US 11,865,928 B2
Generating power with a conduit inspection tool
Pablo Daniel Genta, Dhahran (SA); and Mohammed Zulaly, Dammam (SA)
Assigned to Saudi Arabian Oil Company, Dhahran (SA)
Filed by Saudi Arabian Oil Company, Dhahran (SA)
Filed on Nov. 24, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/534,852.
Prior Publication US 2023/0158900 A1, May 25, 2023
Int. Cl. B60L 53/12 (2019.01); H02K 7/02 (2006.01); H02K 7/116 (2006.01); B60L 50/30 (2019.01); B60L 50/90 (2019.01); B60L 50/60 (2019.01); B08B 9/049 (2006.01); F16L 55/32 (2006.01); B60L 50/53 (2019.01); F16L 101/30 (2006.01); F16L 101/12 (2006.01)
CPC B60L 53/12 (2019.02) [B08B 9/049 (2013.01); B60L 50/30 (2019.02); B60L 50/53 (2019.02); B60L 50/60 (2019.02); B60L 50/90 (2019.02); F16L 55/32 (2013.01); H02K 7/025 (2013.01); H02K 7/116 (2013.01); B08B 2209/04 (2013.01); F16L 2101/12 (2013.01); F16L 2101/30 (2013.01)] 30 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A conduit inspection tool system, comprising:
a conduit inspection tool that comprises:
a body that comprises 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, the at least two power generating sub-systems comprising a wheel-pipe coupler generator that comprises one or more gears rotatingly coupled to the one or more wheels and a flywheel, the flywheel configured to generate direct electrical power from rotation of the one or more gears based on movement of the one or more wheels in 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.