Pipe inspection systems

Claim 3

The method as defined in claim 1 and further including the steps of: passing a second beam of radiation through two wall segments of a pipe in a direction through a diametrical axis of the pipe.

Claim 4

Apparatus for radioactive measurement of pipe comprising: an annular inspection head, means for moving said inspection head rotatively and longitudinally relative to an elongated pipe having a central axis; source means on said inspection head for generating a beam of radioactivity transverse to the axis of such pipe and intersecting a perpendicular radius at a distance located approximately 0.6 times the radius for the outer wall of a pipe to be inspected; and means on said inspection head for detecting such radioactivity wherein the detected radioactivity is a function of pipe eccentricity.

Claim 5

Apparatus for radioactive measurement of pipe comprising: an annular inspection head, means for moving said inspection head rotatively and longitudinally relative to an elongated pipe having a central axis; source means on said inspection head for generating a beam of radioactivity transverse to the axis of such pipe and intersecting a perpendicular radius at a distance located approximately 0.6 times the radius for the outer wall of a pipe to be inspected; and means on said inspection head for detecting such radioactivity wherein the detected radioactivity is a function of pipe eccentricity.

Claim 6

The apparatus as defined in claim 3 and further including in said inspection head, means for passing a beam of radioactivity diametrically through such pipe.

Claim 7

The apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said inspection head is rotated about its central axis, and further including means for moving a pipe along the central axis for said inspection head.

Claim 8

The apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said means for generating a beam of radioactivity and said detecting means are mounted on a plate means; and means movably mounting said plate means on said inspection head for adjusting the location of a beam of radioactivity relative to the axis of a pipe to be passed through the inspection head.

Claim 9

Apparatus for radioactive measurement of pipe comprising: an annular inspection head adapted for rotation about its central axis; means for moving said inspection head rotatively and longitudinally with respect to the longitudinal axis of an elongated pipe member where said longitudinal axis is aligned with said central axis; source means on said inspection head for generating a first beam of radioactivity in a direction transverse to and intersecting said central axis, and for generating a second beam of radioactivity in a direction and in a plane normal to said central axis, said second beam of radioactivity being at an angle to said first beam of radioactivity so as to intersect a radius perpendicular to said first beam of radiation at a distance "d" from said central axis; detector means on said inspection head for detecting said first and second beams of radioactivity; and means for adjusting the location of said source and detector means so that said distance "d" is equal to approximately 0.6 times the radius for an outer wall of a pipe to be inspected.

Claim 10

Apparatus for radioactive measurement of pipe comprising: an annular inspection head adapted for rotation about its central axis; means for moving said inspection head rotatively and longitudinally with respect to the longitudinal axis of an elongated pipe member where said longitudinal axis is aligned with said central axis; source means on said inspection head for generating a first beam of radioactivity in a direction transverse to and intersecting said central axis, and for generating a second beam of radioactivity in a direction and in a plane normal to said central axis, said second beam of radioactivity being at an angle to said first beam of radioactivity so as to intersect a radius perpendicular to said first beam of radiation at a distance "d" from said central axis; detector means on said inspection head for detecting said first and second beams of radioactivity; and means for adjusting the location of said source and detector means so that said distance "d" is equal to approximately 0.6 times the radius for an outer wall of a pipe to be inspected.

Claim 11

The apparatus as defined in claim 7 and further including in said source means, a source of radioactivity, a shielding housing surrounding said source of radioactivity, a shutter block having passages at an angle to one another for collimating radioactivity into two beams of radioactivity; and means for moving said passages in said shutter block into and out of operative relationship with respect to said source of radioactivity.

Claim 12

Apparatus for inspecting a tubular pipe for flaws comprising: an annular inspection head; means for moving said inspection head rotatively and longitudinally relative to an elongated pipe member having a central axis; means on one end of said inspection head for contacting the pipe and for sensing longitudinal flaws in the pipe; means on the other end of said inspection head for passing a beam of radioactivity transverse to the axis of such pipe and intersecting a perpendicular radius at a distance located approximately 0.6 times the radius for the outer wall of said pipe; and means on said inspection head for detecting such radioactivity wherein the detected radioactivity is a function of pipe eccentricity.

Claim 13

Apparatus for inspecting a tubular pipe for flaws comprising: an annular inspection head; means for moving said inspection head rotatively and longitudinally relative to an elongated pipe member having a central axis; means on one end of said inspection head for contacting the pipe and for sensing longitudinal flaws in the pipe; means on the other end of said inspection head for passing a beam of radioactivity transverse to the axis of such pipe and intersecting a perpendicular radius at a distance located approximately 0.6 times the radius for the outer wall of said pipe; and means on said inspection head for detecting such radioactivity wherein the detected radioactivity is a function of pipe eccentricity.

Claim 14

The apparatus as defined in claim 9 and further including means for rotating the inspection head about its central axis and means for longitudinally passing a pipe through said inspection head.