Patent US3705506A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3705506A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automatic positioning device
Assignee: CRC Evans Pipeline International Inc
•
Filing: 1971-03-31
•
Granted: 1972-12-12
•
Expires: 1991-03-31
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for rapidly positioning a movable device longitudinally inside a tubular structure, such as a pipe, wherein a sensing means attached to said movable device functions to position said movable device responsive to a changing magnetic field generated by an establishing means positioned at a preselected location exterior to said pipe. When said movable device is required to be sequentially positioned longitudinally at a series of locations in one direction inside said pipe, the method and apparatus automatically re-positions said movable device at each location in the desired sequence. This abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application which, of course, is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.
Inventors
- 👤 Edward A Clavin
- 👤 Donald H Mccullough
- 👤 David R Mccullough
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 20:18
CPC Classifications
B; B21; B21D; B21D9/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
218 words
A method of positioning a movable mandrel longitudinally along the interior of a pipe at a desired location with respect to an element located exteriorly of said pipe, including the steps of establishing a periodically changing magnetic field at a desired location at one of the exterior of said pipe and the interior of said pipe, the means establishing said changing magnetic field being mounted in a desired fixed relationship to one of the said element and the said mandrel, respectively, and being located in a sufficiently close spaced relationship with the wall of said pipe so that said wall is within said changing magnetic field, sensing said changing magnetic field at the other of the exterior of said pipe and the interior of said pipe and generating an electromagnetic voltage signal responsive thereto, said means for sensing and generating being mounted in a desired fixed relationship to the second of said element and said mandrel, and moving said mandrel and the one of said establishing means and said sensing and generating means mounted in fixed relationship thereto longitudinally along the interior of said pipe to position said establishing means and said sensing and generating means in a desired relationship to each other, said mandrel and said element thereby being positioned in a desired relationship to each other.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
218 words
A method of positioning a movable mandrel longitudinally along the interior of a pipe at a desired location with respect to an element located exteriorly of said pipe, including the steps of establishing a periodically changing magnetic field at a desired location at one of the exterior of said pipe and the interior of said pipe, the means establishing said changing magnetic field being mounted in a desired fixed relationship to one of the said element and the said mandrel, respectively, and being located in a sufficiently close spaced relationship with the wall of said pipe so that said wall is within said changing magnetic field, sensing said changing magnetic field at the other of the exterior of said pipe and the interior of said pipe and generating an electromagnetic voltage signal responsive thereto, said means for sensing and generating being mounted in a desired fixed relationship to the second of said element and said mandrel, and moving said mandrel and the one of said establishing means and said sensing and generating means mounted in fixed relationship thereto longitudinally along the interior of said pipe to position said establishing means and said sensing and generating means in a desired relationship to each other, said mandrel and said element thereby being positioned in a desired relationship to each other.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said step of establishing a changing magnetic field at a desired location includes driving an alternating current electrical signal of preselected frequency through a current carrying conductor coiled around a ferromagnetic core.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 1, including the step of performing a desired function responsive to a desired magnitude of said generated electromagnetic voltage signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
57 words
A method according to claim 3, wherein said step of performing a desired function includes stopping said movement of said mandrel so that said establishing means and said sensing and generating means are positioned in a desired relationship to each other and said mandrel and said element are likewise positioned in a desired relationship to each other.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
78 words
A method according to claim 1, including the steps of stopping said mandrel responsive to a desired magnitude of said generated electromagnetic voltage signal so that said establishing means and said sensing and generating means are positioned in a desired close spaced relationship to each other and said mandrel is likewise positioned in a desired location with respect to said element, and performing an additional desired function responsive to a desired magnitude of said generated electromagnetic voltage signal.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
349 words
A method of automatically positioning a movable pipe supporting mandrel at a series of locations longitudinally along the interior of a pipe positioned in a pipe bending machine during the pipe bending process, including the steps of a. positioning said pipe with said mandrel therein in a first desired location in said pipe bending machine so that said pipe is in the proper location for the first bend, b. establishing a periodically changing magnetic field in a desired location exteriorly of said pipe, the means establishing such changing magnetic field being mounted in a desired fixed relationship to said pipe bending machine and being located in a sufficiently close spaced relationship with the wall of said pipe that said wall is within said changing magnetic field, c. moving said mandrel in a first direction so that said sensing and generating means moves toward said establishing means to position said establishing means and said sensing and generating means in a desired relationship to each other, d. sensing said changing magnetic field at the interior of said pipe and generating an electromagnetic voltage signal responsive thereto, the means for sensing and generating being mounted in a desired fixed relationship to said mandrel, the desired fixed relationship of said establishing mean with said pipe bending machine and the desired fixed relationship of said sensing and generating means with said mandrel being such that when said establishing means and said sensing and generating means are in a desired relationship to each other, said mandrel and said pipe bending machine are in a desired relationship to each other, e. stopping said mandrel responsive to a desired magnitude of said generated electromagnetic voltage signal so that said establishing means and said sensing and generating means are positioned in a desired close spaced relationship to each other and said mandrel is positioned in a desired relationship to said pipe bending machine, and f. actuating said mandrel responsive to a desired magnitude of said generated electromagnetic voltage signal to support the interior of said wall of said pipe during the first bend in the pipe bending process.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
