Apparatus for inspecting the interior of pipes

• US 5,754,220 A
• Filed: 04/26/1996
• Issued: 05/19/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Emerson Electric Company
• Original Assignee: Emerson Electric Company
• Inventors: Smalser, Paul Joseph Sr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Tommy P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEE, Y YOUNG
• Application Number:
  US08/638,174
• Time in Patent Office: 753 Days
• Field of Search: 348/84, 348/85, 348/82, 348/83, 348/87, 348/91, 348/92, 348/125-131, 354/63, 356/241, 250/256, 385/36, 385/119, 600/109
• US Class Current: 348/84
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/954 Inspecting the inner surface of hollow bodies, e.g. bores
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/24 Instruments or systems for viewing the inside of hollow bodies, e.g. fibrescopes
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 37/005 Photographing internal surfaces, e.g. of pipe, G03B37/02 - G03B37/06 take precedence; instruments for performing medical examinations of cavities or tubes of the body by photographic inspection A61B1/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/555 for picking-up images in sites, inaccessible due to their dimensions or hazardous conditions, e.g. endoscopes or borescopes

Abstract

Portable apparatus for inspecting the interior of a pipe comprises a battery operated television camera connected to one end of a coaxial cable which is adapted to be stored in a rotatable storage drum. The battery is mounted on the storage drum for rotation therewith and the drum is rotatably mounted on a stand. Relatively rotatable inductive coupling components are provided between the drum and stand for transmitting the camera output signal to a camera monitor such as a television receiver.

Claims

1. Apparatus for inspecting the interior of a pipe comprising, a camera, a battery, means including cable means electrically connecting said battery and said camera for operating said camera to produce a camera output signal through said cable means to an end thereof spaced from said camera, cable storage means, support means supporting said cable storage means for rotation in opposite directions about an axis for extending and retracting said camera relative to said cable storage means, said end of said cable means and said battery being supported on said cable storage means for rotation therewith, camera output signal terminal means on said support means for connecting said camera output signal to receiving means, and means including relatively rotatable signal coupling means for transmitting said camera output signal from said end of said cable means to said terminal means.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, and camera monitor means connected to said terminal means for receiving said camera output signal.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said camera monitor means includes video receiver means.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said video receiver means includes a television receiver.

5. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said video receiver means includes a video tape recorder.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said camera is a television camera and said means electrically connecting said battery and said camera includes means to convert said camera output signal to a radio frequency signal.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said signal coupling means includes first and second inductively coupled conductor means.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said first signal conductor means is circular and connected to said end of said cable means and said second signal conductor means is circular and connected to said terminal means.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said first and second signal conductor means respectively have first and second diameters, said first and second diameters being equal, and said first and second signal conductor means being coaxial with and axially spaced apart relative to said axis.

10. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said camera has a front end, and illuminating means supported adjacent said front end.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said illuminating means includes light emitting diodes.

12. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said support means includes a stand having axially opposite sides with respect to said axis and a shaft extending between and secured to said axially opposite sides, said shaft providing said axis, and said cable storage means being supported on said shaft for rotation relative thereto.

13. Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said stand includes handle means for carrying said apparatus.

14. Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said cable storage means includes an annular housing having spaced apart axially opposite sides and a radially outer peripheral wall therebetween, said cable means being coiled in said annular housing between said sides and said outer wall, and one of said sides having an opening therethrough for extending and retracting said cable means relative to said annular housing.

15. Apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said annular housing includes hub means extending from the other of said opposite sides toward said one of said sides, said hub means including an opening therethrough receiving said shaft, and said opening through said one of said sides being coaxial with said axis.

16. Apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said stand includes handle means for carrying said apparatus.

17. Apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the other of said opposite sides of said annular housing has an outer side, said end of said cable means and said battery being supported adjacent said outer side.

18. Apparatus according to claim 1, further including housing means enclosing said camera, said cable means being connected to said housing means, and means enclosing said cable means between said housing means and said end of said cable means for protecting said cable means against abrasion.

19. Apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said cable means is flexible transverse to the direction between said housing means and said end, and said means enclosing said cable means is tube means of a material for restraining flexing of said cable means transverse to said direction.

20. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said camera is a television camera and said means electrically connecting said battery and said camera includes means to convert said camera output signal to a radio frequency signal, said camera having a front end, illuminating means supported adjacent said front end, said support means including a stand having axially opposite sides with respect to said axis and a shaft extending between and secured to said axially opposite sides, said shaft providing said axis, and said cable storage means being supported on said shaft for rotation relative thereto.

21. Apparatus according to claim 20, and camera monitor means connected to said terminal means for receiving said camera output signal, said camera monitor means including video receiver means.

22. Apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said signal coupling means includes first and second inductively coupled conductor means, said first signal conductor means being circular and connected to said end of said cable means and said second signal conductor means being circular and connected to said terminal means, said first and second signal conductor means respectively having first and second diameters, said first and second diameters being equal, and said first and second signal conductor means being coaxial with and axially spaced apart relative to said axis.

23. Apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said cable storage means includes an annular housing having spaced apart axially opposite sides and a radially outer peripheral wall therebetween, said cable means being coiled in said annular housing between said sides and said outer wall, one of said sides having an opening therethrough for extending and retracting said cable means relative to said annular housing, the other of said opposite sides of said annular housing having an outer side, and said end of said cable means and said battery being supported adjacent said outer side.

24. Apparatus according to claim 20, further including housing means enclosing said camera, said cable means being connected to said housing means, and means enclosing said cable means between said housing means and said end of said cable means for protecting said cable means against abrasion.

25. Apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said signal coupling means includes first and second inductively coupled conductor means, said first signal conductor means being circular and having a first diameter and being connected to said end of said cable means, said second signal conductor means being circular and having a second diameter equal to said first diameter and being connected to said output signal terminal means, said first and second conductor means being coaxial with and axially spaced apart relative to said axis, said cable storage means including an annular housing having spaced apart axially opposite sides and a radially outer peripheral wall therebetween, said cable means being coiled in said annular housing between said sides and said outer wall, one of said sides having an opening therethrough for extending and retracting said cable means relative to said housing, the other of said opposite sides of said annular housing having an outer side, and said end of said cable means and said battery being supported adjacent said outer side.

26. Apparatus according to claim 25, further including housing means enclosing said camera, said cable means being connected to said housing means, and means enclosing said cable means between said housing means and said end of said cable means for protecting said cable means against abrasion.

27. Apparatus according to claim 26, and camera monitor means connected to said terminal means for receiving said camera output signal, said camera monitor means including video receiver means.

28. Apparatus according to claim 26, wherein said stand includes handle means for carrying said apparatus.

29. Apparatus for inspecting the interior of a pipe comprising, a length of coaxial cable having first and second ends, a storage drum for said cable, a stand including means supporting said drum for rotation in opposite directions relative to said stand about an axis, said first end of said cable being supported on said drum for rotation therewith, said second end of said cable being extendable and retractable relative to said drum, camera housing means having front and rear ends, said second end of said cable being attached to said rear end, a television camera in said housing means adjacent said front end, means electrically connecting said camera and said second end of said cable, a battery mounted on said storage drum for rotation therewith, means electrically connecting said battery and said first end of said cable for operating said camera to produce a camera output signal through said cable to said first end thereof, said means electrically connecting said camera and said second end of said cable including means for converting said camera output signal to a radio frequency signal, first signal conductor means electrically connected to said first end of said cable and mounted on said drum for rotation therewith, second signal conductor means mounted on said stand in inductively coupled relationship to said first conductor means, camera output signal terminal means on said stand, and means electrically connecting said terminal means and said second conductor means.

30. Apparatus according to claim 29, and video receiver means connected to said terminal means for receiving said camera output signal.

31. Apparatus according to claim 29, and illuminating means in said camera housing means adjacent said front end thereof.

32. Apparatus according to claim 29, and means enclosing said cable between said first and second ends thereof for protecting said cable against abrasion and reinforcing said cable against flexure transverse to the direction between the ends thereof.

