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US 2005/0229342 A1Published application
Tractors for movement along a pipeline within a fluid flow
OwnerNeil Andrew Simpson, Susan D'Arcyinventors
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OwnerNeil Andrew Simpson, Susan D'Arcyinventors
Estimating the term…
A tractor comprises a tractor module (10) coupled at opposite ends to a cleaning or inspection module (11) and a power generation module (12), the three modules being arranged in line within a pipeline (14) such that traction elements (15) on the tractor module (10) engage the wall of the pipeline (14). In operation within a pipeline along which fluid is flowing in the direction (16), drive is imparted to the power generation module (12) by the fluid flow, and the tractor module (10) is driven in the direction (17) by the power generation module (12) by way of a drive shaft (21) and appropriate step-down gearing (not shown). A speed governor is used to control the rotational speed of the drive shaft (21) such that the tractor speed is not directly related to the speed of the fluid flow, and is preferably substantially independent of the speed of the fluid flow. A tractor travelling at a constant and/or controlled speed is found to achieve better cleaining, or to enable more efficient inspections, than a tractor which is propelled along the pipeline at the rate of fluid flow in the pipeline.
A tractor for movement along a pipeline within a fluid flow along the pipeline, the tractor comprising propulsion means for propelling the tractor along the pipeline in the direction of the fluid flow at a speed which is not directly related to the speed of the fluid flow.
A tractor for movement along a pipeline within a fluid flow along the pipeline, the tractor comprising speed regulated propulsion means for propelling the tractor along the pipeline in the direction of fluid flow at a regulated speed.
A tractor according to any preceding claim, wherein the propulsion means is driven by driving means adapted to be driven by the fluid flow.
A tractor according to claim 9, 109 or 11, wherein the conversion means comprises reduction gearing for converting a high speed low torque input from the propulsion means to a relatively low speed high torque output to the drive means.
A tractor according to any preceding claim, wherein the propulsion means incorporates a plurality of traction elements for engaging a wall of the pipeline, and drive means for driving the traction elements to move the tractor along the pipeline.
A tractor according to any preceding claim, wherein a fluid bypass is provided for permitting fluid flow along the pipeline past the tractor.
A tractor according to any preceding claim, wherein cleaning means is provided for removing or dislodging material from a wall of the pipeline.
A tractor according to any preceding claim, wherein jetting means is provided to direct jets of fluid onto a wall of the pipeline for removing or dislodging material from the wall.
A tractor according to any preceding claim, wherein cutting means is provided for removing or dislodging material from a wall of the pipeline.
A tractor according to any preceding claim, wherein inspection means is provided for inspecting a wall of the pipeline.
A tractor for movement along a pipeline within a fluid flow along the pipeline, the tractor incorporating a geared braking mechanism for controlling the speed of the tractor along the pipeline in the direction of fluid flow.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.