阅读说明：本技术 具有集成表面清洁和检查的水下载具 (Underwater vehicle with integrated surface cleaning and inspection ) 是由 A.埃默 F.阿布德拉蒂夫 于 2018-07-05 设计创作，主要内容包括：公开了适于附接到远程操作载具的机器人臂的集成探头和探头系统。所述探头和探头系统用于在水下表面处执行清洁操作以及阴极保护(CP)电压测量和超声波测试(UT)厚度测量两者。阴极保护测量系统包括从所述探头向外延伸的一个或多个导电支腿。这些支腿被布置在清洁工具和超声波传感器周围。当所述集成探头接触所述水下表面时,至少一个支腿接触所述表面,从而在所述探头与所述水下表面之间提供进行有效的清洁和UT检查所需要的距离。可清洁所述水下表面,并且可在单个操作期间使用单个集成探头执行CP和UT测量,而不必重新定位所述探头。(An integrated probe and probe system adapted for attachment to a robotic arm of a teleoperational carrier is disclosed. The probe and probe system are used to perform cleaning operations at an underwater surface as well as both Cathodic Protection (CP) voltage measurements and Ultrasonic Test (UT) thickness measurements. The cathodic protection measurement system includes one or more conductive legs extending outwardly from the probe. The legs are disposed about the cleaning tool and the ultrasonic sensor. When the integrated probe contacts the underwater surface, at least one leg contacts the surface, thereby providing the distance between the probe and the underwater surface needed for effective cleaning and UT inspection. The underwater surface can be cleaned and CP and UT measurements can be performed using a single integrated probe during a single operation without having to reposition the probe.)

1. An integrated probe adapted to perform cleaning, cathodic protection voltage reading, and ultrasonic test thickness measurement at an underwater surface substantially simultaneously, the integrated probe comprising:

a housing having a front surface and a rear surface;

a cleaning jet tool having an aperture extending through the front surface of the housing;

an ultrasonic probe disposed within the housing, the ultrasonic probe having a transducer crystal and a flexible membrane disposed around the transducer crystal, and a coupling agent disposed within a gap between the flexible membrane and the transducer crystal; and

a cathodic inspection tool having one or more legs, each leg having a conductive tip and a subsea housing containing a reference electrode, each leg extending longitudinally away from the housing and disposed about the cleaning jet tool and ultrasonic probe,

wherein the one or more legs are passively adjustable in response to a force applied when the one or more legs contact the underwater surface, and

wherein the one or more legs extend a distance away from the housing such that with the conductive tip of the one or more legs in contact with the underwater surface, the cleaning jet tool and the ultrasonic probe are at a distance for effective cleaning and ultrasonic measurement, respectively.

2. The integrated probe of claim 1, wherein the aperture of the cleaning jet tool is located at a central location of the housing.

3. The integrated probe of claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic probe extends around the aperture of the cleaning jet tool.

4. The integrated probe of claim 1, wherein the one or more legs provide a degree of flexibility that bends to orient the cleaning jet tool and ultrasonic probe toward the underwater surface for cleaning and inspection with the one or more legs in contact with the underwater surface.

5. The integrated probe of claim 1, wherein the conductive tip is made of stainless steel.

6. The integrated probe of claim 1, wherein the one or more legs are arranged around the ultrasound probe in two pairs of diametrically opposed legs.

7. The integrated probe of claim 1, wherein at least one degree of freedom is provided by one or more joints coupling the housing to an external carrier.

