Back to results
US 7,017,432 B2Granted
Hydraulic and electric umbilical connection for an inspection vehicle for inspecting a liquid-filled tank
AssigneeAST Services LLC
InventorsEugene B. Silverman, David L. Gilbert, Richard Skallos, Joel L. Lautenschlager
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An umbilical connection for use in a hazardous environment like a floating roof storage tank has one or more hydraulic hoses, one or more electrical cables or a combination thereof. Each hydraulic hose has a static dissipative and abrasion resistant covering. Each electrical cable has an abrasion resistant coating. The hoses and cables are bundled and wrapped in a static dissipative and abrasion resistant open mesh sheath or an overbraid to form the intrinsically safe umbilical connection.
Claims11
A method for inspecting a liquid-containing storage tank, comprising:
- deploying an inspection vehicle into the tank;
- linking the inspection vehicle to a source of hydraulic and electric power with an umbilical connection comprising one or more hydraulic hoses and one or more electrical cables aligned to form a bundle;
- and sheath wrapped around the bundle to form the umbilical connection, wherein said sheath comprises an open mesh or braid formed from a first plurality of polymeric strands, a second plurality of polymeric strands, and one or more electrically conductive strands, such that said electrically conductive strand or strands extends along the length of the sheath, wherein said sheath is wrapped around the bundle to form the umbilical connection.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.