Pipe measuring system

摘要

A pipe measuring system provides means for tallying a set of pipes, each of which has a threaded coupling at one end. The system includes a handheld laser instrument and target that are manually and sequentially placed at opposite ends of each pipe to measure its length. However, to measure the pipe's effective assembled length, rather than its actual length, the laser instrument has an adjustable backstop for engaging one end of the pipe. To use the system, a manufacture of the pipe first provides a specified make-up dimension that says how far the coupling should overlap the pipe when properly tightened. A manufacturer and/or end-user of the laser instrument establish the instrument with a zero reference. Then, based on the pipe manufacturer's specified make-up dimension and the location of the zero reference, the end-user adjusts the position of the backstop to be a certain distance from the zero reference.

主权项

1. A pipe tallying system, comprising:
a threaded pipe having an overall length extending axially from a proximal axial end of the threaded pipe to a distal axial end of the threaded pipe, the overall length encompassing a screwed-on collar having internal threads, the screwed-on collar being at one of the proximal axial end and the distal axial end; a laser instrument being proximate the proximal axial end of the threaded pipe, the laser instrument projecting a beam in an axial direction along a centerline of the beam substantially parallel to the threaded pipe, the laser instrument defining a zero reference spaced axially apart from the proximal axial end of the threaded pipe; a target engaging the distal axial end of the threaded pipe, the target intersecting the centerline of the beam and being at a chosen distance from the zero reference of the laser instrument; a measurement reading of the laser instrument, the measurement reading indicating an effective pipe length from the zero reference to the target, the measurement reading being less than the overall length of the threaded pipe; a backstop coupled to the laser instrument, the backstop being movable in the axial direction relative to the laser instrument, the backstop being movable selectively to a first adjusted position and a second adjusted position, the backstop being a first offset distance from the zero reference when the backstop is at the first adjusted position, the backstop being a second offset distance from the zero reference when the backstop is at the second adjusted position, the measurement reading being disregarding and independent of the first offset distance, the measurement reading being disregarding and independent of the second offset distance; a ruler coupled to at least one of the backstop and the laser instrument such that the ruler remains substantially stationary relative to one of the backstop and the laser instrument as the backstop moves between the first adjusted position and the second adjusted position; and a visual indicator proximate the ruler and being substantially stationary relative to one of the backstop and the laser instrument as the backstop moves between the first adjusted position and the second adjusted position, the visual indicator being movable in the axial direction relative to the ruler, the visual indicator with reference to the ruler indicating a first dimension of the first offset distance, the visual indicator with reference to the ruler indicating a second dimension of the second offset distance.