| 摘要 |
A probing cable 1 for deployment inside a pipe formation, in particular pipe formations with helical turns such as those in Advanced Gas-cooled Reactor (AGR) pod boilers, has an outer casing (5) and an elongate probe member (2) which threads along a bore defined by the outer casing. The outer casing (5) has a helical track which wraps around its outer surface; preferably the outer casing (5) is formed from a helical spring where the cable diameter is between five and ten times greater than the pitch of the helical track. The probe member (2) may be an optical fibre for temperature monitoring or imaging. The probing cable 1 ideally includes a resiliently deformable tip member which extends from the cable at an angle, allowing the cable to negotiate turns and branches within a pipe network. A method of deploying the probing cable 1 involves rotating the cable about its length direction to apply torsion to the cable. A deployment device may be used which comprises a winding drum (6) to unwind the cable and a cradle including two sub-frames (7,8) for applying torsion. |
