Pipe crawler with stabilizing midsection

Patent · Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1994

OSTI ID:869669

Zollinger, William T ^[1]; Treanor, Richard C ^[2]

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1. Martinez, GA
2. Augusta, GA

A pipe crawler having a midsection that provides the stability and flexibty to allow the pipe crawler to negotiate curved and uneven segments of piping while traveling through piping systems. The pipe crawler comprises a front leg assembly, a rear leg assembly, a midsection with a gimbal at each end for connecting the midsection to the front and rear leg assemblies in a flexible manner, and an air cylinder for changing the distance between the front and rear leg assemblies. The pipe crawler moves in "inch worm" fashion with the front and rear leg assemblies alternating between an extended and a retracted position as the air cylinder moves the retracted leg assembly forward. The midsection has a plurality of legs extending radially for holding the midsection within a maximum displacement from the piping axis so that the gimbals are not pivoted to extreme angles where they might lock up or seize. When the midsection is displaced sufficiently, its legs with wheels on each end engage the interior surface of the piping and prevent further displacement. Using two gimbals divides the angle between the planes defined by the front and rear leg assemblies which also helps to prevent excessive gimbal pivoting.

• Research Organization: Savannah River Site (SRS), Aiken, SC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC09-89SR18035
• Assignee: United States of America as represented by Department of Energy (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 5375530
• OSTI ID: 869669
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

pipe
crawler
stabilizing
midsection
provides
stability
flexibty
allow
negotiate
curved
uneven
segments
piping
traveling
systems
comprises
front
leg
assembly
rear
gimbal
connecting
assemblies
flexible
manner
air
cylinder
changing
distance
moves
inch
worm
fashion
alternating
extended
retracted
position
forward
plurality
legs
extending
radially
holding
maximum
displacement
axis
gimbals
pivoted
extreme
angles
lock
seize
displaced
sufficiently
wheels
engage
interior
surface
prevent
divides
angle
planes
defined
helps
excessive
pivoting
piping systems
prevent excessive
pipe crawler
rear leg
retracted position
front leg
extending radially
leg assemblies
interior surface
leg assembly
air cylinder
legs extending
extending radial
prevent excess
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