Wireless control of machines inside a pipeline

Claim 1

Apparatus for controlling the operation of a pipeline inspection machine traversing inside a pipeline from a point outside the pipeline, wherein said machine includes an inspection head located thereon, said apparatus comprising, in combination: a portable control transmitter adapted to be mounted on the outside of said pipeline at a fixed distance from a portion of said pipeline to be inspected, said transmitter including encoding means for generating a plurality of different control signals in a pre-selected sequence, each such signal being generated to control at least one different function of said machine; first transducer means connected to said encoding means for receipt of such signals for applying each of said control signals from the outside diameter of the pipeline through its wall to the inside diameter in said pre-selected sequence; a control receiver mounted on said pipeline inspection machine and including a second transducer means adapted to be mounted on said machine at substantially said fixed distance from said inspection head and adjacent said inside diameter to be responsive to each of said control signals when in substantial alignment with said first transducer means to cause a corresponding electrical signal to be induced in said second transducer means; decoding means connected to said second transducer means for decoding the signals from said second transducer means to provide a sequence of distinctive output signals in response to receipt of said electrical signals from said second transducer means; and switch means connected to said decoding means and adapted to be connected to control the application of power to said pipeline inspection machine, said switch means including first means responsive to one of said distinctive output signals for causing movement of said machine in a pipeline, second means responsive to another of said distinctive output signals for causing the stopping of said machine with said first and second transducer means in substantial alignment; and third means responsive to another of said distinctive output signals for causing the inspection function of said machine to be accomplished.

Claim 12

A method of controlling a pipeline X-ray inspection machine movable inside a pipeline between various locations therein, from various pre-selected points outside the pipeline comprising the steps of: a. placing a self-propelled pipeline X-ray inspection machine inside a pipeline, said X-ray machine including an X-ray camera, and a receiving transducer mounted therein at a known distance from said camera, b. activating said machine to propel itself down said pipeline, c. placing an apparatus containing a signal generating means and a transmitting transducer on the outside surface of said pipeline at a distance from a spot to be X-rayed substantially equal to the distance between said receiving transducer and said camera so that when said receiving transducer means is directly under said transmitting transducer the X-ray camera is adjacent the spot to be X-rayed, d. sending a first control signal by said transmitting transducer on the outside of said pipeline to stop said machine with said camera adjacent said spot to bE X-rayed, e. sending a second control signal by said transmitting transducer to cause said camera to be actuated, and f. sending a third control signal by said transmitting transducer to cause said pipeline machine to propel itself to a new location.

Claim 13

A method of controlling a pipeline X-ray inspection machine movable inside a pipeline between various locations therein, from various pre-selected points outside the pipeline comprising the steps of: a. placing a self-propelled pipeline X-ray inspection machine inside a pipeline, said X-ray machine including an X-ray camera, and a receiving transducer mounted therein at a known distance from said camera, b. activating said machine to propel itself down said pipeline, c. placing an apparatus containing a signal generating means and a transmitting transducer on the outside surface of said pipeline at a distance from a spot to be X-rayed substantially equal to the distance between said receiving transducer and said camera so that when said receiving transducer means is directly under said transmitting transducer the X-ray camera is adjacent the spot to be X-rayed, d. sending a first control signal by said transmitting transducer on the outside of said pipeline to stop said machine with said camera adjacent said spot to bE X-rayed, e. sending a second control signal by said transmitting transducer to cause said camera to be actuated, and f. sending a third control signal by said transmitting transducer to cause said pipeline machine to propel itself to a new location.