B08B9/049

Inspection robot having self-aligning wheels

A system includes an inspection robot, comprising a plurality of wheels that engage an inspection surface; a plurality of sensors positioned to interrogate the inspection surface; and wherein the plurality of wheels each comprise a first magnetic hub coupled to a second magnetic hub, and wherein the plurality of wheels further define a channel between the magnetic hubs.

Nozzle inspection method and apparatus
10890427 · 2021-01-12 · ·

A method for inspecting a nozzle includes producing a jet from the nozzle, moving the nozzle to cause the jet to approach a stylus of a touch probe, generating a contact signal under a force acting on the stylus, and determining that the jet is appropriate in response to a contact signal received first after the jet has an axis at a distance from the stylus that is equal to or less than a first normal distance calculated from a normal jet shape.

Free running pig for pipeline remediation
20210003242 · 2021-01-07 ·

A remediation pig for cleaning a pipeline of wax or paraffin mechanically, with heating, and/or with jetting, comprising a body having an axis, an impeller mounted in the body to receive power from the flowing fluid within the pipeline, wheels mounted on the body for contacting the internal bore of the pipeline, the wheels being powered by the power received from the impeller and being mounted in a skewed position relative to a plane perpendicular to the axis such that as the wheels roll on the internal bore the remediation pig will move along the pipeline.

System, method, and apparatus for acoustic and magnetic induction thickness inspection of a material on a substrate

A system includes an inspection robot having a plurality of input sensors comprising a plurality of magnetic induction sensors and configured to provide inspection data of an inspection surface, wherein the inspection data comprises electromagnetic (EM) induction data, and wherein the plurality of input sensors are distributed horizontally relative to the inspection surface; wherein at least a portion of the inspection surface comprises a ferrous substrate having a non-ferrous coating thereupon; a controller, comprising: an EM data circuit structured to interpret the EM induction data, and to determine a substrate distance value in response to the EM induction data; and a thickness processing circuit structured to determine a thickness value in response to the EM induction data, the thickness value comprising a thickness of the non-ferrous coating.

SINGLE-DRIVE BIDIRECTIONAL-CRAWLING PIPE-CLEANING ROBOT

The present invention discloses a single-drive bidirectional-crawling pipe-cleaning robot, including a front body assembly, a transmission assembly, and a rear body assembly. The transmission assembly is driven by a single power source, and a transmission effect of a connecting rod mechanism, a gear mechanism, and an equal-dwell cam mechanism is used to implement alternate retraction and support of the front body assembly and the rear body assembly in a radial direction and a telescopic motion in an axial direction between the front body assembly and the rear body assembly and at the same time implement synchronous rotation of a dredging cutter head, so as to implement bidirectional crawling and pipe cleaning work of the robot along a pipe. The present invention is stable, reliable, compact, and practical, and implements single-drive bidirectional crawling and pipe cleaning in a pipe having a greatly changing pipe diameter, so that the obstacle negotiation performance and adaptability to pipe diameter changes of an in-pipe robot are effectively improved, the endurance of the in-pipe robot is improved, and practical engineering significance in cleaning of a horizontal pipe having a greatly changing pipe diameter is provided.

Tunnel cleaning device

The invention relates to a cleaning device for the dry cleaning of a tunnel, comprising a feeding device for feeding a flow of air to a surface being cleaned, wherein the feeding device has an exit opening, through which the flow of air emerges from the feeding device, and a removal device comprising at least one removal pipe with a free end with an opening for suctioning away direct or trash from the surface with the opening of the free end in a first direction. The feeding device is arranged such that the flow of air from the exit opening emerges from the feeding device in a second direction toward the opening of the free end of the removal pipe and impinges on the surface. The first direction is oriented at an angle between 45 and 80 to the second direction.

Tunnel cleaning device

The invention relates to a cleaning device for the dry cleaning of a tunnel, comprising a feeding device for feeding a flow of air to a surface being cleaned, wherein the feeding device has an exit opening, through which the flow of air emerges from the feeding device, and a removal device comprising at least one removal pipe with a free end with an opening for suctioning away direct or trash from the surface with the opening of the free end in a first direction. The feeding device is arranged such that the flow of air from the exit opening emerges from the feeding device in a second direction toward the opening of the free end of the removal pipe and impinges on the surface. The first direction is oriented at an angle between 45 and 80 to the second direction.

Generating power with a conduit inspection tool

A conduit inspection tool system includes a conduit inspection tool that includes a body that includes one or more wheels configured to move the body through and in contact with a conduit; at least two power generating sub-systems coupled to the body, each of the at least two power generating sub-systems configured to generate electrical power to operate the one or more wheels to move the body through and in contact with the conduit; and at least one energy storage device electrically coupled to the at least two power generating sub-systems, the at least one energy storage device configured to store electrical power generated by the at least two power generating sub-systems; and a control system communicably coupled to the at least two power generating sub-systems and the at least one energy storage device.

Generating power with a conduit inspection tool

A conduit inspection tool system includes a conduit inspection tool that includes a body that includes one or more wheels configured to move the body through and in contact with a conduit; at least two power generating sub-systems coupled to the body, each of the at least two power generating sub-systems configured to generate electrical power to operate the one or more wheels to move the body through and in contact with the conduit; and at least one energy storage device electrically coupled to the at least two power generating sub-systems, the at least one energy storage device configured to store electrical power generated by the at least two power generating sub-systems; and a control system communicably coupled to the at least two power generating sub-systems and the at least one energy storage device.

RECHARGING FOR AUTONOMOUS IN-PIPE VEHICLES

A rechargeable power source in an autonomous vehicle (AV) adapted to traverse within a pipe network is charged, the charging using mechanical power derived from a flow of material within the pipe network. A sensor in the AV is powered from the charged rechargeable power source. Using power from the rechargeable power source, the AV is caused to traverse within the pipe network.