Patents Assigned to Vallourec Tubes France
  • Publication number: 20230266278
    Abstract: A method for dynamically acquiring data representing a part to be tested, the method includes a multi-element sensor acquiring data concerning the part to be tested, transmitting an ultrasonic shot, receiving a returned wave returned by the part resulting from the ultrasonic shot, generating data representing the part to be tested, and during the data acquisition step, a relative movement between the sensor and the part to be tested, the method further includes generating corrected data representing the part to be tested by simulating a relative movement between the sensor and the part to be tested up to a reference position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2021
    Publication date: August 24, 2023
    Applicant: VALLOUREC TUBES FRANCE
    Inventors: Olivier LAZZARI, Bada NDAO
  • Patent number: 11685981
    Abstract: Special usage steels, particularly those intended to be in contact with combustion fumes, are described. Tubular components produced based on such steels are also described. The steel both is resistant to the coking phenomenon and has improved mechanical performances. The steel contains in percentage by weight from 0.08 to 0.15% carbon, from 0.4 to 0.8% manganese, from 1.5 to 2.5% silicon, from 0.5 to 2% copper, from 8 to 10% chrome, from 0.5 to 3% nickel, from 0.01 to 0.07% nitrogen, from 0.8 to 1.1% molybdenum, with the remainder being iron and impurities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: VALLOUREC TUBES FRANCE
    Inventors: Valentin Rossi, Fernando Andres Bonilla Angulo, Nicolas Dulcy
  • Patent number: 11644307
    Abstract: Method for generating a compatibility index between two ends of two tubes, in particular before welding operations, the method comprising the steps of: (a) marking an angular reference (M0) on each of the two ends, (b) orbital measurement of an inside radius of each of the ends; (c) determining an index of angular compatibility (INDth?tak) between the two ends for an angular deviation (?, theta) between the angular references of the ends, said angular compatibility index deriving from a maximum difference between the inside radii of each opposite end, (d) iterating the step of determining the angular compatibility index for several values for angular deviation between the angular references of the ends; (e) generating an overall score for compatibility (Hk) between said two ends, the overall compatibility score being a function of the angular compatibility indices determined for several angular deviation values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: VALLOUREC TUBES FRANCE
    Inventors: Nicolas Gotusso, Mélanie Armand
  • Publication number: 20220389552
    Abstract: Special usage steels, particularly those intended to be in contact with combustion fumes, are described. Tubular components produced based on such steels are also described. The steel both is resistant to the coking phenomenon and has improved mechanical performances. The steel contains in percentage by weight from 0.08 to 0.15% carbon, from 0.4 to 0.8% manganese, from 1.5 to 2.5% silicon, from 0.5 to 2% copper, from 8 to 10% chrome, from 0.5 to 3% nickel, from 0.01 to 0.07% nitrogen, from 0.8 to 1.1% molybdenum, with the remainder being iron and impurities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2022
    Publication date: December 8, 2022
    Applicant: VALLOUREC TUBES FRANCE
    Inventors: Valentin ROSSI, Fernando Andres BONILLA ANGULO, Nicolas DULCY
  • Patent number: 11519880
    Abstract: An automated device for non-destructive testing for the detection of defects of a complex tubular product includes at least one ultrasound transducer arranged to emit an ultrasound beam having an emission orientation. The automated device further includes control and processing electronics configured to define at least one ultrasound burst parameter as a function of the longitudinal and/or circumferential position of the ultrasound emission means, so as to detect defects in the tube wall. The at least one parameter being chosen from the burst emission orientation, the gain or the position of the temporal filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: VALLOUREC TUBES FRANCE
    Inventor: Olivier Lazzari
  • Publication number: 20220214166
    Abstract: Method for generating a compatibility index between two ends of two tubes, in particular before welding operations, the method comprising the steps of: (a) marking an angular reference (M0) on each of the two ends, (b) orbital measurement of an inside radius of each of the ends; (c) determining an index of angular compatibility (INDth?tak) between the two ends for an angular deviation (?, theta) between the angular references of the ends, said angular compatibility index deriving from a maximum difference between the inside radii of each opposite end, (d) iterating the step of determining the angular compatibility index for several values for angular deviation between the angular references of the ends; (e) generating an overall score for compatibility (Hk) between said two ends, the overall compatibility score being a function of the angular compatibility indices determined for several angular deviation values,
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2020
    Publication date: July 7, 2022
    Applicant: VALLOUREC TUBES FRANCE
    Inventors: Nicolas GOTUSSO, Mélanie ARMAND
  • Patent number: 10690633
    Abstract: A module to help in calibration of a device for inspection of metallurgical products including a memory configured to store data in a form of value/angle pairs. Each pair corresponds to an amplitude of response to an ultrasound inspection in a direction of the metallurgical product corresponding to the angle. A calculator is configured to perform a processing function on the stored data. A first set of data involves a polydirectional reflector disposed in the metallurgical product. A second set of data involves a directional reflector disposed in the metallurgical product. The processing function establishes a third set of data by interpolation of pairs of the first set of data and the second set of data. The pairs of the third set correspond to standard amplitudes for ultrasound inspections along at least some of the working directions of the polydirectional reflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: VALLOUREC TUBES FRANCE
