ULTRASONIC BORESCOPE FOR DRILLED SHAFT INSPECTION

• US 20190120041A1
• Filed: 08/09/2018
• Published: 04/25/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aver Technologies Inc.
• Original Assignee: Aver Technologies Inc.
• Inventors: AVASARALA, Swamy, AVASARALA, Pranav
• Granted Patent: US 10,557,340 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/002 by visual inspection
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/003 Determining well or borehole volumes
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/04 Measuring depth or liquid level
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/954 Inspecting the inner surface of hollow bodies, e.g. bores
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/0224 Pivoting casing
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/102 Video camera
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/0232 Glass, ceramics, concrete or stone
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/02818 Density, viscosity
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/02854 Length, thickness
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/2636 cylindrical from inside
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/045 by imparting shocks to the workpiece and detecting the vibrations or the acoustic waves caused by the shocks measuring resonant frequency G01H13/00; measuring strength properties by application of mechanical stress G01N3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/07 by measuring propagation velocity or propagation time of acoustic waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/225 Supports, positioning or alignment in moving situation

Abstract

A borescope includes a housing extending from a first end toward a second end, the housing including a first transparent viewing section extending circumferentially around a longitudinal axis of the housing and defining an exterior of a portion of the housing; a first imaging assembly configured to rotate about the longitudinal axis of the housing, and also pivot relative to the longitudinal axis of the housing; and a second imaging assembly disposed within the housing, the second imaging assembly being configured to rotate about the longitudinal axis of the housing, wherein the second imaging assembly is configured to visualize a field of view exterior of the housing through the first transparent viewing section.

Claims

1. A borescope, comprising:

a housing extending from a first end toward a second end, the housing including a first transparent viewing section extending circumferentially around a longitudinal axis of the housing and defining an exterior of a portion of the housing;

a first imaging assembly configured to rotate about the longitudinal axis of the housing, and also pivot relative to the longitudinal axis of the housing; and

a second imaging assembly disposed within the housing, the second imaging assembly being configured to rotate about the longitudinal axis of the housing, wherein the second imaging assembly is configured to visualize a field of view exterior of the housing through the first transparent viewing section.

2. The borescope of claim 1, further including a shaft extending at least partially through the housing, wherein the first imaging assembly and the second imaging assembly are both configured to rotate simultaneously about the longitudinal axis of the housing by rotation of the shaft.

3. The borescope of claim 1, further including a transparent observation chamber having a first end disposed at or adjacent to the second end of the housing, and extending away from both the first end and the second end of the housing, toward a second end.

4. The borescope of claim 1, wherein the second end of the housing is configured to transition between a closed configuration where an exterior of the observation chamber forms a fluid-tight seal around a volume, and an open configuration where fluid can move into and out of the observation chamber through the second end.

5. The borescope of claim 4, further including one or more rods at or adjacent to the second end of the housing, wherein:

each of the one or more rods extends from the second end of the housing and away from both the first end and the second end of the housing; and

each of the one or more rods includes a plurality of graduated markings forming a scale indicative of length, wherein each scale is visible to the first imaging assembly through the transparent observation chamber.

6. The borescope of claim 1, further including an expandable sleeve coupled to an exterior of the housing, wherein the expandable sleeve is configured to move from a collapsed position to an expanded position via application of a fluid through the sleeve.

7. The borescope of claim 6, further including a rigid support at a radially outermost portion of the expandable sleeve, the rigid support enclosing an opening through which the fluid can exit the expandable sleeve, wherein the second imaging assembly is configured to visualize a field of view exterior of the housing through the opening and the expandable sleeve.

8. The borescope of claim 7, wherein the expandable sleeve is coupled to the exterior of the housing by a transparent frame disposed circumferentially around the housing.

9. The borescope of claim 6, wherein, in the expanded position, the expandable sleeve extends only partially around a circumference of the housing.

10. The borescope of claim 1, further including an ultrasonic sensor at or adjacent to the second end of the housing, wherein the ultrasonic sensor is configured to determine a thickness of sediment disposed at a bottom of a borehole.

11. The borescope of claim 1, further including:

a first ultrasound sensor configured to generate ultrasound waves; and

a reflector movable toward and away from the first ultrasound sensor along the longitudinal axis, or along a first axis parallel to the longitudinal axis, wherein the reflector is configured to reflect the ultrasound waves generated by the first ultrasound back toward the first ultrasound sensor, and the first ultrasound sensor is configured to determine a time-of-flight for a wave to travel from the first ultrasound sensor to the reflector, and then back to the first ultrasound sensor.

12. The borescope of claim 11, wherein:

the reflector is movable between a fully compressed position and a fully extended position;

the reflector is disposed closer to the first ultrasound sensor when in the fully compressed position than when in the fully extended position; and

the borescope further includes a biasing member configured to bias the reflector toward the fully extended position.

13. The borescope of claim 12, further including:

a rod having a first end and a second end, wherein the reflector is disposed at the first end of the rod; and

a tapered block disposed at the second end of the rod, wherein the tapered block tapers radially inward in a direction away from both the first end and the second end of the housing.

14. The borescope of claim 1, further including:

a second ultrasound sensor configured to rotate about the longitudinal axis of the housing; and

a controller configured to receive measurements from the second ultrasound sensor to determine a volume of a borehole in which the borescope is located.

15. The borescope of claim 14, further including a depth sensor configured to determine a depth of the borescope, wherein the controller is configured to receive measurements from the depth sensor, wherein determination of the volume of the borehole also is based on the measurements from the depth sensor.

16. A borescope, comprising:

a housing extending from a first end toward a second end;

a first imaging assembly coupled to the housing;

a first ultrasound sensor configured to generate ultrasound waves; and

a reflector movable toward and away from the first ultrasound sensor along a longitudinal axis, wherein the reflector is configured to reflect the ultrasound waves generated by the first ultrasound back toward the first ultrasound sensor, and the first ultrasound sensor is configured to determine a time-of-flight for a wave to travel from the first ultrasound sensor to the reflector, and then back to the first ultrasound sensor.

17. The borescope of claim 16, wherein:

the reflector is movable between a fully compressed position and a fully extended position;

the reflector is disposed closer to the first ultrasound sensor when in the fully compressed position than when in the fully extended position; and

the borescope further includes a biasing member configured to bias the reflector toward the fully extended position.

18. The borescope of claim 17, further including:

a rod having a first end and a second end, wherein the reflector is disposed at the first end of the rod; and

a tapered block disposed at the second end of the rod, wherein the tapered block tapers radially inward in a direction away from both the first end and the second end of the housing.

19. A borescope, comprising:

a housing having extending from a first end toward a second end;

a first imaging assembly coupled to the housing;

an ultrasound sensor configured to rotate about a longitudinal axis of the housing; and

a controller configured to receive measurements from the ultrasound sensor to determine a volume of a borehole in which the borescope is located.

20. The borescope of claim 19, further including a depth sensor configured to determine a depth of the borescope, wherein the controller is configured to receive measurements from the depth sensor, wherein determination of the volume of the borehole also is based on the measurements from the depth sensor.