Miniature pipe crawler tractor
Abstract
A pipe crawler tractor may comprise a half tractor assembly having a first base drive wheel, a second base drive wheel, and a top drive wheel. The drive wheels are mounted in spaced-apart relation so that the top drive wheel is positioned between the first and second base drive wheels. The mounting arrangement is also such that the first and second base drive wheels contact the inside surface of the pipe at respective first and second positions and so that the top drive wheel contacts the inside surface of the pipe at a third position, the third position being substantially diametrically opposed to the first and second positions. A control system connected to the half tractor assembly controls the rotation of the first base wheel, the second base wheel, and the top drive wheel to move the half tractor assembly within the pipe.
- Inventors:
-
- Idaho Falls, ID
- Westerville, OH
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Idaho National Laboratory (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 872901
- Patent Number(s):
- 6035786
- Assignee:
- Bechtel BWXT Idaho, LLC (Idaho Falls, ID)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
F - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING F16 - ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS F16L - PIPES
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC07-94ID13223
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- miniature; pipe; crawler; tractor; comprise; half; assembly; base; drive; wheel; top; wheels; mounted; spaced-apart; relation; positioned; mounting; arrangement; contact; inside; surface; respective; positions; contacts; third; position; substantially; diametrically; opposed; control; connected; controls; rotation; move; drive wheels; diametrically opposed; pipe crawler; base drive; inside surface; drive wheel; mounting arrangement; top drive; apart relation; spaced-apart relation; crawler tractor; /104/105/
Citation Formats
McKay, Mark D, Anderson, Matthew O, Ferrante, Todd A, and Willis, W David. Miniature pipe crawler tractor. United States: N. p., 2000.
Web.
McKay, Mark D, Anderson, Matthew O, Ferrante, Todd A, & Willis, W David. Miniature pipe crawler tractor. United States.
McKay, Mark D, Anderson, Matthew O, Ferrante, Todd A, and Willis, W David. Sat .
"Miniature pipe crawler tractor". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/872901.
@article{osti_872901,
title = {Miniature pipe crawler tractor},
author = {McKay, Mark D and Anderson, Matthew O and Ferrante, Todd A and Willis, W David},
abstractNote = {A pipe crawler tractor may comprise a half tractor assembly having a first base drive wheel, a second base drive wheel, and a top drive wheel. The drive wheels are mounted in spaced-apart relation so that the top drive wheel is positioned between the first and second base drive wheels. The mounting arrangement is also such that the first and second base drive wheels contact the inside surface of the pipe at respective first and second positions and so that the top drive wheel contacts the inside surface of the pipe at a third position, the third position being substantially diametrically opposed to the first and second positions. A control system connected to the half tractor assembly controls the rotation of the first base wheel, the second base wheel, and the top drive wheel to move the half tractor assembly within the pipe.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2000},
month = {Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2000}
}