WO2003078888A1 - Apparatus for transporting equipment along a conduit - Google Patents

Apparatus for transporting equipment along a conduit Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2003078888A1
WO2003078888A1 PCT/GB2003/001021 GB0301021W WO03078888A1 WO 2003078888 A1 WO2003078888 A1 WO 2003078888A1 GB 0301021 W GB0301021 W GB 0301021W WO 03078888 A1 WO03078888 A1 WO 03078888A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
conduit
rotatable
magnetic
magnet
liner
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/GB2003/001021
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Dominic Barnard
Robert Crocker
Original Assignee
Enterprise Managed Services Limited
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Enterprise Managed Services Limited filed Critical Enterprise Managed Services Limited
Priority to AU2003209486A priority Critical patent/AU2003209486A1/en
Priority to EP03744423A priority patent/EP1488161A1/en
Publication of WO2003078888A1 publication Critical patent/WO2003078888A1/en

Links

Classifications

    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16LPIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16L55/00Devices or appurtenances for use in, or in connection with, pipes or pipe systems
    • F16L55/26Pigs or moles, i.e. devices movable in a pipe or conduit with or without self-contained propulsion means
    • F16L55/28Constructional aspects
    • F16L55/30Constructional aspects of the propulsion means, e.g. towed by cables
    • F16L55/32Constructional aspects of the propulsion means, e.g. towed by cables being self-contained

Definitions

  • the invention relates to apparatus for passing along a conduit, and particularly to apparatus for transporting equipment along the interior of a conduit.
  • conduits are often of magnetic material, and have side or branch pipes, there being a ferrule connection or ferrule, between the conduit and branch pipe. Moreover, the conduits are often lined with a liner such as a polyethylene liner.
  • a robotic workstation is often used to prepare the bore of a ferrule prior to liiiing the conduit with a polyethylene liner and another robotic workstation is used to place a connector through the liner into the ferrule from within the liner after it has been installed in the conduit.
  • the success of both these processes relies on accurate positioning of the work-heads by the robotic units.
  • Conventional techniques for positioning the workstations such as winching from the surface, cannot provide sufficient control.
  • Another conventional technique is to use wheels or caterpillar tracks driven by on-board motors to position the units. The difficulty here is that the polyethylene presents a low coefficient of friction to the driving wheels which reduces the motive force available to move the workstation along the pipe.
  • apparatus for transporting equipment along the interior of a conduit comprising a rotatable device by which the apparatus is driven along the conduit, and which device has enhanced frictional engagement with the conduit whereby the apparatus can be transported and positioned as desired in the conduit.
  • the conduit may have magnetic properties and the device may comprise a wheeled magnetic device. This provides the apparatus with an increased tractive effect so that accurate transport and positioning is achievable.
  • the or each wheeled device may comprise two circular members of magnetic material between which is mounted a magnet, suitably a permanent ring magnet, which may preferably comprise a rare earth magnet. This provides a powerful magnet.
  • the two circular members may comprise soft iron pole piece members. This provides for an enhanced magnetic, and hence tractive, effect.
