Device for Inspecting a Pipeline

• US 20080105067A1
• Filed: 10/18/2007
• Published: 05/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fraunhofer Gesellschaft Zur Foerderung Der Angewandten Forsching E.V.
• Original Assignee: Fraunhofer Gesellschaft Zur Foerderung Der Angewandten Forsching E.V.
• Inventors: Frey, Christian W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,612,878 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/865.8
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/24 for measuring contours or curvatures
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/25 by projecting a pattern, e.g. one or more lines, moiré fringes on the object G01B11/255 takes precedence ; image analysis for depth or shape recovery G06T7/50
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/48 Active triangulation systems, i.e. using the transmission and reflection of electromagnetic waves other than radio waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/481 Constructional features, e.g. arrangements of optical elements

Abstract

A device to inspect a pipeline includes an optical system for contactless detection of an interior contour of the pipeline by optical triangulation, with the optical system being attachable to a carrier structure, which is insertable in a pipeline. The optical system includes at least n≧2 triangulation sensors or light section sensors disposed rotatably about a common axis of rotation and by the n triangulation sensors or n light section sensors being disposed about the common axis of rotation spaced the greatest possible distance apart angle-wise.

Claims

1. A device to inspect a pipeline, comprising:

an optical system for contactless detection of an interior contour of a pipeline by optical triangulation, with the optical system being attachable to a carrier structure, which is insertable in the pipeline,

wherein the optical system comprises at least two triangulation sensors or light section sensors disposed rotatably about a common axis of rotation, and

wherein the at least two triangulation sensors or light section sensors are disposed about the common axis of rotation spaced the greatest possible distance apart angle-wise.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the at least two triangulation sensors or light section sensors are each designed as laser triangulation sensors or light section sensors having at least one receiver and at least one laser light source.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the at least one receiver is a CCD matrix camera, a linear sensor, or a position sensitive device (PSD).

4. The device according to claim 2, wherein the at least two triangulation sensors or light section sensors are each allocatable to an optical axis along which the laser light source emits light which forms an angle α

unequal 0°

with a viewing direction which is allocatable to the receiver.

5. The device according to claim 4, wherein the at least two triangulation sensors or light section sensors are disposed such that the optical axes of the at least two triangulation sensors or light section sensors lie in a common plane which is oriented perpendicular to the axis of rotation.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the optical system is designed as a rotatable sensor head which is attached to the carrier structure and comprises:

a stationary part which is connected to the carrier structure and which is articulated to a motor-driven, rotatable part to which the at least two triangulation sensors or light section sensors are attached,

a rotary drive unit which is directly or indirectly connected to the stationary part and which supplies signals and energy to an external unit via a cable, and

a transmission unit which is connected at least partly to the stationary part and ensures contactless signal exchange between and to the triangulation sensors or light sensors attached to the rotatable part as well as contactless supplying of energy to the triangulation or light sensors.

7. The device according to claim 6, wherein the transmission unit comprises two coil elements borne rotatably relative to each other between which at least one of the energy exchange or signal exchange occurs inductively, and

wherein one coil element is connected directly or indirectly to the rotatable part and the other coil element is connected to the stationary part, and

wherein the two coil elements are spaced axially apart in longitudinal direction to the axis of rotation by an air gap.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the carrier structure comprises an inherently movable platform.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein the triangulation sensor comprises a line triangulation sensor.

10. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a camera unit attached to the carrier structure for visual coverage of an interior wall of the pipe.

11. A device to inspect a pipeline, comprising:

a stationary part connected with a rotary drive;

a rotatable part positioned in a longitudinal direction to the stationary part and which engages the rotary drive, wherein the rotatable part serves as a platform for at least two triangulation laser sensors or light section sensors, wherein beams of said at least two laser triangulation sensors or light section sensors are oriented perpendicular to an axis of rotation about which the rotatable platform rotates; and

a transmission unit comprising two coil elements, one coil element being connected to the stationary part, and the other coil element being connected to the rotatable part, wherein the transmission unit ensures contactless energy transmission and signal transmission between the stationary part and the rotatable part.

12. A device according to claim 11, wherein for n laser triangulation sensors or light section sensors, an angle between individual beams is 360°

/n.