CUE pipe crawlers get a grip

摘要

Strathclyde's CUE has also developed robotic pipe crawlers that clamp onto the outside of pipework. Robotic pipe crawlers consist of two rigid, semicircular collar units oriented axially on the pipe and connected by three support shafts. Collar 2 has three linear bearings and slides along the support shafts relative to Collar 1.rnBoth collars contain a set of retractable grippers mounted on linear bearings to clamp onto the outside of the pipe.rnIt is anticipated that robotic NDE could be employed in routine testing of aircraft for fatigue cracking and corrosion, the inspection of nuclear processing cells, oil and gas pipelines, rail infrastructure and civil structures.