Scanner magnetic wheel system for close traction on pipes and pipe elbows
AssigneeOlympus America Inc.
InventorsBenjamin Spay, Sylvain Sauvageau
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An ultrasound scanner assembly for inspection of pipes and pipe elbows comprises a frame and a wedge. Four wheels are attached to the frame, there being a front wheel pair and a rear wheel pair. In order to maintain stable positioning of the probe assembly while scanning, the wheels are magnetic, thereby establishing a magnetic stabilizing force between the wheels and the pipe or pipe elbow. The magnetic stabilizing force is larger for pipes of small diameter than for pipes of large diameter.
Claims22
A scanner assembly configured for non-destructive test and inspection (NDT/NDI), the scanner assembly comprising:
- a frame;
- and,
- at least one scanner wheel rotatably attached to the frame, at least one of the at least one scanner wheel comprising a magnetic material, the at least one scanner wheel configured to exert a first magnetic attractive force when the at least one scanner wheel is in contact with a first pipe having a first diameter, and to exert a different, lesser second magnetic attractive force when the at least one scanner wheel is in contact with a second pipe having a different second diameter that is greater than the first diameter.
A scanning system configured for non-destructive test and inspection (NDT/NDI), the scanning system comprising:
- a scanner assembly comprising:
- a frame;
- and,
- at least one scanner wheel rotatably attached to the frame, at least one of the at least one scanner wheel comprising a magnetic material, the at least one scanner wheel configured to exert a magnetic attractive force to stabilize the scanner assembly against a pipe assembly, the magnetic attractive force varying in dependence on a diameter of the pipe assembly when the at least one scanner wheel is in contact with a pipe surface of the pipe assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.