Pipelaying guidance
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorsJames Dunn, Wes Holm, Leo Chen, Tim Camacho
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A device for providing pipelaying guidance is disclosed. The device may determine an original shape of a pipeline that comprises a plurality of pipeline segments. The device may obtain current location data concerning a respective position of each pipeline segment of the plurality of pipeline segments, and may determine a current shape of the pipeline based on the current location data. The device may calculate, based on the original shape of the pipeline and the current shape of the pipeline, stress information concerning the pipeline, and may perform one or more actions based on the stress information.
Claims20
A method, comprising:
- obtaining, by a pipelaying guidance device, first information concerning an original shape of a pipeline that comprises a plurality of pipeline segments that are installed into or above ground;
- obtaining, by the pipelaying guidance device and from each sensing device of a plurality of sensing devices, second information concerning each sensing device,
- each sensing device being positioned at a different position along the pipeline;
- determining, by the pipelaying guidance device and based on the second information, third information concerning a current shape of the pipeline;
- determining, by the pipelaying guidance device and based on the first information and the third information, fourth information concerning at least one of stress on the pipeline or displacement of the pipeline;
- and
- causing, by the pipelaying guidance device, one or more actions to be performed based on the fourth information.
A device comprising:
- a memory;
- and
- one or more processors to:
- determine an original shape of a pipeline that comprises a plurality of pipeline segments that are installed into or above ground;
- obtain current location data concerning a respective position of each pipeline segment of the plurality of pipeline segments;
- determine a current shape of the pipeline based on the current location data;
- calculate, based on the original shape of the pipeline and the current shape of the pipeline, stress information concerning the pipeline;
- and
- perform one or more actions based on the stress information.
A system comprising:
- a plurality of pipelayers;
- a plurality of devices;
- a pipelaying guidance device to:
- determine an original shape of a pipeline comprised of a plurality of pipeline segments that are installed into or above ground;
- obtain respective current location data from the plurality of devices;
- determine a current shape of the pipeline based on the current location data;
- calculate, based on the original shape of the pipeline and the current shape of the pipeline, stress information concerning the pipeline;
- generate, based on the stress information, one or more instructions;
- and
- send the one or more instructions to at least one pipelayer of the plurality of pipelayers to cause the at least one pipelayer to perform an action.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.