Fiberscopic device for inspection of internal sections of construction, and method for using same

• US 4,696,544 A
• Filed: 11/18/1985
• Issued: 09/29/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/1985
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Original Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Inventors: Costella, James G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sikes, William L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Healy, Brian M.
• Application Number:
  US06/799,005
• Time in Patent Office: 680 Days
• Field of Search: 350/96.10, 350/96.24, 350/96.25, 350/96.26, 350/96.27, 350/96.28, 350/320, 128/4, 128/6, 128/7, 128/8, 128/9, 356/241, 414/1, 414/2, 414/3, 414/4, 414/5, 414/6, 414/7, 165/11.1, 165/11.2, 901/19, 901/20, 901/23, 901/24, 901/25, 901/26, 901/27, 901/28, 901/29, 901/30, 901/41, 901/44, 901/46, 901/47
• US Class Current: 385/118
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 15/00 Nanotechnology for interacting, sensing or actuating, e.g. quantum dots as markers in protein assays or molecular motors
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/26 using light guides for illumination G02B23/2469

Abstract

An apparatus and method for using the same to inspect the interior of a construction such as a vessel, piping, machinery and the like, including jet engine combustion cans, comprises a fiberscope having a probe carrying fiberoptic systems which is inserted into the construction interior through an articulable and rotatable guide insertion tube. The guide insertion tube is articulated and/or rotated to manipulate the fiberscope probe and aim it toward a passage into an adjacent interior section. Once the fiberscope probe is extended out of the guide insertion tube and into the next interior section, it acts as a lead wire over which the guide insertion tube in pushed to extend the guide insertion tube into the next section, and so forth for the desired number of interior sections.

Claims

1. A device for inspecting interior sections of a construction, said device comprising the combination of

a guide control body having a bore therethrough, a hollow, flexible guide insertion tube extending from said guide control body, and means to articulate at least a distal end portion of said flexible guide insertion tube remote from said guide control body;

a fiberscope including a body, an elongated probe, and means for illuminating and transmitting images of at least a portion of said interior, wherein said fiberscope probe is inserted through said guide control body and said hollow guide insertion tube; and

means to move said fiberscope body selectively toward and away from said guide control body to displace said fiberscope probe relative to said guide control body and said hollow guide insertion tube, whereby said means to articulate said hollow, flexible guide insertion tube and said means to move said fiberscope body are used selectively from the exterior of said construction to aim and control said fiberscope probe within said construction.

2. The inspection device according to claim 1, further comprising a mounting means for mounting said inspection device in a desired substantially stationary position relative to said construction.

3. The inspection device according to claim 2, wherein said mounting means comprises a support arm.

4. The inspection device according to claim 3, wherein said support arm comprises connecting means at one end for detachably fastening said support arm to said guide control body.

5. The inspection device according to claim 4, wherein said support arm further comprises a clamp means at an other end.

6. The inspection device according to any of claims 3, 4 or 5, wherein said support arm includes means for articulating said support arm.

7. The inspection device according to claim 1, wherein said fiberscope comprises means for articulating at least a distal end portion of said probe.

8. The inspection device according to claim 7, wherein said means for articulating said fiberscope probe permit controlled articulation of said at least distal end portion in at least two directions in one plane.

9. The inspection device according to claim 1, wherein said means for articulating said guide insertion tube permit controlled articulation of said at least distal end portion in at least two directions in one plane.

10. The inspection device according to claim 1, further comprising a fiberscope holder accomodating said fiberscope and including a first part and a second part, and wherein said probe is retained in said first part which is adapted to rotate relative to said second part.

11. The inspection device according to claim 1, wherein said guide control body includes means to rotate said guide insertion tube around a longitudinal axis thereof, said means to rotate comprising a first guide control body part and a second guide control body part adapted to rotate relative to each other.

12. The inspection device according to claim 10, further comprising connection means for connecting said fiberscope holder and said guide control body.

13. The inspection device according to claim 12, wherein said connection means includes an articulating arm.

14. The inspection device according to claim 1, further including retaining means having a bore therethrough for mounting on said construction, said bore being aligned over an opening in said construction through which said insertion tube and said probe are inserted into said construction.

15. The inspection device according to claim 14, wherein said retaining means comprises a friction plate including means for mounting said friction plate to said construction.

16. The inspection device according to claim 1, wherein said fiberscope probe has a first mark thereon indicating when said fiberscope probe is inserted in said guide insertion tube to a point at which a first portion of said fiberscope probe extends out of said guide insertion tube.

17. The inspection device according to claim 16, wherein said fiberscope probe has a second mark thereon indicating when a predetermined second portion of said fiberscope probe longer than said first portion extends out of said guide insertion tube.

18. A method for inspecting interior sections of a construction, said method comprising the steps of

(i) inserting a hollow, flexible guide insertion tube into a first interior section of said construction to be inspected,

(ii) viewing the interior of said first section via a fiberscope probe reaching into said first section through said hollow guide insertion tube,

(iii) locating a channel means connecting said first interior section to an adjacent interior section by manipulating at least one of said guide insertion tube and said fiberscope probe,

(iv) displacing said fiberscope probe relative to said hollow guide insertion tube to extend said fiberscope probe therefrom and through said channel means into said adjacent interior section,

(v) pushing said flexible guide insertion tube along the extended length of said fiberscope probe so that said guide insertion tube also extends through said channel means into said adjacent interior section,

(vi) repeating the foregoing steps (ii) through (v) for a desired number of adjacent interior sections.

19. The method according to claim 18, further comprising the steps of positioning a retaining means on the exterior of said construction to be inspected through which said guide insertion tube and probe are inserted into said first interior section.

20. A method for inspecting interior sections of a construction comprising the steps of

inserting a fiberscope probe through a guide control body and a flexible guide insertion tube extending from said guide control body, at least said guide control body and said flexible guide insertion tube including means to articulate at least a distal end portion of said guide insertion tube,

inserting said fiberscope probe and guide insertion tube into the interior of said construction, and

manipulating at least one of said fiberscope probe and said guide insertion tube, including selectively articulating said guide insertion tube to aim said fiberscope probe from the exterior of said construction and axially displacing said fiberscope probe relative to said guide insertion tube, to direct said fiberscope probe in a desired direction within said construction.

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein said fiberscope probe is inserted into said guide insertion tube until an end portion thereof extends from said guide insertion tube.