Pipe crawler with stabilizing midsection
Abstract
A pipe crawler is described having a midsection that provides the stability and flexibility 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 excessivemore »
- Inventors:
- Issue Date:
- OSTI Identifier:
- 6648415
- Patent Number(s):
- 5375530
- Application Number:
- PPN: US 8-123942
- Assignee:
- Dept. of Energy, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC09-89SR18035
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Resource Relation:
- Patent File Date: 20 Sep 1993
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 42 ENGINEERING; MAINTENANCE FACILITIES; DESIGN; PIPELINES; MAINTENANCE; OPERATION; PNEUMATICS; TRANSPORT; FLUID MECHANICS; MECHANICS; 420205* - Engineering- Transport & Storage Facilities- (1980-)
Citation Formats
Zollinger, W T, and Treanor, R C. Pipe crawler with stabilizing midsection. United States: N. p., 1994.
Web.
Zollinger, W T, & Treanor, R C. Pipe crawler with stabilizing midsection. United States.
Zollinger, W T, and Treanor, R C. Tue .
"Pipe crawler with stabilizing midsection". United States.
@article{osti_6648415,
title = {Pipe crawler with stabilizing midsection},
author = {Zollinger, W T and Treanor, R C},
abstractNote = {A pipe crawler is described having a midsection that provides the stability and flexibility 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. 5 figures.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {1994},
month = {12}
}