Pipe inspection system
AssigneeSteady Flux, Inc.
InventorDan Lofstrom
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A pipe inspection system and method for accessing and inspecting a feeder tube extending from a larger header pipe at an angle are disclosed. A pipe inspection tool including a head piece and a delivery tube are positioned within the header pipe and aligned with the feeder tube using cameras or other alignment means. The head piece includes a jack that presses the head piece against the interior surface of the header pipe at the feeder tube to create a sufficient seal to deliver a PIG or another pipe inspection device to the feeder tube.
Claims21
A pipe inspection tool for a header pipe having a feeder tube extending from the header pipe, the pipe inspection tool comprising:
- a head piece having a tubular body defining a central axis and having a proximal opening at a first end and a distal opening at an angle to the central axis;
- the distal opening being configured to engage the feeder tube at an interior surface of the header pipe;
- and
- a camera mounted to the head piece and configured to provide a field of view from a position from within the head piece looking outward through the distal opening, the field of view further being centered within the distal opening to facilitate alignment of the feeder tube coupler with the feeder tube;
- and
- a jack coupled to the head piece and configured to press the head piece against the interior surface of the header tube to sealably couple the head piece with the feeder tube.
A pipe inspection tool, comprising:
- a head piece having a longitudinal axis and being sized to fit within a pipe having a first diameter;
- a tube coupler carried by the head piece and configured to sealably couple with a tube having a second diameter smaller than the first diameter, wherein the tube coupler is oriented at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the head piece;
- and
- a means for pressing the tube coupler against an interior surface of the pipe with the tube coupler aligned with the tube.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.