  • Each pole piece member may have an external non-magnetic driving cover element. This provides for ease of movement, particularly when the driving cover element may comprise a rubber tyre-like member.
  • the apparatus may include an on-board motor, suitably an electric motor, connected to the rotatable device by a gear train. This provides for a self- contained apparatus with its own motive power.
  • the apparatus may mount equipment which may comprise means to prepare the bore of a ferrule of the conduit, suitably a ceramic cutter or alternatively an upstanding finger for penetrating a liner of a pre-lined conduit.
  • equipment which may comprise means to prepare the bore of a ferrule of the conduit, suitably a ceramic cutter or alternatively an upstanding finger for penetrating a liner of a pre-lined conduit.
  • Apparatus for transporting equipment along the interior of a conduit, such as a mains water pipe, is hereinafter described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings.
  • Fig. 1 is a schematic elevational view of apparatus according to the invention
  • Fig. 2 is a perspective view of part of a practical embodiment of the apparatus.
  • Figs. 3 and 4 are respective side elevational and plan views of a further embodiment of apparatus according to the invention.
  • apparatus 1 in the form of a tractor unit 2 for transporting equipment 3 along the interior of a conduit 4 such as a mains water pipe, the tractor unit 2 comprising a rotatable device by which the apparatus 1 is driven along the conduit, and which device 2 has enhanced frictional engagement with the conduit 4 whereby the apparatus 1 can be transported and positioned as desired in the conduit 4.
  • a conduit 4 such as a mains water pipe
  • the conduit 4 is usually an iron pipe, which may have a polyethylene liner 5, and the enhanced frictional engagement of the apparatus 1 with the conduit 4 or liner 5 is in the embodiment(s) achieved using a magnetic tractive unit 2.
  • a magnetic tractive unit 2 This comprises in the preferred embodiment a ring magnet 6, the most powerful being a permanent magnetic made of rare earth mixtures, mounted between two rotatable devices in the form of soft iron pole pieces or wheels 7, around the circumference of which is trained a cover element in the form of a rubber tyrelike element 8.
  • the tyres 8 are in actual contact with the interior surface of the conduit 4, or a polyethylene liner 5 lining it.
  • the apparatus 1 mounts a drive or motor means in the form of an electric motor 9 which is connected to the rotatable magnetic tractive devices by a suitable power transmitting connection such as a gear train 10.
  • the apparatus 1 In use, the apparatus 1 is inserted in a conduit 4, and guided along it to a desired position by a suitable control means usually at the surface when, as is usually the case, the conduit 4 is underground.
  • the apparatus 1 is "pushed" through the conduit, or otherwise transported therealong, by the rotatable, wheeled, magnetic devices 2 which are rotated by the electric motor 9.
  • the equipment 3 can be a cutter such as a ceramic cutter for preparing the ferrule prior to lining the conduit, or a finger device for inserting through the liner of an already lined conduit.
  • the enhanced frictional effect providing for the greater tractive effect referred to enables the apparatus 1 to be controlled, and positioned with much greater accuracy than hitherto, as it is transported along a conduit 4 to a position beneath a ferrule or other feature of the conduit.
  • the number of driving wheels 7 can be increased without limit as each wheel has its own magnet 6 and therefore the total towing capability of the tractor unit can be tailored to each individual requirement.
  • the wheels 7 can be replaced by tracked devices such as caterpillar trails or the like or belts.

