Apparatus for moving a pipe inspection probe through piping

Patent · 31 December 1994

OSTI ID:869981

Zollinger, W Thor ^[1]; Appel, D Keith ^[2]; Lewis, Gregory W ^[3]

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1. Martinez, GA
2. Aiken, SC
3. North Augusta, SC

A method and apparatus for controllably moving devices for cleaning or inspection through piping systems, including piping systems with numerous piping bends therein, by using hydrostatic pressure of a working fluid introduced into the piping system. The apparatus comprises a reservoir or other source for supplying the working fluid to the piping system, a launch tube for admitting the device into the launcher and a reversible, positive displacement pump for controlling the direction and flow rate of the working fluid. The device introduced into the piping system moves with the flow of the working fluid through the piping system. The launcher attaches to the valved ends of a piping system so that fluids in the piping system can recirculate in a closed loop. The method comprises attaching the launcher to the piping system, supplying the launcher with working fluid, admitting the device into the launcher, pumping the working fluid in the direction and at the rate desired so that the device moves through the piping system for pipe cleaning or inspection, removing the device from the launcher, and collecting the working fluid contained in the launcher.

• 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 5433236
• OSTI ID: 869981
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

/137/15/
admitting
apparatus
apparatus comprise
apparatus comprises
attaches
attaching
bends
bends therein
cleaning
closed
closed loop
collecting
comprises
contained
controllably
controllably moving
controlling
desired
device
devices
direction
displacement
displacement pump
flow
flow rate
fluid
fluid contained
fluid introduced
fluids
hydrostatic
hydrostatic pressure
including
inspection
inspection probe
introduced
launch
launch tube
launcher
loop
method
method comprise
method comprises
moves
moving
moving device
numerous
pipe
pipe inspection
piping
piping systems
positive
positive displacement
pressure
probe
pump
pumping
rate
recirculate
removing
reservoir
reversible
source
static pressure
supplying
systems
therein
tube
valved