US5195392A — Internal pipe inspection system

Claim 1

Independent Claim 143 words

An in-line pipe inspection/repair head comprising: a central body; and at least three outwardly biased members extending from said body, said members being substantially symmetrically arranged about said body and sized such that when the head is positioned within a pipe said members approximately radially center said body about a central longitudinal axis of said pipe, each of said members comprising at least one spring biased leg pivotally secured to said body and a skid hingedly secured to the free end thereof, each said member being independently collapsible towards said body when said member encounters a pipe obstruction and for facilitating the head's insertion into and removal from the pipe; and said central body with said members collapsed thereto being sized for insertion into and removal from the pipe through a lateral opening of diameter smaller than an internal diameter of the pipe.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 143 words

An in-line pipe inspection/repair head comprising: a central body; and at least three outwardly biased members extending from said body, said members being substantially symmetrically arranged about said body and sized such that when the head is positioned within a pipe said members approximately radially center said body about a central longitudinal axis of said pipe, each of said members comprising at least one spring biased leg pivotally secured to said body and a skid hingedly secured to the free end thereof, each said member being independently collapsible towards said body when said member encounters a pipe obstruction and for facilitating the head's insertion into and removal from the pipe; and said central body with said members collapsed thereto being sized for insertion into and removal from the pipe through a lateral opening of diameter smaller than an internal diameter of the pipe.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 45 words

The pipe head of claim 1, wherein said members collapse manually for operator insertion of the head into the pipe through the restricted lateral pipe opening, and further in combination with means for moving the head within the pipe once the head is positioned therein.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 25 words

The pipe head of claim 2, wherein said means for moving the head within the pipe comprises a flexible steel snake having a hollow center.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 21 words

The pipe head of claim 3, further including a first universal connector securing said body to one end of the snake.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 30 words

The pipe head of claim 4, further in combination with a connector tube secured to said body, said tube being secured at a first end to said first universal connector.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 25 words

The pipe head of claim 5, wherein said connector tube is secured at a second, opposite end to said body by a second universal connector.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 41 words

The pipe head of claim 6, wherein said connector tube is of sufficient length for that portion of the snake adjacent to said one snake end connected to said connector tube to substantially rest on a lowermost portion of the pipe.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 20 words

The pipe head of claim 1, wherein said central body includes viewing means for viewing the interior of the pipe.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 25 words

The pipe head of claim 8, wherein said viewing means includes a camera assembly and an illumination assembly for lighting the interior of the pipe.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 44 words

The pipe head of claim 1, wherein the pipe comprises a 4 inch or 6 inch natural gas main and the pipe head is sized when said members are collapsed to allow insertion and removal of the head through a conventional lateral service opening.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 18 words

The pipe head of claim 10, wherein the conventional lateral service opening is 11/4 inch NPT in diameter.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 37 words

The pipe head of claim 1, wherein said central body includes at least three grooves, each of said grooves being sized and positioned for receiving one of said members when said member is collapsed towards said body.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 26 words

The pipe head of claim 1, wherein said lateral opening of diameter smaller than an internal diameter of the pipe comprises a pre-existing lateral service opening.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 112 words

A pipe inspection/repair head comprising: an elongate, central body; and at least three radially outwardly biased members extending from said body, said members being substantially symmetrically arranged about said body and sized such that when the head is positioned within a pipe said members approximately position said body concentric with a central longitudinal axis of the pipe each of said members comprising at least two bi-directional torsion spring legs, each of said two legs being collapsible towards said body when said legs encounter a pipe obstruction and for facilitating the head's insertion into and removal from the pipe through an opening having a diameter smaller than an internal diameter of the pipe.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 112 words

A pipe inspection/repair head comprising: an elongate, central body; and at least three radially outwardly biased members extending from said body, said members being substantially symmetrically arranged about said body and sized such that when the head is positioned within a pipe said members approximately position said body concentric with a central longitudinal axis of the pipe each of said members comprising at least two bi-directional torsion spring legs, each of said two legs being collapsible towards said body when said legs encounter a pipe obstruction and for facilitating the head's insertion into and removal from the pipe through an opening having a diameter smaller than an internal diameter of the pipe.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 35 words

The pipe head of claim 14, wherein each of said members includes a skid interconnecting the outer radial ends of said two torsion spring legs, each of said legs being hingedly connected to said skid.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 54 words

The pipe head of claim 15, wherein said skid comprises a spring wire and said body includes a plurality of longitudinal grooves, each of said grooves being sized and positioned for receiving one of said members when said members are in a collapsed positioned such that the outer dimensions of said head are minimized.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 34 words

The pipe head of claim 16, wherein said head elongate body includes an illumination assembly and a camera assembly for lighting and viewing an interior of the pipe once the head is positioned therein.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 189 words