8. A system for performing cleaning, cathodic protection voltage reading, and ultrasonic test thickness measurement at an underwater surface substantially simultaneously, the system comprising:

a remotely operated underwater vehicle having a robotic support arm with a distal end;

an integrated probe for cleaning, measuring cathodic protection voltage, and ultrasonic testing thickness measurements coupled to the distal end of the robotic support arm, wherein the integrated probe comprises:

a housing having a front surface and a rear surface;

a cleaning jet tool having an aperture extending through the front surface of the housing;

an ultrasonic probe disposed within the housing, the ultrasonic probe having a transducer crystal and a flexible membrane disposed around the transducer crystal, and a coupling agent disposed within a gap between the flexible membrane and the transducer crystal; and

a cathodic inspection tool having one or more legs, each leg having a conductive tip and a subsea housing containing a reference electrode, each leg extending longitudinally away from the housing and disposed about the cleaning jet tool and ultrasonic probe,

wherein the one or more legs are passively adjustable in response to a force applied when the one or more legs contact the underwater surface, and

wherein the one or more legs extend a distance away from the housing such that with the conductive tip of the one or more legs in contact with the underwater surface, the cleaning jet tool and the ultrasonic probe are at a distance for effective cleaning and ultrasonic measurement, respectively.

9. The integrated probe of claim 8, wherein the aperture of the cleaning jet tool is located at a central location of the housing.

10. The integrated probe of claim 8, wherein the ultrasonic probe extends around the aperture of the cleaning jet tool.

11. The integrated probe of claim 8, wherein the one or more legs provide a degree of flexibility that bends to orient the cleaning jet tool and ultrasonic probe toward the underwater surface for cleaning and inspection with the one or more legs in contact with the underwater surface.

12. The integrated probe of claim 8, wherein the conductive tip is made of stainless steel.

13. The integrated probe of claim 8, wherein the one or more legs are arranged around the ultrasound probe in two pairs of diametrically opposed legs.

14. The integrated probe of claim 8, wherein at least one degree of freedom is provided by one or more joints coupling the housing to an external carrier.

15. A method of performing cleaning operations, cathodic protection voltage readings, and ultrasonic test thickness measurements on an underwater surface with an integrated probe having a cleaning jet tool, an ultrasonic probe, and at least one leg having a conductive tip, the method comprising:

positioning a teleoperated vehicle having at least one robotic arm in proximity to the underwater surface, wherein the integrated probe is disposed at a free end of the robotic arm and the integrated probe is coupled to an arm end effector;

contacting the underwater surface with the integrated probe such that the at least one leg with the conductive tip is in contact with the underwater surface, wherein the length of the at least one leg positions the cleaning jet tool and ultrasonic probe at a desired distance from the underwater surface for effective cleaning and measurement;

cleaning the underwater surface by causing high pressure fluid to exit the cleaning jet tool and impinge on the underwater surface;

measuring a voltage at the underwater surface by the at least one leg; and

measuring the thickness of the underwater surface with the ultrasonic probe.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the steps of cleaning, measuring voltage, and measuring thickness are all performed without repositioning the remotely operated vehicle.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the steps of cleaning, measuring voltage, and measuring thickness are all performed during a single contacting step.

Technical Field

The present patent application relates generally to cleaning, testing, measuring mechanisms, and more particularly to a probe system for cleaning and ultrasonically measuring thickness and performing cathodic protection voltage readings in an underwater environment.

Background

Performing cleaning and inspection of underwater surfaces is often a difficult and time consuming process that may require multiple separate robotic vehicles and/or robotic vehicles (including multiple separate robotic arms and probes). Typically, a cleaning tool is first brought into contact with an underwater surface to be inspected to clean the surface so that inspection can be performed on the surface. The cleaning tool must then be removed from the surface that has been cleaned and a separate robot/probe must be positioned and brought into contact with the just-cleaned area to perform the inspection process. If multiple inspections are required, a separate robot/probe must be brought into contact with the cleaning area. Removing and repositioning individual probes/robots can be time consuming, difficult and expensive.

Although some inspection robots include cleaning and inspection tools, they are often located at different locations along the carrier. Thus, the carrier must first clean a certain area of the surface and then move relative to the surface to position the sensor relative to the area. This requires controlled movement of the robot to ensure proper alignment and also delays the process as the robot must move between cleaning and inspection operations. Furthermore, these systems typically require a separate structure providing a stand between the robot and the ground. These separate structures add complexity, weight, and cost to the system.

The present invention provides a solution to one or more of these and other problems.

Drawings

The drawings illustrate exemplary embodiments and are not intended to limit the invention. In the drawings, like reference numerals are intended to refer to like or corresponding parts.

