Patent US3489183A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US4050384A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4050384A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tube inspection and servicing apparatus
Assignee: Babcock International Ltd
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Filing: 1975-09-04
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Granted: 1977-09-27
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Expires: 1995-09-04
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for insertion into a relatively long tube or conduit in order to inspect or perform operations on the interior thereof. The apparatus includes a device for performing an operation on the tube as well as a plurality of traction units secured at spaced locations along a connecting lead. The traction units include a gear train and one or more driving means.
Inventors
- 👤 John Edward Chapman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 16:29
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02G; H02G1/00; H02G1/06; H02G1/08; H02G1/088; F; F22; F22B; F22B37/00; F22B37/002; F22B37/003; F28; F28F; F28F11/00; F28G; F28G15/00; F28G15/02; G; G21; G21C; G21C17/00; G21C17/017; F16; F16L; F16L2101/00; F16L2101/30; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E30/00; Y02E30/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
127 words
An apparatus for conveying a device for inspecting or performing operations on the interior of a tube wall together with a trailing length of connecting lead along the bore of a tube which apparatus includes the connecting lead for the device and a plurality of traction units secured at spaced locations along said lead, each traction unit including an electric motor connected through a reduction gear train to one or more drive means, and biasing means adapted to urge one or more of the drive means into frictional driving contact with the internal tube wall, electrical leads for supplying power to said traction units from an external source, and said traction units being electrically connected in parallel to said electrical leads for supplying power to said units.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
127 words
An apparatus for conveying a device for inspecting or performing operations on the interior of a tube wall together with a trailing length of connecting lead along the bore of a tube which apparatus includes the connecting lead for the device and a plurality of traction units secured at spaced locations along said lead, each traction unit including an electric motor connected through a reduction gear train to one or more drive means, and biasing means adapted to urge one or more of the drive means into frictional driving contact with the internal tube wall, electrical leads for supplying power to said traction units from an external source, and said traction units being electrically connected in parallel to said electrical leads for supplying power to said units.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the electrical connections in parallel are through tappings from a pair of electrical leads feeding all the traction units, which tappings are wires incorporating resistors whose values vary according to the distance of the traction unit from the power source.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
65 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein each traction unit has three drive means outwardly biased for contacting the inner surface of the tube wall, each unit having the drive means equally spaced circumferentially from one another with an open channel provided in each unit intermediate said drive means, one of said channels receiving a probe lead and the other channels electrical leads.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
125 words
An apparatus for conveying a device for inspecting or performing operations on the interior of a tube wall together with a trailing length of connecting lead along the bore of a tube which apparatus includes the connecting lead for the device and a plurality of traction units secured at spaced locations along said lead, each traction unit including an electric motor connected through a reduction gear train to one or more drive means, and biasing means adapted to urge one or more of the drive means into frictional driving contact with the internal tube wall, electrical leads for supplying power to said traction units from an external source, and said traction units being spaced from one another in substantially uniform intervals along said connecting lead.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
125 words
An apparatus for conveying a device for inspecting or performing operations on the interior of a tube wall together with a trailing length of connecting lead along the bore of a tube which apparatus includes the connecting lead for the device and a plurality of traction units secured at spaced locations along said lead, each traction unit including an electric motor connected through a reduction gear train to one or more drive means, and biasing means adapted to urge one or more of the drive means into frictional driving contact with the internal tube wall, electrical leads for supplying power to said traction units from an external source, and said traction units being spaced from one another in substantially uniform intervals along said connecting lead.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
FR1197088A
Cited
US3018086A
Cited
US3089434A
Cited
US3484141A
Cited
US3895604A
Cited
US3890905A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-09-26 | 1981-03-28 | 1981-09-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-09-26 | 1985-03-28 | 1985-09-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-09-26 | 1989-03-28 | 1989-09-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |