# US 2017/0248554 A1 · Apparatus, system and method for automated nondestructive inspection of metal structures > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2017/0248554 A1 - Document ID: US20170248554A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/255,916 - Filed: 2016-09-02 - Published: 2017-08-31 - Earliest claimed: 2016-02-26 - Assignees: JSC <> - Applicants: JSC <> - Inventors: Mikhail Evgenievich Fedosovsky; Mikhail Vladimirovich Sokolov; Daniil Vitalyevich Ivanov; Edward Petit de Mange - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170248554A1 ## CPC - G01N 29/265: by moving the sensor relative to a stationary material - G01N 27/82: for investigating the presence of flaws - G01N 27/902: {by moving the sensors} - G01N 29/043: {in the interior, e.g. by shear waves} - G01N 29/225: {Supports, positioning or alignment in moving situation} - G01N 33/20: Metals - G01N 2291/0234: Metals, e.g. steel - G01N 2291/0258: Structural degradation, e.g. fatigue of composites, ageing of oils - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) ## Abstract The provided apparatus for automated nondestructive inspection of a metal structure having a surface comprises an ultrasonic nondestructive inspection unit, a nondestructive inspection unit based on magnetic flux leakage method, an eddy-current nondestructive inspection unit, a control unit connected to the ultrasonic nondestructive inspection unit, the nondestructive inspection unit based on the magnetic flux leakage method and the eddy-current nondestructive inspection unit for sending control signals to carry out inspection of the metal structure, and a navigation unit connected to the control unit, wherein the navigation unit determines a position of said apparatus relative to the metal structure, determines a state of the surface of the metal structure and sends signals into the control unit. The nondestructive inspection unit based on magnetic flux leakage method changes a magnetic field induction generated by this unit from a minimum value close to zero value to a predetermined maximum value. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for automated nondestructive inspection of a metal structure having a surface, the apparatus comprising: an ultrasonic nondestructive inspection unit, a nondestructive inspection unit based on magnetic flux leakage method, an eddy-current nondestructive inspection unit, a control unit connected to the ultrasonic nondestructive inspection unit, the nondestructive inspection unit based on magnetic flux leakage method and the eddy-current nondestructive inspection unit for sending control signals to carry out inspection of the metal structure, and a navigation unit connected to the control unit, wherein the navigation unit determines a position of said apparatus relative to the metal structure, determines a state of the surface of the metal structure and sends signals into the control unit with information about the position of said apparatus and the state of the surface of the metal structure to be inspected, wherein all said units are installed in a housing, the control unit sends the control signals simultaneously to at least one of the ultrasonic nondestructive inspection unit, the nondestructive inspection unit based on the magnetic flux leakage method and the eddy-current nondestructive inspection unit based on the signals received from the navigation unit, and the nondestructive inspection unit based on the magnetic flux leakage method changes a magnetic field induction generated by this unit from a minimum value to a predetermined maximum value, the nondestructive inspection unit based on magnetic flux leakage method comprises a magnetic system comprising at least two magnetic drums connected by a U-shaped flux guide frame and at least two pole pieces, wherein said two magnetic drums are positioned at the at least two pole pieces, said two magnetic drums completely fill in cross-sections of the at least two pole pieces, said two magnetic drums are magnetized diametrically with a rotation axis directed along a magnetic pole of the magnetic system, and said two magnetic drums are configured to rotate with respect to each other, and said apparatus is used to inspect floors of storage tanks for petroleum, petroleum products, and petrochemicals. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising at least one nondestructive inspection unit. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a unit for cleaning the surface of the metal structure. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the nondestructive inspection unit based on magnetic flux leakage method is characterized by a working gap between this unit and the surface of the metal structure to be inspected and is configured to change said working gap. ### Claim 5 (canceled) ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a means of emergency removal of said apparatus from the metal structure. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein all said units are made explosion-proof and/or all said units are contained within sealed explosion-proof housings. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the navigation unit comprises at least one sound imager, at least one ultrasound sensor and/or at least one camera. ### Claim 9 (canceled) ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1 used to inspect storage tanks for water. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) A system for automated nondestructive inspection of a metal structure, the system comprising: the apparatus for automated nondestructive inspection of a metal structure according to claim 1, and a control center designed for controlling the apparatus and connected to the apparatus via an explosion-proof communication line. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system according to claim 11, wherein the control center is a vehicle-mounted laboratory. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) A method for nondestructive inspection of a metal structure by the apparatus according to claim 1, the method comprising: providing an access for said apparatus to the metal structure to be inspected, inspecting a part of the metal structure adjacent to said apparatus simultaneously using at least one of the ultrasonic nondestructive inspection unit, the nondestructive inspection unit based on magnetic flux leakage method and the eddy-current nondestructive inspection unit, and moving said apparatus over the surface of the metal structure to another part of the metal structure using information from the navigation unit of the apparatus, wherein a magnetic field induction in the nondestructive inspection unit based on magnetic flux leakage method is changed at a change in parameters of the metal structure. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein a working gap between the nondestructive inspection unit based on magnetic flux leakage method and the surface of the metal structure to be inspected is changed in case of presence of obstacles on the metal structure surface. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The method as claimed in claim 13, further comprising cleaning of the metal structure surface in case of detection of depositions present on the metal structure surface.