    Inventor: Alexandre Noel
  • Publication number: 20200182832
    Abstract: An automated device for non-destructive testing for the detection of defects of a complex tubular product includes at least one ultrasound transducer arranged to emit an ultrasound beam having an emission orientation. The automated device further includes control and processing electronics configured to define at least one ultrasound burst parameter as a function of the longitudinal and/or circumferential position of the ultrasound emission means, so as to detect defects in the tube wall. The at least one parameter being chosen from the burst emission orientation, the gain or the position of the temporal filter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2018
    Publication date: June 11, 2020
    Applicant: VALLOUREC TUBES FRANCE
    Inventor: Olivier LAZZARI
  • Patent number: 10641737
    Abstract: A device, and corresponding test method, for testing metallurgical products including an ultrasonic sensor including a plurality of elementary transducers which can be operated independently of each other and are distributed in accordance with a two-dimensional pattern is described. A first electronic component is configured to excite each of the elementary transducers in accordance with at least one temporal law corresponding to a burst of ultrasonic waves in a line of sight. A second electronic component is configured to process at least a portion of the signals captured by each of the elementary transducers. Each temporal law is arranged such that the corresponding burst produces a beam of ultrasonic waves which is generally divergent about the line of sight on moving away from the ultrasonic sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: VALLOUREC TUBES FRANCE
    Inventors: Raphael Michel, Alexandre Noel, Michel Vahe
  • Publication number: 20200095658
    Abstract: Micro alloyed steels with a yield strength of at least 485 MPa (70 ksi) with outstanding toughness behavior, good weldability and improved sulphide stress cracking resistance for line pipes, for applications as process pipes, flowlines or risers in the oil and gas industry. Tubular products, such as seamless pipes, can be made from this steel. A process for manufacturing tubular products can be performed with this steel. The seamless pipes can be used for line pipes, flowlines and risers in the oil and gas industry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2019
    Publication date: March 26, 2020
    Applicant: VALLOUREC TUBES FRANCE
    Inventors: Vicente Braz DA TRINDADE FILHO, Julio Marcio SILVEIRA E SILVA, Cedric LINNE, Ana Carolina CALDAS VILAS BOAS
  • Publication number: 20190284665
    Abstract: Special usage steels, particularly those intended to be in contact with combustion fumes, are described. Tubular components produced based on such steels are also described. The steel both is resistant to the coking phenomenon and has improved mechanical performances. The steel contains no more than 0.15% carbon, from 0.3 to 1% manganese, from 1.4 to 3% silicon, from 0.5 to 3% copper, from 8 to 10% chrome, from 0.5 to 3% nickel, from 0.01 to 0.07% nitrogen, from 0.8 to 1.1% molybdenum, with the remainder being iron and impurities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2017
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Applicant: VALLOUREC TUBES FRANCE
    Inventors: Valentin ROSSI, Fernando Andres BONILLA ANGULO, Nicolas DULCY
  • Publication number: 20190203313
    Abstract: Provided is martensitic heat-resistant steel for boiler applications with a unique combination of enhanced creep strength and excellent oxidation resistance upon high temperature exposure in steam containing environments contacts (in wt.-%): C: 0.10 to 0.16%, Si: 0.20 to 0.60%, Mn: 0.30 to 0.80%, P?0.020%, S?0.010%, Al?0.020%, Cr: 10.5 to 12.00%, Mo: 0.10 to 0.60%, V: 0.15 to 0.30%, Ni: 0.10 to 0.40%, B: 0.008 to 0.015%, N:0.002 to 0.020%, Co: 1.50 to 3.00%, W: 1.50 to 2.50%, Nb: 0.02 to 0.07%, Ti: 0.001-0.020%, iron and unavoidable impurities. The steel is normalized for about 10 to about 120 minutes at a temperature of 1050-1170° C. and cooled down in air or water to room temperature, and then tempered for at least one hour at a temperature of 750-820° C. The steel has a martensitic microstructure with average ?-ferrite content of less than 5 vol.-%.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2017
    Publication date: July 4, 2019
    Applicants: VALLOUREC TUBES FRANCE, VALLOUREC DEUTSCHLAND GmbH
    Inventors: Arno FUCHSMANN, Bernhard KOSCHLIG, Marko SUBANOVIC, Walter BENDICK
  • Patent number: 10215011
    Abstract: An element configured to be mounted at an end of a pipe suited to circulation of a fluid to extend the pipe. The element includes a hollow profiled body including a peripheral surface and a protective covering at least partially covering the peripheral surface. The element further includes a sensor of guided waves type, control electronics for the guided wave sensor, and an electric cable configured to connect the control electronics to corresponding electronics of the pipe. The electric cable and the guided wave sensor are fixed to the peripheral surface of the body under at least part of the protective covering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: VALLOUREC TUBES FRANCE
    Inventors: Adrien Trillon, Emmanuel Desdoit, Sebastien Petit
  • Publication number: 20180106768
