INSPECTION SYSTEM WITH WIRELESS DATA TRANSMISSION

• US 20150318912A1
• Filed: 05/05/2015
• Published: 11/05/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ipek International Gmbh (RELX PLC)
• Original Assignee: Ipek International Gmbh (RELX PLC)
• Inventors: ZAHND, Fabian, HENN, Peter, KENNERKNECHT, Gerhard
• Granted Patent: US 9,473,231 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 13/00 Accessories or details of general applicability for machines or apparatus for cleaning
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 9/032 by the mechanical action of a moving fluid, e.g. by flushing B08B9/04 takes precedence ; by fluid jets mounted on cleaning devices B08B9/0433
• CPC Class Codes: E03F 7/12 Installations enabling inspection personnel to drive along sewer canals
• CPC Class Codes: E03F 9/00 Arrangements or fixed installations methods or devices for cleaning or clearing sewer pipes, e.g. by flushing sediment traps, rakes, screens, or the like, arranged in sewer lines E03F5/14; cleaning pipes in general, devices for cleaning pipes B08B9/02 ; gullies provided with flushing means for cleaning or emptying E03F5/0402; devices to remove obstructions in waste-pipes or sinks E03C1/30
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/9542 using a probe
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/954 Inspecting the inner surface of hollow bodies, e.g. bores
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/40 Remote control systems using repeaters, converters, gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/14 Relay systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom

Abstract

Inspection system for inspection or cleaning of pipes (5), wherein the inspection system comprises an inspection or cleaning means (15) and a control means (10), and wherein the inspection system comprises a first transmission/receiver means (20; 40) assigned to the control means (10) and a second transmission/receiver means (30) assigned to the inspection or cleaning means (15) for wireless transmission of control or measurement data between the inspection or cleaning means (15) and the control means (10).

Claims

1. An inspection system for inspection or cleaning of pipes (5), the inspection system comprising:

an inspection or cleaning means (15);

a control means (10);

a first transmission/receiver means (20;

40) assigned to the control means (10); and

a second transmission/receiver means (30) assigned to the inspection or cleaning means (15) for wireless transmission of control or measurement data between the inspection or cleaning means (15) and the control means (10).

2. The inspection system according to claim 1, further comprising:

at least one repeater (50) with an antenna system or at least one antenna, which is arranged operatively between the first transmission/receiver means (20;

40) and the second transmission/receiver means (30) and being adapted to increase an operation range of a wireless communication connection (F) established between the first transmission/receiver means (20;

40) and the second transmission/receiver means (30), wherein the wireless communication connection (F) comprises a WLAN communication connection.

3. The inspection system according to claim 1, wherein the inspection or cleaning means (15) can be coupled or connected to the control means (10) via a hose (17), a rope, or a cable, and wherein the at least one repeater (50) can be connected to the hose (17), at the rope, or at the cable.

4. The inspection system according to claim 3, wherein in addition to the hose (17), the rope, or the cable, an additional hose, an additional rope, or an additional cable is provided, which is insertable into the pipes (5), wherein at the additional hose, at the additional rope, or at the additional cable, the at least one repeater (50) can be connected releasably.

5. The inspection system according to claim 4, wherein the hose (17) connects the inspection or cleaning means (15) to the control means (10), wherein the hose (17) comprises a rinsing hose, and wherein the inspection or cleaning means (15) comprises a rinsing means, in particular, a rinsing nozzle.

6. The inspection system according to claim 5, wherein the rinsing nozzle comprises a camera, which is coupled to the second transmission/receiver means (30) operatively, and wherein images taken by the camera are transmittable to the first transmission/receiver means (20;

40) via the second transmission/receiver means (30) wirelessly or wherein control commands intended for the camera or the rinsing nozzle are transmittable wirelessly via the first transmission/receiver means (20;

40) to the second transmission/receiver means (30).

7. The inspection system according to claim 3, wherein the hose (17) comprises at least two hose sections (17a;

17b) separated from each other, wherein the at least one repeater (50) is arranged between the two hose sections (17a;

17b) and connects the two hose sections to each other.

8. The inspection system according to claim 7, wherein the repeater (50) comprises an axial duct (52), which connects a first hose section (17a) to a second hose section (17b), wherein a diameter of the axial duct (52) substantially is as large as an inner diameter of the first hose section and the second hose section .

9. The inspection system according to claim 8, wherein the repeater (50) comprises a device for converting kinetic energy of rinsing water into electrical energy, wherein the device comprises at least one hydraulic turbine and at least one generator, wherein the at least one hydraulic turbine is arranged within the axial duct (52) at least partially.

10. The inspection system according to claim 9, wherein the repeater (50) comprises an accumulator, which is coupled to the generator, and wherein the accumulator or the generator supplies the repeater with electrical energy.

11. The inspection system according to claim 3, wherein the at least one repeater (50) is integrated into a liner of the hose (17), or wherein the at least one repeater (50) is arranged at a hose inner wall (53) of the hose (17), and is surrounded by a watertight liner (54).

12. The inspection system according to claim 3, wherein an antenna (51) of the repeater (50) is led to the outside at least partially through a liner of the hose (17), or wherein an antenna (51) of the repeater (50) is formed by a material suitable for an antenna arranged at an outer wall of the hose (17).

13. A repeater (50) for an inspection system for inspection or cleaning of pipes (5), wherein the repeater comprises an antenna system or at least one antenna and is adapted to increase an operation range of a wireless communication connection (F) between a first transmission/receiver means (20) and a second transmission/receiver means (30) arranged within the pipe.

14. The repeater according to claim 13, wherein the repeater (50) comprises fixing means, by means of which the repeater is releasably connectable at a hose (17), in particular, a rinsing hose, at a cable, or at a rope.

15. The repeater according to claim 14, wherein the repeater comprises an axial duct (52), by means of which a first rinsing hose (17a) is connectable to a second rinsing hose (17b), wherein for connecting the first rinsing hose and the second rinsing hose to the repeater, hose couplings (18) are provided, and wherein a diameter of the axial duct (52) is substantially as large as an inner diameter of the first rinsing hose and the second rinsing hose.

16. The repeater according to claim 15, wherein the repeater (50) comprises a device for conversion of kinetic energy of rinsing water into electrical energy, wherein the device comprises at least one hydraulic turbine and at least one generator, wherein the hydraulic turbine is arranged within the axial duct (52) at least partially.

17. The repeater according to claim 13, wherein the repeater (50) is adapted to automatically increase or automatically decrease its transmission power.

18. A transmission/receiver means (30) configured to:

wirelessly transmit control or measurement data to an inspection or cleaning means (15) assigned to the transmission/receiver means (30) and a control means (10) of an inspection system for inspection or cleaning of pipes (5),; and

(30) establish a wireless communication connection (F) to a further transmission/receiver means (20;

40) assigned to the control means (10).

19. The transmission/receiver means according to claim 18, wherein the transmission/receiver means (30) is further configured to establish a wireless communication connection (F) to a repeater arranged between the transmission/receiver means and the further transmission/receiver means (20;

40).

20. An inspection or cleaning device, comprising

a transmission/receiver means according to claim 18;

an inspection or cleaning means (15) which can be coupled to the transmission/receiver means; and

at least one selected from the group consisting of a cleaning nozzle, an inspection camera, an inspection vehicle or cart, and combinations thereof.