System for nondestructively testing vessels

Claim 3

The system of claim 1 wherein said vessel is a pipeline, wherein said fluid is substantially incompressible, and wherein said flow monitoring means includes flowmeter means disposed in said conduit means for generating a series of electrical pulses related in number to the volume of fluid introduced into said conduit means.

Claim 4

The system of claim 2 wherein said deformation computing means comprises: means for modifying said first electrical signal to provide an electrical reference signal representative of ideal elastic deformation of the vessel being tested; and, first comparing means for comparing said reference signal with said second electrical signal to generate said third electrical signal.

Claim 5

The system of claim 3 wherein said first comparing means includes a differential amplifier.

Claim 6

The system of claim 2 wherein said ratio computing means comprises second comparing means for comparing the values of said second electrical signal at the beginning and end of a time interval determined by said first electrical signal and for generating said fourth electrical signal responsively to the comparison.

Claim 7

The system of claim 5 wherein said second comparing means comprises: means responsive to said first electrical signal for establishing a time interval related to a predetermined change in the volume of the fluid within the vessel; means for sampling and holding the value of said second electrical signal at the beginning of said time interval; means for sampling and holding the value of said second electrical signal at the end of said time interval; and means for subtracting the value of said second electrical signal at the beginning of said time interval from the value of said second electrical signal at the end of said time interval.

Claim 8

The system of claim 6 wherein said deformation computing means comprises: means for modifying said first electrical signal to provide an electrical reference signal representative of ideal elastic deformation of the vessel being tested; and, first comparing means for comparing said reference signal with said second electrical signal to generate said third electrical signal.

Claim 9

Apparatus for testing a closed vessel of a material capable of undergoing elastic and plastic deformation, said apparatus comprising: means for introducing a fluid into the vessel to cause increasing deformation of the vessel; means for generating a first electrical signal related to the flow of fluid into said vessel; means for modifying said first electrical signal to provide a fluid volume related reference signal representative of ideal elastic deformation of the vessel being tested; means for generating a second electrical signal related to the actual deformation of the vessel; and, means for comparing said second electrical signal with the electrical signal representative of the ideal elastic deformation of the vessel to generate a third electrical signal representative of the amount of plastic deformation of the vessel.

Claim 10

Apparatus for testing a closed vessel of a material capable of undergoing elastic and plastic deformation, said apparatus comprising: means for introducing a fluid into the vessel to cause increasing deformation of the vessel; means for generating a first electrical signal related to the flow of fluid into said vessel; means for modifying said first electrical signal to provide a fluid volume related reference signal representative of ideal elastic deformation of the vessel being tested; means for generating a second electrical signal related to the actual deformation of the vessel; and, means for comparing said second electrical signal with the electrical signal representative of the ideal elastic deformation of the vessel to generate a third electrical signal representative of the amount of plastic deformation of the vessel.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said means for generating said first electrical signal includes flowmeter means for generating a series of electrical pulses related in number to the volume of fluid introduced into the vessel, and wherein said means for generating said second electrical signal includes pressure transducer means for generating an electrical signal related to the pressure exerted on the vessel by the enclosed fluid.

Claim 12

The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said means for modifying said first electrical signal comprises: means for totalizing the pulses of said series of electrical pulses to provide an electrical signal related to the volume of fluid in said vessel; and meAns for modifying said volume related electrical signal to provide a desired proportionality between said volume related electrical signal and said second electrical signal, whereby said third electrical signal is zero when the vessel is undergoing elastic deformation.

Claim 13

Apparatus for testing a closed vessel of a material capable of undergoing elastic and plastic deformation, said apparatus comprising: means for introducing a fluid into the vessel to cause increasing deformation of the vessel; means for generating a first electrical signal related to the volume of fluid introduced into the vessel; means for generating a second electrical signal related to the pressure of the fluid within the vessel; and, means for sampling said second electrical signal and for comparing the sampled values of said second electrical signal at the beginning and end of an interval determined by said first electrical signal whereby the change of pressure with respect to a change in volume is determined.

Claim 14

Apparatus for testing a closed vessel of a material capable of undergoing elastic and plastic deformation, said apparatus comprising: means for introducing a fluid into the vessel to cause increasing deformation of the vessel; means for generating a first electrical signal related to the volume of fluid introduced into the vessel; means for generating a second electrical signal related to the pressure of the fluid within the vessel; and, means for sampling said second electrical signal and for comparing the sampled values of said second electrical signal at the beginning and end of an interval determined by said first electrical signal whereby the change of pressure with respect to a change in volume is determined.

Claim 15

The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said first electrical signal is a series of electrical pulses related in number to the volume of fluid introduced into the vessel; and wherein said comparing means comprises: means responsive to said first electrical signal for establishing a time interval related to a predetermined change in the volume of the fluid within the vessel; means for sampling and holding the value of said second electrical signal at the beginning of said time interval; means for sampling and holding the value of said second electrical signal at the end of said time interval; and, means for subtracting the value of said second electrical signal at the beginning of said time interval from the value of said second electrical signal at the end of said time interval.

Claim 16

The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said first electrical signal is a series of electrical pulses related in number to the volume of fluid introduced into the vessel and wherein said comparing means comprises: means for sampling and holding the value of said second electrical signal in response to a first pulse in said first signal; means for sampling and holding the value of the second electrical signal in response to a second pulse in said first signal; said first and second pulses defining said time interval, and, means for subtracting the first sampled value of said second signal from the second sampled value of said second signal.

Claim 17

In the testing of a vessel which deforms elastically until an elastic limit point is reached and deforms plastically thereafter, a method for determining the yield strength of the vessel relative to a predetermined specified yield point beyond the elastic limit point of the vessel, said method comprising the steps of: a. introducing a fluid into the vessel to cause increasing deformation thereof; b. generating a first electrical signal related to the flow of fluid into the vessel; c. modifying the first electrical signal to provide a fluid volume related reference signal representative of ideal elastic deformation of the vessel being tested; d. generating a second electrical signal related to the actual deformation of the vessel; e. comparing the second electrical signal with the electrical signal representative of the ideal elastic deformation of the vessel to thereby generate a third electrical signal representative of the amount of plastic deformation of the vessel; and, f. indicating the pressure within the vessel at the time and third electrical signal reaches a predetermined value representative of the predetermined specified yield point.

Claim 18

In the testing of a vessel which deforms elastically until an elastic limit point is reached and deforms plastically thereafter, a method for determining the yield strength of the vessel relative to a predetermined specified yield point beyond the elastic limit point of the vessel, said method comprising the steps of: a. introducing a fluid into the vessel to cause increasing deformation thereof; b. generating a first electrical signal related to the flow of fluid into the vessel; c. modifying the first electrical signal to provide a fluid volume related reference signal representative of ideal elastic deformation of the vessel being tested; d. generating a second electrical signal related to the actual deformation of the vessel; e. comparing the second electrical signal with the electrical signal representative of the ideal elastic deformation of the vessel to thereby generate a third electrical signal representative of the amount of plastic deformation of the vessel; and, f. indicating the pressure within the vessel at the time and third electrical signal reaches a predetermined value representative of the predetermined specified yield point.

Claim 19

The method of claim 14 including the further step of interrupting the flow of fluid into the vessel when the third electrical signal reaches the predetermined value.

Claim 20

The method of claim 14 including the further steps of: visually indicating the value of the third electrical signal; and, modifying the signal rePresentative of ideal elastic deformation in response to the value of the third electrical signal to adjust the third electrical signal to a value of zero when the vessel is deforming elastically.

Claim 23

The method of claim 17 including the further steps of: comparing the value of the fourth electrical signal with a signal related to the predetermined yield point; and, indicating the results of the comparison.

Claim 24

Apparatus for testing a closed vessel of a material capable of undergoing elastic and plastic deformation, said apparatus comprising: means for introducing a fluid into the vessel to cause increasing deformation of the vessel; fluid pressure sensing means for sensing the pressure of fluid within the closed vessel; means responsive to said fluid introducing means and to said fluid pressure sensing means for determining the change of fluid pressure caused by an incremental introduction of a volume of fluid into the vessel at any point after the beginning of the test; and, means responsive to said determining means for providing an indication of said change of fluid pressure.

Claim 25

Apparatus for testing a closed vessel of a material capable of undergoing elastic and plastic deformation, said apparatus comprising: means for introducing a fluid into the vessel to cause increasing deformation of the vessel; fluid pressure sensing means for sensing the pressure of fluid within the closed vessel; means responsive to said fluid introducing means and to said fluid pressure sensing means for determining the change of fluid pressure caused by an incremental introduction of a volume of fluid into the vessel at any point after the beginning of the test; and, means responsive to said determining means for providing an indication of said change of fluid pressure.

Claim 26

The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said determining means includes means for modifying the response of said determining means to one of said fluid introducing means and said pressure sensing means whereby said indication providing means provides a predetermined reference value when the vessel is undergoing elastic deformation.

Claim 27

The apparatus of claim 20 including reference means; and, means responsive to said reference means and to said indication providing means for indicating the transition of the vessel from elastic to plastic deformation.

Claim 28

In the testing of a vessel which deforms elastically until an elastic limit point is reached and deforms plastically thereafter, a method for determining the yield strength of the vessel relative to a predetermined specified yield point beyond the elastic limit point of the vessel, said method comprising the steps of: a. introducing a fluid into the vessel to cause increasing deformation thereof; b. sampling the pressure of the fluid within the vessel responsively to introduction of incremental volumes of fluid into the vessel; c. determining from said pressure samples the change of fluid pressure with respect to the incremental change in the volume of fluid in the vessel; and, d. displaying said change of fluid pressure.

Claim 29

In the testing of a vessel which deforms elastically until an elastic limit point is reached and deforms plastically thereafter, a method for determining the yield strength of the vessel relative to a predetermined specified yield point beyond the elastic limit point of the vessel, said method comprising the steps of: a. introducing a fluid into the vessel to cause increasing deformation thereof; b. sampling the pressure of the fluid within the vessel responsively to introduction of incremental volumes of fluid into the vessel; c. determining from said pressure samples the change of fluid pressure with respect to the incremental change in the volume of fluid in the vessel; and, d. displaying said change of fluid pressure.

Claim 30

The method of claim 22 including the step of modifying the display to a predetermined reference value while the vessel is undergoing elastic deformation.

Claim 33

The system of claim 24 wherein said vessel is a pipeline, wherein said fluid is substantially incompressible, and wherein said deformation computing means compares said modified and said unmodified signals.

Claim 34

Apparatus for testing a closed vessel of a material capable of undergoing elastic and plastic deformation as a result of the introduction of fluid therein, said apparatus comprising: means for providing a first signal related to the volume of fluid in the vessel being tested; means for modifying said first signal to provide a fluid volume related reference signal representative of ideal pressure of the vessel being tested; means for providing a second signal related to the actual pressure of the fluid within the vessel; and, means for comparing said first and second signals to indicate the amount of plastic deformation of the vessel.

Claim 35

Apparatus for testing a closed vessel of a material capable of undergoing elastic and plastic deformation as a result of the introduction of fluid therein, said apparatus comprising: means for providing a first signal related to the volume of fluid in the vessel being tested; means for modifying said first signal to provide a fluid volume related reference signal representative of ideal pressure of the vessel being tested; means for providing a second signal related to the actual pressure of the fluid within the vessel; and, means for comparing said first and second signals to indicate the amount of plastic deformation of the vessel.

Claim 36

Apparatus for testing a closed vessel of a material capable of undergoing elastic and plastic deformation as a result of the introduction of fluid therein, said apparatus comprising: means for generating a first signal related to the volume of fluid in the vessel; means for generating a second signal related to the pressure of the fluid within the vessel; and, means for sampling said second signal and for comparing the sampled values of said second signal at the beginning and end of a time interval determined by said first signal whereby the change in pressure of the fluid relative to reference value with respect to a change in the volume of the fluid relative to a reference value may be indicated.

Claim 37

Apparatus for testing a closed vessel of a material capable of undergoing elastic and plastic deformation as a result of the introduction of fluid therein, said apparatus comprising: means for generating a first signal related to the volume of fluid in the vessel; means for generating a second signal related to the pressure of the fluid within the vessel; and, means for sampling said second signal and for comparing the sampled values of said second signal at the beginning and end of a time interval determined by said first signal whereby the change in pressure of the fluid relative to reference value with respect to a change in the volume of the fluid relative to a reference value may be indicated.

Claim 38

The apparatus of claim 27 wherein said first signal is a series of electrical pulses related in number to the volume of fluid introduced into the vessel; wherein said second signal is an electrical signal; and, wherein said comparing means comprises: means responsive to said first electrical signal for establishing a time interval related to a predetermined change in the volume of the fluid within the vessel; means for sampling and holding the value of said second electrical signal at the beginning of said time interval; means for sampling and holding the value of said second electrical signal at the end of said time interval; and, means for subtracting the value of said second electrical signal at the beginning of said time interval from the value of said second electrical signal at the end of said time interval.

Claim 39

The apparatus of claim 27 wherein said first signal is a series of electrical pulses related in number to the volume of fluid introduced into the vessel; wherein said second signal is an electrical signal; and, wherein said comparing means comprises: means for sampling and holding the value of said second electrical signal in response to a first pulse in said first signal; means for sampling and holding the value of the second electrical signal in response to a second pulse in said first signal; said first and second pulses defining said time interval; and, means for subtracting the first sampled value of said second signal from the second sampled value of said second signal.

Claim 40

In the testing of a vessel which deforms elastically until an elastic limit point is reached and deforms plastically thereafter, a method for determining the yield strength of the vessel relative to a predetermined specified yield point beyond the elastic limit point of the vessel, said method comprising the steps of: a. introducing a fluid into the vessel to cause increasing deformation thereof; b. providing a first signal related to the volume of fluid in the vessel; c. modifying the first signal to provide a fluid volume related reference signal representative of the ideal pressure of the fluid within the vessel being tested; d. providing a second signal related to the actual pressure of the vessel; and, e. comparing The second signal with the modified first signal to indicate the amount of plastic deformation of the vessel.

Claim 41

In the testing of a vessel which deforms elastically until an elastic limit point is reached and deforms plastically thereafter, a method for determining the yield strength of the vessel relative to a predetermined specified yield point beyond the elastic limit point of the vessel, said method comprising the steps of: a. introducing a fluid into the vessel to cause increasing deformation thereof; b. providing a first signal related to the volume of fluid in the vessel; c. modifying the first signal to provide a fluid volume related reference signal representative of the ideal pressure of the fluid within the vessel being tested; d. providing a second signal related to the actual pressure of the vessel; and, e. comparing The second signal with the modified first signal to indicate the amount of plastic deformation of the vessel.

Claim 42

The method of claim 30 including the further step of indicating the pressure of the fluid within the vessel at the time the indication of the amount of plastic deformation reaches a predetermined value representative of the predetermined specified yield point.