Patent ID: 6035786
Filing Date: 2000-03-14
Classification: F16L

Abstract:
A pipe crawler tractor for traversing the inside surface of a pipe, the pipe having a central axis, comprising:a half tractor assembly having a first base drive wheel, a second base drive wheel, and a top drive wheel mounted in spaced-apart relation along said central axis so that said top drive wheel is positioned between said first and second base drive wheels and so that said first and second base drive wheels contact the inside surface of the pipe at respective first and second positions and said top drive wheel contacts the inside surface of the pipe at a third position, the third position being located at a different diametrical position from the first and second positions; andcontrol systems operatively connected to said half tractor assembly for controlling rotation and steering of each of the first base wheel, the second base wheel, and the top drive wheel to move said half tractor assembly within the pipe.