Self-propelled pipe inspecting apparatus

Abstract

Disclosed is a self-propelled pipe inspection apparatus suitable for use in inspecting a plurality of parallel and vertical pipes one by one, for the presence of faults such as cracking, corrosion and so on, by non-destructive testing method. The apparatus has fault detecting means which may be of conventional type, pipe cramping means adapted to cramp the pipe and a mobile carrier by which the fault detecting means and the pipe cramping means are carried. The mobile carriage has a power-driven running surface which may be a running surface of an endless belt and adapted to be pressed onto the pipe surface when the pipe is cramped by the cramping means. The cramping means comprise at least a pair of arms each of which having a bent end carrying a roller. Each arm is supported for free rotation around its longitudinal axis, so that the roller may be swung outwardly to clear the pipe, when the latter is brought into the space between the pair or arms. In the cramping state, as the running surface of the mobile carriage is driven, the apparatus as a whole moves up and down along the pipe, keeping a resilient contact with the latter. The fault detecting means are secured to the mobile carriage through a turn table for inspecting all circumferential parts of the pipe.