising:
- four wheeled guidance units;
a transmission unit flexibly coupled between first and second ones of said wheeled guidance units;
a reception unit flexibly coupled between third and fourth ones of said wheeled guidance units, wherein said second wheeled guidance unit is flexibly coupled to said third wheeled guidance unit;
a lead line coupled to said first wheeled guidance unit and configured to move said system through said pipeline in a forward direction; and
a trail line coupled to said fourth wheeled guidance unit and configured to move said system through said pipeline in a reverse direction substantially opposite said forward direction.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A pipe-inspection system (100) is provided. The system (100) is made up of a transmission cluster (104) incorporating a transmission unit (800) between first and second wheeled guidance units (400), and a reception cluster (104″) incorporating a reception unit (1400) between third and fourth wheeled guidance units (400). Each wheeled guidance unit (400) contains a plurality of wheels (416) radially disposed in each of a plurality of planes (420, 426, 432). Transmission unit (800) contains a transmission device (1004). Reception unit (1400) contains a reception device (1604). The system (100) is compatible with RFEC inspection techniques to inspect a pipeline (102), where transmission and reception devices (1004, 1604) are an RFEC transmitter and receiver, respectively. A lead line (106) is attached to the first guidance unit (400) to move the system (100) in a forward direction (108). Similarly, a trail line (110) is attached to the fourth guidance unit (400″) to move the system (100) in a reverse direction (112).
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A pipe-inspection system for the inspection of a pipeline, said system comprising:
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four wheeled guidance units; a transmission unit flexibly coupled between first and second ones of said wheeled guidance units; a reception unit flexibly coupled between third and fourth ones of said wheeled guidance units, wherein said second wheeled guidance unit is flexibly coupled to said third wheeled guidance unit; a lead line coupled to said first wheeled guidance unit and configured to move said system through said pipeline in a forward direction; and a trail line coupled to said fourth wheeled guidance unit and configured to move said system through said pipeline in a reverse direction substantially opposite said forward direction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A pipe-inspection system for the inspection of a pipeline, said system comprising:
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a transmission cluster, wherein said transmission cluster comprises; a first wheeled guidance unit; a transmission unit; a second wheeled guidance unit; a first flexible inter-unit connector coupled between said transmission unit and said first wheeled guidance unit; and a second flexible inter-unit connector coupled between said transmission unit and said second wheeled guidance unit; a reception cluster, wherein said reception cluster comprises; a third wheeled guidance unit; a reception unit; a fourth wheeled guidance unit; a third flexible inter-unit connector coupled between said reception unit and said third wheeled guidance unit; and a fourth flexible inter-unit connector coupled between said reception unit and said fourth wheeled guidance unit; a flexible inter-cluster connector coupled between said transmission cluster and said reception cluster; a lead line coupled to said first wheeled guidance unit and configured to move said system through said pipeline in a forward direction; and a trail line coupled to said fourth wheeled guidance unit and configured to move said system through said pipeline in a reverse direction substantially opposite said forward direction. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A pipe-inspection system for the inspection of a pipeline, said system comprising:
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a transmission cluster comprising; a first wheeled guidance unit configured as a forward-facing guidance unit; a transmission unit flexibly coupled to said first wheeled guidance unit and comprising a remote-field eddy-current transmitter; and a second wheeled guidance unit configured as a backward-facing guidance unit and flexibly coupled to said transmission unit; a reception cluster comprising; a third wheeled guidance unit configured as a forward-facing guidance unit and flexibly coupled to said second wheeled guidance unit; a reception unit flexibly coupled to said third wheeled guidance unit and comprising a remote-field eddy-current receiver; and a fourth wheeled guidance unit configured as a backward-facing guidance unit and flexibly coupled to said reception unit; a lead line coupled to said first wheeled guidance unit and configured to move said system through said pipeline in a forward direction; and a trail line coupled to said fourth wheeled guidance unit and configured to move said system through said pipeline in a reverse direction substantially opposite said forward direction.
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Specification