Pipeline marker with compact coil

• US 9,470,656 B1
• Filed: 01/21/2013
• Issued: 10/18/2016
• 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
• Application Number:
  US13/746,200
• Time in Patent Office: 1,366 Days
• Field of Search: 324/326
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 method comprising:

inserting within a pipeline an in-line tool comprising a first radio device comprising at least one of a radio receiver and a radio transmitter;

positioning a marker at a location external to and proximate the pipeline, the marker comprising

a second radio device comprising at least one of a radio receiver and a radio transmitter,

at least two coils electrically connected in series and adding together respective current induced therewithin to collectively form a coil antenna operably connected to the second radio device,

each of the at least two coils comprising a conductor wound around a central axis to define a coil length extending axially and a coil diameter extending radially,

the at least two coils being oriented with respect to one another such that respective central axes extend parallel to one another, and

the at least two coils being further oriented with respect to one another to wind in the same direction; and

passing, as the in-line tool travels within the pipeline past the location of the marker, radio signal between the first and second radio devices.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the radio signal has a frequency in a range of 3 to 300 Hertz.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the radio signal travels from the first radio device to the second radio device.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the marker further comprises a computer system comprising a processor operably connected to at least one memory device.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising recording, by the computer system, the radio signal received via the coil antenna.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the radio signal travels from the second radio device to the first radio device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the radio signal comprises first radio signal and second radio signal.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein:

the first radio signal travels from the first radio device to the second radio device; and

the second radio signal travels from the second radio device to the first radio device.