Detachable coupling for a remote inspection device

• US 7,581,988 B2
• Filed: 06/09/2008
• Issued: 09/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Inspectron, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Perceptron Incorporated (Atlas Copco AB)
• Inventors: Boehnlein, Al, Newman, Tye, Eckhoff, Paul J., Watt, Brandon
• Primary Examiner(s): Paumen; Gary F.
• Application Number:
  US12/157,324
• Publication Number:
  US 20080248673A1
• Time in Patent Office: 449 Days
• Field of Search: 439587-589, 439/585
• US Class Current: 439/585
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00052 positioned at proximal end of the endoscope body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/372 Details of monitor hardware
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/954 Inspecting the inner surface of hollow bodies, e.g. bores
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/2476 Non-optical details, e.g. housings, mountings, supports

Abstract

A remote inspection device is provided for inspecting visually obscured locations. The device is generally comprised of a imager housing and a display housing disposed on opposite ends of a modular, flexible cable. An imaging device and one or more light sources are embedded in the end of the cylindrical imager housing. A display housing is coupled to the other end of the flexible cable and configured to be grasped by a user of the device. A display device supported by the display housing receives a video signal from the imaging device and converts the video signal to a video image. The flexible cable can be removably attached to other components with a detachable coupling.

Claims

1. A detachable coupling for selectively attaching first and second cables of a remote inspection device, the detachable coupling comprising:

a first ferrule component provided over the first cable and encasing an end of the first cable, said first ferrule component being an electrical insulator;

a first casing engaging said first ferrule component, said first casing and said first ferrule component being secured to the first cable, said first ferrule component electrically isolating said first casing from the first cable;

a first electrical connector supported within said first casing and electrically connected to wires in the first cable;

a second ferrule component provided over the second cable and encasing an end of the second cable, said second ferrule component being an electrical insulator;

a second casing engaging said second ferrule component, said second casing and said second ferrule component being secured to the second cable, said second ferrule component electrically isolating said second casing from the second cable; and

a second electrical connector supported within said second casing and electrically connected to wires in the second cable, wherein said first and second electrical connectors engage and electrically connect the wires of the first and second cables,

wherein said first and second ferrule components each have at least one protrusion extending from an outer surface thereof, said first and second casings each have at least one recess formed in an inner surface thereof, said at least one protrusion of said first ferrule component extending into said at least one recess of said first casing and said at least one protrusion of said second ferrule component extending into said at least one recess of said second casing so as to inhibit relative axial movement therebetween.

7. The detachable coupling of claim 1 wherein said first and second ferrule components each have a sloped end surface angled from the first and second casings toward the first and second cables, respectively.

2. A detachable coupling for selectively attaching first and second cables of a remote inspection device, comprising:

a first casing having a first longitudinal axis and a passage extending between opposing ends of said first casing along said first longitudinal axis, said passage having a first portion adjacent to one end of said first casing defining a first ferrule socket and a second portion adjacent to the opposite end of said first casing defining a first connector socket;

a first ferrule component comprised of an electrical insulating material and encasing an end of the first cable, wherein said first ferrule component is inserted into the first ferrule socket and electrically isolates said first cable from said first casing;

a first electrical connector is electrically connected to wires of the first cable and inserted into said first connector socket;

a second casing having a second longitudinal axis and a second passage extending between opposing ends of said second casing along said second longitudinal axis, said second passage having a first portion adjacent to one end of said second casing defining a second ferrule socket and a second portion adjacent to the opposite end of said second casing defining a second connector socket;

a second ferrule component comprised of an electrical insulating material and encasing an end of the second cable, wherein said second ferrule component is inserted into said second ferrule socket and electrically isolates said second cable from the second casing; and

a second electrical connector electrically connected to wires of the second cable and inserted into said second connector socket.

3. The detachable coupling of claim 2 wherein said detachable coupling further includes a sleeve overlapping said first and second casings.

4. The detachable coupling of claim 3 wherein said detachable coupling further includes a first sealing element disposed between said sleeve and said first casing and a second sealing element disposed between said sleeve and said second casing.

