Internal pipe coating inspection robot
US8633713B2 · kind B2 · utility
6Cited by
11References
20Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 11, 2011 |
| Grant date | Jan 21, 2014 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 20, 2032 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF16L2101/30
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
There is provided herein a robot-based electrical system for locating holidays within coated pipe that does not utilize a grounding wire. In a preferred arrangement, the robot will carry a metal rotating brush/capacitive pad combination and changes in the capacitance in the brush/pad circuit will be used to identify imperfections in the interior coating of the pipe and especially those located proximate a girth weld. In another preferred embodiment, a circumferential brush will be used that allows testing of the integrity of the internal coating throughout the length of the pipe as the robot travels the pipeline.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.