IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,798,023
Granted Patent B1
US 7,798,023 · App. 12/478,137 · Granted Sep 21, 2010

Linkage assembly for in-line inspection tool

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,798,023
App. No.
12/478,137
Granted
Sep 21, 2010
Kind
B1
Abstract

An in-line inspection tool comprising sensors mounted on inspection assemblies is disclosed. Each inspection assembly may be connected to the rest of the in-line inspection tool by two linkages. A first linkage may pivotally connect at one end thereof to a first end of an inspection assembly and pivotally connect at the other end thereof to the rest of the in-line inspection assembly. A second linkage may pivotally connect at one end thereof to a second end of the inspection assembly and pivotally connect at the other end thereof to the rest of the in-line inspection tool. The second linkage may comprise a first section and a second section pivotally connected to one another. Accordingly, the first and second linkages may support, exclusively through pivoting, both translational and rotational movement of the inspection assembly within a radial plane containing the central axis of the in-line inspection tool.

Claims (35)

1. An in-line inspection tool for inspecting a pipeline while traveling therethrough, the in-line inspection tool comprising:

at least one inspection assembly comprising

a first end,

a second end opposite the first end,

at least one sensor,

a bar supporting the at least one sensor,

a first linkage mount connected to the bar proximate the first end of the at least one inspection assembly, and

a second linkage mount connected to the bar proximate the second end of the at least one inspection assembly;

a structure comprising a central axis;

a first linkage pivotally connecting at one portion thereof to the first linkage mount and pivotally connecting at another portion thereof to the structure;

a second linkage pivotally connecting at one portion thereof to the second linkage mount and pivotally connecting at another portion thereof to a third linkage; and

the third linkage pivotally connecting at one portion thereof to the second linkage and pivotally connecting at another portion thereof to the structure, the third linkage having no fixed connection to the structure.

2. The in-line inspection tool of claim 1 , further comprising a biasing member positioned between the structure and the bar of the at least one inspection assembly.

3. The in-line inspection tool of claim 2 , wherein the biasing member urges the at least one inspection assembly radially away from the central axis.

4. The in-line inspection tool of claim 1 , wherein the first linkage is substantially rigid from the one portion thereof to the another portion thereof.

5. The in-line inspection tool of claim 1 , wherein the second linkage is substantially rigid from the one portion thereof to the another portion thereof.

6. The in-line inspection tool of claim 1 , wherein the third linkage is substantially rigid from the one portion thereof to the another portion thereof.

7. The in-line inspection tool of claim 1 , wherein:

the first linkage is substantially rigid from the one portion thereof to the another portion thereof;

the second linkage is substantially rigid from the one portion thereof to the another portion thereof; and

the third linkage is substantially rigid from the one portion thereof to the another portion thereof.

8. The in-line inspection tool of claim 1 , wherein the first linkage is a leading linkage and the second and third linkages are trailing linkages.

9. An in-line inspection tool for inspecting a pipeline while traveling therethrough, the in-line inspection tool comprising:

a plurality of inspection assemblies, each comprising

a first end,

a second end opposite the first end,

at least one sensor,

a back bar supporting the at least one sensor,

a first linkage mount connected to the back bar proximate the first end, and

a second linkage mount connected to the back bar proximate the second end;

a structure comprising a central axis;

the plurality of inspection assemblies being distributed circumferentially about the central axis;

a first linkage pivotally connecting at one end thereof to the first linkage mount of an inspection assembly of the plurality of inspection assemblies and pivotally connecting at the other end thereof to the structure;

a second linkage pivotally connecting at one end thereof to the second linkage mount of the inspection assembly and pivotally connecting at the other end thereof to a third linkage; and

the third linkage pivotally connecting at one end thereof to the second linkage and pivotally connecting at the other end thereof to the structure, the third linkage having no fixed connection to the structure.

