Interior inspection method and apparatus for enclosed spaces

• US 5,724,133 A
• Filed: 08/15/1996
• Issued: 03/03/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rescar, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Rescar, Inc.
• Inventors: Mitchem, Robert L., Winstead, Richard W., Meadows, Troy
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham, Hoa Q
• Application Number:
  US08/698,571
• Time in Patent Office: 565 Days
• Field of Search: 356/241, 356/237, 356/378, 15/324, 15/339, 73/151, 250/256, 348/45, 348/65, 348/68, 348/85, 385/116, 385/117, 128/4-11, 128/17
• US Class Current: 356/241.1
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/2484 Arrangements in relation to a camera or imaging device processing or control of video signals generated by an endoscope H04N23/60, H04N23/70

Abstract

An inspection apparatus for viewing and making video recordings of the interior of an enclosed space of an enclosure having an elongated body. A pair of housings are mounted on the lower end of the elongated body and respectively contain a light source for illuminating an area of the enclosed space and a video camera for creating an image of the illuminated area of the enclosed space. The video camera includes a video magnetic tape media for recording the images illuminated by the light source. A television monitor is mounted on the upper portion of the elongated body for simultaneously viewing the images created by the video camera.

Claims

1. An inspection apparatus for viewing the interior of an enclosed space of a structure comprising

body means including an elongated tube having a lower portion and an upper portion disposed along a first axis,

said lower portion being arranged to be inserted into the enclosed space,

support means affixed to said body means for supporting said body means on the structure,

a first housing having a light source and a second housing having a video camera means, means for rotatably mounting said first housing and said second housing on said lower portion respectively about a pair of axes generally transverse to said first axis,

mechanical linkage means extending from said upper portion to said lower portion and being operatively coupled to said means for rotatably mounting said first housing and said second housing,

said linkage means having control means mounted externally of the enclosed space in operative connection to said linkage means and acting to selectively rotate said first housing and said second housing respectively about said transverse axes,

said means for rotatably mounting said first housing and said second housing included gear means coupled to said linkage means,

said linkage means includes a pair of elongated rods extending from said upper portion to said lower portion, said gear means being connected to said elongated rods,

said pair of elongated rods are respectively coupled to said first housing and said second housing, and

said pair of elongated rods are rotatably mounted on body means, said control means being connected to said pair of rods to independently rotate one of said rods and rotate one of said first housing and said second housing.

2. The inspection apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said gear means include a gear and a worm gear.

3. The inspection apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said control means includes a pair of knobs respectively attached to said pair of rods.

4. The inspection apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said support means includes adjustment means for adjusting the width of said support means.

5. An inspection apparatus for viewing the interior of an enclosed space of a structure through an opening comprising

body means including a pair of elongated tubes disposed along a pair of parallel axes,

said pair of elongated tubes being arranged to be inserted into the enclosed space,

support means affixed to said body means for supporting said body means on the structure with said pair elongated tubes extending into the enclosed space,

a first housing having a light source and a second housing having a video camera means, means for rotatably mounting said first housing and said second housing between said pair of tubes respectively about a pair of axes generally transverse to said parallel axes,

linkage means being supported by said support means and one of said pair of elongated tubes, said linkage means from a position external of the enclosed space to a position in operative connection to said first and second housing within the enclosed space for causing independent rotatable movement of said first housing and said second housing and

said linkage means having control means mounted on said support means externally of the enclosed space and acting to selectively rotate said first housing and said second housing respectively about said pair of transverse axes.

6. The inspection apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said linkage means includes first and second elongated linkages, said elongated linkages being rotatably mounted on said support means, said first linkage being operatively coupled to said first housing and said second linkage being operatively connected to said second housing.

7. The inspection apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said means for rotatably mounting said first housing and second housing includes gear means coupled respectively to said first housing and said first linkage and to said second housing and said second linkage.

8. The inspection apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said housing means includes a cross member interconnecting said pair of elongated tubes for support.

9. The inspection apparatus according to claims 5 wherein said support means includes a member having a length for spanning the opening of the enclosed structure, means for affixing said member to the structure adjacent the opening.

10. The inspection apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said means for affixing said member is adjustable along said length of the member.

11. The inspection apparatus according to claim 5 further including an electric control panel being mounted on the other of said pair of elongated tubes at a position exterior of the enclosed space, said other of said pair of elongated tubes being arranged to receive an electrical circuit between said control panel and said first and second housing in a sealed relationship.