US 6,981,404 B2
Device and method for use with chemical reactor tubes
Clifford L. Johns, Louisville, Ky. (US); and Daniel D. Sympson, Louisville, Ky. (US)
Assigned to Tubemaster, Inc, Louisville, Ky. (US)
Filed on Mar. 15, 2004, as Appl. No. 10/800,490.
Application 10/800490 is a continuation in part of application No. 10/097908, filed on Mar. 14, 2002, granted, now 6,725,706.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/276780, filed on Mar. 16, 2001.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/314859, filed on Aug. 24, 2001.
Prior Publication US 2004/0173008 A1, Sep. 09, 2004
Int. Cl. G01M 3/28 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 73—49.5 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A device for use with reactor tubes in a chemical reactor, comprising:
at least one probe sized to fit into a chemical reactor tube;
an automatic measuring device fixed relative to said probe for automatically measuring the distance to a fixed reference point within the chemical reactor; and
means for automatically identifying the reactor tube in which said probe is inserted based on the distance measured by said automatic measuring device.