IP Library Granted Patent US 9,322,492
Granted Patent B2
US 9,322,492 · App. 13/592,451 · Granted Apr 26, 2016

Pipeline clamp for vibration measurement

Inventors: Jens Conzen (Oak Park, IL); Samad Erogbogbo (Niles, IL); Karim Dhanji (Skokie, IL)
Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Company LLC
F16L3/1091F16L3/08G01H1/00
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,322,492
App. No.
13/592,451
Granted
Apr 26, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

A pipeline clamp including a clamp assembly adapted to attach to an outer surface of a pipeline and a protruding member having a first end portion attached to a surface of the clamp assembly and a second end portion extended away from the clamp assembly. The second end portion is configured to accommodate a sensor and the pipeline clamp has a natural frequency equal to or greater than a maximum expected vibration frequency of the pipeline.

Claims (34)

1. A pipeline clamp comprising:

a clamp assembly adapted to attach to an outer surface of a pipeline; and

a unitary protruding member having a first end portion attached to a surface of the clamp assembly and a second end portion extended away from the clamp assembly, wherein the second end portion is configured to accommodate a vibration sensor, and wherein the protruding member includes:

a plurality of steps, wherein one or more of the steps at the first end portion of the protruding member are solid with no hollow portion and one or more of the steps at the second end of the protruding member include a hollow portion,

wherein the pipeline clamp has a natural frequency equal to or greater than a maximum expected vibration frequency of the pipeline.

2. The pipeline clamp of claim 1 , wherein the maximum expected vibration frequency of the pipeline is about 1 kHz.

3. The pipeline clamp of claim 1 , wherein a cross-sectional area of the protruding member decreases between the first end portion and the second end portion.

4. The pipe line clamp of claim 3 , wherein reach steps of the protruding member has a smaller cross-sectional area than steps disposed closer to the first end portion of the protruding member.

5. The pipeline clamp of claim 1 , wherein the hollow portion includes a first hollow portion which extends in a direction from the second end portion towards the first end portion.

6. The pipeline clamp of claim 5 , wherein the hollow portion includes a second hollow portion substantially perpendicular to the first hollow portion.

7. The pipeline clamp of claim 1 , wherein the clamp assembly comprises:

a first clamp member adapted to conform to a first portion of an outer circumference of the pipeline; and

a second clamp member adapted to conform to a second portion of the outer circumference of the pipeline,

wherein the first clamp member is adapted to attach to the second clamp member so as to attach the clamp assembly to the pipeline, and the protruding member is attached to one of the first clamp member and the second clamp member.

8. The pipeline clamp of claim 7 , wherein the first clamp member includes a first flange and the second clamp member includes a second flange corresponding to the first flange, wherein the first clamp member and the second clamp member are attached by fastening the first flange and the second flange to each other with one or more fasteners.

9. The pipeline clamp of claim 8 , wherein the first clamp member includes a first gusset attached to the first flange and the second clamp member includes a second gusset attached to the second flange.

10. A pipeline testing device comprising:

a vibration sensor; and

a pipeline clamp comprising:

a clamp assembly adapted to attach to an outer surface of a pipeline; and

a unitary protruding member having a first end portion attached to a surface of the clamp assembly and a second end portion extended away from the clamp assembly, wherein the vibration sensor is disposed on the second end portion of the protruding member, and wherein the protruding member includes:

a plurality of steps, wherein one or more of the steps at the first end portion of the protruding member are solid with no hollow portion, and one or more of the steps at the second end of the protruding member include a hollow portion, and

wherein the pipeline clamp has a natural frequency equal to or greater than a maximum expected vibration frequency of the pipeline.

11. The pipeline testing device of claim 10 , wherein the maximum expected vibration frequency of the pipeline is about 1 kHz.

12. The pipeline clamp of claim 10 , wherein a cross-sectional area of the protruding member decreases between the first end portion and the second end portion.

13. The pipe line clamp of claim 12 , wherein reach steps of the protruding member has a smaller cross-sectional area than steps disposed closer to the first end portion of the protruding member.

14. The pipeline clamp of claim 10 , wherein the hollow portion includes a first hollow portion which extends in a direction from the second end portion towards the first end portion.

15. The pipeline clamp of claim 14 , wherein the hollow portion includes a second hollow portion substantially perpendicular to the first hollow portion.

16. The pipeline clamp of claim 10 , wherein the clamp assembly comprises:

a first clamp member adapted to conform to a first portion of an outer circumference of the pipeline; and

a second clamp member adapted to conform to a second portion of the outer circumference of the pipeline,

wherein the first clamp member is adapted to attach to the second clamp member so as to attach the clamp assembly to the pipeline and the protruding member is attached to one of the first clamp member and the second clamp member.

17. The pipeline clamp of claim 16 , wherein the first clamp member includes a first flange and the second clamp member includes a second flange corresponding to the first flange, wherein the first clamp member and the second clamp member are attached by fastening the first flange and the second flange to each other with one or more fasteners.

18. The pipeline clamp of claim 17 , wherein the first clamp member includes a first gusset attached to the first flange and the second clamp member includes a second gusset attached to the second flange.

Assignments (9)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Jan 30, 2024
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC COMPANY LLC; FAUSKE AND ASSOCIATES LLC
Reel/Frame 066380/0392 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Jan 30, 2024
From: BANK OF MONTREAL, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC COMPANY LLC; BHI ENERGY I SPECIALTY SERVICES LLC
Reel/Frame 066380/0599 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 26, 2024
From: WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC COMPANY LLC; BHI ENERGY I SPECIALTY SERVICES LLC; STONE & WEBSTER, L.L.C. (FORMERLY STONE & WEBSTER, INC.)
To: DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 066373/0604 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 27, 2022
From: WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC COMPANY LLC; BHI ENERGY I SPECIALTY SERVICES LLC
To: BANK OF MONTREAL, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 060791/0372 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Aug 1, 2019
From: GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC COMPANY LLC; FAUSKE AND ASSOCIATES LLC
Reel/Frame 049937/0032 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 1, 2018
From: WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC COMPANY LLC; FAUSKE AND ASSOCIATES LLC
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 046708/0222 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 1, 2018
From: WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC COMPANY LLC; FAUSKE AND ASSOCIATES LLC
To: GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 046708/0332 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 1, 2018
From: WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC COMPANY LLC; FAUSKE AND ASSOCIATES LLC
To: BANK OF MONTREAL, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 046708/0639 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 23, 2012
From: CONZEN, JENS, MR.; EROGBOGBO, SAMAD, MR.; DHANJI, KARIM, MR.
To: WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 028834/0242 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20140054429A1 · Feb 27, 2014