The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 22, 2017
Filed:
Aug. 05, 2015
The United States of America, As Represented BY the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Washington, DC (US);
Shaun Azimi, Houston, TX (US);
Darby Magruder, Dickinson, TX (US);
Justin Ridley, Houston, TX (US);
Anthony Lapp, Houston, TX (US);
Jodi Graf, Seabrook, TX (US);
Ross Pettinger, Friendswood, TX (US);
Abstract
A system and method is provided for traversing inside one or more pipes. In an embodiment, a fluid is injected into the one or more pipes thereby promoting a fluid flow. An inspection device is deployed into the one or more pipes at least partially filled with a flowing fluid. The inspection device comprises a housing wherein the housing is designed to exploit the hydrokinetic effects associated with a fluid flow in one or more pipes as well as maneuver past a variety of pipe configurations. The inspection device may contain one or more sensors capable of performing a variety of inspection tasks.