FIG. 1 illustrates an isometric view of an integrated cleaning, CP, and UT probe system, according to at least one embodiment of the present application; and is

FIG. 2 shows a side view of the integrated cleaning, CP and UT probe system of FIG. 1 mounted on an underwater robotic vehicle.

Detailed Description

The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and which show by way of illustration example embodiments and/or examples of the invention. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. The disclosed subject matter can be embodied as, among other things, method devices, components, or systems.

Further, it has been recognized that terms may have meanings suggested or implied in addition to the meanings explicitly stated in the context. Likewise, the phrase "in one embodiment" as used herein does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, and the phrase "in another embodiment" as used herein does not necessarily refer to a different embodiment. For example, it is contemplated that claimed subject matter may be based on a combination of example embodiments or a combination of portions of example embodiments.

In accordance with the present application, embodiments are provided that relate to an integrated probe and an integrated probe system for inspection and cleaning. The integrated probe may include a cleaning tool, and may further include a sensor for measuring a Cathodic Protection (CP) voltage and measuring a surface thickness using Ultrasonic Testing (UT), wherein a delay between performing a cleaning operation and taking each measurement is minimized. In this manner, the cleaning operation and the CP and UT measurements may be performed in rapid succession or substantially simultaneously. For example, the cleaning operation and CP and UT measurements may be performed during a single touchdown to a particular underwater surface (or "inspection surface"), such as an underwater pipe or pile foundation, or the floor of the moored hull.

In one aspect, as shown in fig. 2, an integrated probe 100 as provided in one or more embodiments herein may be coupled to a single robotic arm of a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV)200 at, for example, a free end 202 of the robotic arm 204. For example, the rear surface 112 of the probe housing 120 can be connected to the robotic arm 204 via a flexible joint 208 (e.g., a ball and socket, a linkage, etc.), the flexible joint 208 providing at least one degree of freedom of motion of the integrated probe 100. The structural limitations of a typical ROV limit its robotic arms to only a single interchangeable or permanently mounted probe per robotic arm, and such arms lack the dexterity required to perform cleaning operations as well as perform CP and UT measurements simultaneously. Thus, conventionally, in order for an ROV to perform cleaning operations and CP and UT measurements in a single trip, it must have at least three robotic arms and/or a complex structure. Each robotic arm is heavy and only large, working-grade ROVs may include three or more robotic arms. In some cases, conventional measurement methods require a complete probe exchange at the arm (e.g., from CP to UT, or vice versa) to perform a second measurement. Such limited actuation capability results in an inherent delay (and thus an increase in cost due to the consequent increase in ROV time) because the two probe measurement systems must switch between two completely separate CP and UT probes, and the second probe must be redirected to the same inspection surface from which the first probe measurement was taken. This process becomes more complicated when a cleaning operation is also incorporated, as in addition to changing the probe, the measurement probe needs to be realigned to measure the area of the cleaned structure. The present application does not require the implementation of two separate CP and UT probes and an additional separate cleaning tool. Instead, cleaning, CP inspection, and UT inspection can be accomplished at a location using a single probe without having to reposition multiple probes/tools to perform these operations.

In addition, the integrated probe system herein provides the following advantages: implementation is possible with small light-weight grade ROVs (e.g., electric ROVs), general grade ROVs, inspection grade ROVs, and observation grade ROVs having only a single robotic arm. A smaller-grade ROV may be required if the inspection surface has accessibility issues (e.g., shallow water sites), or if there are power supply limitations.

