US 12,436,132 B1
Weld seam finding and marking systems and methods for tubular goods
Danny Uselton, Spring, TX (US); and John Zeigler, The Woodlands, TX (US)
Assigned to PITCO, LLC, Houston, TX (US)
Filed by PITCO, LLC, Houston, TX (US)
Filed on Jan. 12, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/153,456.
Int. Cl. G01N 27/9093 (2021.01); G01N 27/9013 (2021.01); G01N 27/904 (2021.01); G01N 33/207 (2019.01)
CPC G01N 27/9093 (2013.01) [G01N 27/902 (2013.01); G01N 27/904 (2013.01); G01N 33/207 (2019.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A longitudinal weld seam finding and marking system for longitudinally welded tubular members (P) comprising:
(a) a longitudinal weld seam detection assembly (LWSDA, 2) and a marking assembly (30) configured to be positioned about a longitudinally welded tubular member (LWTM, P) in an inspection position, the LWSDA (2) comprising a head (5) configured to be rotated about the LWTM, the head (5) configured to be rotated supporting a magnetic flux generator including a flux return (4), and supporting one or more sensors (20) supported by the flux return (4) and sensor supports (18), the marking assembly (30) comprising one or more marking heads (32);
(b) the LWSDA (2) and the marking assembly (30) each having an inlet opening and an outlet opening for passing the LWTM (P) therethrough, the one or more sensors (20) comprising one or more magnetic or eddy current detectors adapted to be spaced a distance (D) from an outer surface (22) of the LWTM (P) during an inspection;
(c) a computer programmed to
(i) accept longitudinal weld seam detection signals transmitted from the one or more sensors (20) and convert the longitudinal weld seam detection signals into positioning information for the marking assembly (30) to mark the longitudinal weld seam (S);
(ii) transmit a first signal to rotate the marking assembly (30) to a position where one of the one or more marking heads (32) can mark the longitudinal weld seam (S);
(iii) transmit a second signal to initiate the marking assembly (30);
(d) the marking assembly (30) configured to mark the LWTM (P) on the outer surface (22) with at least one mark (M) using the one of the one or more marking heads (32) to indicate a location of the longitudinal weld seam (S) of the LWTM (P) in accordance with the longitudinal weld seam detection signals;
the marking assembly is configured to be non-adjustable for diameter of the LWTM (P) during an inspection of the LWTM (P); and
the LWSDA comprises a flux return (4) bridging a first magnet core (6) and a second magnet core (8), a first electrically conductive coil (10) wrapped around the first magnet core (6), a second electrically conductive coil (12) wrapped around the second magnet core (8), a first DC power source (14) for the first electrically conductive coil (10), and a second DC power source (16) for the second electrically conductive coil (12).