An inspection system and method with a variable-diameter traveling robot for inspection of a natural gas pipeline. The inspection system includes a pipeline inspection robot, a cable reel, a hydraulic pump and an information acquisition control terminal. The pipeline inspection robot includes an electronic cabin and a traveling mechanism. The electronic cabin includes a first digital camera, a second digital camera, a first digital camera mounting plate, a second digital camera mounting plate, a drum, a printed circuit board, a magnetic flux leakage probe, and a backup battery. The traveling mechanism includes a first traveling part, a second traveling part, an inner ratchet, an inner ratchet base, a slider, a long shaft, a hydraulic cylinder, and a hydraulic pipe. The cable reel includes a power line, a conversion module, and a communication line. The information acquisition control terminal is a mobile terminal having an analysis module and a control module.

A non-destructive testing device includes a tubular housing including a proximal end and a distal end. A conduit section is arranged at the proximal end, and a bendable articulation section secured to the conduit section and arranged at the distal end. A plurality of actuation systems each includes a control cable extending along the tubular housing and arranged at a respective circumferential position within the bendable articulation section, and an actuator disposed at the proximal end of the tubular housing and secured to the control cable.

A video pipe inspection system may include a push-cable, camera head, and pipe guide having a pair of cylindrical shells, with each shell having a plurality of radially extending circumferentially spaced vanes and structure for holding the shells together when the shells are axially mated end-to-end. A pair of curved tab arms may extend circumferentially about corresponding ones of the cylindrical shells. A pair of slide-locks may be configured to slide over corresponding ones of the tab arms to move them into a locking position in which keys on the tab arms extend between adjacent coils of a coil spring surrounded by the shells.

Apparatus (1) for checking tyres, comprising: a support frame (2); a flange (3); and an acquisition system (4) of three-dimensional images of a surface of a tyre, the acquisition system being mounted on the support frame and comprising: a matrix camera (5), a linear laser source (7), and a reflecting surface (12) which intersects the propagation axis (9) of the linear laser beam and the optical axis (6) of the matrix camera (5), wherein a first angle (50) formed between a first section (14) and a second section (31) of the optical axis (6) mutually symmetrical with respect to a normal to the reflecting surface in the respective point of incidence to the reflecting surface, is obtuse, and wherein a second angle (51) formed between a first section (16) and a second section (32) of the propagation axis (9) mutually symmetrical with respect to a normal to the reflecting surface in the respective point of incidence to the reflecting surface, is obtuse.

A probe driver may include a coupling that interfaces with a conduit section at a first position of the conduit section. A probe driver may also have one or more positioning elements to reposition the conduit section to interface with the coupling at a second position of conduit section in response to one or more commands based on a recorded inspection, where through completing the one or more commands is configured to initiate a second inspection identical to the recorded inspection.

An insertion apparatus includes an insertion end positionable within a cavity and configured to travel through the cavity, a steering end opposite the insertion end, and a body extending from the insertion end to the steering end and sized to fit within the cavity. The body includes a plurality of members flexibly coupled together and individually actuated. Each member of the plurality of members includes at least one actuator strand. At least one member of the plurality of members has a first configuration in which the at least one member of the plurality of members has a first stiffness and a second configuration in which the at least one member of the plurality of members has a second stiffness greater than the first stiffness. At least a portion of the body is flexible to facilitate travel of the body through the cavity when the at least one member of the plurality of members is in the first configuration. The at least a portion of the body is configured to maintain a selected shape when the at least one member of the plurality of members is in the second configuration.

An arrangement and method are disclosed for inserting and removing a head of a measuring device to and from a process space. The arrangement includes a measuring device with a measuring head and a retractor tool connected to a valve member. The retractor tool includes rails, a cradle for receiving the measuring device and arranged to slide along the rails, and a driving mechanism for moving the cradle. A valve lock mechanism prevents opening of the valve member if the measuring device is not at a location barring a fluid flow from the process space, and the head of the measuring device is insertable to the process space when the measuring device is received in the cradle.

Video inspection systems with moveable and dockable CCUs are disclosed. In one embodiment a video inspection system includes a tubular frame element, a camera control unit (CCU), and a docking apparatus mechanically coupled to the frame element so as to allow the CCU to rotate and/or be detached are attached via a user action.

Apparatus (1) for checking tyres, comprising: a support frame (2); a flange (3); and an acquisition system (4) of three-dimensional images of a surface of a tyre, the acquisition system being mounted on the support frame and comprising: a matrix camera (5), a linear laser source (7), and a reflecting surface (12) which intersects the propagation axis (9) of the linear laser beam and the optical axis (6) of the matrix camera (5), wherein a first angle (50) formed between a first section (14) and a second section (31) of the optical axis (6) mutually symmetrical with respect to a normal to the reflecting surface in the respective point of incidence to the reflecting surface, is obtuse, and wherein a second angle (51) formed between a first section (16) and a second section (32) of the propagation axis (9) mutually symmetrical with respect to a normal to the reflecting surface in the respective point of incidence to the reflecting surface, is obtuse.

A rotatable pipeline inspection module assesses the condition of a pipeline wall when the module is deployed into a pipeline containing a liquid. The module includes at least one sensor, the sensor configured to collect information useful for assessing the condition of a pipeline wall as the sensor is moved within the pipeline. A body is configured to mount the at least one sensor. The module is operatively securable to a cable for tethering the module to a location outside of the pipeline. The body is actuatable to rotate in relation to the module when the module is secured to the cable.