VALVE BODY SEAT POCKET INSPECTION TOOL AND METHOD

摘要

A technique is provided for detecting the surface profile of a seat pocket (36) of a gate valve. An inspection tool (58) is used to detect data at a plurality of points around the bore (28) of the valve. The inspection tool (58) has a sensor (60) that is moveable between a retracted position and an extended position. The inspection tool (58) is disposed within a valve body cavity (30) with the sensor (60) in the retracted position. The sensor (60) of the inspection tool (58) is then extended outward so that it is located within the portion of the bore (28) of the valve having the surface profile to be detected. The sensor (60) is rotated so that the sensor (60) may obtain surface profile data at a plurality of points around the seat pocket (36) of the valve body (22). The sensor (60) of the inspection tool (58) is connected to a processor-based device (110), such as a computer. The processor-based device (110) processes the data from the sensor (60) and provides it to a user in a form that is recognizable to the user.