Untethered, unpowered, rollable device to sense condition of pipeline wall
First Claim
1. A tether-free sensor unit of spherical or ellipsoidal shape with no motorized propelling means, for inspecting a pipeline which contains a moving liquid, which sensor unit comprises a sensor package containing a sensor to sense the number of revolutions of the sensor unit when such unit rolls along the bottom of the interior of the pipeline selected from at least one magnetic sensor and at least one accelerometer, and recording means for recording data sensed by said sensor, said sensor unit being of greater density than the density of the liquid in the pipeline to be inspected, whereby it can roll along the bottom of the pipeline to be inspected.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A sensor unit for use in sensing conditions in a pipeline comprises an untethered a ball-shaped surround adapted to roll along the interior surface of a pipeline, and instrument package within the ball-shaped surround. The package contains at least one magnetometer or accelerometer. Preferably, three magnetometers, arranged orthogonally, are present. Other sensors can also be present as required, such as an acoustic sensor to detect leaks and a temperature or chemical sensor. Recording means record the data acquired by the magnetometer(s) or accelerometer and the sensors, and optionally also record a timing trace.
25 Citations
17 Claims
- 1. A tether-free sensor unit of spherical or ellipsoidal shape with no motorized propelling means, for inspecting a pipeline which contains a moving liquid, which sensor unit comprises a sensor package containing a sensor to sense the number of revolutions of the sensor unit when such unit rolls along the bottom of the interior of the pipeline selected from at least one magnetic sensor and at least one accelerometer, and recording means for recording data sensed by said sensor, said sensor unit being of greater density than the density of the liquid in the pipeline to be inspected, whereby it can roll along the bottom of the pipeline to be inspected.
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13. A method of inspecting a pipeline which contains flowing liquid, comprising;
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(a) providing a sensor unit which comprises a package containing a sensor selected from at least one magnetic sensor and at least one accelerometer, and means for recording data sensed by said sensor, said sensor unit being of greater density of the liquid in the pipeline to be inspected, and (b) allowing the sensor unit to be rolled along the bottom of the interior of the pipeline by the flow of the liquid, while recording a signal representative of the number of revolutions that the surface of the sensor unit has made. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification