Flexible ultrasonic pipe inspection apparatus

Patent · Wed Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1997

OSTI ID:871649

Jenkins, Charles F ^[1]; Howard, Boyd D ^[2]

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1. Aiken, SC
2. Augusta, GA

A flexible, modular ultrasonic pipe inspection apparatus, comprising a flexible, hollow shaft that carries a plurality of modules, including at least one rotatable ultrasonic transducer, a motor/gear unit, and a position/signal encoder. The modules are connected by flexible knuckle joints that allow each module of the apparatus to change its relative orientation with respect to a neighboring module, while the shaft protects electrical wiring from kinking or buckling while the apparatus moves around a tight corner. The apparatus is moved through a pipe by any suitable means, including a tether or drawstring attached to the nose or tail, differential hydraulic pressure, or a pipe pig. The rotational speed of the ultrasonic transducer and the forward velocity of the apparatus are coordinated so that the beam sweeps out the entire interior surface of the pipe, enabling the operator to accurately assess the condition of the pipe wall and determine whether or not leak-prone corrosion damage is present.

• 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 5770800
• OSTI ID: 871649
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

/73/348/
accurately
allow
apparatus
assess
attached
beam
buckling
carries
change
comprising
condition
connected
coordinated
corner
corrosion
damage
determine
differential
drawstring
electrical
electrical wiring
enabling
encoder
entire
entire interior
flexible
forward
gear
hollow
hollow shaft
hydraulic
hydraulic pressure
including
inspection
inspection apparatus
interior
interior surface
joints
kinking
knuckle
leak-prone
means
modular
module
modules
motor
moved
moves
neighboring
nose
operator
orientation
pig
pipe
pipe inspection
pipe wall
plurality
position
pressure
protects
relative
relative orientation
respect
rotatable
rotational
rotational speed
shaft
signal
speed
suitable
suitable means
surface
sweeps
tail
tether
tight
transducer
ultrasonic
ultrasonic pipe
ultrasonic transducer
unit
velocity
wall
wiring