METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CLEANING SURFACES AND NON-DESTRUCTIVE INSPECTION THEREOF
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An inspection system comprising:
- a display screen;
a video borescope coupled to the display screen and comprising an insertion tube having a distal end relative to the display screen, a camera head disposed on the distal end of the insertion tube, means for capturing an image and/or video with the camera head and displaying the image and/or video on the display screen, and means of remotely steering the distal end of the insertion tube; and
a feed tube physically coupled to the insertion tube, the feed tube being fluidically coupled to a source of a cleaning fluid and having a distal end relative to the source and a nozzle disposed at the distal end of the feed tube and adapted to apply the cleaning fluid to a surface to be inspected with the borescope, the feed tube being physically coupled to the insertion tube so that the steering means of the borescope simultaneously steers the distal end of the feed tube.
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Abstract
An inspection system and methods for remote cleaning and inspection of difficult to access components within complex machinery. The system includes a display screen, a video borescope coupled to the display screen, an insertion tube, a camera head disposed at a distal end of the insertion tube, a feature for capturing an image and/or video with the camera head and displaying the image and/or video on the display screen, and a feature for remotely steering the distal end of the insertion tube as well as a nozzle of a feed tube that is attached to the insertion tube and adapted to apply a cleaning fluid to a surface to be inspected.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. An inspection system comprising:
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a display screen; a video borescope coupled to the display screen and comprising an insertion tube having a distal end relative to the display screen, a camera head disposed on the distal end of the insertion tube, means for capturing an image and/or video with the camera head and displaying the image and/or video on the display screen, and means of remotely steering the distal end of the insertion tube; and a feed tube physically coupled to the insertion tube, the feed tube being fluidically coupled to a source of a cleaning fluid and having a distal end relative to the source and a nozzle disposed at the distal end of the feed tube and adapted to apply the cleaning fluid to a surface to be inspected with the borescope, the feed tube being physically coupled to the insertion tube so that the steering means of the borescope simultaneously steers the distal end of the feed tube. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 21)
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10. A method of cleaning and inspecting a surface within a complex machine, the method comprising:
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inserting at least one tube into the machine and feeding the at least one tube through a pathway into an interior of the machine; remotely steering the at least one tube around obstacles in the pathway; positioning a distal end of the at least one tube at a location near the surface within the machine; cleaning the surface with a cleaning fluid delivered to the surface via the at least one tube; and
thenperforming a non-destructive inspection of the surface with the at least one tube. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification