Vehicle for use in pipes
US5388528A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 24, 1994 |
| Grant date | Feb 14, 1995 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 24, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S180/901
- WIPO fieldMechanical elements
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A vehicle is provided for moving within pipes to determine the condition of the interior of the pipes. The vehicle has at least one wheel which is capable of travelling on walls of magnetic material. Each wheel comprises an outer wheel member having an annular peripheral wall. An arm is rotatably mounted on the central portion of the outer wheel member. The arm has a pair of magnetically permeable members disposed widthwise of the vehicle body. A magnet is mounted on the arm with its poles in contact with the pair of magnetically permeable members. The arm can be rotated and freely oriented toward the running surface magnetically to hold the wheel to the running surface. The vehicle is capable of moving through pipes without being blocked by obstacles such as a vertical wall extending from a horizontal surface. A sensor is mounted on the vehicle and a sensor processing module receives distance and time data and processes the data to determine whether the pipe is clear or obstructed.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.