Pipe inspection apparatus insertable into a pipeline through lateral opening of diameter smaller than an internal diameter of the pipeline, said apparatus comprising: (a) a compact pipe inspection head including: i. a central body portion, said body portion including a viewing assembly for imaging the interior of the pipeline; ii. at least one centering member affixed to said body portion for substantially radially centering said viewing means within a pipe, said at least one centering member being collapsible towards said body to circumvent a pipe obstruction, to transverse a pipe turn and to facilitate the head's insertion into and removal from the pipe through the restricted lateral pipe opening; and ii. said compact pipe head being sized to pass through the lateral opening of smaller diameter than the diameter of the pipe when said centering member is collapsed towards said body; and (b) a flexible snake for manually moving the head within the pipe once the head is positioned therein, said snake being sufficiently rigid so as to rotate said head within the pipe, to facilitate movement of the head therein and viewing of the interior of the pipe.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 189 words

Pipe inspection apparatus insertable into a pipeline through lateral opening of diameter smaller than an internal diameter of the pipeline, said apparatus comprising: (a) a compact pipe inspection head including: i. a central body portion, said body portion including a viewing assembly for imaging the interior of the pipeline; ii. at least one centering member affixed to said body portion for substantially radially centering said viewing means within a pipe, said at least one centering member being collapsible towards said body to circumvent a pipe obstruction, to transverse a pipe turn and to facilitate the head's insertion into and removal from the pipe through the restricted lateral pipe opening; and ii. said compact pipe head being sized to pass through the lateral opening of smaller diameter than the diameter of the pipe when said centering member is collapsed towards said body; and (b) a flexible snake for manually moving the head within the pipe once the head is positioned therein, said snake being sufficiently rigid so as to rotate said head within the pipe, to facilitate movement of the head therein and viewing of the interior of the pipe.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 19 words

The pipe inspection apparatus of claim 18, wherein said viewing assembly includes a camera assembly and an illumination assembly.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 27 words

The pipe inspection apparatus of claim 19, wherein said illumination assembly includes a plurality of lighting sets symmetrically circumferentially arranged about a lens of said camera assembly.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 70 words

The pipe inspection apparatus of claim 18, wherein said centering member comprises at least three outwardly biased centralizing members which extend from said body, said members being substantially symmetrically arranged about said body and each being independently collapsible toward said body, each of said members including at least one spring biased leg pivotably secured to said body and a skid hingedly secured to a radially outer end of said leg.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 38 words

The pipe inspection apparatus of claim 21, wherein said at least three outwardly biased members each include at least two bi-directional torsion spring legs, outer radial ends of said two torsion spring legs being interconnected by said skid.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 50 words

The pipe inspection apparatus of claim 22, wherein said body is elongate and includes a plurality of longitudinal grooves, each of said grooves being sized and positioned for partially receiving one of said members when said members are in a collapsed position to reduce the outer dimensions of said head.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 14 words

The pipe inspection apparatus of claim 23, wherein said skid comprises a spring wire.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 24 words

The pipe inspection apparatus of claim 18, further comprising a rotatable snake storage drum and a control unit having an operator viewable display screen.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 45 words

The pipe inspection apparatus of claim 25, wherein said control unit is located external to said pipeline and wherein said snake includes a hollow center chamber, said unit communicating with said pipe head via electrical cabling passing through said hollow center chamber of said snake.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 27 words

The pipe inspection apparatus of claim 26, wherein said storage drum includes a slip ring for disengaging rotation of said snake and head from said control unit.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 17 words

The pipe inspection apparatus of claim 27, wherein said flexible snake comprises a spiral wound steel snake.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 30 words

The pipe inspection apparatus of claim 25, wherein said pipeline is live and comprises a natural gas main and said apparatus is configured intrinsically safe for operation within said main.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 30 words

The inspection apparatus of claim 29, wherein said control unit includes energy barriers, resistors and voltage regulators for preventing undesirable levels of energy from passing to the head and snake.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 86 words

The pipe inspection apparatus of claim 18, further comprising a connector tube connecting said pipe head to said flexible snake, said connector tube having a universal connection at opposite ends thereof, a first universal connection securing said head to said connector tube and a second universal connector securing said snake to the opposite end of said connection tube, said connector tube being of sufficient length for that portion of the snake adjacent to the tube to be substantially resting on a lowermost portion of the pipe.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 27 words

The pipe inspection apparatus of claim 18, wherein said lateral opening of diameter smaller than an internal diameter of the pipe comprises a pre-existing lateral service opening.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 28 words

The pipe inspection apparatus of claim 32, wherein said pre-existing lateral service opening has a diameter which is less than approximately 1/3 the internal diameter of said pipe.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 146 words

