Detachable coupling for a remote inspection device

• US 20070117437A1
• Filed: 12/22/2006
• Published: 05/24/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Inspectron, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Perceptron Incorporated (Atlas Copco AB)
• Inventors: Boehnlein, Al, Newman, Tye, Watt, Brandon, Eckhoff, Paul
• Granted Patent: US 7,384,308 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/210
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00052 positioned at proximal end of the endoscope body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00087 Tools A61B17/00234 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0051 with controlled bending of insertion part
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/05 characterised by the image sensor, e.g. camera, being in the distal end portion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0607 for annular illumination
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0676 at distal tip of an endoscope
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0684 using light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/372 Details of monitor hardware
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/954 Inspecting the inner surface of hollow bodies, e.g. bores
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/2476 Non-optical details, e.g. housings, mountings, supports

Abstract

A remote inspection device is provided for inspecting visually obscured locations. The device is generally comprised of a imager housing and a display housing disposed on opposite ends of a modular, flexible cable. An imaging device and one or more light sources are embedded in the end of the cylindrical imager housing. A display housing is coupled to the other end of the flexible cable and configured to be grasped by a user of the device. A display device supported by the display housing receives a video signal from the imaging device and converts the video signal to a video image. The flexible cable can be removably attached to other components with a detachable coupling.

Claims

1. A detachable coupling for selectively attaching first and second cables of a remote inspection device, the detachable coupling comprising:

a first ferrule component provided over the first cable and having an end cap extending over an end of the first cable, said first ferrule component being an electrical insulator;

a first casing engaging said first ferrule component, said first casing and said first ferrule component being secured to the first cable, said first ferrule component providing a seal to inhibit fluid communication between said first casing and the first cable, said first ferrule component electrically isolating said first casing from the first cable;

a first electrical connector supported within said first casing and electrically connected to wires in the first cable;

a second ferrule component provided over the second cable and having an end cap extending over an end of the second cable, said second ferrule component being an electrical insulator;

a second casing engaging said second ferrule component, said second casing and said second ferrule component being secured to the second cable, said second ferrule component providing a seal to inhibit fluid communication between said second casing and the second cable, said second ferrule component electrically isolating said second casing from the second cable; and

a second electrical connector supported within said second casing and electrically connected to wires in the second cable,

wherein said first and second casings engage and inhibit relative rotation therebetween, and said first and second electrical connectors engage and electrically connect the wires of the first and second cables.

2. The detachable coupling of claim 1, wherein said detachable coupling further includes a sleeve overlapping said first and second casings.

3. The detachable coupling of claim 2, wherein said sleeve has a sloped end surface oriented between an outer surface thereof and an outer surface of one of said first and second casings.

4. The detachable coupling of claim 2, wherein said detachable coupling further includes a first sealing element disposed between said sleeve and said first casing and a second sealing element disposed between said sleeve and said second casing.

5. The detachable coupling of claim 1, further comprising an electrically insulating material disposed within each of said first and second casings and between said end caps of said first and second ferrule components and said first and second electrical connectors, respectively.

6. The detachable coupling of claim 5, wherein said first and second casings each have an aperture extending therethrough for inserting said insulating material.

7. The detachable coupling of claim 1, wherein said first and second casings deform said first and second ferrule components, respectively.

8. The detachable coupling of claim 7, further comprising an electrically insulating material disposed within each of said first and second casings and between said end caps of said first and second ferrule components and said first and second electrical connectors, respectively.

9. The detachable coupling of claim 1, wherein one of said first and second casings has a tab portion extending therefrom, the other of said first and second casings having a recess portion complementary to said tab portion, said tab portion engaging said recess portion to inhibit relative rotation between said first and second casings.

10. The detachable coupling of claim 1, wherein one of said first and second electrical connectors has a plurality of prongs extending away therefrom, the other of said first and second electrical connectors having a plurality of holes complementary to said prongs, said holes receiving said prongs to electrically connect the wires of the first and second cables.

