US 2015/0316195 A1 · SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PIPELINE MAINTENANCE

Abstract

A system and method for pipeline maintenance may include a payload and a transport module having the payload attached thereto. The transport module may include a plurality of movable arms each having at least one respective wheel. At least some of the wheels may be drive wheels which are operable in a first orientation to drive the transport module linearly along a length of a pipeline, and are further operable in a second orientation to drive the transport module circumferentially around an inner surface of the pipeline. At least some of the arms are operable to move the payload in a generally radial direction toward and away from an interior surface of the pipeline.

Claims33

Dependent claims

A system for pipeline maintenance, comprising:

a payload;
and
a transport module having the payload attached thereto and including a plurality of movable arms each having at least one respective wheel, at least some of the wheels being drive wheels and operable:
(a) in a first orientation to drive the transport module linearly along a length of a pipeline, and (b) in a second orientation to drive the transport module circumferentially around an inner surface of the pipeline, at least some of the arms being operable to move the payload in a generally radial direction toward and away from an interior surface of the pipeline.

1 more element

A method for pipeline maintenance, comprising:

launching a transport module carrying a payload into a pipeline;
extending a plurality of arms from the transport module toward an interior surface of the pipeline such that drive wheels, each of which is attached to a respective one of the arms, contact the interior surface of the pipeline;
operating the drive wheels with the drive wheels in a first orientation to move the transport module linearly along a length of a pipeline;
stopping operation of the drive wheels and rotating at least some of the drive wheels from the first orientation to a second orientation wherein a respective first axis of each rotated wheel is generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the pipeline;
driving the drive wheels to rotate the transport module from a first radial position to a second radial position;
and
pivoting the arms to move the payload toward the interior surface of the pipeline.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

14/700,288Filed 30 Apr 2015

Priority

1 May 2014

Published

5 Nov 2015

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification7 codes

F16L 55/28
Pigs or moles, i.e. devices movable in a pipe or conduit with or without self-contained propulsion means: constructional aspects
F16L 55/265
Pigs or moles, i.e. devices movable in a pipe or conduit with or without self-contained propulsion means: specially adapted for work at or near a…
F16L 55/32
Of the propulsion means, e.g. towed by cables: being self-contained
G03B 37/005
Panoramic or wide-screen photography; Photographing extended surfaces, e.g. for surveying; Photographing internal surfaces, e.g. of pipe:…

System and method for pipeline maintenance

Life of this patent

System and method for pipeline maintenance

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims33