IN-TUBE VEHICLE WITH OFF-LINE POWER SUPPLY Russian patent published in 2003 - IPC

FIELD: servicing large-diameter trunk pipelines. SUBSTANCE: vehicle has chassis incorporating annular continuous-flow casing with open ends; hanger assemblies for supporting wheels mounted on mentioned casing that function to hold chassis in position along pipeline axis; sealing members on outer surface of annular casing that form non-pressurized annular compartment for equipment; electric generator coupled with axial-flow turbine operating on product being conveyed; and device for adjusting flow section of turbine which is installed in flow path of annular casing and has remote-control drive. Vehicle is equipped with cylindrical barrel incorporating pressurized compartment for equipment and installed inside annular casing along its axis, as well as with shell enclosing mentioned barrel and used to divide annular flow path into external annular channel mounting device for adjusting flow section of annular casing flow path and internal annular channel for feeding axial-flow turbine. The latter is mounted on butt-end of cylindrical casing; electric generator is disposed in pressurized compartment and coupled with turbine through contactless magnetic clutch. EFFECT: enhanced utilization of conveyed product potential energy; reduced level of vibration loads. 7 cl, 5 dwg