11. The detachable coupling of claim 1, wherein said first and second ferrule components each have at least one protrusion extending from an outer surface thereof, said first and second casings each have at least one recess formed in an inner surface thereof, said at least one protrusion of said first ferrule component extending into said at least one recess of said first casing and said at least one protrusion of said second ferrule component extending into said at least one recess of said second casing so as to inhibit relative axial movement therebetween.

12. The detachable coupling of claim 1, wherein said first and second ferrule components each have a sloped end surface oriented between an outer surface thereof and the first and second cables, respectively.

13. The detachable coupling of claim 1, wherein said first and second casings each have an outer surface including a sloped portion.

14. The detachable coupling of claim 1, wherein said first ferrule component is molded onto the first cable.

15. A detachable coupling for selectively attaching first and second cables of a remote inspection device, the detachable coupling comprising:

a first assembly attached to the first cable and a second assembly attached to the second cable, said first assembly including;

a ferrule component provided over the first cable, said ferrule component having a generally cylindrical main body and having an end cap extending over an end of the first cable, said ferrule component further having at least one protrusion extending from an outer surface of said main body, said ferrule component being an electrical insulator and being deformable;

a casing engaging and deforming said ferrule component, said casing having a generally cylindrical portion extending over said ferrule component, said cylindrical portion having an inside surface with at least one recess complementary to said at least one protrusion, said at least one protrusion and said at least one recess engaging to inhibit relative axial movement between said ferrule component and said casing, said ferrule component and said casing being secured to the first cable, said ferrule component providing a seal to inhibit fluid communication between said casing and the first cable, said ferrule component electrically isolating said casing from the first cable; and

an electrical connector supported within said casing and electrically connected to wires in the first cable,

wherein said first and second assemblies selectively engage so as to inhibit relative rotation therebetween and to electrically connect the wires in the first cable to wires in the second cable.

16. The detachable coupling of claim 15, further comprising an insulating material disposed within said casing and between said end cap and said electrical connector.

17. The detachable coupling of claim 15, wherein said at least one protrusion is a ridge extending around said outer surface of said ferrule component, and said at least one recess is a groove extending around said inside surface of said casing.

18. The detachable coupling of claim 15, wherein a portion of said outer surface of said ferrule component defines a first diameter, a complementary portion of said inside surface of said casing defines a second diameter smaller than said first diameter, and said casing deforms said ferrule component at said portion of said outer surface.

19. The detachable coupling of claim 15, wherein said ferrule component is molded onto the first cable.

25. The remote inspection device of claim 15 , wherein one of said first and second casings has a tab portion extending therefrom, the other of said first and second casings having a recess portion complementary to said tab portion, said tab portion engaging said recess portion to inhibit relative rotation between said first and second casings.

20. A remote inspection device, comprising:

an imager housing including an imaging device;

a display housing including a display device and a portable power source;

a first cable having a first end coupled to said imager housing and a second end coupled to said display housing, said first cable having a plurality of wires and an outer jacket, said wires operably connecting said portable power source and said imaging device, said wires further operably connecting said imaging device and said display device; and

a detachable coupling connecting said first cable and said imager housing, said detachable coupling including a first assembly fixed to said first end said first cable and a second assembly coupled to said imager housing, said first assembly including;

a first ferrule component provided over said first cable and having an end cap extending over said first end of said first cable, said first ferrule component being an electrical insulator,

a first casing engaging said first ferrule component, said first casing and said first ferrule component being secured to said first cable, said first ferrule component providing a seal to inhibit fluid communication between said first casing and said first cable, said first ferrule component electrically isolating said first casing from said first cable,

a first electrical connector supported within said first casing and electrically connected to said wires.

21. The remote inspection device of claim 20, wherein said imager housing includes a second cable extending therefrom, said second cable having an end opposite said imager housing, said second cable having a plurality of wires and an outer jacket, and

said second assembly of said detachable coupling is fixed to said end of said second cable, said second assembly including:

a second component provided over said second cable and having an end cap extending over said end of said second cable, said second ferrule component being an electrical insulator,

a second casing engaging said second ferrule component, said second casing and said second ferrule component being secured to said second cable, said second ferrule component providing a seal to inhibit fluid communication between said second casing and said second cable, said second ferrule component electrically isolating said second casing from said second cable, and

a second electrical connector supported within said second casing and electrically connected to said wires of said second cable.