Assignments (7)
RELEASE OF PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT RECORDED FEBRUARY 19, 2019 AT REEL/FRAME 048365/0499 Recorded Jun 6, 2024
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS TRUSTEE
To: TRANSDIGM INC.; TRANSDIGM GROUP INCORPORATED; AEROSONIC LLC; MOUNTAINTOP TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; AIRBORNE SYSTEMS NORTH AMERICA OF NJ INC.; SHIELD RESTRAINT SYSTEMS, INC.; AMSAFE, INC.; ARKWIN INDUSTRIES, INC.; AVIONIC INSTRUMENTS, INC.; AEROSONIC CORPORATION; AVTECHTYEE, INC.; BREEZE-EASTERN LLC; BRUCE AEROSPACE INC.; CEF INDUSTRIES, LLC; CHAMPION AEROSPACE LLC; DATA DEVICE CORPORATION; DUKES AEROSPACE, INC.; PURE TECHNOLOGIES LTD.; HARCO LABORATORIES, INC.; HARCO LLC; HARCO TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; CORRPRO COMPANIES, INC.; HARCO CORPORATION; HARTWELL CORPORATION; MARATHONNORCO AEROSPACE, INC.; PNEUDRAULICS, INC.; SCHNELLER LLC; SEMCO INSTRUMENTS, INC.; TACTAIR FLUID CONTROLS, INC.; TEAC AEROSPACE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; TELAIR INTERNATIONAL GMBH; TELAIR INTERNATIONAL AB; NORDISK AVIATION PRODUCTS AS; TURNTIME TECHNOLOGIES AB; AEROCONTROLEX GROUP, INC.; TRANSICOIL INC.; SOUTHCO, INC.; WHIPPANY ACTUATION SYSTEMS, LLC; YOUNG & FRANKLIN INC.; ARMTEC COUNTERMEASURES CO.; ADVANCED INPUT DEVICES, INC.; ARMTEC DEFENSE PRODUCTS COMPANY; JOSLYN SUNBANK COMPANY LLC; LEACH INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION; SOURIAU USA, INC.; NMC GROUP, INC.; TA AEROSPACE CO.; MASON ELECTRIC CO.; KORRY ELECTRONICS CO.; PALOMAR PRODUCTS, INC.; ROLLS-ROYCE PLC; MEMTRON TECHNOLOGIES CO.; CHELTON, INC. (N/K/A CHELTON AVIONICS, INC.); SIMPLEX MANUFACTURING CO.; APICAL INDUSTRIES, INC.; AERO-INSTRUMENTS CO., LLC; AIRBORNE SYSTEMS NA, INC.; HARCOSEMCO LLC; HARCO, LLC (N/K/A HARCOSEMCO LLC); PEXCO AEROSPACE, INC.; TELAIR US LLC; CALSPAN AERO SYSTEMS ENGINEERING, INC.; CALSPAN SYSTEMS, LLC; ADAMS RITE AEROSPACE, INC.; ACME AEROSPACE, INC.; SCHNELLER, INC.; CEF INDUSTRIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 067640/0147 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 19, 2023
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS TRUSTEE
To: TA AEROSPACE CO.; TRANSDIGM, INC.; TRANSDIGM GROUP INCORPORATED; ACME AEROSPACE, INC.; ADAMS RITE AEROSPACE, INC.; AEROCONTROLEX GROUP, INC.; AEROSONIC CORPORATION; AIRBORNE HOLDINGS, INC.; AIRBORNE SYSTEMS NORTH AMERICA OF NJ INC.; AMSAFE COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS INC.; AMSAFE, INC.; ARKWIN INDUSTRIES, INC.; AVIONIC INSTRUMENTS LLC; AVIONICS SPECIALTIES, INC.; AVTECH TYEE, INC.; BEAM'S INDUSTRIES; BREEZE EASTERN CORPORATION; BRUCE AEROSPACE, INC.; CEF INDUSTRIES, INC.; CHAMPION AEROSPACE LLC; DATA DEVICE CORPORATION; DUKES AEROSPACE, INC.; ELECTROMECH TECHNOLOGIES LLC; HARCO LABORATORIES, INC.; HARCO LLC; HARTWELL CORPORATION; MARATHONNORCO AEROSPACE, INC.; PEXCO AEROSPACE, INC.; PNEUDRAULICS, INC.; SCHNELLER LLC; SEMCO INSTRUMENTS, INC.; SHIELD RESTRAINT SYSTEMS, INC.; TACTAIR FLUID CONTROLS INC.; TEAC AEROSPACE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; TELAIR INTERNATIONAL LLC; TRANSCOIL LLC; WESTERN SKY INDUSTRIES, LLC; WHIPPANY ACTUATION SYSTEMS, LLC; YOUNG & FRANKLIN INC.; ARMTEC COUNTERMEASURES CO.; ARMTEC DEFENSE PRODUCTS COMPANY; LEACH INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION; NMC GROUP INC.; MASON ELECTRIC CO.; KORRY ELECTRONICS CO.; PALOMAR PRODUCTS, INC.; CHELTON, INC. (N/K/A CHELTON AVIONICS, INC.); SIMPLEX MANUFACTURING CO.; APICAL INDUSTRIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 063363/0753 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 9, 2020