5. The detachable coupling of claim 2 further comprising an electrically insulating potting material injected into each of said first and second casings, where the potting material is disposed between an inward facing end of the first and second ferrule components and said first and second electrical connectors, respectively.

6. The detachable coupling of claim 2 wherein one of said first and second casings has a tab portion extending therefrom and the other of said first and second casings having a recess portion complementary to said tab portion, said tab portion engaging said recess portion to inhibit relative rotation between said first and second casings.

8. The detachable coupling of claim 2 wherein the first ferrule component having a hollow cylindrical shape that encases the end of the first cable.

9. The detachable coupling of claim 2 wherein the first ferrule component extends longitudinally along the first longitudinal axis of the first casing and beyond the end of the first casing.

10. A coupling for interconnecting components of a remote inspection device, comprising:

a cable for interconnecting the components of the remote inspection device; and

a first assembly attached to one end of the cable and including;

a first casing having a passage extending between opposing ends of said first casing along a longitudinal axis, said passage having a first portion adjacent to one end of said first casing defining a ferrule socket and a second portion adjacent to the opposite end of said first casing defining a connector socket;

a first ferrule component having a hollow cylindrical body comprised of an electrical insulating material and with at least one protrusion formed on a radial exterior surface of the cylindrical body, wherein the end of the cable is inserted into the first ferrule component and the first ferrule component is inserted into the first ferrule socket, thereby electrically isolating the cable from the first casing;

a first electrical connector is electrically connected to wires of the first cable and inserted into said first connector socket.

11. The coupling of claim 10 where first casing having a recess formed on an inner surface of the first ferrule socket such that the protrusion on the first ferrule component extends into the recess and inhibits axial movement therebetween.

12. The coupling of claim 10 further comprises an electrically insulating potting material injected into the first casing between an inward facing end of the first ferrule component and said first electrical connector.

13. The coupling of claim 10 wherein the first ferrule component encases the end of the cable without encapsulating an end face of the cable.

14. The coupling of claim 10 wherein the first ferrule component extends longitudinally along the first longitudinal axis of the first casing and beyond the end of the first casing.

15. The coupling of claim 10 wherein a portion of said outer surface of said first ferrule component defines an outer diameter and a complementary portion of the first ferrule component socket defines a diameter smaller than the outer diameter such that the first casing deforms the first ferrule component at said portion of said outer surface.

16. A remote inspection device, comprising:

an imager housing including an imaging device;

a display housing including a display device and a portable power source;

a cable having a first end coupled to said imager housing and a second end detachably coupled via a coupling to said display housing, said cable having a plurality of wires and an outer jacket, said wires operably connecting said imaging device, said display device and said portable power source; and

said coupling including a first assembly fixed to said second end of said cable and a second assembly coupled to said display housing, said first assembly including;

a first casing having a first longitudinal axis and a passage extending between opposing ends of said first casing along said first longitudinal axis, said passage having a first portion adjacent to one end of said first casing defining a first ferrule socket and a second portion adjacent to the opposite end of said first casing defining a first connector socket;

a first ferrule component comprised of an electrical insulating material and encasing an end of the cable, wherein said first ferrule component is inserted into the first ferrule socket and electrically isolates said cable from said first casing;

a first electrical connector is electrically connected to the plurality of wires of the cable and inserted into said first connector socket.

17. The coupling of claim 16 further comprises an electrically insulating potting material injected into the first casing between an inward facing end of the first ferrule component and said first electrical connector.

18. The coupling of claim 16 wherein the first ferrule component having a hollow cylindrical shape.

19. The coupling of claim 18 wherein cylindrical body having at least one protrusion formed on a radial exterior surface thereof and the first casing having a recess formed on an inner surface of the first ferrule socket such that the protrusion on the first ferrule component extends into the recess and inhibits axial movement therebetween.

20. The coupling of claim 16 wherein the first ferrule component extends longitudinally along the first longitudinal axis of the first casing and beyond the end of the first casing.