349 words
A method of automatically positioning a movable pipe supporting mandrel at a series of locations longitudinally along the interior of a pipe positioned in a pipe bending machine during the pipe bending process, including the steps of a. positioning said pipe with said mandrel therein in a first desired location in said pipe bending machine so that said pipe is in the proper location for the first bend, b. establishing a periodically changing magnetic field in a desired location exteriorly of said pipe, the means establishing such changing magnetic field being mounted in a desired fixed relationship to said pipe bending machine and being located in a sufficiently close spaced relationship with the wall of said pipe that said wall is within said changing magnetic field, c. moving said mandrel in a first direction so that said sensing and generating means moves toward said establishing means to position said establishing means and said sensing and generating means in a desired relationship to each other, d. sensing said changing magnetic field at the interior of said pipe and generating an electromagnetic voltage signal responsive thereto, the means for sensing and generating being mounted in a desired fixed relationship to said mandrel, the desired fixed relationship of said establishing mean with said pipe bending machine and the desired fixed relationship of said sensing and generating means with said mandrel being such that when said establishing means and said sensing and generating means are in a desired relationship to each other, said mandrel and said pipe bending machine are in a desired relationship to each other, e. stopping said mandrel responsive to a desired magnitude of said generated electromagnetic voltage signal so that said establishing means and said sensing and generating means are positioned in a desired close spaced relationship to each other and said mandrel is positioned in a desired relationship to said pipe bending machine, and f. actuating said mandrel responsive to a desired magnitude of said generated electromagnetic voltage signal to support the interior of said wall of said pipe during the first bend in the pipe bending process.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
135 words
A method according to claim 6, including the steps of g. bending said pipe, h. moving said pipe with said mandrel therein to a second desired location in said pipe bending machine so that said pipe is in the proper location for the second bend, i. deactuating said mandrel responsive to the reduction of said generated electromagnetic voltage signal below said desired magnitude so that said mandrel no longer is supporting said interior of said wall of said pipe, j. moving said mandrel in the one of the first and second directions so that said sensing and generating means moves toward said establishing means to reposition said sensing and generating means and said establishing means in a desired relationship to each other, and repeating the above steps d,e,f,g,h,i, and j, throughout the pipe bending process.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method according to claim 6, wherein said step of establishing a changing magnetic field at a desired location exteriorly to the pipe includes driving an alternating current electrical signal of preselected frequency through a current carrying conductor coiled around a ferromagnetic core.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
220 words
An apparatus for positioning a movable mandrel longitudinally along the interior of a pipe at a desired location with respect to an element located exteriorly of said pipe, comprising means for establishing a periodically changing magnetic field at a desired location at one of the exterior of said pipe and the interior of said pipe, said establishing means being mounted in a desired fixed relationship to one of the said element and the said mandrel, respectively, and being located in a sufficiently close spaced relationship with the wall of said pipe so that said wall is within said changing magnetic field, means for sensing said changing magnetic field at the other of the exterior of said pipe and the interior of said pipe and generating an electromagnetic voltage signal responsive thereto, said sensing and generating means being mounted in a desired fixed relationship to the second of said element and said mandrel, respectively, and means for moving said mandrel and the one of said establishing means and said sensing and generating means mounted in fixed relationship thereto longitudinally along the interior of said pipe so that said establishing means and said sensing and generating means are positioned in a desired relationship to each other and said mandrel and said element are thereby positioned in a desired relationship to each other.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
220 words
An apparatus for positioning a movable mandrel longitudinally along the interior of a pipe at a desired location with respect to an element located exteriorly of said pipe, comprising means for establishing a periodically changing magnetic field at a desired location at one of the exterior of said pipe and the interior of said pipe, said establishing means being mounted in a desired fixed relationship to one of the said element and the said mandrel, respectively, and being located in a sufficiently close spaced relationship with the wall of said pipe so that said wall is within said changing magnetic field, means for sensing said changing magnetic field at the other of the exterior of said pipe and the interior of said pipe and generating an electromagnetic voltage signal responsive thereto, said sensing and generating means being mounted in a desired fixed relationship to the second of said element and said mandrel, respectively, and means for moving said mandrel and the one of said establishing means and said sensing and generating means mounted in fixed relationship thereto longitudinally along the interior of said pipe so that said establishing means and said sensing and generating means are positioned in a desired relationship to each other and said mandrel and said element are thereby positioned in a desired relationship to each other.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
45 words
An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said means for establishing said changing magnetic field includes a ferromagnetic core, means for conducting electrical current coiled around said ferromagnetic core, and means for driving an alternating current electrical signal of preselected frequency through said conductor means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus according to claim 9, including means for performing a desired function responsive to a desired magnitude of said generated electromagnetic voltage signal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
