Communication system for pipeline inspection
First Claim
1. An inline tool tracking system for tracking an inline tool traveling along and through a pipe or conduit, said tracking system comprising:
- a detection and communication device operable to detect an inline tool as the inline tool passes generally at or near said detection and communication device, wherein said detection and communication device, responsive to detection of an inline tool, generates a detection output, said detection output including data indicative of the detection of the inline tool and a geographical location of the detection and communication device;
a control remote from said detection and communication device, said control operable to wirelessly receive said detection output of said detection and communication device, wherein said control, responsive to receipt of said detection output, processes said detection output, and wherein said control generates a control output responsive to said processing of said detection output, said control output being indicative of the detection of the inline tool and the geographical location of the detection and communication device;
a tracking vehicle movably disposed at a geographical region associated with the pipe or conduit and drivable by a driver of said tracking vehicle;
a display device associated with said tracking vehicle, wherein said display device is operable to receive an input indicative of said control output and to display information indicative of the detection of the inline tool and the geographical location of the detection and communication device, wherein said display device is operable, responsive at least in part to receipt of said input, to display said information for viewing by a user of said display device while the inline tool is traveling along and through the pipe or conduit; and
wherein the driver of said tracking vehicle drives said tracking vehicle towards said detection and communication device at least in part responsive to said display device displaying the information indicative of the detection of the inline tool and the geographical location of the detection and communication device.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An inline tool tracking system for tracking an inline tool traveling along a pipe includes a detection and communication device operable to detect an inline tool as it passes generally near the device. The detection and communication device is operable to generate a detection output, which includes data indicative of the detection of the tool and a geographical location of the device. A control is operable to wirelessly receive the detection output and to process the detection output. The control generates a control output responsive to the processing, and the control output is indicative of the detection of the tool and the geographical location of the detection and communication device. A display device receives an input indicative of the control output and displays the information indicative of the detection of the tool and the geographical location of the detection and communication device to a user of the display device.
29 Citations
44 Claims
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1. An inline tool tracking system for tracking an inline tool traveling along and through a pipe or conduit, said tracking system comprising:
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a detection and communication device operable to detect an inline tool as the inline tool passes generally at or near said detection and communication device, wherein said detection and communication device, responsive to detection of an inline tool, generates a detection output, said detection output including data indicative of the detection of the inline tool and a geographical location of the detection and communication device; a control remote from said detection and communication device, said control operable to wirelessly receive said detection output of said detection and communication device, wherein said control, responsive to receipt of said detection output, processes said detection output, and wherein said control generates a control output responsive to said processing of said detection output, said control output being indicative of the detection of the inline tool and the geographical location of the detection and communication device; a tracking vehicle movably disposed at a geographical region associated with the pipe or conduit and drivable by a driver of said tracking vehicle; a display device associated with said tracking vehicle, wherein said display device is operable to receive an input indicative of said control output and to display information indicative of the detection of the inline tool and the geographical location of the detection and communication device, wherein said display device is operable, responsive at least in part to receipt of said input, to display said information for viewing by a user of said display device while the inline tool is traveling along and through the pipe or conduit; and wherein the driver of said tracking vehicle drives said tracking vehicle towards said detection and communication device at least in part responsive to said display device displaying the information indicative of the detection of the inline tool and the geographical location of the detection and communication device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method of tracking an inline tool that is traveling along and through a pipe or conduit, said method comprising:
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detecting an inline tool as the inline tool passes generally at or near a detection and communication device; generating a detection output via said detection and communication device, said detection output including data indicative of the detection of the inline tool and a geographical location of said detection and communication device; providing a control; said control receiving said detection output of said detection and communication device and processing said detection output; said control generating a control output responsive to said processing, said control output being indicative of the detection of the inline tool and the geographical location of said detection and communication device; providing at least one tracking vehicle movably disposed at a geographical region associated with the pipe or conduit and at least one display device associated with said at least one tracking vehicle, said display device receiving an input indicative of said control output and, responsive at least in part to receipt of said input, displaying information indicative of the detection of the inline tool and the geographical location of said detection and communication device for viewing by a user of said at least one tracking vehicle while the inline tool is traveling along and through the pipe or conduit; and driving said tracking vehicle towards said detection and communication device at least in part responsive to said display device displaying the information indicative of the detection of the inline tool and the geographical location of said detection and communication device. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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43. An inline tool tracking system for tracking an inline tool traveling along and through a pipe or conduit, said tracking system comprising:
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a plurality of detection and communication devices disposed along a pipe or conduit and operable to detect an inline tool as the inline tool passes generally at or near a respective one of said detection and communication devices, wherein each of said detection and communication devices, responsive to detection of an inline tool at or near the respective detection and communication device, generates a respective detection output, said respective detection output including data indicative of the detection of the inline tool and a geographical location of the respective detection and communication device; a plurality of controls and a plurality of display devices associated with respective ones of a plurality of tracking vehicles movably disposed at a geographical region associated with the pipe or conduit, wherein said controls wirelessly receive said detection outputs of said detection and communication devices and process said detection outputs, and wherein each of said controls generates a respective control output responsive to said processing, said respective control output being indicative of the detection of the inline tool and the geographical location of the respective detection and communication device that detected the inline tool and generated said respective detection output; wherein each of said display devices receives an input indicative of a control output of a respective one of said controls, and wherein said display device is operable, responsive at least in part to receipt of said input, to display information indicative of the detection of the inline tool and the geographical location of the detection and communication device that generated said respective detection output for viewing by a user of the respective display device while the inline tool is traveling along and through the pipe or conduit; and wherein the driver of a respective tracking vehicle drives said tracking vehicle towards a detection and communication device at least in part responsive to said display device of the respective tracking vehicle displaying the information indicative of the detection of the inline tool and the geographical location of the detection and communication device that generated the respective detection output. - View Dependent Claims (44)
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Specification