US 10,482,591 B1Granted

Delayed petroleum coking vessel inspection device and method

AssigneeCustom Industrial Automation Inc.

InventorsRichard D. Clark, Daryl K. Rutt, John David Stratton

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Abstract

This invention comprises a system and a method for inspecting the inside of delayed petroleum coking vessels to identify deformations, detect and determine the severity of other defects, and visually observe the inside of the inspected vessel.

Claims14

Dependent claims

A vessel inspection system for inspecting the interior surface of a delayed petroleum coking vessel to determine defects and dimensional changes in the vessel, the system including a device comprising:

a frame;
a support for supporting the frame for movement within the vessel along a vertical axis;
a rotary positioner adapted to position the frame rotationally with respect to a vertical axis;
an enclosure for electronics and optionally a source of pressurized gas connected to the enclosure to pressurize the enclosure to minimize incursion of combustible vapor into the enclosure;
a video camera supported on the frame and operably connected to at least one of a monitor and a recording means for providing video scanning of the interior surface of the vessel;
a camera positioner supported on the frame and operable to position the video camera for viewing by the video camera, the camera positioner being operable to position the video camera about a second axis perpendicular to the rotary positioner;
a floodlight supported on the frame for illuminating the interior surface of the vessel for viewing by the video camera;
a support on the vessel for clamping the support in a predetermined lateral and vertical position with respect to the vertical axis of the vessel during operation of the system;
a crawler positioned on an arm extension from at least one of the support and the frame for positioning the crawler proximate to all or selected portions of the interior of the vessel to be tested;
an Alternating Current Field Measurement (ACFM) unit mounted on the crawler for testing the all or selected portions of the interior of the vessel;
a laser mounted on the crawler for generating a sheet of laser light along a weld for aligning the ACFM to the weld;
a crawler positioner for positioning the crawler and ACFM unit in selected locations;
and
a recorder coupled to the ACFM unit for recording signals indicative of the ACFM unit position and the ACFM unit data from the selected locations.

11 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 15/949,933Filed 10 Apr 2018 · continuation
Priority: 15 Apr 2005
Granted: 19 Nov 2019
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification21 codes

G06T 7/0004
Inspection of images, e.g. flaw detection: industrial image inspection
G01B 11/24
Measuring arrangements characterised by the use of optical techniques: for measuring contours or curvatures
G01N 21/8851
Investigating the presence of flaws or contamination: scan or image signal processing specially adapted therefor, e.g. for scan signal adjustment,…
G01N 21/90
Investigating the presence of flaws or contamination: in a container or its contents

Family

Application60/671,961Us provisional application · filed 15 Apr 2005
Application60/718,583Us provisional application · filed 19 Sep 2005
Application11/391,532Parent of this continuation · filed 28 Mar 2006
Application13/104,453Parent of this continuation · filed 10 May 2011
US 7,940,298 B2Parent of this continuation · filed 10 May 2011
Application13/889,173Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 7 May 2013
US 8,436,898 B1Parent of this continuation · filed 7 May 2013
Application14/826,109Parent of this continuation · filed 13 Aug 2015
Application15/383,951Parent of this continuation · filed 19 Dec 2016
US 9,524,542 B1Parent of this continuation · filed 20 Dec 2016
US 9,940,702 B1Parent of this continuation · filed 10 Apr 2018
Application14/826,109Parent of this continuation-in-part
Application13/889,173Parent of this continuation
US 2010/0007729 A1Published application
US 10,482,591 B1This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

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Abstract

a frame;
a support for supporting the frame for movement within the vessel along a vertical axis;
a rotary positioner adapted to position the frame rotationally with respect to a vertical axis;
an enclosure for electronics and optionally a source of pressurized gas connected to the enclosure to pressurize the enclosure to minimize incursion of combustible vapor into the enclosure;
a video camera supported on the frame and operably connected to at least one of a monitor and a recording means for providing video scanning of the interior surface of the vessel;
a camera positioner supported on the frame and operable to position the video camera for viewing by the video camera, the camera positioner being operable to position the video camera about a second axis perpendicular to the rotary positioner;
a floodlight supported on the frame for illuminating the interior surface of the vessel for viewing by the video camera;
a support on the vessel for clamping the support in a predetermined lateral and vertical position with respect to the vertical axis of the vessel during operation of the system;
a crawler positioned on an arm extension from at least one of the support and the frame for positioning the crawler proximate to all or selected portions of the interior of the vessel to be tested;
an Alternating Current Field Measurement (ACFM) unit mounted on the crawler for testing the all or selected portions of the interior of the vessel;
a laser mounted on the crawler for generating a sheet of laser light along a weld for aligning the ACFM to the weld;
a crawler positioner for positioning the crawler and ACFM unit in selected locations;
and
a recorder coupled to the ACFM unit for recording signals indicative of the ACFM unit position and the ACFM unit data from the selected locations.

11 more elements

Facts

Application

15/949,933Filed 10 Apr 2018 · continuation

Priority

15 Apr 2005

Granted

19 Nov 2019

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification21 codes

G06T 7/0004
Inspection of images, e.g. flaw detection: industrial image inspection
G01B 11/24
Measuring arrangements characterised by the use of optical techniques: for measuring contours or curvatures
G01N 21/8851
Investigating the presence of flaws or contamination: scan or image signal processing specially adapted therefor, e.g. for scan signal adjustment,…
G01N 21/90
Investigating the presence of flaws or contamination: in a container or its contents

Family

Application60/671,961Us provisional application · filed 15 Apr 2005

Application60/718,583Us provisional application · filed 19 Sep 2005

Application11/391,532Parent of this continuation · filed 28 Mar 2006

Application13/104,453Parent of this continuation · filed 10 May 2011

US 7,940,298 B2Parent of this continuation · filed 10 May 2011

Application13/889,173Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 7 May 2013

US 8,436,898 B1Parent of this continuation · filed 7 May 2013

Application14/826,109Parent of this continuation · filed 13 Aug 2015

Application15/383,951Parent of this continuation · filed 19 Dec 2016

US 9,524,542 B1Parent of this continuation · filed 20 Dec 2016

US 9,940,702 B1Parent of this continuation · filed 10 Apr 2018

Application14/826,109Parent of this continuation-in-part

Application13/889,173Parent of this continuation

US 2010/0007729 A1Published application

US 10,482,591 B1This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.