US 11,746,962 B2
Movable device for inspecting a production line partially submerged in an expanse of water, suitable for negotiating a curve in the production line, and associated installation and method
Philippe Espinasse, Bihorel (FR); Olivier Gageonnet, Maisons Laffitte (FR); Olivier Bernard, Rousset (FR); and Cédric Lauzier, Marseilles (FR)
Assigned to TECHNIP FRANCE
Appl. No. 16/462,564
Filed by TECHNIP FRANCE, Courbevoie (FR)
PCT Filed Nov. 21, 2017, PCT No. PCT/EP2017/079910
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date May 21, 2019,
PCT Pub. No. WO2018/091734, PCT Pub. Date May 24, 2018.
Claims priority of application No. 16 61288 (FR), filed on Nov. 21, 2016.
Prior Publication US 2020/0056745 A1, Feb. 20, 2020
Int. Cl. F17D 5/02 (2006.01); F17D 5/00 (2006.01); G01N 27/9013 (2021.01); G01N 29/22 (2006.01); G01N 29/265 (2006.01)
CPC F17D 5/02 (2013.01) [F17D 5/005 (2013.01); G01N 27/902 (2013.01); G01N 29/225 (2013.01); G01N 29/265 (2013.01); G01N 2291/2634 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A movable device to inspect a production line intended to be partially submerged in a body of water, including:
an inspection support bearing at least one sensor configured to be positioned facing the production line;
an attaching and moving assembly configured to attach to and to move on the production line, the attaching and moving assembly being connected to the inspection support,
the attaching and moving assembly including at least two clamps configured to be selectively actuated to grip onto the production line, each clamp delimiting a central passage having a longitudinal axis, the central passage being configured to receive the production line,
the clamps being longitudinally movable relative to one another along the production line, the attaching and moving assembly comprising an active mechanism configured to move the clamps longitudinally relative to one another, the active mechanism comprising a first longitudinal jack mounted on the first side of the clamps, and a second longitudinal jack, mounted on a second side of the clamps,
the attaching and moving assembly including a tilting mechanism configured to tilt the clamps relative to one another, between a position parallel to one another and a position tilted relative to one another,
the tilting mechanism comprising a flexion bar configured to pass from a straight configuration, in the parallel position of the clamps to a curved configuration in the tilted position of the clamps,
wherein the tilting mechanism comprises a jacket movable jointly with a first clamp from among the at least two clamps, the flexion bar being movable jointly with a second clamp from among the at least two clamps, the flexion bar being mounted translatable in the jacket, between a position inserted in the jacket and a position removed from the jacket, and the flexion bar includes a rod, the jacket defining a housing receiving the flexion bar, with a section larger than that of the rod, the jacket including a guide sleeve of the rod, with a cross-section complementary to that of the rod, the flexion bar comprising a head for guiding the movement of the flexion bar in the jacket, with a cross-section complementary to the receiving housing of the jacket, the clamps being received in the space with a triangular cross-section defined between the flexion bar, the first longitudinal jack, and the second longitudinal jack.