In one or more embodiments, the integrated probe system 100 includes a central water jet cleaning tool 102, a centrally located annular UT sensor or transducer 122 (e.g., a piezoelectric ceramic crystal), the annular UT sensor or transducer 122 surrounding the cleaning tool, and further surrounding an array of conductive legs 130, the conductive legs 130 having tips or fixtures that are articulated and passively adjustable for performing CP measurements. The conductive legs are not rigid, but have some flexibility as to how they contact the underwater surface. In this manner, when the conductive legs contact the surface of the water, they passively adjust to orient the cleaning tool and UT sensor transverse to the inspection surface. At the same time, the legs conduct the cathodic protection voltage associated with the surface, such as with a conductive steel tip, thereby acting as a CP probe. Thus, the legs of the CP probe provide multiple functions in that they provide a point of contact for performing CP measurements, and further provide a functional position of the cleaning tool relative to the inspection surface so that the cleaning tool is in the proper orientation and distance relative to the inspection surface for effective cleaning. In this manner, cleaning and CP and UT measurements may be performed substantially simultaneously, reducing cleaning and measurement inspection times, adding size and weight to the robotic arm, and improving ROV agility.

The sensor housing 110 is located at a distal end of the robotic arm 120. An ultrasonic ring probe 122 is housed within the sensor housing 110 and is disposed below an outer flexible membrane 124. In one or more embodiments, the ultrasound probe 122 may include a plurality of piezoceramic crystals arranged in a ring. The ultrasound probe 122 may be selected to transmit and receive ultrasound waves of various specific frequencies. For example, the ultrasonic sensor may operate at a frequency of 2.0MHz, 2.25MHz, 3.5MHz, 5.0MHz, or 7.5 MHz. To facilitate ultrasonic transmission, a thin film of film coupling agent is located within a gap between, for example, the ultrasonic probe 122 and the flexible film 124 of the sensor housing 110. The membrane coupling agent may comprise a viscous liquid, gel or paste for minimizing the amount of air in the gap between the sensor and the membrane. For example, the film coupling agent may be propylene glycol, glycerin, silicone oil, or various commercially available gels.

The CP probe functionality of integrated probe system 100 is provided by measuring the voltage difference between one or more reference electrodes (or "reference cells") and one or more voltage electrodes in contact with the inspection surface. The reference electrode is electrically insulated from the voltage electrode and is typically submerged in water (e.g., the underwater environment itself). In one or more embodiments, the CP probe functionality of integrated probe system 100 is provided by one or more conductive legs 130 extending longitudinally beyond the front surface of housing 110. The legs 130 may be integrally formed with the housing 110, or may be a separate cathode probe mounted at the housing. In either case, the legs may be hinged-i.e., connected to allow for flexible movement. In one or more embodiments, the leg 130 can include a housing 132, the housing 132 housing one or more reference cells therein that serve as reference electrodes; and a conductive tip 134 at the end of the housing that serves as a voltage electrode. The conductive tip 134 is made of a conductive metal (such as steel or other alloy) that can conduct an electrical voltage at the underwater surface to be measured. The reference cell housed in the subsea housing 132 must be exposed to water and may be of the type used in conventional cathodically protected potential probe constructions, such as silver/silver chloride half-cells or pure zinc electrodes. In other embodiments, the reference electrode is located on an outer surface of or housed within the ROV or its robotic arm. The conductive legs 130 are electrically connected to a voltage processing device, such as a voltmeter (not shown), which may be located on the integrated probe system 100, ROV, or surface side, for recording and/or displaying voltage readings taken at the measurement site. In embodiments implementing an ROV, the ROV may have an umbilical cable leading to a location on the surface to couple a voltmeter to the non-tip end of leg 130 via the cable such that when conductive tip 134 contacts an underwater surface (e.g., a pipe), the potential is measured by the voltmeter. At least one voltage electrode at one of the tips 134 of the legs 130 must be in contact with the inspection surface to obtain an accurate cathode potential reading, but when taking a reading, it is not necessary to bring each leg 130 into contact with the inspection surface. The present application does not suffer from inaccurate readings due to the various resistive paths each leg 130 presents during voltage readings.

In one or more embodiments, the tips 134 of the legs 130 are shaped as cones with a circular or elliptical base. In other embodiments, the tips 134 of the legs 130 are pyramidal, rectangular prismatic, semicircular, sharp, flat, or have rounded heads. In this manner, the tip 134 is reconfigurable or interchangeable to achieve various contact configurations. For example, instead of a static stainless steel tip, tip 134 may be a movable metal roller, a wheeled tip, or a spherical caster. Such a configuration would reduce the impact on the ROV arm end effector when touchdown on the inspection surface (e.g., the steel surface of the tubular) and allow translational motion on the inspection surface when performing a scan rather than a spot check.

