Flexible Sensor Cover for Hollow Member Inspection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing inspection systems for tubular constructions filled with contaminated fluid face challenges in achieving clear images or signals due to the opacity of the fluid, limiting their ability to effectively inspect the interior of hollow members like boreholes and well tubings.
Innovation Solution
A sensor cover with a flexible, optically transparent or acoustically homogeneous fluid and a delimiting means made of flexible material that can modify its volume to get closer to the hollow member wall, enhancing signal transmission and increasing the inspection area by up to 400% through radial or axial extensions, and potentially allowing fluid transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If an image sensor is used to inspect the interior of hollow members filled with contaminated fluid, then inspection capability is improved, but the contaminated fluid causes opacity that blocks signal transmission
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an optically transparent fluid as an intermediary substance between the image sensor and the contaminated hollow member interior. This mediator fluid displaces the contaminated fluid in the inspection path, allowing optical signals to transmit clearly while the sensor cover maintains its position within the hollow member.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor cover employs a flexible delimiting means made of elastomeric material that can deform and expand. This flexible structure allows the sensor cover to adapt to the hollow member's geometry and expand to displace contaminated fluid, creating a clear optical path without rigid components that would complicate installation.
2Area of stationary object
If the sensor cover volume is increased to expand the inspection area, then the inspection area increases by up to 400%, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor cover incorporates a flexible delimiting means that can dynamically expand and deform. This dynamic structure allows the sensor cover to increase its volume and inspection area on-demand without requiring multiple rigid components or complex assembly mechanisms, simplifying the overall device design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state and volume parameters of the sensor cover by inflating or expanding the flexible delimiting means. This parameter change allows the inspection area to be increased significantly while maintaining a simple single-piece structure that can be easily deployed.
3Measurement precision
If the delimiting means is made of flexible material to permit volume modification, then signal transmission is improved, but the structural strength decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The delimiting means is constructed from elastomeric flexible material that forms a sealed yet deformable structure. This flexible shell can withstand pressure differential while allowing volume modification, maintaining sufficient structural integrity for signal transmission while enabling the necessary deformation for fluid displacement and inspection area expansion.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution improves the ability to inspect the interior of hollow members by maintaining clear signal transmission and increasing the inspection area significantly, even in environments with contaminated fluids, reducing the need for costly and time-consuming operations like lifting equipment to the surface for inspection.
Implementation Method 1
the sensor cover fluid is optically transparent
Implementation Method 2
acoustically homogeneous
Implementation Method 3
the delimiting means comprises a flexible material and is configured to permit a modification of the sensor cover volume
Data Source
AI summary
A sensor cover (1) for an inspection assembly (3) is provided. The inspection assembly (3) is adapted to inspect the interior of a hollow member (5). The sensor cover (1) comprises a delimiting means (13.1, 13.2) configured to at least partially delimit a sensor cover volume (11.1, 11.2). The delimiting means (13.1, 13.2) comprises a flexible material and is configured to permit a modification of the sensor cover volume (11.1, 11.2) such that at least a portion of said delimiting means (13.1, 13.2) is closer to a portion of said hollow member wall (7) after said modification than before said modification to thereby enable said sensor signal to be transmitted from the hollow member wall (7) to the sensor (9). The present disclosure also relates to inspection assembly (3), a use of an inspection assembly (3), and a method (100) for inspecting the interior of a hollow member (5).