Magnetic signalling in pipelines
First Claim
1. A transmission unit for use in signalling from within generally tubular metallic structure of a pipeline system, which unit comprises a magnetic material core providing a path for magnetic flux through the unit between two opposing end portions of the core which are arranged for location adjacent an inner surface of a tubular structure, and a transmitter for causing magnetic flux to flow through the core, wherein the end portions of the core have contact surfaces for contacting with the inner surface of the tubular structure when in use and the contact surfaces are profiled to closely match a shape of the inner surface of the tubular structure.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Method systems and apparatus for signalling within pipelines. The systems methods and apparatus make use of a unit locatable within a tubular piece of metallic structure for the transmission and/or reception of signals. The unit includes a magnetic material core (6) which provides a path for magnetic flux through the unit (4). A coil (81) is wound around a portion of the magnetic material core (6) to allow the detection and/or application of magnetic flux in the magnetic core (6). At each end of the core (6) there is pair of arms (63) which are arranged for location adjacent the inside surface of the tubular structure. In use magnetic signals flowing in the tubular structure pass through the core (6) and can be detected via the coil (81) in receive mode and similarly signals flowing in the coil (81) can cause magnetic flux to flow through the core (6) and into the metallic structure in transmit mode.
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Citations
32 Claims
- 1. A transmission unit for use in signalling from within generally tubular metallic structure of a pipeline system, which unit comprises a magnetic material core providing a path for magnetic flux through the unit between two opposing end portions of the core which are arranged for location adjacent an inner surface of a tubular structure, and a transmitter for causing magnetic flux to flow through the core, wherein the end portions of the core have contact surfaces for contacting with the inner surface of the tubular structure when in use and the contact surfaces are profiled to closely match a shape of the inner surface of the tubular structure.
- 15. A receiving unit for use in receiving signals within generally tubular metallic structure of a pipeline system, which unit comprises a magnetic material core providing a path for magnetic flux through the unit between two opposing end portions of the core which are arranged for location adjacent an inner surface of a tubular structure, and a receiver for detecting magnetic flux flowing through the core, wherein the end portions of the core have contact surfaces for contacting with the inner surface of the tubular structure when in use and the contact surfaces are profiled to closely match a shape of the inner surface of the tubular structure.
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26. A transmission unit for use in signalling from within generally tubular metallic structure of a pipeline system, which unit comprises a magnetic material core providing a path for magnetic flux through the unit between two opposing end portions of the core which are arranged for location adjacent an inner surface of the generally tubular structure from which signals are to be sent, and a transmitter for causing magnetic flux to flow through the core, wherein the transmission unit is arranged for location wholly within the generally tubular structure from which signals are to be sent and the end portions of the core have contact surfaces for contacting with the inner surface of the tubular structure when in use and the contact surfaces are profiled to closely match a shape of the inner surface of the tubular structure.
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27. A transmission unit for use in signalling from within generally tubular metallic structure of a pipeline system, which unit comprises a magnetic material core providing a path for magnetic flux through the unit between two opposing end portions of the core which are arranged for location adjacent an inner surface of a tubular structure, and transmitting means for causing magnetic flux to flow through the core, wherein the end portions of the core have contact surfaces for contacting with the inner surface of the tubular structure when in use and the contact surfaces are profiled to closely match a shape of the inner surface of the tubular structure.
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28. A receiving unit for use in receiving signals within generally tubular metallic structure of a pipeline system, which unit comprises a magnetic material core providing a path for magnetic flux through the unit between two opposing end portions of the core which are arranged for location adjacent an inner surface of a tubular structure, and receiving means for detecting magnetic flux flowing through the core, wherein the end portions of the core have contact surfaces for contacting with the inner surface of the tubular structure when in use and the contact surfaces are profiled to closely match a shape of the inner surface of the tubular structure.
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29. A transmission unit for use in signalling from within generally tubular metallic structure of a pipeline system, which unit comprises a magnetic material core providing a path for magnetic flux through the unit between two opposing end portions of the core which are arranged for location adjacent an inner surface of a tubular structure, and a transmitter for causing magnetic flux to flow through the core, wherein the end portions of the core have contact surfaces for contacting with the inner surface of the tubular structure when in use and each end portion comprises a plurality of arms, each arm being arranged to contact with the inner surface of the tubular structure at a respective position and the arms in each end portion being movable between a retracted position and an operative position.
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30. A transmission unit for use in signalling from within generally tubular metallic structure of a pipeline system, which unit comprises a magnetic material core providing a path for magnetic flux through the unit between two opposing end portions of the core which are arranged for location adjacent an inner surface of a tubular structure, a transmitter for causing magnetic flux to flow through the core, wherein the end portions of the core have contact surfaces for contacting with the inner surface of the tubular structure when in use and a pressure vessel where part of the magnetic material core is disposed within the pressure vessel and part is disposed outside of the pressure vessel and the magnetic material core comprises non-laminated sections in the region where the core passes from the inside to the outside of the pressure vessel.
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31. A receiving unit for use in receiving signals within generally tubular metallic structure of a pipeline system, which unit comprises a magnetic material core providing a path for magnetic flux through the unit between two opposing end portions of the core which are arranged for location adjacent an inner surface of a tubular structure, and a receiver for detecting magnetic flux flowing through the core, wherein the end portions of the core have contact surfaces for contacting with the inner surface of the tubular structure when in use and each end portion comprises a plurality of arms, each arm being arranged to contact with the inner surface of the tubular structure at a respective position and the arms in each end portion being movable between a retracted position and an operative position.
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32. A receiving unit for use in receiving signals within generally tubular metallic structure of a pipeline system, which unit comprises a magnetic material core providing a path for magnetic flux through the unit between two opposing end portions of the core which are arranged for location adjacent an inner surface of a tubular structure, a receiver for detecting magnetic flux flowing through the core, wherein the end portions of the core have contact surfaces for contacting with the inner surface of the tubular structure when in use and a pressure vessel where part of the magnetic material core is disposed within the pressure vessel and part is disposed outside of the pressure vessel and the magnetic material core comprises non-laminated sections in the region where the core passes from the inside to the outside of the pressure vessel.
Specification