US 11,931,612 B2
Method and apparatus for launching and recovering a remote inspection device from a volatile fluid storage tank
Troy L. Staires, Katy, TX (US); Benjamin C. Moore, Houston, TX (US); Jerome Vaganay, Norwell, MA (US); Eric Levitt, Camden, ME (US); and William O'Halloran, Boston, MA (US)
Assigned to PHILLIPS 66 COMPANY, Houston, TX (US)
Filed by PHILLIPS 66 COMPANY, Houston, TX (US)
Filed on Dec. 28, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/090,178.
Application 18/090,178 is a division of application No. 16/539,697, filed on Aug. 13, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/718,145, filed on Aug. 13, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2023/0138010 A1, May 4, 2023
Int. Cl. A62C 3/06 (2006.01); A62C 99/00 (2010.01); B08B 3/02 (2006.01); B08B 9/027 (2006.01); B63C 3/06 (2006.01); B65D 90/44 (2006.01); B65D 90/48 (2006.01); B66F 11/04 (2006.01); B66F 19/00 (2006.01); G01N 35/00 (2006.01); B25H 1/14 (2006.01); B25H 3/00 (2006.01); B65H 75/36 (2006.01); E04G 3/30 (2006.01); G01N 21/90 (2006.01); G01N 21/954 (2006.01); G01N 29/26 (2006.01); G01N 29/265 (2006.01)
CPC A62C 3/065 (2013.01) [A62C 99/0036 (2013.01); B08B 3/02 (2013.01); B08B 9/027 (2013.01); B63C 3/06 (2013.01); B65D 90/44 (2013.01); B65D 90/48 (2013.01); B66F 11/04 (2013.01); B66F 19/00 (2013.01); G01N 35/0099 (2013.01); B25H 1/14 (2013.01); B25H 3/00 (2013.01); B65H 75/368 (2013.01); B65H 2403/544 (2013.01); E04G 3/30 (2013.01); G01N 21/909 (2013.01); G01N 2021/9548 (2013.01); G01N 29/262 (2013.01); G01N 29/265 (2013.01); G01N 2201/0218 (2013.01); G01N 2291/0234 (2013.01); G01N 2291/0258 (2013.01); G01N 2291/2636 (2013.01); G01N 2291/2695 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for deploying an inspection device into a vessel containing a fluid therein, comprising:
disposing a vapor suppression layer on the fluid within the vessel;
displacing a first gas within an internal volume of a launching system with a first inert gas, the internal volume disposed within a closable chamber of the launching system;
transitioning the closable chamber of the launching system from a closed position to an open position; and
passing the inspection device from the launching system into the fluid within the vessel.