Electricity: measuring and testing – Magnetic – Magnetic sensor within material
Patent
1998-03-23
2000-02-29
Strecker, Gerard
Electricity: measuring and testing
Magnetic
Magnetic sensor within material
138 97, 166 55, 166 557, 324226, F16L 5526, F16L 5518, G01N 2772
Patent
active
060313714
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an in-pipe vehicle which can carry out an operation within a pipeline, which pipeline may be a gas carrying pipeline.
2. Discussion of the Background
There have been various activities undertaken concerned with pipeline inspection including remote cameras to enable information on the internal condition of pipelines to be obtained.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is concerned generally with an arrangement which will allow operations to be undertaken from within the pipeline, without the need for external drives, umbilicals or other connections which restrict the movement or utility of such arrangements.
According to the invention there is provided a pipeline vehicle comprising a plurality of linked modules forming a powered train for travelling within a pipeline, at least one of the modules being capable of carrying out an operation on the pipeline, and wherein a module includes clamping means for holding the vehicle at a fixed point in the pipeline whilst rotational means are operable to rotate part or parts of the vehicle to align the module capable of carrying out the operation.
Further according to the invention there is provided a method of effecting an operation on a pipeline comprising passing a vehicle consisting of a train of modules through the pipeline to detect the presence of an item to be operated on; moving the vehicle to align a module with the item to carry out the desired operation, the alignment step including clamping the vehicle and effecting axial movement of the module.
Further according to the invention there is provided a pipeline vehicle having a generally cylindrical body portion and including detector means for detecting the presence of a pipe junction in a main pipeline, means for forming an aperture in a liner within the main pipeline, and means for axially rotating the body portion to align the aperture forming means with the pipe junction prior to forming the aperture at the pipe junction.
Still further according to the invention there is provided a flexible probe for indicating the proximity of an auxiliary pipe to a device within the main pipe said probe including means for generating a magnetic field for detection by the device within the main pipe and indicator means for generating a signal when the probe is adjacent the main pipe.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 shows a main pipeline with a number of service take-offs;
FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the self-powered pipeline vehicle comprising a number of modules;
FIG. 3 shows the control mechanism associated with a module;
FIG. 4 shows an alternative magnetic detection module.
FIG. 5 shows a magnetic source probe arrangement for insertion in a service pipe;
FIG. 6 shows a transmission circuit arrangement for FIG. 5;
FIG. 7 shows a detector coil configuration; and
FIG. 8 shows a detector circuit arrangement for the module.
DISCUSSION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
A buried cast iron gas main pipeline 1 shown in FIG. 1 carries a polyethylene pipe liner 2 which has previously been inserted through excavation 3 as part of a refurbishment programme.
A number of existing service pipe take-offs 4 each provide the source of gas to individual dwellings or other premises. As part of the refurbishment programme, there is a need to insert a liner in each service pipe and to join this to the main liner 2. In order to achieve this it has been necessary in the past to make an excavation at each service connection 5 (e.g. a screwed pipe connector or a service tee) and penetrate the main liner 2 through the excavation, sealing the take off to the main using a saddle connection, having removed part of the cast iron main in that region.
In the present invention, the need to have individual excavations is avoided as is the need to remove portions of the cast iron main at such excavations. FIG. 2 shows the mechanism now employ
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BG plc
Strecker Gerard
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