Abstract

The invention relates to apparatus (1) in the form of a tractor unit (2) for transporting equipment (3) along the interior of a conduit (4) such as a mains water pipe, the tractor unit (2) comprising a rotatable device by which the apparatus (1) is driven along the conduit, and which device (2) has enhanced frictional engagement with the conduit (4) whereby the apparatus (1) can be transported and positioned as desired in the conduit (4). The conduit (4) is usually an iron pipe, which may have a polyethylene liner (5) and the enhanced frictional engagement of the apparatus (1) with the conduit (4) or liner (5) is in the embodiment(s) achieved using a magnetic tractive unit (2). This comprises in the preferred embodiment a ring magnet (6), the most powerful being a permanent magnetic made of rare earth mixtures, mounted between two rotatable devices in the form of soft iron pole pieces or wheels (7), around the circumference of which is trained a cover element in the form of a rubber tyrelike element (8).

Description

APPARATUS FOR TRANSPORTING EQUIPMENT ALONG A CONDUIT
The invention relates to apparatus for passing along a conduit, and particularly to apparatus for transporting equipment along the interior of a conduit.
Conduits, pipes, tubes and the like particularly mains pipes for carrying water, all hereinafter termed conduits, are often of magnetic material, and have side or branch pipes, there being a ferrule connection or ferrule, between the conduit and branch pipe. Moreover, the conduits are often lined with a liner such as a polyethylene liner.
A robotic workstation is often used to prepare the bore of a ferrule prior to liiiing the conduit with a polyethylene liner and another robotic workstation is used to place a connector through the liner into the ferrule from within the liner after it has been installed in the conduit. The success of both these processes relies on accurate positioning of the work-heads by the robotic units. Conventional techniques for positioning the workstations, such as winching from the surface, cannot provide sufficient control. Another conventional technique is to use wheels or caterpillar tracks driven by on-board motors to position the units. The difficulty here is that the polyethylene presents a low coefficient of friction to the driving wheels which reduces the motive force available to move the workstation along the pipe.
It is an object of the invention to seek to mitigate these disadvantages.
According to the invention there is provided apparatus for transporting equipment along the interior of a conduit, comprising a rotatable device by which the apparatus is driven along the conduit, and which device has enhanced frictional engagement with the conduit whereby the apparatus can be transported and positioned as desired in the conduit.
The conduit may have magnetic properties and the device may comprise a wheeled magnetic device. This provides the apparatus with an increased tractive effect so that accurate transport and positioning is achievable.
There may be a plurality of wheeled devices.
The or each wheeled device may comprise two circular members of magnetic material between which is mounted a magnet, suitably a permanent ring magnet, which may preferably comprise a rare earth magnet. This provides a powerful magnet.
The two circular members may comprise soft iron pole piece members. This provides for an enhanced magnetic, and hence tractive, effect.
Each pole piece member may have an external non-magnetic driving cover element. This provides for ease of movement, particularly when the driving cover element may comprise a rubber tyre-like member.
The apparatus may include an on-board motor, suitably an electric motor, connected to the rotatable device by a gear train. This provides for a self- contained apparatus with its own motive power.
The apparatus may mount equipment which may comprise means to prepare the bore of a ferrule of the conduit, suitably a ceramic cutter or alternatively an upstanding finger for penetrating a liner of a pre-lined conduit. Apparatus for transporting equipment along the interior of a conduit, such as a mains water pipe, is hereinafter described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings. Fig. 1 is a schematic elevational view of apparatus according to the invention;
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of part of a practical embodiment of the apparatus; and
Figs. 3 and 4 are respective side elevational and plan views of a further embodiment of apparatus according to the invention.
Referring to the drawings, in which like parts are referred to by like reference numerals, there is shown apparatus 1 in the form of a tractor unit 2 for transporting equipment 3 along the interior of a conduit 4 such as a mains water pipe, the tractor unit 2 comprising a rotatable device by which the apparatus 1 is driven along the conduit, and which device 2 has enhanced frictional engagement with the conduit 4 whereby the apparatus 1 can be transported and positioned as desired in the conduit 4.
The conduit 4 is usually an iron pipe, which may have a polyethylene liner 5, and the enhanced frictional engagement of the apparatus 1 with the conduit 4 or liner 5 is in the embodiment(s) achieved using a magnetic tractive unit 2. This comprises in the preferred embodiment a ring magnet 6, the most powerful being a permanent magnetic made of rare earth mixtures, mounted between two rotatable devices in the form of soft iron pole pieces or wheels 7, around the circumference of which is trained a cover element in the form of a rubber tyrelike element 8. The tyres 8 are in actual contact with the interior surface of the conduit 4, or a polyethylene liner 5 lining it.
The apparatus 1 mounts a drive or motor means in the form of an electric motor 9 which is connected to the rotatable magnetic tractive devices by a suitable power transmitting connection such as a gear train 10.
In use, the apparatus 1 is inserted in a conduit 4, and guided along it to a desired position by a suitable control means usually at the surface when, as is usually the case, the conduit 4 is underground. The apparatus 1 is "pushed" through the conduit, or otherwise transported therealong, by the rotatable, wheeled, magnetic devices 2 which are rotated by the electric motor 9.
The effect of the magnetic wheels is to make the apparent weight of the wheel 7, much greater than it actually is because of the attraction of end wheel 7 to the iron conduit wall. This in turn means the frictional forces are far greater than they otherwise would be. Therefore the tractive effort that each wheel is capable of exerting via frictional coupling with the surface of the conduit, or liner, is much greater than with a rubber tyre alone.
The equipment 3 can be a cutter such as a ceramic cutter for preparing the ferrule prior to lining the conduit, or a finger device for inserting through the liner of an already lined conduit.
The enhanced frictional effect providing for the greater tractive effect referred to enables the apparatus 1 to be controlled, and positioned with much greater accuracy than hitherto, as it is transported along a conduit 4 to a position beneath a ferrule or other feature of the conduit.
It will be understood that the number of driving wheels 7 can be increased without limit as each wheel has its own magnet 6 and therefore the total towing capability of the tractor unit can be tailored to each individual requirement. Moreover, the wheels 7 can be replaced by tracked devices such as caterpillar trails or the like or belts.

