US 5,686,668 A · System and method of ultrasonic inspection of tubular members

Abstract

A cart for inspecting a drill pipe having a platform with an ultrasonic inspection unit thereon, a first pair of wheels connected to the platform so as to move the platform longitudinally along the drill pipe relative to a rotation of the drill pipe, and a bearing connected to the platform at a location distal of the first pair of wheels. The bearing serves to support the platform above an adjacent drill pipe and allows the platform to move longitudinally along the adjacent drill pipe in correspondence with the movement of the first pair of wheels. The first pair of wheels are canted at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the drill pipe. A sensor wheel extends outwardly of the platform and rotates during the movement of the platform along the drill pipe. The platform has at least one handle extending upwardly from the platform. The bearing includes a pair of rollers that have an axis of rotation which is transverse to the longitudinal axis of the adjacent drill pipe.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A system for ultrasonic inspection comprising:

a first tubular member;
a second tubular member in parallel relation to said first tubular member;
a means for rotating said first tubular member;
an ultrasonic inspection unit;
a platform having a means formed thereon for receiving said ultrasonic inspection unit;
a first wheel means connected to said platform, said first wheel means contacting a surface of said first tubular member, said first wheel means for moving said platform along and around said first tubular member relative to a rotation of said first tubular member;
and
a bearing means connected to said platform at a location distal said first wheel means, said bearing means contacting said second tubular member, said bearing means for supporting said platform on said second tubular member and for allowing said platform to move longitudinally along said second tubular member in correspondence with the moving of said first wheel means.

5 more elements

An inspection system comprising:

a rack;
a first tubular member;
a tubular member rotation means connected to said rack, said tubular member rotation means receiving said first tubular member, said tubular member rotation means for rotating said first tubular member about a longitudinal axis of said first tubular member;
a second tubular member supported on said rack a desired distance from said first tubular member, said second tubular member being in generally parallel relationship to said first tubular member;
a platform being supported on said first tubular member by a first wheel means, said first wheel means contacting a surface of said first tubular member, said first wheel means connected to said platform so as to move said platform along and around said first tubular member as said tubular member rotation means rotates said first tubular member, said second tubular member supporting a surface of said platform;
and
a non-destructive inspection means mounted on said platform for ultrasonically inspecting said first tubular member.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

System and method of ultrasonic inspection of tubular members

Life of this patent

System and method of ultrasonic inspection of tubular members

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19