22. The remote inspection device of claim 21, wherein said detachable coupling further includes a sleeve overlapping said first and second casings.

23. The remote inspection device of claim 22, wherein said sleeve has a sloped end surface oriented between an outer surface thereof and an outer surface of one of said first and second casings.

24. The remote inspection device of claim 22, wherein said detachable coupling further includes a first sealing element disposed between said sleeve and said first casing and a second sealing element disposed between said sleeve and said second casing.

26. The remote inspection device of claim 21, wherein one of said first and second electrical connectors has a plurality of prongs extending away therefrom, the other of said first and second electrical connectors having a plurality of holes complementary to said prongs, said holes receiving said prongs to electrically connect said wires of said first cable and said wires of said second cable.

27. The remote inspection device of claim 20, wherein said first cable further includes an inner component extending from said outer jacket, said inner component defining said first end of said first cable, said first ferrule component extending over said inner component and said outer jacket.

28. The remote inspection device of claim 27, wherein said inner component has grooves in an outer surface thereof, said first ferrule component forming complementary projections extending into said grooves when molded onto said first cable.

29. The remote inspection device of claim 27, wherein said inner component and said first ferrule component each include a key portion therein, said key portions engaging to inhibit relative rotation between said inner component and said first ferrule component.

30. The remote inspection device of claim 27, wherein said first ferrule component is molded onto said first cable.

31. The remote inspection device of claim 20, wherein said detachable coupling further includes an insulating material disposed between said first end of said first cable and said first electrical connector.

32. The remote inspection device of claim 31, wherein said first casing has an aperture extending therethrough for inserting said insulating material.

33. The remote inspection device of claim 20, wherein said first casing deforms said first ferrule component.

34. The remote inspection device of claim 33, further comprising an electrically insulating material disposed within said first casing and between said end cap of said first ferrule component and said first electrical connector.

35. The remote inspection device of claim 20, wherein said first second ferrule component has at least one protrusion extending from an outer surface thereof, said first casing has at least one recess formed in an inner surface thereof, said at least one protrusion of said first ferrule component extending into said at least one recess of said first casing so as to inhibit relative axial movement therebetween.

36. The remote inspection device of claim 20, wherein said first ferrule component has a sloped end surface oriented between said outer surface thereof and said outer jacket of said first cable.

37. The remote inspection device of claim 20, wherein said first casing has an outer surface including a sloped portion.

38. The remote inspection device of claim 20, wherein said wires are coiled.

39. A method of assembling a detachable coupling for a remote inspection device, said method comprising:

providing a first ferrule component on a first cable;

disposing a first casing over said first ferrule component and said first cable;

deforming said first ferrule component with said first casing, said first ferrule component providing a seal between said first casing and said first cable to inhibit fluid communication therebetween;

supporting a first electrical connector in said first casing;

electrically connecting wires in said first cable and said first electrical connector; and

mating said first casing and said first electrical connector with a complementary assembly attached to a second cable, said first and second cables being mechanically and electrically connected.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein providing a first ferrule component on a first cable includes molding said first ferrule component onto an end of said first cable.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein molding said first ferrule component onto said end of said first cable includes:

exposing an inner component of said first cable, said inner component having grooves in an outer surface thereof; and

forming projections in said first ferrule component complementary to said grooves and extending said projections into said grooves.

42. The method of claim 40, wherein molding said first ferrule component onto said end of said first cable includes:

forming key portions on each of said inner component and said first ferrule component; and

engaging said key portions to inhibit relative rotation between said inner component and said first ferrule component.

43. The method of claim 39, further comprising filling a space within said first casing between said first cable and said first electrical component with an insulating material.

44. The method of claim 39, further comprising engaging a sleeve with said first casing and said complementary assembly of said second cable to secure said first and second cables relative to each other.

45. The method of claim 39, wherein said complementary assembly of said second cable includes a second casing, and wherein mating said first casing and said first electrical connector with said complementary assembly includes engaging said first and second casings to inhibit relative rotation therebetween.