Gas probes

Abstract

An insertion-type probe main body for insertion into a pipe transporting gas and a method for making such an insertion-type probe main body are provided. The probe main body includes: an elongate upper tubular portion; an elongate lower tubular portion which is integral with and having a diameter smaller than the upper tubular portion; a bore which extends between the upper and lower tubular portions; and helical fins integrally formed on the lower tubular portion and which wind along and around an outer surface of the lower tubular portion and which overlap each other. A radial extension of the lower tubular portion plus helical fins corresponds to an external radius of the upper tubular portion, so that the helical fins extend in a streamline fashion from the upper tubular portion. Numerous other aspects are provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A gas-pipeline insertion-type probe main body for insertion into a pipe transporting gas, the probe main body comprising:
 an upper tubular portion;   an elongate lower tubular portion which is integral with the upper tubular portion;   one of a fluid-sample bore and a sensor-receiving bore which extends between the upper and lower tubular portions; and   wherein the lower tubular portion has a plurality of helical edges integrally formed thereon which wind along and around an outer surface thereof.   
     
     
         2 . The gas-pipeline insertion-type probe main body of  claim 1 , wherein the upper tubular portion is elongate. 
     
     
         3 . The gas-pipeline insertion-type probe main body of  claim 1 , wherein the helical edges overlap each other. 
     
     
         4 . The gas-pipeline insertion-type probe main body of  claim 1 , wherein a lateral extent of the lower tubular portion plus helical edges matches an external lateral extent of the upper tubular portion. 
     
     
         5 . The gas-pipeline insertion-type probe main body of  claim 4 , wherein an end of each helical edge extends to meet in a flush streamline fashion the upper tubular portion. 
     
     
         6 . The gas-pipeline insertion-type probe main body of  claim 4 , wherein an end of each helical edge is coplanar with the upper tubular portion. 
     
     
         7 . A fluid-transport pipeline having a pipe diameter and a gas-pipeline insertion-type probe main body, the gas-pipeline insertion-type probe main body comprising:
 a proximal tubular portion;   an elongate distal tubular portion which is integral with the proximal tubular portion;   one of a fluid-sample bore and a sensor-receiving bore which extends between the proximal and distal tubular portions;   a connector by which the proximal tubular portion is fluid—tightly attached or attachable to a part of the pipeline and the distal tubular portion extends into the pipeline; and   wherein the distal tubular portion has a plurality of helical edges integrally thereon which wind along and around an outer surface thereof.   
     
     
         8 . The fluid-transport pipeline of  claim 7 , wherein a lateral extent of the elongate distal tubular portion plus helical edges substantially corresponds to an external lateral extent of the proximal tubular portion. 
     
     
         9 . The fluid-transport pipeline of  claim 8 , wherein an end of each helical edge extends to meet in a flush streamline fashion the proximal tubular portion. 
     
     
         10 . The fluid-transport pipeline of  claim 8 , wherein an end of each helical edge is coplanar with the proximal tubular portion. 
     
     
         11 . The fluid-transport pipeline of  claim 7 , wherein the proximal tubular portion of the gas-pipeline insertion-type probe main body is elongate. 
     
     
         12 . The fluid-transport pipeline of  claim 7 , wherein the helical edges of the gas-pipeline insertion-type probe main body overlap each other. 
     
     
         13 . The fluid-transport pipeline of  claim 7 , further comprising a pipe body having the diameter, the pipe body being rigid or substantially rigid. 
     
     
         14 . The fluid-transport pipeline of  claim 7 , further comprising liquid natural gas (LNG). 
     
     
         15 . The fluid-transport pipeline of  claim 7 , wherein the one of a fluid-sample bore and a sensor-receiving bore is a fluid-sample bore and wherein the fluid-sample bore is treated so that an extracted fluid sample is or is substantially chemically unchanged between entering and exiting the fluid-sample bore. 
     
     
         16 . A method of forming a gas-pipeline insertion-type probe main body for insertion into a pipe transporting gas, the method comprising the steps of:
 forming a lower tubular portion of the gas-pipeline insertion-type probe main body, which extends from an upper tubular portion with one of a fluid-sample bore and a sensor-receiving bore therebetween, with a plurality of integral helical edges which wind along and around an outer surface thereof.   
     
     
         17 . A method of forming a gas-pipeline insertion-type probe main body for insertion into a pipe transporting gas, the method comprising the steps of:
 forming an elongate lower tubular portion of the gas-pipeline insertion-type probe main body with a plurality of helical edges integrally thereon which wind along and around an outer surface thereof and which overlap each other,   wherein a lateral extent of an elongate upper tubular portion of the gas-pipeline insertion-type probe main body integrally extending from the lower tubular portion with one of a fluid-sample bore and a sensor-receiving bore therebetween, corresponds to a lateral extent of the elongate lower tubular portion together with the helical edges, and   wherein the helical edges meet the elongate upper tubular portion such that an end of each helical edge is substantially flush with an outer surface of the elongate upper tubular portion.