Boiler tube inspection probe with centering mechanism and method of operating the same
First Claim
1. An internal inspection assembly, comprising:
- an elongated shaft member coupled to an inspection probe; and
a centering mechanism configured to center the inspection probe with respect to an inside diameter of a tube to be inspected, the centering mechanism further comprising;
a first plurality of fingers, pivotally attached at a first end thereof to a first mounting surface affixed to one end of the shaft member, the first plurality of fingers circumferentially surrounding the shaft member;
a second plurality of fingers, pivotally attached at a first end thereof to a second mounting surface affixed to an opposite end of the shaft member such that the inspection probe is disposed between the first and second plurality of fingers, the second plurality of fingers circumferentially surrounding the shaft member; and
an expansion mechanism associated with both of the first and second plurality of fingers, the expansion mechanism disposed between the first and second plurality of fingers and the shaft member, the expansion mechanism configured to selectively and outwardly extend a second end of the first and second plurality of fingers with respect to a longitudinal axis of the shaft member, so as to bring second end of the first and second plurality of fingers into contact with an inner surface of the tube to be inspected, thereby centering the inspection probe with respect to the inside diameter of the tube.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A centering apparatus for internal nondestructive testing of a tube to be inspected includes an elongated shaft member coupled to an inspection probe; a plurality of fingers, pivotally attached at a first end thereof to a mounting surface affixed to the shaft member, the plurality of fingers circumferentially surrounding the shaft member; and an expansion mechanism, disposed between the plurality of fingers and the shaft member, the expansion mechanism configured to selectively and outwardly extend a second end of the plurality of fingers with respect to a longitudinal axis of the shaft member, so as to bring the second end of the plurality of fingers into contact with an inner surface of the tube to be inspected, thereby centering the inspection probe within the tube.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. An internal inspection assembly, comprising:
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an elongated shaft member coupled to an inspection probe; and a centering mechanism configured to center the inspection probe with respect to an inside diameter of a tube to be inspected, the centering mechanism further comprising; a first plurality of fingers, pivotally attached at a first end thereof to a first mounting surface affixed to one end of the shaft member, the first plurality of fingers circumferentially surrounding the shaft member; a second plurality of fingers, pivotally attached at a first end thereof to a second mounting surface affixed to an opposite end of the shaft member such that the inspection probe is disposed between the first and second plurality of fingers, the second plurality of fingers circumferentially surrounding the shaft member; and an expansion mechanism associated with both of the first and second plurality of fingers, the expansion mechanism disposed between the first and second plurality of fingers and the shaft member, the expansion mechanism configured to selectively and outwardly extend a second end of the first and second plurality of fingers with respect to a longitudinal axis of the shaft member, so as to bring second end of the first and second plurality of fingers into contact with an inner surface of the tube to be inspected, thereby centering the inspection probe with respect to the inside diameter of the tube. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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8. An internal inspection assembly, comprising:
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an elongated shaft member coupled to an inspection probe; and a centering mechanism configured to center the inspection probe with respect to an inside diameter of a tube to be inspected, the centering mechanism further comprising; a first plurality of fingers, pivotally attached at a first end thereof to a first mounting surface affixed to one end of the shaft member, the first plurality of fingers circumferentially surrounding the shaft member; a second plurality of fingers, pivotally attached at a first end thereof to a second mounting surface affixed to an opposite end of the shaft member such that the inspection probe is disposed between the first and second plurality of fingers, the second plurality of fingers circumferentially surrounding the shaft member; and an expansion mechanism associated with both of the first and second plurality of fingers, the expansion mechanism disposed between the first and second plurality of fingers and the shaft member, the expansion mechanism configured to selectively and outwardly extend a second end of the first and second plurality of fingers with respect to a longitudinal axis of the shaft member, so as to bring second end of the first and second plurality of fingers into contact with an inner surface of the tube to be inspected, thereby centering the inspection probe with respect to the inside diameter of the tube; wherein the second end of the first and second plurality of fingers face each other, and wherein a distance between the second end of the first plurality of fingers and the second end of the second plurality of fingers, when the expansion mechanism is a deactivated state, is about 1.5 times the inside diameter of the tube to be inspected.
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16. A method of centering an inspection probe within a tube to be inspected, the method comprising:
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activating an expansion mechanism, the expansion mechanism disposed between a plurality of fingers and an elongated shaft member coupled to an inspection probe; the plurality of fingers further being pivotally attached at a first end thereof to a mounting surface affixed to the shaft member, the plurality of fingers circumferentially surrounding the shaft member; wherein upon activation, the expansion mechanism outwardly extends a second end of the plurality of fingers with respect to a longitudinal axis of the shaft member, so as to bring rotatable rollers, disposed at the second end of the plurality of fingers, into contact with an inner surface of the tube to be inspected, thereby centering the inspection probe within the tube. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification