초록 ▼

An in-line inspection tool comprising sensors and sensor housings is disclosed. Each sensor housing may contain at least one sensor. The tool may further comprise a structure comprising a central axis and a plurality of sensor mounts distributed circumferentially about the central axis. Each sensor

An in-line inspection tool comprising sensors and sensor housings is disclosed. Each sensor housing may contain at least one sensor. The tool may further comprise a structure comprising a central axis and a plurality of sensor mounts distributed circumferentially about the central axis. Each sensor mount may support a different sensor housing. The plurality of sensor mounts may support the sensor housings such that the first end of each sensor housing circumferentially overlaps the second end of an adjacent sensor housing. By overlapping, sensor housings may support sensors with substantially uniform spacing around the circumference of the inspection tool in normal operation and still allow sensor housings to move relative to one another to accommodate changes in the dimension of the circumference.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is: 1. An in-line inspection tool for inspecting a pipeline while traveling therethrough, the in-line inspection tool comprising:a plurality of sensors, each sensor thereof comprising a magnetic flux sensor;a plurality of sens

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is: 1. An in-line inspection tool for inspecting a pipeline while traveling therethrough, the in-line inspection tool comprising:a plurality of sensors, each sensor thereof comprising a magnetic flux sensor;a plurality of sensor housings, each sensor housing thereof being substantially rigid, comprising a first end and a second end spaced from the first end, and containing a single row of sensors of the plurality of sensors;a structure comprising a central axis and a plurality of sensor mounts distributed circumferentially about the central axis;the structure, wherein each sensor mount of the plurality of sensor mounts supports a different sensor housing of the plurality of sensor housings; andthe structure, wherein the plurality of sensor mounts supports the plurality of sensor housings such thatthe first end of each sensor housing of the plurality of sensor housings circumferentially overlaps, and is located axially behind, the second end of an adjacent sensor housing of the plurality of sensor housings, andeach sensor housing of the plurality of sensor housings is permitted to pivot about a different radial axis intersecting perpendicularly with the central axis.