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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Device for inspecting vessel surfaces

Patent ·
OSTI ID:170457
A portable, remotely-controlled inspection crawler is described for use along the walls of tanks, vessels, piping and the like. The crawler can be configured to use a vacuum chamber for supporting itself on the inspected surface by suction or a plurality of magnetic wheels for moving the crawler along the inspected surface. The crawler is adapted to be equipped with an ultrasonic probe for mapping the structural integrity or other characteristics of the surface being inspected. Navigation of the crawler is achieved by triangulation techniques between a signal transmitter on the crawler and a pair of microphones attached to a fixed, remote location, such as the crawler`s deployment unit. The necessary communications are established between the crawler and computers external to the inspection environment for position control and storage and/or monitoring of data acquisition. 5 figs.
Assignee:
Dept. of Energy, Washington, DC (United States)
Patent Number(s):
US 5,473,953/A/
Application Number:
PAN: 8-088,534
OSTI ID:
170457
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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