Borehole inspection instrument having a low voltage, low power fiber optic light-head
First Claim
1. An inspection instrument for insertion into a borehole for viewing the condition and contents of the borehole, the inspection instrument connected to a surface station by means of a cable, the inspection instrument comprising:
- a housing having a longitudinal axis, a proximal end, and a distal end, the proximal end connected to the cable;
a camera enclosed within the housing and having a field of view outside the housing;
a light source enclosed within the housing and separated longitudinally from the camera;
an elliptical reflector disposed about the light source to reflect light generated by the light source to a focal point;
a light conductor having a proximal end disposed at the focal point for receiving light reflected by the reflector, the light conductor having a distal end disposed at the camera and oriented to radiate light into the field of view of the camera.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An instrument for the inspection of well bores includes an improved light source contained within the same pressure barrel as the camera. A low power lamp is disposed within an elliptical-shaped reflector that reflects the lamp light to a focal point distal of the reflector. Optical fibers are disposed at that focal point and conduct the light received from the lamp to form an array of light sources disposed about the camera. An annular window disposed in the line of illumination of the array of light sources directs the illumination into the field of view of the camera. The light source arrangement provides an unobstructed and illuminated field of view for the camera. Because of the increased efficiency of the light source that includes the described elliptical reflector, a self-contained power system may be used in the instrument thereby resulting in a much smaller support cable for the instrument with the ability to inspect much smaller boreholes. Standard size batteries may be used in the power system. A slickline cable may be used with the disclosed instrument.
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Citations
33 Claims
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1. An inspection instrument for insertion into a borehole for viewing the condition and contents of the borehole, the inspection instrument connected to a surface station by means of a cable, the inspection instrument comprising:
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a housing having a longitudinal axis, a proximal end, and a distal end, the proximal end connected to the cable;
a camera enclosed within the housing and having a field of view outside the housing;
a light source enclosed within the housing and separated longitudinally from the camera;
an elliptical reflector disposed about the light source to reflect light generated by the light source to a focal point;
a light conductor having a proximal end disposed at the focal point for receiving light reflected by the reflector, the light conductor having a distal end disposed at the camera and oriented to radiate light into the field of view of the camera. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
an internal power supply for supplying the entire electrical power used by the instrument, the internal power supply comprising a battery pack; and
a slickline connected to the instrument to control the depth of the instrument.
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20. An inspection instrument for insertion into a borehole for viewing the condition and contents of the borehole, the inspection instrument comprising:
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a housing having a longitudinal axis, a proximal end, and a distal end;
a camera enclosed within the housing and having a field of view outside the housing;
a light source enclosed within the housing and separated longitudinally from the camera such that the camera is at least partially insulated from heat generated by the light source;
a reflector disposed about the light source to reflect light generated by the light source, the reflector having a first focal point and a second focal point, the second focal point being removed from the first focal point, wherein the light source is located at the first focal point; and
a light conductor having a proximal end disposed approximately at the second focal point for receiving light reflected by the reflector, the light conductor having a distal end disposed at a position in the housing in relation to the camera so as to radiate light into the field of view of the camera. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
an internal power supply for supplying the entire electrical power used by the instrument, the internal power supply comprising a battery pack; and
a slickline connected to the instrument to control the depth of the instrument.
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33. An inspection instrument for insertion into a borehole for viewing the condition and contents of the borehole, the inspection instrument comprising:
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a housing having a longitudinal axis, a proximal end, and a distal end, the distal end having a transparent window;
a camera enclosed within the housing and having a field of view forward of the housing through the transparent window;
a light source enclosed within the housing and separated longitudinally from the camera;
a focusing device disposed in relation to the light source such that light radiated by the light source is focused at a focal point;
a light conductor having a proximal end disposed at the focal point for receiving light reflected by the reflector, the light conductor having a distal end disposed so as to radiate light into the field of view of the camera;
a memory for storing digital data;
a processor connected to the camera and the memory, wherein the processor is programmed to capture images from the camera at programmed times and to store the captured images in the memory;
a power supply contained within the housing, the power supply connected to the light source, the camera, the processor, and the memory to provide the entire power needs of the instrument; and
a cable connected between the inspection instrument and a surface station, the cable containing no power or data conductors.
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Specification