Texaco Inc.

The Texas Pipe Line Company

Carlton M Slough

Edwin L Colling, Jr

Wendell W Dedman

Earl M Romero

Edward B Selden, Iii

Stephen A Cruser

James H Bluhm

An AC ohmeter is adapted for testing insulated pipe flanges where flammable substances are involved. It employs a low frequency, low voltage oscillator and includes a precision rectifier. The output of the rectifier is smoothed and applied to a dual comparator circuit such that high, low and intermediate resistance readings are obtained.

Low voltage AC ohmeter

The present invention is a system and method for determining the onset of scale in a pipeline carrying a petroleum liquid. A source provides electrical energy to a heating element in a housing adapted to fit in the pipeline. The housing also encloses a sensor for sensing the temperature of the petroleum liquid and providing a corresponding electrical signal. The housing is arranged with the heating element and the sensor in such a manner that there is heat transfer to and from the petroleum liquid so that as scale starts to coat the housing it affects the transfer of heat.

Scale monitoring means and method

An electrostatic field meter includes a field head which develops an electrical charge representative of the strength of an electrostatic field at the location of the field head. The electrical charge is converted to an AC signal which is then provided to metering apparatus. The metering apparatus provides an indication of the strength of the electrostatic field in accordance with the AC signal.

Electrostatic field meter

The present invention is an apparatus and method for use in a flammable fluid distribution facility where a tanker truck or tanker ship onloads the flammable fluid and transports it to one or more locations. The present invention includes pumps for pumping the flammable fluid into the tanker and a monitor which monitors the tanker at the distribution facility to sense the presence and the strength of an electrostatic field and providing a field signal representative of the field strength of the electrostatic field. Circuitry connected to the monitor and to the pumps stops the pumping of the flammable fluid into the tanker when the field signal from the monitor indicates an unsafe strength of the electrostatic field.

Safety means and method for the handling of flammable fluids

A method of measuring the rate of corrosion of a metallic structure that is subjected to a corrosive ambience. It subjects a thin metallic enclosure to the same ambience as the metallic structure is subjected to. The thin enclosure is subjected to the ambience on one side, while it maintains a different condition on the other side of the enclosure. Then, it detects a change when the different condition is no longer maintained due to the thin enclosure having corroded through. A probe for detecting the corrosion rate of metallic piping or the like. It includes a thin metal enclosure mounted with one side subjected to the corrosive ambience acting upon the piping. There is means for subjecting the other side of the thin enclosure to a condition that is different from that of the corrosive ambience. And, there is a means for detecting a change of the different condition when the thin metal enclosure corrodes through.

Apparatus for detecting corrosion rate

A paraffin monitor includes a pair of probes which are immersed in a medium having paraffin contained therein. A circuit is connected to the probes which provides an output voltage. The characteristics of the electric circuit changes over a period of time, causing a corresponding change in the voltage output, in accordance with a change in the amount of paraffin on the probes.

Paraffin monitor

A paraffin monitor includes a pulse source periodically providing pulses. Apparatus, adapted to be immersed in a medium having paraffin, provides an output signal in response to each pulse in accordance with a paraffin film grown on said apparatus while the apparatus is immersed in the medium.

A corrosion monitoring system for measuring cathodic protection current flow. It is applicable to a buried structure that has cathodic protection applied to it. The monitoring system includes a microcoulometer connected between the buried structure and a small target electrode of a predetermined size.

System for monitoring a cathodically protected structure

A simple, low cost test instrument for measuring effectiveness of a corrosion inhibiting film. It employs solid state integrated circuits and applies an AC signal across the film. The amplitude of the signal is less than that which would damage the film, and the electrical resistance is a measure of the inhibitor effectiveness.

Method and apparatus for measuring effectiveness of a corrosion inhibitor

Apparatus for measuring the wear of a shaft bearing includes a liquid, a source of fluid, a valve, sight gage and a transducer. The transducer has a probe which may be urged against the shaft by admitting fluid from the source to a chamber in the transducer. The liquid is in enclosed subsystem comprising the sight gage, an expandable chamber in the transducer and a connecting line. As the probe is urged against the shaft, the expandable chamber expands in a relationship to the movement of the probe. More liquid enters the expandable chamber, causing a corresponding decrease of liquid in the sight gage which is measurable. Upon completion, the fluid is vented, which allows the probe to return to a rest position.

Shaft bearing wear measuring apparatus

A locator for determining the depth of a pipeline which carries AC signals. The signals may be those induced by power lines, cathodic protection systems, or pumping equipment or other machinery connected to the pipeline. Also, specifically applied AC signals from a transmitter may be employed in the absence of the other signal sources. The depth determining locator employs three directional detector coils in an elongated housing. Two coils are oriented transversely to the axis of the housing and are located as far apart as a preselected depth of the pipeline. The third coil is beside a forward one of the other two and is oriented at an angle, e.g. 45.degree. to the transverse. There is electronic circuit means for timing the passage of the locator over the pipe between the two coils, and to measure the ratio of a constant (which represents the spacing of the two coils) times the time from the forward of the two coils to alignment with the third coil, divided by the time between the two coils. That ratio represents the depth of the pipe.

Automatic pipe depth locator

Apparatus monitors the wear of a propeller shaft bearing such as may be found in a tanker, or any other ship, while it is in service. As the shaft is rotating a sensor provides a signal corresponding to the displacement of the shaft with respect to its longitudinal axis. The displacement signal is applied to an averaging network which provides a signal corresponding to the average displacement to a recorder. The recording of the average displacement signal permits determination of wear of the shaft bearing.

Electromagnetic means and method for detecting propeller shaft bearing

A locator for buried metallic pipes which carry AC signals impressed as a result of various industrial activities. It employs a pick-up coil with a ferromagnetic core. The coil is connected to a tuned bandpass amplifier that has its output connected to a head set and a meter for detecting the amplitude of the signals developed.

Growing community of inventors

Spring, TX, United States of America

Carlton M Slough