Marker for pipeline apparatus and method

• US 8,358,134 B1
• Filed: 08/13/2009
• Issued: 01/22/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pure Technologies Limited (Xylem, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Pure Technologies Limited (Xylem, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hoyt, Philip M.
• Primary Examiner(s): LEDYNH, BOT L
• Application Number:
  US12/541,076
• Time in Patent Office: 1,258 Days
• Field of Search: 324/326, 324/332
• US Class Current: 324/326
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/092 by detecting magnetic anomalies
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/82 for investigating the presence of flaws
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 15/00 Tags attached to, or associated with, an object, in order to enable detection of the object record carriers for use with machines having a detectable tag or marker G06K19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 17/00 Digital computing or data processing equipment or methods, specially adapted for specific functions information retrieval, database structures or file system structures therefor G06F16/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 7/00 Loop antennas with a substantially uniform current distribution around the loop and having a directional radiation pattern in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the loop

Abstract

Defects in a pipeline may be detected by an in-line inspection tool passing therethrough. However, as the tool travels through the pipeline, errors associated with certain onboard components may accumulate. These errors may reduce the accuracy with which the locations of detected defects can be determined. Accordingly, markers may be positioned at various locations along the pipeline. Each marker may include a radio receiver to receive signal transmitted by an in-line tool passing thereby and one or more magnetic flux detection systems that may detect a magnetic field emanating from the in-line tool. The radio receiver may include an antenna comprising two or more coils connected in series and positioned side-by-side. The flux detection system may include one or more flux concentrators to amplify the strength of the magnetic field. Signals received through the antenna or flux detection system may be used to correct any errors associated with the onboard components charting the progression of the in-line tool through the pipeline.

Claims

1. A marker comprising:

a radio receiver having a coil antenna comprising at least two coils electrically connected in series;

the radio receiver wherein each coil of the at least two coils comprises a conductor coiled around a central axis to define a coil length extending axially and a coil diameter extending radially;

the radio receiver wherein the central axis of one coil of the at least two coils is radially spaced from and parallel to the central axes of all other coils of the at least two coils; and

first and second flux detection systems, each comprising

a flux sensor, a first flux concentrator positioned on one side of the flux concentrator, and a second flux concentrator positioned on the opposite side of the flux sensor,

the first and second flux concentrators formed of magnetically permeable material,

the first and second flux concentrators each having a proximal edge and a distal edge, the distal edge being longer than the proximal edge,

the first and second flux concentrators each curving and tapering as it extends from the distal edge to the proximal edge, and

the first and second flux concentrators each being positioned with respect to the flux sensor such that the proximal edge is positioned directly adjacent the flux sensor.

2. The marker of claim 1, further comprising a computer system comprising a processor operably connected to at least one memory device, the computer system configured to record and process first and second signals output by the first and second flux detection systems, respectively.

3. The marker of claim 2, wherein the computer system is further configured to record and process a radio signal output by the coil antenna.

4. The marker of claim 3, wherein the computer system is further configured to search the first and second signals for respective first and second characteristics indicative of an in-line tool passing by the marker.

5. The marker of claim 4, wherein the computer system is further configured to record a passage thereby of the in-line tool exclusively when the first and second signals respectively and simultaneously display the first and second characteristics.

6. The marker of claim 5, wherein the computer system is further configured to search the radio signal for a third characteristic indicative of the in-line tool passing by the marker.

7. The marker of claim 6, wherein the computer system is further configured to record a passage thereby of the in-line tool exclusively when the first signal, second signal, and radio signal respectively and simultaneously display the first, second, and third characteristics.

8. A marker comprising:

a power source;

a receiver for a global positioning system;

a radio receiver having a coil antenna comprising at least two coils electrically connected in series;

the radio receiver wherein each coil of the at least two coils comprises a conductor coiled around a central axis to define a coil length extending axially and a coil diameter extending radially;

the radio receiver wherein the central axis of one coil of the at least two coils is radially spaced from and parallel to the central axes of all other coils of the at least two coils;

a flux detection system comprising

a flux sensor, a first flux concentrator positioned on one side of the flux concentrator, and a second flux concentrator positioned on the opposite side of the flux sensor,

the first and second flux concentrators formed of magnetically permeable material,

the first and second flux concentrators each having a proximal edge and a distal edge, the distal edge being longer than the proximal edge,

the first and second flux concentrators each curving and tapering as it extends from the distal edge to the proximal edge, and

the first and second flux concentrators each being positioned with respect to the flux sensor such that the proximal edge is positioned directly adjacent the flux sensor; and

a housing containing the power source, the receiver for the global positioning system, the flux detection system, and the radio receiver.