Magnetic Odometer Wheel for Slip-Resistant Pipeline Inspection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing odometers in inspection and cleaning devices face inaccuracies due to slippage issues, especially in heavily contaminated environments like oil pipelines, leading to complex data fusion and increased costs when multiple odometers are used to compensate for this problem.
Innovation Solution
The odometer design incorporates magnets arranged circumferentially around a carrier to create a closed magnetic circuit with the pipeline surface, enhancing adhesion and reducing slippage through strong attractive forces, while using conducting elements to focus the magnetic field and reduce bearing friction, allowing for more accurate distance measurement with fewer odometers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional odometers are used in heavily contaminated pipelines, then the device can operate in such environments, but slippage occurs leading to inaccurate distance measurement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the conventional mechanical friction-based adhesion system with a magnetic field-based system. Magnets are integrated into the carrier to generate magnetic attractive forces that act between the carrier and the magnetizable pipeline wall, eliminating dependence on mechanical friction which fails in oily environments. This substitution ensures reliable distance measurement even in heavily contaminated pipelines.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameter of adhesion from mechanical friction to magnetic attraction. By introducing magnets with specific magnetic field strengths and arranging them circumferentially on the carrier, the system achieves controlled magnetic attractive forces that maintain consistent adhesion to the pipeline wall regardless of surface contamination, thereby improving measurement reliability.
2Measurement precision
If multiple odometers are arranged in the inspection device to compensate for slippage, then measurement accuracy may improve, but the device becomes more complex, heavier and more expensive
Solution Approach 1:
By replacing mechanical friction with magnetic attraction in a single odometer, the patent eliminates the need for multiple odometers. The magnetic field-based adhesion provides sufficient reliability for accurate measurement, simplifying the overall device structure and reducing complexity while maintaining measurement precision.
3Measurement precision
If magnets are used to increase adhesion to the pipeline surface, then rolling accuracy improves, but bearing friction in the axle bearing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the adhesion function from the bearing system and relocates it to the carrier-pipeline interface through magnetic attraction. The magnets are positioned on the carrier to generate magnetic forces acting between the carrier and pipeline wall, separating the adhesion function from the bearing friction function. This allows bearing friction to be minimized while maintaining rolling accuracy through magnetic adhesion.
4Measurement precision
If the carrier is pressed against the surface to ensure contact, then distance measurement is reliable, but the device requires higher contact pressure and larger dimensions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes mechanical contact pressure with magnetic attractive forces for adhesion. The magnets generate magnetic forces that act between the carrier and the magnetizable pipeline wall, eliminating the need for high mechanical contact pressure. This reduces the stress on the pipeline surface while maintaining reliable distance measurement through magnetic adhesion.
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 design improves the accuracy of distance measurement by increasing friction and reducing bearing friction, enabling more precise tracking with fewer odometers, and includes features like flexible sheathing and non-magnetic coatings to maintain cleanliness and reduce dirt adhesion, while maintaining operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
The carrier (6) is designed to form a closed magnetic circuit with the surface (4) and, to this end, has conducting elements (14), which conduct and, in particular, focus the magnetic field of a respective magnet (11)
Implementation Method 2
a strong attractive force between the wall and the magnet or carrier is generated by the magnetic field
Implementation Method 3
The magnets are arranged circumferentially around the axis of rotation of the carrier and, at the moment of closest proximity of one of the magnets to the surface or the wall of the pipeline, a strong attractive force between the wall and the magnet or carrier is generated by the magnetic field
Implementation Method 4
has conducting elements (14), which conduct and, in particular, focus the magnetic field of a respective magnet (11)
Implementation Method 5
which conduct and, in particular, focus the magnetic field of a respective magnet (11) in the direction of the surface (4)
Implementation Method 6
This improves the adhesion of the odometer on the surface of the wall, so that the friction force resulting in a rotation of the wheel is increased
Implementation Method 7
The magnetic attraction works between the carrier and the wall and not in a axle bearing of the odometer. Therefore, for example, the contact pressure of the holder and the accompanying bearing friction in the axle bearing may be reduced
Data Source
AI summary
An odometer is provided for distance measurement in an inspection and/or cleaning device. The odometer includes a carrier provided for rolling on a surface, and which is arranged in a holder of the odometer so as to be rotatable about an axis of rotation. The carrier has a multiplicity of magnets arranged circumferentially around the axis of rotation. The odometer also includes a magnetic field sensor for generating signals produced through rotation of the magnets of the carriers.