EP0085504A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Pipeline vehicle
Assignee: SUBSCAN SYSTEMS Ltd
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Filing: 1983-01-19
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2003-01-19
Abstract
Abstract The vehicle has front and rear sets of wheels 24 carried on sprung arms 20. Each wheel can be locked by a clutch 26. One set of wheels is locked while a ram 32 is operated, causing the other set of wheels to roll forward. The main body 10 of the vehicle can be rotated relative to the wheels by a motor 48. The two motions together allow a camera 40 or other inspection apparatus to scan the pipe.
Inventors
- 👤 Brian Douglas
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 15:39
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01M; G01M3/00; G01M3/005; F; F16; F16L; F16L55/00; F16L55/26; F16L55/28; F16L55/30; F16L55/32; F16L55/34; F16L2101/00; F16L2101/30; F16L2101/40; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S118/00; Y10S118/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
139 words
A pipeline vehicle comprising a body (10), forward and rear wall engaging means (20-30) carried by the body and alternately operable to grip the wall of a pipe, and reciprocable power means (32) operable to extend and retract the wall engaging means (20-30) relative to each other in synchronism with gripping of the wall so as to cause the vehicle to advance stepwise; characterised in that each wall engaging means comprises a plurality of wheels (24) biased towards the wall for engagement therewith to support the vehicle, and in that each wheel (24) is provided with braking means (26) operating in synchronism with the reciprocable power means (32) to cause the wheels (24) of one wall engaging means to grip the wall while the wheels (24) of the other wall engaging means are free to roll on the wall.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
139 words
A pipeline vehicle comprising a body (10), forward and rear wall engaging means (20-30) carried by the body and alternately operable to grip the wall of a pipe, and reciprocable power means (32) operable to extend and retract the wall engaging means (20-30) relative to each other in synchronism with gripping of the wall so as to cause the vehicle to advance stepwise; characterised in that each wall engaging means comprises a plurality of wheels (24) biased towards the wall for engagement therewith to support the vehicle, and in that each wheel (24) is provided with braking means (26) operating in synchronism with the reciprocable power means (32) to cause the wheels (24) of one wall engaging means to grip the wall while the wheels (24) of the other wall engaging means are free to roll on the wall.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
The vehicle of claim 1, in which the body (10) is mounted for rotation with respect to the wall- engaging means (20-30) about the pipe axis, and including means (48,50) for driving the body (10) in axial rotation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The vehicle of claim 1 or claim 2, in which the reciprocable power means comprises a gas-operated ram (32) and the braking means (26) are gas-operated.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
58 words
The vehicle of claim 3, including an umbilical connection (34) between the vehicle and a supply of pressurised inert gas, and in which gas from the ram (32) is exhausted into the interior of the body (10) which is gas-tight and is provided with a one-way venting valve (38), to provide a positive-pressure inert atmosphere in said interior.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The vehicle of claim 4, in which the umbilical connection (34) includes a fibre optic for carrying command signals and/or test data.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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