Importance

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Abstract

In a pipeline inspection system, a hollow spherical ball has an internal ultrasonic vibration module, an internal battery for powering the vibration module, and an internal, wirelessly operated, control for controlling the vibration module while the ball is moving, with liquid, along the pipeline. Liquid, having a reduced oxygen content, is pumped through the pipeline, and filtered before returning to the pipeline. Each of a plurality of holes, connecting the interior to the exterior of the ball, is tapered proceeding in the direction from the interior to the exterior, resulting in the formation of a blade structure where the interior of each hole meets the outer surface of the ball at an inclined angle. When the blade structure is in contact with the wall of the pipe, and caused to vibrate by the vibration module, it is able to cut off scale from the interior of the pipe.

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First Claim