An inspection apparatus for melting furnaces that can be used in the steel industry, includes an inspection head and a positioning support, said inspection head including a rotating table. Said inspection head includes one or more image detection devices attached on said rotating table and which rotate in a manner integral with it. Said positioning support is suitable for the insertion of the inspection head into said melting furnace through an inlet aperture of the melting furnace. Also disclosed is an inspection method for melting furnaces that can be used in the steel industry, by means of an inspection apparatus.

A tool stabilization mechanism is disclosed including a stabilizing device connected to a tool and movable between a deployed position and a non-deployed position, and an actuator for actuating the stabilizing device to move between the deployed position and the non-deployed position. In some forms the tool stabilization mechanism is integrated into a borescope unit, while in other forms it may be an accessory attachable to conventional borescope units. Related methods to the above are also disclosed herein.

A method of performing a selected task in a tank containing an energetic substance uses an inherently safe mobile platform that includes a marker detector, a control unit, a power supply, a propulsion system, and an inherently safe enclosure. The inherently safe enclosure prevents a spark occurring inside the inherently safe enclosure from passing to an exterior of the inherently safe enclosure. All spark-generating components of the mobile platform are positioned inside the inherently safe enclosure. The method includes lowering the mobile platform into the tank, at least partially submerging the mobile platform in the energetic substance, and detecting a marker using the marker detector. No active physical carrier connects the mobile platform to an object exterior of the tank while the mobile platform is in the tank.

A control system includes one or more processors configured to determine when to extend a life span of an engine by applying an additional restorative coating to the engine based on one or more monitored parameters of the engine. The monitored parameters include a condition of a previously applied restorative coating. The one or more processors are configured to determine the condition of the previously applied restorative coating based on an optical response of the previously applied restorative coating. The one or more processors also are configured to direct application of the additional restorative coating based on the one or more monitored parameters of the engine.

The present disclosure relates to a wireless communication system and communication method for a cableless detection robot for a gas pipeline. The wireless communication system includes an antenna assembly, a repeater assembly and a repeater retracting device, wherein the antenna assembly is fixed to the gas pipeline and extends into the interior of the gas pipeline, the repeater assembly is provided with at least one set, and the repeater retracting device is connected to the robot and used for retracting the repeater assembly along the gas pipeline, the antenna assembly, the repeater assembly and the robot are connected through a wireless signal having a wavelength less than 3.41r, wherein r represents the radius of the gas pipeline. The wireless communication system has the advantages of simple structure, low cost, convenient use, safety and reliability, and solves the problem that the automatic force cableless detection robot cannot perform a long-distance internal detection operation due to shielding wireless signals by the pipeline. The communication method has the advantages of easy implementation, convenient control and reliable communication.

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 method for controlling charge accumulation on a mobile platform in a tank containing a non-conductive, energetic substance includes configuring the mobile platform to include at least an electrical power supply and a charge accumulation control system. The power supplied from the electrical power supply to one or more electrical power consumers associated with the mobile platform adds an electrical charge to the mobile platform. The charge accumulation control system controls an accumulation of the electrical charge on the mobile platform by one of: (i) reducing the supplied power and preventing an increase in the supplied power later while the mobile platform is inside the tank, and (ii) disengaging the electrical power consumer(s) from the supplied power and preventing a reengagement of the supplied power with the electrical power consumer(s) later while the mobile platform is inside the tank.

The present disclosure relates to a wireless communication system and communication method for a cableless detection robot for a gas pipeline. The wireless communication system includes an antenna assembly, a repeater assembly and a repeater retracting device, wherein the antenna assembly is fixed to the gas pipeline and extends into the interior of the gas pipeline, the repeater assembly is provided with at least one set, and the repeater retracting device is connected to the robot and used for retracting the repeater assembly along the gas pipeline, the antenna assembly, the repeater assembly and the robot are connected through a wireless signal having a wavelength less than 3.41r, wherein r represents the radius of the gas pipeline. The wireless communication system has the advantages of simple structure, low cost, convenient use, safety and reliability, and solves the problem that the automatic force cableless detection robot cannot perform a long-distance internal detection operation due to shielding wireless signals by the pipeline. The communication method has the advantages of easy implementation, convenient control and reliable communication.

A method of performing a selected task in a tank at least partially filled with an energetic substance includes, in part, configuring a mobile platform to be inherently safe by positioning spark-generating components in either or both of: (i) an inherently safe enclosure that prevents a spark occurring inside the inherently safe enclosure from passing to an exterior of the inherently safe enclosure, and (ii) a spark-neutralizing body formed of at least one non-flammable substance and positioned inside an enclosure, the spark-neutralizing body blocking direct contact between a spark from the enclosed spark-generating component and an energetic substance from occurring inside the at least one enclosure. The method also includes positioning at least one spark-generating component not inside any inherently safe enclosure that prevents a spark occurring inside the inherently safe enclosure from passing to an exterior of the inherently safe enclosure. The sparks are capable of igniting the energetic substances.

A method of retrieving a mobile platform from a tank having a hatch and at least partially filled with a non-conductive, energetic substance includes configuring the mobile platform to include at least a retrieval system disposed at least partially on an enclosure. The retrieval system includes at least: a primary tether connected to a buoyant body and to the enclosure, and a secondary tether connected to the buoyant body and to the enclosure. The method further includes: predetermining a buoyant body retrieval zone within the tank, and positioning a released buoyant body within the buoyant body retrieval zone by using the primary tether. The method also includes retrieving the primary tether by using the buoyant body; using the primary tether to release the secondary tether; and inserting a retrieval member through the hatch to retrieve the buoyant body, the primary tether, and/or the secondary tether.