Pipe inspection apparatus insertable into a four inch six pipeline through a standard lateral service opening, said apparatus comprising: (i) a compact pipe inspection head having a collapsed configuration and an extended configuration, said compact head being sized when in said collapsed configuration to pass through the standard lateral service opening, said opening being substantially less in size than an internal diameter of the pipeline, said compact head also including a viewing assembly for imaging the interior of the pipeline while in said extended configuration; and (ii) a flexible snake connected to said head for manually moving the head within the pipeline once the head is positioned therein in said extended configuration, said snake being sufficiently rigid so as to permit selective propelling or rotating of the head within the pipe to facilitate movement of the head therein and viewing of the interior of the pipe.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 146 words

Pipe inspection apparatus insertable into a four inch six pipeline through a standard lateral service opening, said apparatus comprising: (i) a compact pipe inspection head having a collapsed configuration and an extended configuration, said compact head being sized when in said collapsed configuration to pass through the standard lateral service opening, said opening being substantially less in size than an internal diameter of the pipeline, said compact head also including a viewing assembly for imaging the interior of the pipeline while in said extended configuration; and (ii) a flexible snake connected to said head for manually moving the head within the pipeline once the head is positioned therein in said extended configuration, said snake being sufficiently rigid so as to permit selective propelling or rotating of the head within the pipe to facilitate movement of the head therein and viewing of the interior of the pipe.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 56 words

The pipe inspection apparatus of claim 34, further comprising a control unit located external to the pipe and having an operator viewable display screen upon which the in-pipe image is projected in real time, and wherein communication between the pipe head and the control unit is accomplished via wires running through a center of the snake.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 18 words

The pipe inspection apparatus of claim 35, wherein said viewing assembly includes a camera and an illumination assembly.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 35 words

The pipe inspection apparatus of claim 36, wherein said illumination assembly comprises a plurality of lighting sets, the activation of each lighting set being controlled by an operator via switches contained in said control unit.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 18 words

The pipe inspection apparatus of claim 34, wherein said lateral service opening is 11/4 inch NPT in diameter.

Claim 43

Dependent Claim 19 words

The pipe inspection apparatus of claim 34, wherein said apparatus is intrinsically safe for inspection of a live pipeline.

Claim 44

Dependent Claim 39 words

The pipe inspection apparatus of claim 39, further comprising a control unit located external to the pipe, said control unit including energy barriers, resistors and voltage regulators for preventing undesirable levels of energy passing to the head and snake.

Claim 45

Dependent Claim 16 words

The pipe inspection apparatus of claim 40, wherein said live pipeline comprises a natural gas pipeline.

Claim 46

Dependent Claim 58 words

The pipe inspection apparatus of claim 34, further comprising a universal joint linkage positioned between said pipe head and said snake, said joint linkage facilitating hinging of said head for travel about a corner, and said joint linkage being sized to prevent the weight of the snake from affecting orientation of the head once positioned within the pipe.

Claim 47

Dependent Claim 154 words

An in-line pipe inspection/repair head comprising: a central, elongate body; and at least three outwardly biased members extending from said elongate body, said members being substantially symmetrically arranged about said body and sized such that when the head is positioned within a pipe said members approximately radially center said body about a central longitudinal axis of said pipe, each of said members including two bi-directional torsion spring legs pivotably secured to said body, each of said two bi-directional torsion spring legs being located adjacent opposite ends of said body, radially outer ends of said two legs being hingedly secured to a skid such that said two legs extend and collapse together, each of said members being independently collapsible towards said body when said member encounters a pipe obstruction and for facilitating the heads insertion into and removal from the pipe through a lateral opening of diameter smaller than an internal diameter of the pipe.

Claim 48

Dependent Claim 154 words

An in-line pipe inspection/repair head comprising: a central, elongate body; and at least three outwardly biased members extending from said elongate body, said members being substantially symmetrically arranged about said body and sized such that when the head is positioned within a pipe said members approximately radially center said body about a central longitudinal axis of said pipe, each of said members including two bi-directional torsion spring legs pivotably secured to said body, each of said two bi-directional torsion spring legs being located adjacent opposite ends of said body, radially outer ends of said two legs being hingedly secured to a skid such that said two legs extend and collapse together, each of said members being independently collapsible towards said body when said member encounters a pipe obstruction and for facilitating the heads insertion into and removal from the pipe through a lateral opening of diameter smaller than an internal diameter of the pipe.

Claim 49

Dependent Claim 21 words

The pipe head of claim 43, wherein said body is cylindrical and four biased members extend radially outwardly from said body.

Claim 50

Dependent Claim 15 words

The pipe head of claim 44, wherein each of said skids comprises a spring wire.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1996-03-22	1996-09-21	1997-03-23	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2000-03-22	2000-09-21	2001-03-23	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2004-03-22	2004-09-21	2005-03-23	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Internal pipe inspection system

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