PROCESS OF FLAW DETECTION INSPECTION OF PIPE-LINES AND GEAR FOR ITS IMPLEMENTATION Russian patent published in 2001 - IPC

FIELD: flaw detection. SUBSTANCE: invention refers to technology and equipment designed to detect flaws in walls of pipe-lines. In accordance with process flaw detection gears of piston type are moved inside pipe-line by flow of fluid medium and/or by drive with deceleration of their travel with reference to fluid medium or with complete stops. Ring conduits between bodies of gears and internal surface of pipe-line are open to let fluid medium pass with deceleration of gears or with their stops. Information is recorded by flaw detection methods as well as parameters of fluid medium in examined zone. Then ring conduits are closed and operations mentioned-above are repeated on same section of pipe-line. Then gear is moved to next examined section of pipe-line and process is repeated . Gear for flaw detection inspection is manufactured in the form of one or several cylindrical modules flexibly joined and their diameter is substantially less than inner diameter of pipe-line. Modules rest against wheels put on levers. Gear includes piston rings positioned in bodies of modules and overlapping ring conduits between bodies and internal surface of pipe-line, deceleration system including facilities of mechanical braking against walls of pipe-line, device measuring path covered ( odometer ) whose sensitive element is one or several wheels rotating freely with travel of gear along pipe-line, sensitive elements of devices of flaw detection methods placed on bodies of modules, aboard equipment to record flaw detection information and parameters of fluid medium, equipment controlling movement of gear. All elements and units of gear are electrically intercoupled. Gear also includes supporting wheels to conduct its additional movements, facility converting energy of fluid medium flowing through overflow conduits with deceleration of movement or with stops of gear to energy stored aboard gear, transmitters of parameters of fluid medium mounted in ring conduits in zones where information on condition of pipe-line is recorded and equipment allowing change of condition of damaged sections of pipe-line with its loading to be registered. EFFECT: increased reliability of determination of various flaws in pipe-lines. 10 cl, 2 dwg