The cleaning function of the integrated probe system 100 is provided by a fluid jet cleaning tool 102. The jet cleaning tool 102 includes a central aperture 104, which central aperture 104 directs high pressure fluid toward the surface to be inspected. The high pressure fluid may be fresh water, sea water, a cleaning fluid, or a combination of fluid and suspended cleaning particles. The fluid exits the central orifice 104 at high pressure and impinges on the surface to be inspected. The high pressure nature of the fluid may wash away debris, such as marine organisms and/or sediments, located on the surface. High pressure fluid may be supplied through umbilical cable 206, where the high pressure fluid is provided from the surface support system. Alternatively, the robot 200 may include a fluid reservoir and pump system that may supply high pressure fluid. As another alternative, the robot may include a pump that can intake the surrounding seawater and direct it through the jet cleaning tool 102 at high pressure.

During operation of the integrated probe system 100, in order to perform cleaning and CP and UT measurements substantially simultaneously, it is necessary to bring the cleaning, CP and UT aspects of the integrated probe system close to the inspection surface. Sufficient proximity depends on the effectiveness of the jet cleaning tool 102 and/or the calibration of the ultrasonic probe 122, which means that the cleaning tool has a range of cleaning effectiveness and the ultrasonic probe has a range of effective measurements due to the characteristics of the water between the probe and the surface, the material of the surface, and other considerations. For example, the effective measurement range of the ultrasonic probe 122 means that it needs to abut or be within a few millimeters of the inspection surface to perform a successful measurement. If the ultrasound probe 122 is further from the inspection surface, it will lose signal integrity and no readings can be taken. In one or more embodiments, the ultrasonic probe 122 has an effective measurement range of 0-2 mm. The further the ultrasound probe 122 is from the inspection surface, the less accurate the UT measurement will be. The cleaning jet tool can be adjusted to accommodate the effective range of the UT probe. For example, the diameter and/or shape of the orifice may be adjusted such that the pressure of the fluid exiting the orifice or the pressure of the fluid supplied to the tool may be adjusted. By varying the nozzle shape and/or fluid supply pressure, the cleaning tool can effectively clean a surface the same distance as the UT probe can perform measurements. In this manner, cleaning and UT inspection can be performed without having to reposition the probe between cleaning and UT inspection operations.

In one or more embodiments, the conductive legs 130 must contact the inspection surface in order to make the CP voltage measurement. Accordingly, the integrated probe system 100 can be arranged such that the legs 130 contact the inspection surface while both the cleaning jet tool 102 and the ultrasonic probe 122 are positioned within their effective range of cleaning and measurement (e.g., 0-2mm from the inspection surface). The arrangement of the legs 130 relative to the cleaning jet tool 102 and the ultrasonic probe 122 within the sensor housing 120 can be configured to accommodate the diameter or curvature of a particular inspection surface. For example, in one or more embodiments, the legs 130 extend a distance beyond the sensor housing 120. In this manner, when the integrated probe system 100 is brought into proximity with an inspection surface, one or more of the legs 130 will contact the surface, although the cleaning jet tool and ultrasonic probe will still be close enough to the surface that it is within an effective range to perform cleaning and accurate UT measurements, but the cleaning jet tool and ultrasonic probe 122 will not contact the surface. In one or more embodiments, the legs 130 extend beyond the sensor housing 1200.5 mm, 1mm, 1.5mm, 2mm, or 2.5 mm. In other embodiments, the legs 130 are aligned with the sensor housing 120. Longer legs 130 may be implemented for inspection surfaces of smaller diameter (e.g., about 10cm or less) because for smaller inspection surfaces, the front surface width of the integrated probe system 100 is comparable to the inspection surface, and thus not all legs may contact the surface at once, although if at least one leg contacts the surface and the other legs are oriented to surround the surface, the cleaning jet tool and ultrasonic probe 122 will be oriented at the inspection surface within its effective measurement range. Thus, the legs 130 of the CP probe provide the multiple functions of providing the contact points needed to perform CP measurements, and further orienting and setting the distance between the cleaning jet tool and the surface for effective cleaning, and also orienting and setting the distance between the UT probe and the surface for effective measurements. In this manner, the integrated probe system 100 provides an efficient and compact design that allows cleaning and UT and CP measurements to be taken nearly simultaneously during a single drop of the probe, without having to reposition or use multiple separate probes.

