Patents by Inventor Charles E. Luff

Charles E. Luff has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 5025670
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for internally inspecting a relatively small diameter live pipeline with a camera introduced into an elongated hole cut into the wall of the pipeline at a strategic location. A housing formed by a pair of opposed oblique nipples is secured to the pipe and a rotary cutter is operated successively through the nipples to produce the elongated hole. The camera is introduced successively through each of the nipples to scan both upstream and downstream of the location of the elongated hole. The oblique orientation of the nipples simplifies the elongated hole forming operation and reduces flexural stresses on a cable used to propel the camera through the pipeline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1991
    Inventors: George R. McNulty, Charles E. Luff