Patent ID: 7402999
Filing Date: 2008-07-22
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
1. A pulsed eddy current pipeline inspection device, comprising: a plurality of stages longitudinally spaced apart from each other and adapted to move between a contracted position and an expanded position; and a plurality of pulsed eddy current sensors disposed around at least a portion of a circumference of each of the plurality of stages in the contracted position with at least one gap between pulsed eddy current sensors in each of the plurality of stages in the expanded position, the plurality of pulsed eddy current sensors being arranged such that the at least one gap in a first one of the plurality of stages is aligned with a portion of a second one of the plurality of stages that has pulsed eddy current sensors disposed thereon, such that an entire circumference of a pipeline is covered by the plurality of pulsed eddy current sensors.