Berkeley Springs Instruments, LLC

Ast Services LLC

Advanced Resource Development Corporation

Other

Eugene Ben Silverman

Richard Skallos

David L Gilbert

Seymour R Kotler

Joel L Lautenschlager

Richard K Simmons

Nischom K Silverman

Harry T Roman

Steve K Hamilton

Paul Baity

Robert B Croston

Eric C Crumption

A transducer mounting apparatus can be used to remotely monitor the integrity of pipes or pipelines, which ordinarily are difficult to access due to environmental factors. The transducer mounting apparatus can include one or more transducer blocks, each adapted for receiving a transducer. A UT couplant and threaded transducer are positioned in an opening in the transducer block. A gear wheel adjusts the transducer up and down against the UT couplant to optimize the positioning relative to the pipe being monitored. A series of transducer blocks are connected by a tension block and or more wire ropes extending through the tension block and the transducer blocks. The length of the wire rope is adjusted with a set screw extending from the tension block to a transducer block, thereby allowing the transducer block assembly to accommodate different pipe diameters or mechanical structures of varying dimensions that are not necessarily round.

Ultrasonic transducer mounting apparatus for attaching a transducer block to a pipeline

Ultrasonic transducers are imbedded into sacrificial metal coupons which are located in the vicinity of underground or aboveground structures, such as a pipe or tank, which allow for the measurement of the effectiveness of impressed current cathodic protection systems and can be used to determine the corrosion rate of the structure that is being protected. When excited by a pulser-receiver excitation pulse, the ultrasonic transducers can be used to determine the thickness of the coupon and its rate of change over time. The sacrificial metal coupon ultrasonic transducer assembly can be located in the vicinity of underground piping, under or inside of a tank, underground or underwater, or inserted into structures where absolute material loss values or material loss rate of change is being monitored.

Ultrasonic cathodic protection test station

A sacrificial metal coupon is provided with one or more ultrasonic transducers which, when excited by a pulser-receiver excitation pulse, determines the thickness of the coupon and its rate of change over time. The sacrificial metal coupon ultrasonic transducer assembly can be inserted into the liquid stream of a pipe, under or inside of a tank, underground or underwater, or inserted into structures where absolute material loss values or material loss rate of change is being monitored.

Ultrasonic corrosion coupon probe

A method and apparatus for inspecting a wall of a mechanical structure including obtaining an infinite response from a sample material having a front face, a thickness, and a back wall, by transmitting into a sample material an ultrasonic wave having a frequency and duration and being generated by one or more transducers, wherein the thickness of the sample material is sufficiently great that only a wave corresponding to the front face of the sample is received back; transmitting an ultrasonic wave generated by one or more transducers into the wall of a mechanical structure to be inspected at a time (T), wherein the ultrasonic wave has the same frequency and duration as the ultrasonic wave transmitted into the sample material; receiving a response signal back from the wall to be inspected; and correlating the response signal to the infinite response, thereby creating correlated data. The system can be operated remotely and wirelessly, and data can be transmitted and received via the Internet or local area network, either wireless or wired.

Wireless sensor and data management system and method for monitoring the integrity of mechanical structures

A robotic ultrasonic inspection vehicle is provided with one or more transducers which are driven by a long, broadband excitation pulse for insonifying a sample subject to inspection. The long, broadband excitation pulse can be chirped. The robotic vehicle also can include a drive circuit for coupling the excitation pulse to the transducer. Data associated with the excitation pulse is used to gate off the drive circuitry at an appropriate time. The robotic vehicle may traverse a combustion prone region and therefore electrical parameters may be limited to intrinsically safe levels. However electrical parameters may safely be converted to higher levels so long as the conversion is inhibited to occur only after the vehicle has left a combustion prone region and entered a region of minimal risk of combustion.

Broadband long pulse ultrasonic inspection

An umbilical connection for use in a hazardous environment like a floating roof storage tank has one or more hydraulic hoses, one or more electrical cables or a combination thereof. Each hydraulic hose has a static dissipative and abrasion resistant covering. Each electrical cable has an abrasion resistant coating. The hoses and cables are bundled and wrapped in a static dissipative and abrasion resistant open mesh sheath or an overbraid to form the intrinsically safe umbilical connection.

Hydraulic and electric umbilical connection for an inspection vehicle for inspecting a liquid-filled tank

Methods for remotely inspecting an internal floating roof and the seals associated with such internal floating roof project an illumination pattern from a series of substantially parallel laser beams onto the floating roof and/or the seal. Another laser beam projects at a predetermined angle offset from the series of laser beams. The illumination pattern and offset spot from the other laser are viewed through a camera. The length of a defect in the internal floating roof or seal or a gap between the seal and the tank wall is calculated as the length of a side of a right triangle based upon the predetermined angle and the predetermined distance between the lasers and the floating roof or seal.

Method for inspecting an internal floating roof in a liquid-containing storage tank

An umbilical connection for use in a hazardous environment like a floating roof storage tank has one or more hydraulic hoses, one or more electrical cables or a combination thereof. Each hydraulic hose has a static dissipative and abrasion resistant covering. Each electrical cable has an abrasion resistant coating. The hoses and cables are bundled and wrapped in a static dissipative and abrasion resistant open mesh sheath or an overbraid to form the umbilical connection.

The present invention is an apparatus and method of preparing and inspecting a submerged surface of a fluid reservoir. The apparatus includes a chassis sized and shaped to provide an optimally low center of gravity, a propulsion system comprising two independently controllable motor and track means, a scrubbing/vacuuming system disposed at the front of the chassis which includes a scrubbing system designed to mechanically break up sediment on the surface beneath the apparatus and a vacuuming system to remove sediment and sediment-containing fluid from beneath the apparatus, and an inspection system located immediately behind the scrubbing/vacuuming system with respect to the direction of apparatus travel and operative to inspect the freshly cleaned surface with either ultrasonics, optics, or a combination of both.

Scavenger submersible visual and acoustical tank inspection system and

A method and apparatus, comprising a tool having a clam shell design, for sealing the interface volume between the internal wall of a reactor pressure vessel and submerged piping that penetrates the wall, and for cleaning the interface volume using a series of hydraulic and pneumatic operations. The tool is operable from a remote suface location, using a robotic arm for fine positioning, to clamp around the penetrating pipe. Hydraulic nozzles compressed air and mechanical brushes on the tool may be used to dislodge sediment in the interface volume.

Cleaning mechanism for penetration interfaces in nuclear pressure vessels

A surveillance system for hazardous environments and the like having a radio remote controlled vehicle that is sized and shaped for optimum maneuverability and stability, including mobility on stairs and inclined surfaces. The vehicle is designed to have a low center of gravity that is shiftable up and down, front to rear and side to side under operator control in order to provide stability. The top deck of the vehicle is uniquely shaped and is adapted to support any of several payloads, including an articulated arm module that is moveable in a pan and tilt direction and a smear sampler mechanism for repeatedly taking surface samples. The vehicle is moved by independently operated, motor driven tracks located on each of the two longitudinal sides of the vehicle and is adapted to move in a forward, reverse and rotational directions. Remote monitoring is provided by stereoptic TV cameras, stereo sound, and variety of environmental sensors.

Growing community of inventors

Ellicott City, MD, United States of America

Eugene Ben Silverman