Flexible Tube Insertion Support for Industrial Pipeline Maintenance

A system and method for monitoring and predicting pipeline corrosion in industrial settings using a flexible tube insertion support apparatus, optimizing pipeline inspection and maintenance planning.

The original patent described a flexible tube insertion support apparatus for medical endoscope applications. However, pipeline corrosion in industrial settings is a significant problem, resulting in costly repairs, downtime, and environmental hazards. The new inventive concept addresses this limitation by applying the core technology to industrial pipeline maintenance, enabling early detection of corrosion and optimized inspection and maintenance schedules.

The flexible tube insertion support apparatus is configured to output support information for supporting an insertion operation of a flexible tube into a pipeline section. The support information is used to detect anomalies indicative of corrosion. The apparatus generates propriety information regarding the propriety of a twisting operation of the flexible tube in accordance with a force quantity of an external force applied to the flexible tube. This propriety information is used to identify areas of the pipeline requiring more frequent inspection. A planning module is further configured to use the propriety information to schedule maintenance activities and allocate resources.

The new claims introduce the novel application of the flexible tube insertion support apparatus to industrial pipeline maintenance, leveraging the core technology to detect corrosion and optimize inspection and maintenance schedules. This inventive step is non-obvious compared to the original patent, which focused solely on medical endoscope applications.

Alternative embodiments may include using the flexible tube insertion support apparatus for other industrial applications, such as monitoring and predicting corrosion in oil and gas pipelines, chemical plants, or power generation facilities. Variations may include integrating the apparatus with existing pipeline inspection systems or developing new sensors and detectors to enhance the accuracy of corrosion detection.

The inventive concept has significant commercial potential in the industrial pipeline maintenance market, where corrosion detection and prevention are critical to ensuring the integrity and efficiency of pipeline operations. The target industries include oil and gas, chemical processing, power generation, and aerospace, with potential applications in monitoring and predicting corrosion in confined spaces.