Patent classifications
G01N2223/628
AUTOMATED CIRCUMFERENTIAL PIPE SCANNING SYSTEM
The present disclosure provide pipe scanning systems suitable for performing integrity and reliability inspection of pipelines, including insulated and non-insulated pipelines. The pipe scanning system may include a track disposed about a surface of the pipeline (e.g., on top of the insulation for insulated pipelines or on top of the pipe for non-insulated pipelines) and a scanning device mounted on the track via a drive carriage. The drive carriage includes components to facilitate movement of the drive carriage and the scanning device along the track such that the scanning device travels about the circumference of the pipeline. The scanning device includes an x-ray emitter and a digital x-ray detector that may capture media content indicative of a scanned section of the pipeline (e.g., a 360° circumferential scan), and the media content may be analyzed to detect the presence of one or more defects, such as corrosion under insulation (CUI).
FLEXIBLE DIGITAL DETECTOR ARRAY
A flexible digital detector array apparatus including a control system including a block control module, a gate control module, and at least one data module. The block control module and the gate control module can be arranged to execute a multiplexing operation. The apparatus can also include a flexible substrate coupled to the control system at an edge of the flexible substrate via a plurality of connectors. The flexible substrate can include a switching area including a plurality of switching pixels arranged within a plurality of blocks. Each switching pixel can be communicatively coupled to the block control module and the gate control module. The apparatus can also include a sensing area including an array of sensing pixels. The array of sensing pixels can generate image data responsive to X-rays incident thereon and provide the image data to the plurality of data modules. Each switching pixel of the plurality of switching pixels can be arranged to control a read state of a portion of sensing pixels.
Radiography inspection and fail-safe mechanism for pipe traversing robots
A radiography system for use on a pipe traversing robot, including a mechanism configured to automatically adjust the position(s) of a radiation source and/or an imager thereof based on a diameter of the pipe. Another radiography system including a computer vision system configured to process radiography imagery to define a measured interface between the pipe and insulation surrounding the pipe, and a control system configured to automatically adjust a position(s) of a radiation source and/or an imager thereof based on a location of or non-presence of the measured interface in the radiography imagery. A computer vision system for detecting potential anomalies in a pipe's surface. A fail safe mechanism configured to prevent a robot from falling off a pipe while allowing the robot to traverse obstacles extending from or tangential to the pipe. A robot having one or more fail safe mechanisms configured to be selectably extended and retracted.
Compact insertable x-ray fluorescence device for pipe inspection
Elemental composition of a pipe is determined by a fluorescence x-ray detector device. An outer housing of the device is inserted into the pipe via a flexible insertion member. A radioactive x-ray source is encompassed by a shield within the housing. A shutter selectively opens to enable radiation from the x-ray source to exit the shield and illuminate an inner wall of the pipe. An x-ray detector within the housing detects fluorescence x-rays emitted from the pipe upon illumination by the x-ray source. A controller then determines the presence of one or more elemental materials contained within the pipe based on the fluorescence x-rays.
Device, unit and method for detecting annular flooding with gamma transmission in a flexible pipe
The present invention is related to technologies used to inspect flexible undersea pipes, in particular to detect flooding of the annular space in said pipes. The present invention discloses a device for detecting annular flooding with gamma transmission in a flexible pipe, comprising a structure (07), in which said structure (07) contains in its interior, a first pressure vessel (10) containing an encapsulated radioactive source (03) in its interior, a second pressure vessel (11) containing radiation sensors (04) in its interior, and a third pressure vessel (12), containing electronic means for collecting and amplifying signals (05) in its interior, in which said radiation sensors (04) are connected to the electronic means (05) for collecting and amplifying signals using an internal cable (13). The present invention also discloses a unit for detecting annular flooding with gamma transmission in a flexible pipe based on the gamma transmission technique, comprising a device (50) for detecting annular flooding with gamma transmission in a flexible pipe (01) coupled to an ROV (02), in which coupling occurs through a control arm (08) of the ROV (02), and the device is controlled and operated exclusively via the umbilical cable (06) connected to the ROV (02), and a method for detecting annular flooding with gamma transmission in a flexible pipe.
RADIOGRAPHY INSPECTION AND FAIL-SAFE MECHANISM FOR PIPE TRAVERSING ROBOTS
A radiography system for use on a pipe traversing robot, including a mechanism configured to automatically adjust the position(s) of a radiation source and/or an imager thereof based on a diameter of the pipe. Another radiography system including a computer vision system configured to process radiography imagery to define a measured interface between the pipe and insulation surrounding the pipe, and a control system configured to automatically adjust a position(s) of a radiation source and/or an imager thereof based on a location of or non-presence of the measured interface in the radiography imagery. A computer vision system for detecting potential anomalies in a pipe's surface. A fail safe mechanism configured to prevent a robot from falling off a pipe while allowing the robot to traverse obstacles extending from or tangential to the pipe. A robot having one or more fail safe mechanisms configured to be selectably extended and retracted.
X-RAY WELD INSPECTION
An x-ray weld inspection apparatus has at least one x-ray source, at least one x-ray detector, a motor arrangement configured to move the at least one x-ray source and the at least one x-ray detector substantially along a weld, and a control device. The control device comprises memory and at least one processing core, configured to control the motor arrangement to move the at least one x-ray source and the at least one x-ray detector during an x-ray weld scan substantially along the direction of the weld. At least one section of the weld is imaged at least twice during a single x-ray scan, producing at least two imaging data sets, respectively. An angle of incidence of x-rays at the at least one section of the weld is different for the imaging data sets.
Radiographic inspection system for pipes and other structures and material loss estimation
Some embodiments include a radiographic inspection system, comprising: a drive mechanism configured to move along a structure; a detector attached to the drive mechanism; a radiation source attached to the drive mechanism and positionable relative to the detector such that a width of the structure casts a radiation shadow on an active area of the detector; and control logic coupled to the detector and configured to: receive an image from the detector; generate side wall loss information based on the image; and generate bottom wall loss information based on the image.
Imaging system for industrial equipment and process
An imaging process for industrial equipment is described using gamma-ray or X-ray profiling techniques and tomographic image reconstruction, wherein (a) a radiation emission subsystem with at least one radiation source emits that passes through an industrial equipment to be analyzed by imaging; (b) a radiation detection subsystem with at least one radiation detector detects the energy of the radiation emitted by the radiation emission subsystem that has passed through said industrial equipment; (c) processing and imaging means receive and evaluate the radiation samples detected by the radiation detection subsystem and generate a tomogram of the analyzed region, selecting the radiation samples detected with an energy value within a range of values corresponding to a maximum defined scattering angle of the radiation emitted by the radiation source, and generating a tomographic reconstruction of images of the industrial equipment based on these selected radiation samples.
Training data creation method and device, and defect inspection method and device
Provided are a training data creation method and device, and a defect inspection method and device capable of securing the accuracy of defect inspection even though the number of samples of a defect to be used in creating training data is small. The training data creation method includes acquiring a training-use image including a received light image created based on reflected light or transmitted light from an inspection object having a defect obtained by irradiating the inspection object with light rays or radiation, executing frequency distribution analysis on the training-use image, receiving an input of a parameter for designating a frequency bandwidth, selecting a frequency bandwidth signal from an analysis result of the frequency distribution analysis according to the frequency bandwidth designated by the parameter, acquiring defect information indicating a defect for an image corresponding to the frequency bandwidth signal, and creating training data to be used in learning of a defect inspection device, which inspects a defect of the inspection object, based on the defect information.