US 11,874,253 B1
Apparatus, systems, and methods for discriminate high-speed inspection of tubulars
John Tolman, Humble, TX (US); Danny Uselton, Spring, TX (US); and John Zeigler, The Woodlands, TX (US)
Assigned to SCAN SYSTEMS CORP., The Woodlands, TX (US)
Filed by SCAN SYSTEMS, CORP, The Woodlands, TX (US)
Filed on Jun. 22, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/846,127.
Application 17/846,127 is a continuation of application No. 16/987,232, filed on Aug. 6, 2020, granted, now 11,402,351.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/889,382, filed on Aug. 20, 2019.
Int. Cl. G01N 27/90 (2021.01); G01N 27/9093 (2021.01); G01N 27/904 (2021.01)
CPC G01N 27/9006 (2013.01) [G01N 27/904 (2013.01); G01N 27/9093 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A high-speed tubular member electromagnetic inspection (EMI) system comprising:
(a) at least one magnetic flux generator (14) contained in a coil annulus (18) and a detector assembly (16) supported by the coil annulus (18);
(b) the coil annulus (18) and the detector assembly (16) each having inlet and outlet openings (10, 12) for passing a tubular member (2) there through, the detector assembly (16) having one or more magnetic detectors (20), and one or more eddy current detectors (22), the one or more magnetic detectors (20) and the one or more eddy current detectors (22) configured to be spaced a first distance from the tubular member (2) during an inspection, the system configured to inspect tubular members (2) of different diameters, the system comprising radially adjustable, locking, telescoping sensor supports (26, 27) supporting the one or more magnetic detectors (20) and the one or more eddy current detectors (22);
(c) the one or more magnetic detectors (20) and the one or more eddy current detectors (22) each contained in one or more EMI detector shoes (30); and
(d) a conveyor (13) and a drive mechanism (24), the drive mechanism (24) configured to drive the tubular member (2) through the coil annulus (18) at a speed of at least about 150 ft./min (at least about 46 m/min).