US3683186A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for inspecting tubular goods using a radiation-focussing device for producing a substantially uniform composite radiation pattern
Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corp
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Filing: 1970-03-26
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Granted: 1972-08-08
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Expires: 1990-03-26
Abstract
Abstract In the new and improved radiation apparatus disclosed herein for inspecting tubular goods, a radiation detector is coaxially positioned within a tubular member being axially translated along a selected inspection axis for receiving radiation from a uniquely-arranged radiation emitter facing the detector and rotating around the exterior of the tubular member. In the preferred embodiment disclosed herein, this unique radiation emitter includes an array of side-by-side radioactive sources of selected strengths respectively directed inwardly through laterally-spaced, generally-parallel focussing passages for producing individual sharply-defined radiation beams respectively having a transverse width substantially smaller than that of the active portion of the detector. The outer or flanking sources of the array are arranged in relation to the intermediate source so that the radiation beams of the two outer sources will be directed on opposite sides of the inspection axis and the radiation beam of the intermediate source will intersect the inspection axis. In this manner, lateral movements of the detector to one side or the other of the inspection axis will progressively bring the active portion of the detector into the radiation pattern produced by one of the flanking sources as the detector moves out of the radiation pattern of the intermediate source. Accordingly, by cooperatively selecting and positioning the sources in operative relation to one another and to the detector, a substantially constant radiation intensity will contact the detector when it is at any position within a selected boundary around the inspection axis so that random or erratic shifts of the detector within the moving tubular member will not affect the accuracy of the measurements being obtained.
Inventors
- 👤 David R Tompkins
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 19:02
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01B; G01B15/00; G01B15/02; G01B15/025; G01N; G01N23/00; G01N23/02; G01N23/06; G01N23/18; G21; G21K; G21K1/00; G21K1/02; G21K1/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 34
Claim 1
Independent Claim
160 words
A radiation-focussing device adapted for use with a radiation detector having a radiation-sensitive portion with a known transverse cross-sectional area and a known lateral width, and comprising: radiation-attenuating means having a plurality of side-by-side passages therein respectively having a transverse cross-sectional area smaller than said known cross-sectional area, said passages being operatively spaced apart and directed along longitudinal axes intersecting a selected transverse plane in front of said radiation-attenuating means at laterally-spaced intervals having a combined separation greater than said known lateral width; and a corresponding number of radioactive sources on said radiation-attenuating means to the rear of said passages and aligned therewith and operatively arranged for cooperation with said passages for producing individual radiation patterns spaced along said transverse plane individually having a transverse cross-sectional area less than said known transverse cross-sectional area and collectively having a combined lateral width greater than said known lateral width for producing a substantially-uniform composite radiation pattern substantially across said combined lateral width.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
160 words
A radiation-focussing device adapted for use with a radiation detector having a radiation-sensitive portion with a known transverse cross-sectional area and a known lateral width, and comprising: radiation-attenuating means having a plurality of side-by-side passages therein respectively having a transverse cross-sectional area smaller than said known cross-sectional area, said passages being operatively spaced apart and directed along longitudinal axes intersecting a selected transverse plane in front of said radiation-attenuating means at laterally-spaced intervals having a combined separation greater than said known lateral width; and a corresponding number of radioactive sources on said radiation-attenuating means to the rear of said passages and aligned therewith and operatively arranged for cooperation with said passages for producing individual radiation patterns spaced along said transverse plane individually having a transverse cross-sectional area less than said known transverse cross-sectional area and collectively having a combined lateral width greater than said known lateral width for producing a substantially-uniform composite radiation pattern substantially across said combined lateral width.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The radiation-focussing device of claim 1 wherein said radioactive sources are of different radiation strengths whereby said radiation patterns will have correspondingly-different flux densities.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
68 words
The radiation-focussing device of claim 1 wherein there are at least three of said passages and said radioactive sources, with the first and third ones of said individual radioactive sources having equal radiation strengths less than the radiation strength of the second one of said radioactive sources, said radioactive sources and said passages being operatively arranged and spaced whereby said individual radiation patterns will have selected flux densities.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
150 words