    Abstract: A module to help in calibration of a device for inspection of metallurgical products including a memory configured to store data in a form of value/angle pairs. Each pair corresponds to an amplitude of response to an ultrasound inspection in a direction of the metallurgical product corresponding to the angle. A calculator is configured to perform a processing function on the stored data. A first set of data involves a polydirectional reflector disposed in the metallurgical product. A second set of data involves a directional reflector disposed in the metallurgical product. The processing function establishes a third set of data by interpolation of pairs of the first set of data and the second set of data. The pairs of the third set correspond to standard amplitudes for ultrasound inspections along at least some of the working directions of the polydirectional reflector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2016
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Applicant: VALLOUREC TUBES FRANCE
    Inventor: Alexandre NOEL
  • Patent number: 9810666
    Abstract: A device for inspection of a tubular piece includes a cart including plural elemental ultrasound transducers distributed along at least a first direction and a guide which cooperates with an exterior surface of the piece to position the cart such that the first direction essentially corresponds to a direction transverse to the tubular piece. A control electronics, connected to the electroacoustic transducers, includes a memory storing the timed excitation laws and a controller that applies in succession a respective timed excitation law to subsets of mutually adjacent elemental transducers along the first direction. The timed excitation laws are designed so that the elemental transducers of the respective subsets jointly produce incident beams of ultrasonic waves propagating along respective directions inclined relative to a direction normal to the exterior surface of the tubular piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: VALLOUREC TUBES FRANCE
    Inventor: Francois Deneuvile
  • Publication number: 20160195499
    Abstract: A device, and corresponding test method, for testing metallurgical products including an ultrasonic sensor including a plurality of elementary transducers which can be operated independently of each other and are distributed in accordance with a two-dimensional pattern is described. A first electronic component is configured to excite each of the elementary transducers in accordance with at least one temporal law corresponding to a burst of ultrasonic waves in a line of sight. A second electronic component is configured to process at least a portion of the signals captured by each of the elementary transducers. Each temporal law is arranged such that the corresponding burst produces a beam of ultrasonic waves which is generally divergent about the line of sight on moving away from the ultrasonic sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Publication date: July 7, 2016
    Applicant: VALLOUREC TUBES FRANCE
    Inventors: Raphael MICHEL, Alexandre NOEL, Michel VAHE
  • Publication number: 20160025684
    Abstract: A device for inspection of a tubular piece includes a cart including plural elemental ultrasound transducers distributed along at least a first direction and a guide which cooperates with an exterior surface of the piece to position the cart such that the first direction essentially corresponds to a direction transverse to the tubular piece. A control electronics, connected to the electroacoustic transducers, includes a memory storing the timed excitation laws and a controller that applies in succession a respective timed excitation law to subsets of mutually adjacent elemental transducers along the first direction. The timed excitation laws are designed so that the elemental transducers of the respective subsets jointly produce incident beams of ultrasonic waves propagating along respective directions inclined relative to a direction normal to the exterior surface of the tubular piece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2014
    Publication date: January 28, 2016
    Applicant: VALLOUREC TUBES FRANCE
    Inventor: Francois DENEUVILLE
  • Publication number: 20150330206
    Abstract: An element configured to be mounted at an end of a pipe suited to circulation of a fluid to extend the pipe. The element includes a hollow profiled body including a peripheral surface and a protective covering at least partially covering the peripheral surface. The element further includes a sensor of guided waves type, control electronics for the guided wave sensor, and an electric cable configured to connect the control electronics to corresponding electronics of the pipe. The electric cable and the guided wave sensor are fixed to the peripheral surface of the body under at least part of the protective covering.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Publication date: November 19, 2015
    Applicant: VALLOUREC TUBES FRANCE
    Inventors: Adrien TRILLON, Emmanuel DESDOIT, Sebastien PETIT
  • Patent number: 8966984
    Abstract: An apparatus testing axle shafts including i) at least one ultrasonic probe to analyze, in a selected angular sector, selected portions of a wall exhibiting known variable internal and external radius profiles of a tubular axle shaft and thus acquire analysis data, ii) a controller to determine, as a function of the profiles and possible loading and environment of the shaft, at least one first and at least one second selected site on the external or internal surface of the wall where each probe is to be placed manually, to analyze at least one first and at least one second selected portion of the wall respectively in at least one first and at least one second selected angular sector oriented in first and second opposing longitudinal or transverse directions, and thus acquiring analysis data for various relative angular positions of the shaft in relation to the probe, and iii) a processor to create from these acquired analysis data maps representing the transverse or longitudinal orientations and the positions
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Vallourec Tubes France
    Inventors: Frederic Lesage, Alexandre Noel, Renato Nogueira de Paula