Flexible pipe crawling device having articulated two axis coupling

Patent · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1994

OSTI ID:869284

Zollinger, William T ^[1]

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1. Martinez, GA

An apparatus for moving through the linear and non-linear segments of piping systems. The apparatus comprises a front leg assembly, a rear leg assembly, a mechanism for extension and retraction of the front and rear leg assembles with respect to each other, such as an air cylinder, and a pivoting joint. One end of the flexible joint attaches to the front leg assembly and the other end to the air cylinder, which is also connected to the rear leg assembly. The air cylinder allows the front and rear leg assemblies to progress through a pipe in "inchworm" fashion, while the joint provides the flexibility necessary for the pipe crawler to negotiate non-linear piping segments. The flexible connecting joint is coupled with a spring-force suspension system that urges alignment of the front and rear leg assemblies with respect to each other. The joint and suspension system cooperate to provide a firm yet flexible connection between the front and rear leg assemblies to allow the pivoting of one with respect to the other while moving around a non-linear pipe segment, but restoring proper alignment coming out of the pipe bend.

• Research Organization: WESTINGHOUSE SAVANNAH RIVER CO
• DOE Contract Number: AC09-89SR18035
• Assignee: United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 5309844
• OSTI ID: 869284
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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air
air cylinder
alignment
allow
allows
apparatus
apparatus comprise
apparatus comprises
articulated
assembles
assemblies
assembly
attaches
axis
bend
coming
comprises
connected
connecting
connection
cooperate
coupled
coupling
crawler
crawling
cylinder
cylinder allows
device
extension
fashion
firm
flexibility
flexible
front
front leg
inchworm
joint
leg
leg assemblies
leg assembly
linear
mechanism
moving
negotiate
non-linear
pipe
pipe crawler
piping
piping systems
pivoting
pivoting joint
progress
proper
proper alignment
provide
provides
rear
rear leg
respect
restoring
retraction
segment
segments
spring-force
suspension
systems
urges