Patent · US Expired

Underwater corrosion locater

US5992246A · kind A · utility

9Cited by
3References
18Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateApr 7, 1998
Grant dateNov 30, 1999
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 7, 2018

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01M3/005
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A system and method for identifying, locating and marking an underwater pipeline anomaly such as excessive pipe wall corrosion. An inspection tool is pulled through the pipeline with a cable. The cable length is precisely measured when a pipeline anomaly is detected, and a transmitter generates a signal representing the pipeline anomaly location. This measurement provides an accurate positioning system for deploying a mobile receiver, and the receiver identifies the transmitter signal for facilitating precise marking of the pipeline anomaly from the pipeline exterior. Accurate cable measurements are taken by a controller which monitors the magnitude and variations in cable tension and length.

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