An inspection system comprising: a radiation detector positioned in a selected plane of movement and having a radiation-sensitive portion with a known lateral width; a radiation-focussing means spaced from said radiation detector, said radiation-focussing means including a body of radiation-attenuating material having a plurality of elongated passages therein respectively aligned and directed along longitudinal axes respectively intersecting said plane of movement at laterally-spaced intervals having a combined spacing greater than said known lateral width, each of said passages having a selected lateral width and a selected longituDinal length for respectively defining radiation patterns spaced along said plane of movement and respectively having a lateral width less than said known lateral width; and a corresponding number of radiation sources respectively arranged on said body adjacent to the rear of said passages and directed therethrough for operatively producing said individual radiation patterns and providing a substantially-uniform composite radiation pattern along said plane.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
150 words
An inspection system comprising: a radiation detector positioned in a selected plane of movement and having a radiation-sensitive portion with a known lateral width; a radiation-focussing means spaced from said radiation detector, said radiation-focussing means including a body of radiation-attenuating material having a plurality of elongated passages therein respectively aligned and directed along longitudinal axes respectively intersecting said plane of movement at laterally-spaced intervals having a combined spacing greater than said known lateral width, each of said passages having a selected lateral width and a selected longituDinal length for respectively defining radiation patterns spaced along said plane of movement and respectively having a lateral width less than said known lateral width; and a corresponding number of radiation sources respectively arranged on said body adjacent to the rear of said passages and directed therethrough for operatively producing said individual radiation patterns and providing a substantially-uniform composite radiation pattern along said plane.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The inspection system of claim 4 wherein said longitudinal axes are parallel to one another and perpendicularly intersect said plane of movement.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The inspection system of claim 4 wherein said longitudinal axes lie in a common plane perpendicularly intersecting said plane of movement.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The inspection system of claim 4 wherein said longitudinal axes perpendicularly intersect said plane of movement.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
64 words
The inspection system of claim 7 wherein said radiation sources are operatively selected and their respective said radiation patterns have a selected lateral width and a selected lateral spacing along said plane of movement in relation to said known width of said detector active portion for producing a relatively-constant output from said radiation detector as said radiation detector moves across said composite radiation pattern.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
78 words
The inspection system of claim 7 wherein there are at least three of said radiation sources and said passages, and the first and last of said radiation sources respectively have a radiation strength equal to one another and less than the radiation strength of intermediately-positioned ones of said radiation sources for subjecting said detector active portion to a relatively-uniform radiation intensity as said radiation detector moves between said radiation patterns produced by said first and last radiation sources.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
77 words
The inspection system of claim 7 wherein there are at least three of said radiation sources and said passages, and the first and last of said passages are respectively spaced from intermediately-located ones of said passage in accordance with the respective radiation strengths of each of said radiation sources for subjecting said detector active portion to a relatively-uniform radiation intensity as said radiation detector moves between said radiation patterns produced by said first and last radiation sources.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
101 words
The inspection system of claim 7 wherein there are at least three of said radiation sources and said passages, and the first and last of said radiation sources respectively have a radiation strength equal to one another and less than the radiation strength of intermediately-positioned ones of said radiation sources and said passages are respectively spaced from one another in mutual cooperation with the respective radiation strengths of each of said radiation sources for subjecting said detector active portion to a relatively-uniform radiation intensity as said radiation detector moves between said radiation patterns produced by said first and last radiation sources.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
The inspection system of claim 11 wherein said longitudinal axes lie in a common plane perpendicularly intersecting said plane of movement.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
165 words
Apparatus adapted for inspecting elongated tubular members and comprising: means adapted for axially moving an elongated tubular member along a predetermined inspection axis; radiation-detecting means having a radiation-sensitive portion with a known width and adapted for reception within said elongated tubular member moving along said inspection axis; and focussed radiation-emitting means including a plurality of radiation sources arranged in side-by-side relationship spatially disposed from said radiation-detecting means and adapted to be exterior of said elongated tubular member moving along said inspection axis, a shield of radiation-attenuating material carrying said radiation sources and having therein a corresponding number of side-by-side focussing passages respectively aligned with each of said radiation sources and directed toward said radiation-detecting means to establish a corresponding number of focussed radiation patterns thereon that are each of a smaller width than said known width of said radiation-sensitive portion but have a combined width greater than said known width for producing a substantially-uniform composite radiation pattern along a transverse plane crossing said inspection axis.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
165 words
