US 8,800,396 B2Granted

Pipeline internal field joint cleaning, coating, and inspection robot

AssigneeCRTS, Inc.

InventorsRussell Langley, James A. Huggins, John D. Carter, David Paulley, Keith R. Roberts, Darrell L. Davis, Michael E. O'Neill, Steve D. Hayes, Dale G. Davis, John D. Lindemann

Life of this patent

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Abstract

There is provided herein an electrical robotic system for locating, cleaning, and repairing holidays within coated pipe that are proximate to a girth weld. In a preferred arrangement, a robotic train will be placed in the pipeline that will perform the functions of holiday location, cleaning/preparation of the surface containing the holiday, and repair thereof, in a single run through the pipeline.

Claims17

Dependent claims

A pipeline inspecting, cleaning, and coating robot, comprising:

a. an electrically powered crawler, said crawler at least for moving said robot within the pipeline;
b. a cleaning component in electronic and mechanical communication with said crawler;
c. a vacuum component in electronic and mechanical communication with said crawler;
d. an inspection component in electronic and mechanical communication with said crawler;
and,
e. a coating component in electronic and mechanical communication with said crawler, wherein said crawler, said cleaning component, said vacuum component, said inspection component, and said coating component utilize a single bus communications system.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 13/183,237Filed 14 Jul 2011
Published: US 2013/0014598 A117 Jan 2013
Granted: 12 Aug 2014
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification4 codes

F16L 55/28
Pigs or moles, i.e. devices movable in a pipe or conduit with or without self-contained propulsion means: constructional aspects
F16L 2101/16
Treating the inside of pipes: coating by application of fluent materials, e.g. painting
F16L 2101/30
Uses or applications of pigs or moles: inspecting, measuring or testing
F16L
Pipes