Patent · US Expired

Swinging-type automatic examination apparatus for piping

US4893512A · kind A · utility

15Cited by
3References
9Claims
0Family size

Assignees

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 17, 1988
Grant dateJan 16, 1990
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 17, 2008

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02E30/30
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A swinging-type apparatus for automatically examining pipes includes first and second clamping devices provided at the ends of an extendible body. The first clamping device is made to clamp a first pipe, the second clamping device is made to unclamp the first pipe, is lifted up away from the first pipe, swung to an adjacent second pipe to be examined, lowered down to the second pipe and made to clamp the same. Next, the first clamping device is made to unclamp the first pipe, is lifted up away from the first pipe, swung to the second pipe, lowered down to the second pipe and made to clamp the same. Sensors provided on at least one of the clamping devices then examine the second pipe. By repeating these operations, the apparatus can be made to travel from one pipe to another to examine a cluster of pipes. The apparatus can also be made to move along a pipe axially thereof by extending and shortening the length of the extendible body.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.