Apparatus adapted for inspecting elongated tubular members and comprising: means adapted for axially moving an elongated tubular member along a predetermined inspection axis; radiation-detecting means having a radiation-sensitive portion with a known width and adapted for reception within said elongated tubular member moving along said inspection axis; and focussed radiation-emitting means including a plurality of radiation sources arranged in side-by-side relationship spatially disposed from said radiation-detecting means and adapted to be exterior of said elongated tubular member moving along said inspection axis, a shield of radiation-attenuating material carrying said radiation sources and having therein a corresponding number of side-by-side focussing passages respectively aligned with each of said radiation sources and directed toward said radiation-detecting means to establish a corresponding number of focussed radiation patterns thereon that are each of a smaller width than said known width of said radiation-sensitive portion but have a combined width greater than said known width for producing a substantially-uniform composite radiation pattern along a transverse plane crossing said inspection axis.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
42 words
The inspection apparatus of claim 13 wherein said focussing passages are respectively formed about a longitudinal axis generally parallel to one another and intersecting said radiation-sensitive portion of said radiation-detecting means at laterally-spaced intervals along said transverse plane crossing said inspection axis.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
51 words
The inspection apparatus of claim 13 wherein said focussing passages are respectively formed about a longitudinal axis generally parallel to one another with one of said longitudinal axes perpendicularly intersecting said inspection axis and the others of said longitudinal axes being spatially disposed on opposite sides of said one longitudinal axis.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said radiation-detecting means are radially omnidirectional and further including: means adapted for rotating said focused radiation-emitting means about an elongated tubular member moving along said inspection axis to progressively scan the circumference of such a member.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
55 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said radiation-detecting means are radially omnidirectional and further including: means adapted for rotating said focussed radiation-emitting means about an elongated tubular member moving along said inspection axis to progressively scan the circumference of such a member and obtain representative indications characteristic of the thickness of such scanned circumferential portions.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 17 further including: means adapted to average a succession of such representative thickness indications for obtaining second indications characteristic of the cross-sectional area of such scanned circumferential portions.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
212 words
Apparatus adapted for inspecting elongated tubular members and comprising: means adapted to support an elongated tubular member for axial movement along a selected inspection axis; a body of radiation-attenuating material adapted for rotation about said elongated tubular member moving along said inspection axis and including a plurality of adjacent chambers therein spatially disposed from said inspection axis; a source of radiation in each of said chambers; radiation-focussing means on said rotatable body including a plurality of side-by-side passages respectively aligned between each of said radiation sources and laterally-spaced locations on a selected transverse plane across said inspection axis, said passages respectively having laterally-separated opposed wall surfaces of a selected length for producing an inwardly-directed narrowly-focussed radiation beam of a predetermined transverse width at each of said laterally-spaced locations for producing a substantially-uniform composite radiation pattern substantially across the total of said transverse beam widths; a radiation detector adapted for reception in said elongated tubular member moving along said inspection axis and including a radiation-sensitive portion having a transverse width greater than each of said predetermined transverse beam widths but less than the total of said transverse beam widths; and means adapted to retain said radiation detector at about said selected location within said elongated tubular member moving along said axis of movement.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
212 words
Apparatus adapted for inspecting elongated tubular members and comprising: means adapted to support an elongated tubular member for axial movement along a selected inspection axis; a body of radiation-attenuating material adapted for rotation about said elongated tubular member moving along said inspection axis and including a plurality of adjacent chambers therein spatially disposed from said inspection axis; a source of radiation in each of said chambers; radiation-focussing means on said rotatable body including a plurality of side-by-side passages respectively aligned between each of said radiation sources and laterally-spaced locations on a selected transverse plane across said inspection axis, said passages respectively having laterally-separated opposed wall surfaces of a selected length for producing an inwardly-directed narrowly-focussed radiation beam of a predetermined transverse width at each of said laterally-spaced locations for producing a substantially-uniform composite radiation pattern substantially across the total of said transverse beam widths; a radiation detector adapted for reception in said elongated tubular member moving along said inspection axis and including a radiation-sensitive portion having a transverse width greater than each of said predetermined transverse beam widths but less than the total of said transverse beam widths; and means adapted to retain said radiation detector at about said selected location within said elongated tubular member moving along said axis of movement.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus of claim 19 further including: means supporting said rotatable body for rotation about said inspection axis; and means selectively operable for rotating said rotatable body to progressively revolve said radiation beams about an elongated tubular member moving along said inspection axis.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the plane of revolution of said radiation beams is generally perpenDicular to said inspection axis.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