69 words
An apparatus according to claim 9, including means for stopping said movement of said mandrel so that said establishing means and said sensing and generating means are positioned in a desired relationship to each other and said mandrel and said element are thereby positioned in a desired relationship to each other, and means for performing a desired function responsive to a desired magnitude of said generated electromagnetic voltage signal.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
219 words
An apparatus for automatically positioning a movable pipe supporting mandrel at a series of locations longitudinally along the interior of a pipe held in a pipe bending machine during the pipe bending process, comprising a pipe supporting mandrel, means for establishing a periodically changing magnetic field at a desired location at the exterior of said pipe, means for holding said establishing means in a close spaced relationship with the exterior surface of said wall of said pipe so that said wall will be within said changing magnetic field, said holding means being mounted in a desired fixed relationship to said pipe bending machine, means for moving said mandrel in one of a first and second longitudinal directions within the pipe, means on said mandrel for supporting the interior of said pipe during the bending of said pipe, means for sensing at the interior of said pipe said changing magnetic field and generating an electromagnetic voltage signal responsive thereto, means for holding said sensing means in a desired spaced relationship with the interior of the wall of said pipe, said holding means for said sensing means being mounted in a desired fixed relationship to said mandrel, and means for disengaging said moving means and for engaging said supporting means responsive to a desired magnitude of said generated electromagnetic voltage signal.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
219 words
An apparatus for automatically positioning a movable pipe supporting mandrel at a series of locations longitudinally along the interior of a pipe held in a pipe bending machine during the pipe bending process, comprising a pipe supporting mandrel, means for establishing a periodically changing magnetic field at a desired location at the exterior of said pipe, means for holding said establishing means in a close spaced relationship with the exterior surface of said wall of said pipe so that said wall will be within said changing magnetic field, said holding means being mounted in a desired fixed relationship to said pipe bending machine, means for moving said mandrel in one of a first and second longitudinal directions within the pipe, means on said mandrel for supporting the interior of said pipe during the bending of said pipe, means for sensing at the interior of said pipe said changing magnetic field and generating an electromagnetic voltage signal responsive thereto, means for holding said sensing means in a desired spaced relationship with the interior of the wall of said pipe, said holding means for said sensing means being mounted in a desired fixed relationship to said mandrel, and means for disengaging said moving means and for engaging said supporting means responsive to a desired magnitude of said generated electromagnetic voltage signal.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
71 words
An apparatus according to claim 22, wherein saId means for holding said sensing means in a desired relationship with the interior of the wall of said pipe includes means for mounting said sensing means, said mounting means being movably secured to said mandrel, at least one adjustably positioned wheel secured to said mounting means, and means for retaining said wheel in contact with the interior of the wall of said pipe.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
73 words
An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said means for holding said establishing means in close spaced relationship with the exterior of the wall of said pipe includes means for mounting said establishing means, said mounting means being movably secured to an element exterior to said pipe, at least one adjustably positioned wheel secured to said mounting means, and means for retaining said wheel against the exterior of the wall of said pipe.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
40 words
An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said establishing means includes a ferromagnetic core, means for conducting electrical current coiled around said ferromagnetic core, and means for driving an alternating current electrical signal of preselected frequency through said conductor means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said sensing means includes a ferromagnetic core, and means for conducting electrical current coiled around said ferromagnetic core.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
63 words
An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said moving means for said mandrel includes a fluid driven prime mover, means for supplying fluid to said fluid driven prime mover, and means for controlling the flow of said fluid to said fluid driven prime mover to drive said prime mover in one of the first and second directions and to stop said prime mover.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
106 words
An apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said means for supplying fluid to said prime mover includes a spring loaded revolving storage wheel located exteriorly of said pipe, a hose for transporting said fluid, and means for guiding said hose from said storage wheel to said mandrel, said guide means being adapted to be supported on said mandrel when said mandrel is outside said pipe and supported on the end of said pipe when said mandrel is within said pipe, said hose extending from said storage wheel through said removably secured guide means to said means for controlling the flow to said fluid driven prime mover.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
105 words
An apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said removably secured guide means includes a body having at one end two parallel flanges with a cavity there-between, a pulley secured in said cavity between said flanges so that it may freely rotate about its axis, three parallel flanges formed at the other end of said body, said three flanges being formed in parallel planes and forming upper and lower cavities, and said three flanges being spaced so that the wall of said pipe may be received in said upper cavity and said arcuate plate may be received in said lower cavity for supporting said guide means.
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) | 1975-12-12 | 1976-06-12 | 1976-12-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-12-12 | 1980-06-12 | 1980-12-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-12-12 | 1984-06-12 | 1984-12-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |