Patent ID: RE40515

Claim:
A system for the non-destructive evaluation of a pipeline structure having an interior, said system comprising: a mobile in-line transport vehicle for translational longitudinal movement through the interior of said pipeline structure , said vehicle having a sensor/instrument section and a battery section mounted thereon ; a linear displacement sensor positioned on said vehicle for generating a signal indicative of said translational longitudinal movement of said vehicle through the interior of said pipeline structure; at least one a transmitting magnetostrictive sensor positioned on said vehicle, and a receiving magnetostrictive sensor flexibly attached to said sensor/instrument section, each of said magnetostrictive sensor s comprising ; : an elongated core parallel to said longitudinal movement , said core having a length much longer than dimensions of its cross-section; a coil wound around said length of said elongated core; and , means for establishing a bias magnetic field proximate to said elongated core; wherein said at least one magnetostrictive sensor is positioned on sensors are flexibly attached to said sensor/instrument section mounted on said transport vehicle and are positioned so as to maintain a generally constant close-spaced position with respect to on opposite sides of an inside wall of said pipeline structure as said transport vehicle is moved through the interior of said pipeline structure ; and, said battery section mounted on said vehicle being electronically connected to said sensor/instrument section by a flexible coupling .