US 12,435,827 B2
Inspection tool
Robert Victor De Lorenzo, Seattle, WA (US); Paul Manzak, Kent, WA (US); Colum Mark Holtam, Stafford, TX (US); and Charles Jess Lee, Kent, WA (US)
Assigned to Quest Integrity USA, LLC, Stafford, TX (US)
Appl. No. 17/919,609
Filed by Quest Integrity USA, LLC, Houston, TX (US)
PCT Filed Apr. 21, 2021, PCT No. PCT/US2021/028321
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Oct. 18, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/216654, PCT Pub. Date Oct. 28, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/013,323, filed on Apr. 21, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0160518 A1, May 25, 2023
Int. Cl. F16L 55/48 (2006.01); F16L 55/32 (2006.01); F16L 55/38 (2006.01); F16L 101/30 (2006.01)
CPC F16L 55/48 (2013.01) [F16L 55/32 (2013.01); F16L 55/38 (2013.01); F16L 2101/30 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An inspection tool for inspecting a localized area of interest within a pipeline, the tool comprising:
(a) a communication module providing communication between the inspection tool and a remote controller;
(b) a sensor for detecting and analyzing abnormality within the localized area of interest;
(c) a long distance travel system;
(d) a localized travel system; and
(e) a controller configured for
controlling the localized travel system and the long distance travel system of the inspection tool, wherein the long distance travel system is a flow-driven navigation system configured for:
operating by blocking fluid flow in the pipeline when repositioning the inspection tool within the pipeline, and
not operating by unblocking fluid flow in the pipeline under a bypass mode when repositioning the inspection tool by the localized travel system.