Pipeline locator/coordinate mapping device

• US 7,246,031 B2
• Filed: 07/17/2006
• Issued: 07/17/2007
• 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:
  US11/486,860
• Publication Number:
  US 20060254373A1
• Time in Patent Office: 365 Days
• Field of Search: 738658-8659, 738/665, 734/89, 702/150, 702/152
• US Class Current: 702/152
• 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 method for locating/coordinate mapping of a pipeline, comprising the steps of:

a) providing 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;

b) powering online said device;

c) placing said device into an interior of said pipeline;

d) permitting said device to traverse through said pipeline and record data;

e) retrieving said device from said pipeline;

f) retrieving said recorded data from said device via a computer communications port on said device and into an external computer program; and

g) powering offline said device.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said external computer program maps said pipeline by:

ascertaining a datum of pressure and acceleration together with a specific time increment; and

performing an analysis to derive a positional coordinate points in three dimensional space with respect to a displacement from a frame of reference;

said positional coordinate points when drawn to scale, beginning from a pipeline reference origin, can be located/coordinate mapped in three dimensional space for creating an as-built plan of said pipeline.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein said frame of reference is longitudinal and latitudinal coordinates along the Earth.