Pipe inspection apparatus
AssigneeBritish Gas Corporation
InventorGeoffrey C. Braithwaite
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A pipe inspection apparatus includes a vehicle which is capable of moving along the bore of the pipe, two rubber cup-shaped members at each end of the vehicle for aligning the vehicle lengthwise in the pipe, a floating assembly of inspection devices such as ultrasonic transducers disposed circumferentially around the vehicle, and at least four link members pivotally attached to the assembly and to the vehicle to constrain the assembly to move in a direction normal to the length of the vehicle. The assembly may be resiliently suspended from the vehicle, and may also be provided with a centralizing device, such as a rubber cup-shaped member or rollers or skids, to centralize the assembly in the bore of the pipe.
Claims12
A pipe inspection apparatus which is capable of moving along the bore of a pipe, said apparatus including
- an elongated vehicle having a forward end and a rearward end;
- a first annular alignment means attached to the side of said vehicle near its forward end to help position said vehicle within the pipe to be inspected;
- a second annular alignment means attached to the side of said vehicle near its rearward end to help position said vehicle within the pipe to be inspected;
- a movable assembly means positioned around said vehicle between said first and second annular alignment means, said movable assembly means including
- first and second spaced apart annular carrier plates, said first annular carrier plate being located nearer said first annular alignment means than said second annular carrier plate,
- a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart inspection means mounted between said first and second annular carrier plates near their peripheries which are capable of examining a circumferential band of the pipe wall,
- an annular centralizing member positioned between said first annular alignment means and said first annular carrier plate, and
- a number of connection means fixedly connecting said annular centralizing member with said first annular carrier plate;
- and
- a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart link means connecting said first annular alignment means with said annular centralizing member to function to constrain the movement of said assembly means in a direction towards and away from said vehicle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.