The decision of whether and how much the legs 130 extend beyond the sensor housing 120, and where to arrange the legs at the front face of the integrated probe system 100, may depend on the particular arrangement desired. For example, the legs 130 may be advantageously arranged around the sensor housing 120 in the center of the front surface 110 of the housing 120 such that each leg 130 is equidistant from each other and from the sensor housing. Centering the sensor housing 120 in this manner maximizes the likelihood that a UT thickness measurement will be performed when one or more of the legs 130 contact the inspection surface. The distance of the legs 130 from the sensor housing 120 may vary depending on the arrangement desired for inspecting a particular surface. For example, an arrangement in which the legs 130 are close to the sensor housing 120 reduces any difference in measurement lag between making the CP voltage and UT thickness measurements, and increases the accuracy of the spot inspection and the effectiveness of spot cleaning, while spacing the legs 130 relatively far from the sensor housing provides a wider cleaning and inspection area, and may provide alignment assistance (i.e., one leg contacts the surface, and the leg bends and/or the housing 120 deflects in response to this force, pushing one or more other legs into contact as well).

In the particular embodiment shown in fig. 1 and 2, four hinged conductive legs 130 are disposed about the ultrasound probe 122. Fig. 1 shows a first pair of legs 130a, 130b diametrically opposite each other. The second pair of legs 130c, 130d are also diametrically opposed to each other. In this embodiment, the four legs 130a-130d are equally spaced 90 degrees around the ultrasound probe 122. This arrangement provides a maximum range for at least one leg to be able to contact the inspection surface in order to obtain a voltage reading. However, other conductive leg arrangements of four legs are contemplated, depending on the particular application, wherein the legs are not equally spaced.

In addition, the flexibility of the legs 130, in combination with the flexibility of the inner gimbal frame 110, allows the ultrasound probe 122 to be aligned on the inspection surface within a margin (e.g., the front surface of the housing 110 is substantially transverse to the target surface). This passive alignment of the ultrasonic probe 122 by the conductive legs 130 allows cleaning to be performed while CP voltage and UT measurements are performed without having to reposition the probe, or allows cleaning to be performed while CP voltage and UT measurements are performed in at least a single visit of the inspection surface, or without having to use different probes to provide different functions. In one or more embodiments, a proximity sensor is coupled with the ultrasonic probe 122 to assist in positioning at the inspection surface. For example, the proximity sensor may be an infrared or acoustic sensor located inside the sensor housing 120 at or near the flexible membrane of the ultrasonic probe 122.

It is worthy to note that the figures and examples above are not meant to limit the scope of the present application to a single embodiment, as other embodiments are possible by interchanging some or all of the elements described or illustrated. For example, the integrated probe system may be mounted on an articulating coupling mechanism that may provide additional degrees of freedom to the probe contact surface, as disclosed in U.S. provisional application No. 62/395,162 filed on 9, 15, 2016, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. Further, where certain elements of the present application can be partially or fully implemented using known components, only those portions of such known components that are necessary for an understanding of the present application are described, and detailed descriptions of other portions of such known components are omitted so as not to obscure the present application. In this specification, unless explicitly stated otherwise herein, an embodiment showing a singular component is not necessarily limited to other embodiments including a plurality of the same component, and vice versa. Moreover, applicants do not intend for any term in the specification or claims to be ascribed an uncommon or special meaning unless explicitly set forth as such. Further, this application is intended to cover present and future known equivalents to the known components referred to herein by way of illustration.