33. Apparatus according to claim 29, wherein said stand includes a carrying handle.

34. Apparatus according to claim 29, wherein said drum includes axially spaced apart side walls, one of said side walls having an axially outer side, a sleeve of polymeric material mounted on said outer side coaxial with said axis, said sleeve being rotatable with said drum and having a radially outer side, and battery mounting means on said radially outer side for mounting said battery on said sleeve adjacent said outer side of said one of said side walls.

35. Apparatus according to claim 34, wherein each said first and second signal conductor means is circular, means for mounting said first signal conductor means on said sleeve coaxial with said axis, and means for mounting said second signal conductor means on said stand coaxial with said axis and axially spaced from said first signal conductor means.

36. Apparatus according to claim 35, wherein said sleeve has an axially outer end spaced from said outer side, said means for mounting said second signal conductor means on said stand including a cap member of polymeric material having an end wall spaced from said outer end and transverse to said axis and a radially outer peripheral wall extending axially from said end wall toward said outer end and into axially overlapping relationship therewith.

37. Apparatus according to claim 36, wherein said stand includes axially spaced apart support members and said means supporting said drum for rotation includes a drum shaft fixed to said support members against rotation relative thereto, said drum being supported on said shaft for rotation relative thereto, and said cap member being mounted on said shaft against rotation relative thereto.

38. Apparatus according to claim 37, wherein said camera output signal terminal means is mounted on said end wall of said cap member.

39. Apparatus according to claim 37, wherein said drum includes a hub extending from said one of said side walls toward the other side wall and having an end spaced from said one side wall, said hub having a bore therethrough receiving said shaft, said drum further including a radially outer peripheral wall between said side walls, said cable being coiled in said drum between said side walls and said peripheral wall, and said other side wall extending radially inwardly from said peripheral wall and having a radially inner peripheral edge spaced from said hub to provide an opening for extending and retracting said cable relative to said drum.

40. Apparatus according to claim 36, wherein said means for mounting said first signal conductor means includes a first planar plate of insulating material, said first signal conductor means being a metal clad on said first planar plate, said means for mounting said second signal conductor means includes a second planar plate of insulating material, said second signal conductor means being a metal clad on said second planar plate, said first planar plate being mounted on said axially outer end of said sleeve, and said second planar plate being mounted on said cap member axially inwardly of said end wall.

41. Apparatus according to claim 40, wherein said sleeve includes a mounting plate axially inwardly of said outer end thereof and transverse to said axis, said first end of said cable being attached to said mounting plate, and said camera output signal terminal means being mounted on said end wall of said cap member.

42. Apparatus according to claim 36, and illuminating means in said camera housing means adjacent said front end thereof.

43. Apparatus according to claim 42, and means enclosing said cable between said first and second ends thereof for protecting said cable against abrasion and reinforcing said cable against flexure transverse to the direction between the ends thereof.

44. Apparatus according to claim 43, wherein said stand includes a carrying handle.

45. Apparatus according to claim 36, wherein said stand includes axially spaced apart support members and said means supporting said drum for rotation includes a drum shaft fixed to said support members against rotation relative thereto, said drum being supported on said shaft for rotation relative thereto, said cap member being mounted on said shaft against rotation relative thereto, said means for mounting said first conductor means including a first plate of insulating material supporting said first signal conductor means, said means for mounting said second conductor means including a second plate of insulating material supporting said second signal conductor means, said first plate being mounted on said axially outer end of said sleeve means, and said second plate being mounted on said cap member axially inwardly of said end wall.

46. Apparatus according to claim 45, and illuminating means in said camera housing means adjacent said front end thereof.

47. Apparatus according to claim 46, and means enclosing said cable between said first and second ends thereof for protecting said cable against abrasion and reinforcing said cable against flexure transverse to the direction between the ends thereof.

48. Apparatus according to claim 29, and illuminating means in said camera housing means adjacent said front end thereof, and means enclosing said cable between said first and second ends thereof for protecting said cable against abrasion and reinforcing said cable against flexure transverse to the direction between the ends thereof.

49. Apparatus according to claim 48, and video receiver means connected to said camera output signal terminal means for receiving said camera output signal.

50. Apparatus according to claim 48, wherein said stand includes handle means for carrying said apparatus.