Claims

CLAIMS:
1. Apparatus for transporting equipment along the interior of a conduit, characterised by a rotatable device (2) by which the apparatus (1) is driven along the conduit (4), and by device (2) having enhanced frictional engagement with the conduit (4) whereby the apparatus (1) can be transported and positioned as desired in the conduit.
2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterised by the conduit (4) having magnetic properties and by the device (2) comprising a wheeled magnetic device.
3. Apparatus according to claim 2, characterised by there being a plurality of wheeled devices (2).
4. Apparatus according to claim 2 or claim 3, characterised by the or each wheeled device (2) comprising two rotatable members (7) of magnetic material between which is mounted a magnet (6).
5. Apparatus according to claim 4, characterised by the magnet (6) comprising a permanent ring magnet.
6. Apparatus according to claim 5, characterised by the permanent ring magnet (6) comprising a rare earth magnet.
7. Apparatus according to any of claims 4 to 6, characterised by the two rotatable members (7) comprising two substantially circular members comprising soft iron pole piece members.
8. Apparatus according to claim 7, characterised by each pole piece member (7) having an external non-magnetic driving cover element (8).
9. Apparatus according to claim 8, characterised by the driving cover element (8) comprising a rubber tyre-like member.
10. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, characterised by an onboard motor (9).
11. Apparatus according to claim 10, characterised by the motor (9) comprising an electric motor connected to the rotatable device by a gear train (10).
12. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, characterised by mounting equipment (3) comprising means to prepare the bore of a ferrule of the conduit.
13. Apparatus according to claim 12, characterised by the means (3) comprising a ceramic cutter.
14. Apparatus according to claim 12, characterised by the means (3) comprising an upstanding finger for penetrating a liner of a pre-lined conduit.
PCT/GB2003/001021 2002-03-13 2003-03-11 Apparatus for transporting equipment along a conduit WO2003078888A1 (en)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU2003209486A AU2003209486A1 (en) 2002-03-13 2003-03-11 Apparatus for transporting equipment along a conduit
EP03744423A EP1488161A1 (en) 2002-03-13 2003-03-11 Apparatus for transporting equipment along a conduit

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0205919.4 2002-03-13
GB0205919A GB0205919D0 (en) 2002-03-13 2002-03-13 Apparatus for pasing along a conduit

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2003078888A1 true WO2003078888A1 (en) 2003-09-25

Family

ID=9932892

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/GB2003/001021 WO2003078888A1 (en) 2002-03-13 2003-03-11 Apparatus for transporting equipment along a conduit

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1488161A1 (en)
AU (1) AU2003209486A1 (en)
GB (1) GB0205919D0 (en)
WO (1) WO2003078888A1 (en)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2430020A (en) * 2005-09-13 2007-03-14 Graeme Mcnay Wellbore traction apparatus
GB2430018A (en) * 2005-09-13 2007-03-14 Graeme Mcnay Use of magnetic force for traction for internal crawling type deployment systems for ferrous piping
CN106051375A (en) * 2016-07-12 2016-10-26 北京石油化工学院 Active steering device of pipe robot

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1994010495A1 (en) * 1992-10-26 1994-05-11 Pearpoint Limited Apparatus for use in the repair and maintenance of conduits such as sewers
US5388528A (en) * 1991-08-06 1995-02-14 Osaka Gas Company, Limited Vehicle for use in pipes
JPH07323701A (en) * 1994-05-31 1995-12-12 Hitachi Metals Ltd Magnetic wheel
WO1996012134A1 (en) * 1994-10-14 1996-04-25 Uffmann Hans Peter Method and device for renovating drains

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5388528A (en) * 1991-08-06 1995-02-14 Osaka Gas Company, Limited Vehicle for use in pipes
WO1994010495A1 (en) * 1992-10-26 1994-05-11 Pearpoint Limited Apparatus for use in the repair and maintenance of conduits such as sewers
JPH07323701A (en) * 1994-05-31 1995-12-12 Hitachi Metals Ltd Magnetic wheel
WO1996012134A1 (en) * 1994-10-14 1996-04-25 Uffmann Hans Peter Method and device for renovating drains

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 1996, no. 04 30 April 1996 (1996-04-30) *

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2430020A (en) * 2005-09-13 2007-03-14 Graeme Mcnay Wellbore traction apparatus
GB2430018A (en) * 2005-09-13 2007-03-14 Graeme Mcnay Use of magnetic force for traction for internal crawling type deployment systems for ferrous piping
GB2430020B (en) * 2005-09-13 2007-08-22 Graeme Mcnay Wellbore traction apparatus
CN106051375A (en) * 2016-07-12 2016-10-26 北京石油化工学院 Active steering device of pipe robot

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU2003209486A1 (en) 2003-09-29
GB0205919D0 (en) 2002-04-24
EP1488161A1 (en) 2004-12-22

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