From: AIRBORNE SYSTEMS NORTH AMERICA OF NJ INC.; ACME AEROSPACE, INC.; ADAMS RITE AEROSPACE, INC.; AEROCONTROLEX GROUP, INC.; AEROSONIC CORPORATION/LLC; AIRBORNE HOLDINGS, INC.; AMSAFE COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS INC.; AMSAFE, INC.; ARKWIN INDUSTRIES, INC.; AVIONIC INSTRUMENTS LLC; AVIONICS SPECIALTIES, INC.; AVTECHTYEE, INC.; BEAM’S INDUSTRIES; BREEZE-EASTERN CORPORATION; BRUCE AEROSPACE, INC.; CEF INDUSTRIES, INC.; CHAMPION AEROSPACE LLC; DATA DEVICE CORPORATION; DUKES AEROSPACE, INC.; ELECTROMECH TECHNOLOGIES LLC; HARCO LABORATORIES, INCORPORATED; HARCO LLC; HARTWELL CORPORATION; MARATHONNORCO AEROSPACE, INC.; PEXCO AEROSPACE, INC.; PNEUDRAULICS, INC.; SCHNELLER LLC; SEMCO INSTRUMENTS, INC.; SHIELD RESTRAINT SYSTEMS, INC.; TACTAIR FLUID CONTROLS, INC.; TEAC AEROSPACE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; TELAIR INTERNATIONAL LLC; TRANSDIGM, INC.; TRANSCOIL LLC; WESTERN SKY INDUSTRIES, LLC; WHIPPANY ACTUATION SYSTEMS, LLC; YOUNG & FRANKLIN INC.; ARMTEC COUNTERMEASURES CO.; ARMTEC DEFENSE PRODUCTS COMPANY; ARMTEC DEFENSE PRODUCTS CO.; LEACH INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION; NMC GROUP, INC.; TA AEROSPACE CO.; MASON ELECTRIC COMPANY; KORRY ELECTRONICS CO.; PALOMAR PRODUCTS, INC.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS TRUSTEE AND NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 052352/0704 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 19, 2019
From: TRANSDIGM, INC.; ADAMS RITE AEROSPACE, INC.; AEROCONTROLEX GROUP, INC.; AEROSONIC LLC (F/K/A AEROSONIC CORPORATION); AIRBORNE HOLDINGS, INC.; AIRBORNE SYSTEMS OF NORTH AMERICA OF NJ INC.; AMSAFE, INC.; ARKWIN INDUSTRIES, INC.; AVIONIC INSTRUMENTS LLC; AVIONICS SPECIALTIES, INC.; AVTECHTYEE, INC.; BREEZE-EASTERN LLC (F/K/A BREEZE-EASTERN CORPORATION); BRUCE AEROSPACE, INC.; CEF INDUSTRIES, LLC (F/K/A CEF INDUSTRIES, INC.); CHAMPION AEROSPACE LLC; DATA DEVICE CORPORATION; DUKES AEROSPACE, INC.; ELECTROMECH TECHNOLOGIES LLC (F/K/A WESTERN SKY, INDUSTRIES, LLC); HARCOSEMCO LLC (F/K/A HARCO LABORATORIES, INCORPORATED) (F/K/A HARCO LLC); HARTWELL CORPORATION; MARATHONNORCO AEROSPACE, INC.; PEXCO AEROSPACE, INC.; PNEUDRAULICS, INC.; SCHNELLER LLC; SEMCO INSTRUMENTS, INC.; SHIELD RESTRAINT SYSTEMS, INC. (F/K/A AMSAFE COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS INC.) (F/K/A BEAM'S INDUSTRIES, INC.); TACTAIR FLUID CONTROLS, INC.; TEAC AEROSPACE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; TELAIR INTERNATIONAL LLC; TRANSICOIL LLC; WHIPPANY ACTUATION SYSTEMS, LLC; YOUNG & FRANKLIN INC.; ACME AEROSPACE, INC.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.,
Reel/Frame 048365/0499 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 30, 2012
From: PURE TECHNOLOGIES (U.S.) INC.
To: PURE TECHNOLOGIES LTD.
Reel/Frame 028873/0189 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 28, 2012
From: ELECTROMECHANICAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: PURE TECHNOLOGIES (U.S.) INC.
Reel/Frame 027776/0022 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 4, 2009
From: HOYT, PHILIP M.; FOX, ARTHUR K.
To: ELECTROMECHANICAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 022780/0418 →