US 12,331,869 B2
Inspection device and inspection unit
Andrey Danilov, Lingen (DE); Ben Bosse, Lingen (DE); and Patrik Rosen, Meppen (DE)
Assigned to Rosen IP AG, Stans (CH)
Appl. No. 17/760,247
Filed by ROSEN SWISS AG, Stans (CH)
PCT Filed Feb. 5, 2021, PCT No. PCT/EP2021/052790
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Aug. 5, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/156433, PCT Pub. Date Aug. 12, 2021.
Claims priority of application No. 10 2020 102 951.9 (DE), filed on Feb. 5, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0054659 A1, Feb. 23, 2023
Int. Cl. F16L 55/28 (2006.01); F16L 55/26 (2006.01); H04N 5/76 (2006.01); H04N 7/18 (2006.01); H04N 23/60 (2023.01); F16L 101/30 (2006.01)
CPC F16L 55/28 (2013.01) [H04N 5/76 (2013.01); H04N 7/188 (2013.01); H04N 23/60 (2023.01); F16L 2101/30 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An inspection device for examining pipelines, the inspection device comprising:
a sensor carrier, which in operation is rollable through the pipeline, the sensor carrier including:
an at least essentially circular base plate defining a circumference in a cross section that runs transverse to an axis of rotation,
at least one stabilizing means disposed along the circumference, the at least one stabilizing means including a plurality of permanent magnets radially spaced from the axis of rotation,
a sensor unit supported by and extending through the base plate, the sensor unit extending beyond the plurality of permanent magnets;
wherein the inspection device moves in a direction at least substantially transverse to the axis of rotation and rolls on the at least essentially circular circumference during operation;
wherein the inspection device is configured to be passively driven by a medium flowing through the pipeline, and
wherein, as the inspection device rolls along a magnetizable pipe wall of the pipeline, the plurality of permanent magnets induce eddy currents in the magnetizable pipe wall that counteract positive acceleration of the inspection device for increased stability of the inspection device during operation.