US 4,757,258 A · Probe carrier system for inspecting boiler tubes

Abstract

An inspection system and process for inspecting a plurality of conduits mounted in a manifold is disclosed herein. The system generally comprises a probe carrier for driving an eddy current or ultrasonic probe throughout the conduits to be inspected, and a delivery assembly detachably mountable within the manifold for remotely delivering and inserting the probe carrier into the open ends of the conduits. The delivery system includes an insertion and pusher mechanism for selectively inserting and pushing the probe carrier through the open ends of the tubes, a rail assembly which is removably mountable within the manifold, and a carriage slidably mounted on the rail assembly for supporting and axially positioning the insertion and pusher mechanism. Angular and axial electric drive motors are also provided for rotating and moving the insertion and pusher to a selected angle around and point along the longitudinal axis of the manifold. Finally, the system includes a control system having a television camera for allowing the insertion and pusher mechanism to be positioned by remote control, as well as a computer and first and second encoders operatively connected to the angular and axial drive motors for mapping the locations of the open ends of the tubes prior to the inspection operation. The invention is particularly useful in inspecting the boiler tubes mounted in a mud drum in a fossil fuel electrical power plant.

Claims32

Dependent claims

An inspection system for inspecting a plurality of conduits, each of which includes one or more bends, and each of which has an open end mounted in a manifold, comprising:

(a) a probe carrier having a housing insertable within the open ends of said conduit that contains both a probe for inspecting the condition of said conduits and a drive means for pullingly driving the carrier along the longitudinal axis of said conduits substantially along their entire lengths, wherein a flexible member is connected to said probe carrier, and
(b) a delivery assembly installable within said manifold for remotely delivering said probe carrier into the open end of a selected one of said conduits including an insertion and pusher means engaged to said flexible member for both inserting the probe carrier into said open end, and assisting the drive means of the probe carrier in driving the carrier along the longitudinal axis of the conduit through said bend by simultaneously pushing the flexible member of the probe carrier as the drive means pullingly drives the probe carrier into the open end of the tube and substantially throughout the length of the tube.

An inspection system for sequentially inspecting a plurality of tubes, each of which has an open end mounted in a manifold and some of which include one or more bends, comprising:

(a) a probe carrier having a housing insertable within the open ends of said tubes that contains both a probe for sensing the condition of said tubes, and a drive means including at least one drive wheel that yieldably engages the inner surface of the tube for pullingly driving the carrier along the longitudinal axis of said tube,
(b) a flexible member connected to said housing, and
(c) a delivery assembly removably mountable within said manifold for remotely delivering said probe carrier into the open end of a selected one of said tubes including an insertion and pusher means engaged to said flexible member for inserting the probe carrier into said open end, and assisting the drive means of the probe carrier in negotiating bends in the tubes by simultaneously pushing the flexible member of the probe carrier throughout the length of the tube as said drive means pullingly drives said probe carrier along the length of the tube.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Probe carrier system for inspecting boiler tubes

Life of this patent

Probe carrier system for inspecting boiler tubes

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims32