US 11,841,293 B2
In line inspection strain device method and apparatus for performing in line joint inspections
Gary Dean Littlestar, Houston, TX (US); Christopher Dean Littlestar, Houston, TX (US); Aron Robert Ekelund, Houston, TX (US); and Ivan Capistran Mandich, New Orleans, LA (US)
Assigned to SMART PIPE COMPANY, INC., Houston, TX (US)
Filed by SMART PIPE COMPANY, INC., Houston, TX (US)
Filed on Feb. 25, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/185,783.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/981,155, filed on Feb. 25, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0262888 A1, Aug. 26, 2021
Int. Cl. G01M 3/28 (2006.01); H04W 4/80 (2018.01); E21B 47/007 (2012.01); E21B 47/01 (2012.01); E21B 17/02 (2006.01); E21B 17/08 (2006.01)
CPC G01M 3/2861 (2013.01) [E21B 47/007 (2020.05); G01M 3/2815 (2013.01); G01M 3/2853 (2013.01); H04W 4/80 (2018.02); E21B 17/02 (2013.01); E21B 17/08 (2013.01); E21B 47/01 (2013.01)] 9 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system to inspect and monitor stress, strain, leakage, corrosion and disjointing of rigid metallic and non-metallic connector fittings used to join sections of non-metallic flexible reinforced thermoplastic pipe (RTP), as well as inspecting and monitoring the structural health of the RTP in the area of those connections comprising:
a. one or more casement shields concentrically mounted on and adhered with liquid type epoxy to the outer surface of the RTP at or adjacent to the connection with a rigid connector fitting;
b. monitoring sensors installed in the casement shields, where said sensors are positively tied to the RTP by adherence of the casement shields to the outer surface of the RTP, and;
c. a management system for receiving, processing and transmitting information gathered from the sensors via Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) or other computerized means for monitoring and regulating strain impact, determining stress level and direction, potential leaks and temperature spikes at connector fitting areas.