82 words
The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said body-supporting means include an annular member coaxially disposed about said inspection axis; a housing enclosing at least a portion of said annular member; first and second bearings operatively journaling said enclosed portion of said annular member to said housing; means coupling said radiation-attenuating body and said radiation-focussing means on one side of said annular member; and counterbalancing means on the other side of said annular member diametrically opposite said radiation-attenuating body and said radiation-focussing means.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 22 wherein said counter-balancing means include a shield member of a radiation-attenuating material mounted on said annular member diametrically opposite from said radiation-focussing means.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
269 words
Apparatus adapted for inspecting elongated sections of pipe and comprising: pipe-translating means adapted to support sections of pipe and selectively operable for axially moving such pipe sections along a generally-horizontal inspection axis; a housing generally circumscribing said inspection axis; an annular member having a central opening therethrough and coaxially arranged around said inspection axis; means operatively journaling said annular member to said housing for rotation about said inspection axis and in a plane of rotation perpendicularly intersecting said inspection axis; radiation-emitting means on said annular member adapted for directing three narrowly-focussed beams of radiation inwardly along said plane of rotation to intersect selected positions on and adjacent to said inspection axis and produce a substantially-uniform composite radiation pattern across said inspection axis including three radioactive sources eccentrically mounted at laterally-spaced locations on said annular member, and a body of radiation-attenuating material on said annular member having a plurality of side-by-side inwardly-directed passages in said plane of rotation and respectively aligned between said radioactive sources and said selected positions; an elongated member fixed at one end and having a free portion extending generally along said inspection axis toward said elongated member; and a radiation detector secured to said free portion of said elongated member and adapted to be retained thereby at about said selected positions within a pipe section moving along said inspection axis and having a radiation-sensitive portion with a transverse width larger than the transverse width of each of said beams of radiation and smaller than the combined widths of said radiation beams for providing signals characteristic of variations in said beams of radiation contacting said radiation-sensitive portion.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
269 words
Apparatus adapted for inspecting elongated sections of pipe and comprising: pipe-translating means adapted to support sections of pipe and selectively operable for axially moving such pipe sections along a generally-horizontal inspection axis; a housing generally circumscribing said inspection axis; an annular member having a central opening therethrough and coaxially arranged around said inspection axis; means operatively journaling said annular member to said housing for rotation about said inspection axis and in a plane of rotation perpendicularly intersecting said inspection axis; radiation-emitting means on said annular member adapted for directing three narrowly-focussed beams of radiation inwardly along said plane of rotation to intersect selected positions on and adjacent to said inspection axis and produce a substantially-uniform composite radiation pattern across said inspection axis including three radioactive sources eccentrically mounted at laterally-spaced locations on said annular member, and a body of radiation-attenuating material on said annular member having a plurality of side-by-side inwardly-directed passages in said plane of rotation and respectively aligned between said radioactive sources and said selected positions; an elongated member fixed at one end and having a free portion extending generally along said inspection axis toward said elongated member; and a radiation detector secured to said free portion of said elongated member and adapted to be retained thereby at about said selected positions within a pipe section moving along said inspection axis and having a radiation-sensitive portion with a transverse width larger than the transverse width of each of said beams of radiation and smaller than the combined widths of said radiation beams for providing signals characteristic of variations in said beams of radiation contacting said radiation-sensitive portion.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 24 wherein the axes of said inwardly-converging passages are substantially parallel and are distributed for straddling said inspection axis as well as intersecting said inspection axis.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 24 further including: a target of radiation-attenuating material eccentrically mounted on said annular member diametrically opposite from said body thereon.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 24 further including: means selectively operable for rotating said annular member for progressively sweeping said beams of radiation about the circumference of a pipe section moving along said inspection axis.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus of claim 27 further including: indicating means coupled to said radiation detector and responsive to movement of a pipe section along said inspection axis for successively measuring the wall thickness of such a pipe section along a helical path therearound.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 28 further including: means adapted to average a succession of such thickness measurements for measuring the cross-sectional wall area of the scanned portion of such a pipe section.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-08-08 | 1976-02-07 | 1976-08-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-08-08 | 1980-02-07 | 1980-08-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-08-08 | 1984-02-07 | 1984-08-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |