Underground utility vault inspection system and method

• US 8,706,340 B2
• Filed: 03/26/2012
• Issued: 04/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Electric Power Research Institute Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Electric Power Research Institute Incorporated
• Inventors: Zhao, Tiebin, Phillips, Andrew John, Eckroad, Steven Wallace
• Primary Examiner(s): MARC-COLEMAN, MARTHE Y
• Application Number:
  US13/430,139
• Publication Number:
  US 20120271501A1
• Time in Patent Office: 757 Days
• Field of Search: 701/25, 701/24, 180/167, 180/6.5, 180/6.58, 180/8.2, 180/9.32, 348/118, 348/82, 348/E7.088, 901/1
• US Class Current: 701/25
• CPC Class Codes: B61B 13/10 Tunnel systems pneumatic tubes conveyors B65G ; B61C15/045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 37/00 Panoramic or wide-screen photography; Photographing extended surfaces, e.g. for surveying; Photographing internal surfaces, e.g. of pipe
• 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: G21C 17/003 Remote inspection of vessels, e.g. pressure vessels
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 901/01 Mobile robot
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 901/44 inspection
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20305 Robotic arm

Abstract

An underground utility vault inspection system and method includes a pre-defined railway installed in an underground utility vault, and an inspection vehicle adapted to traverse the railway to provide inspection results to inspection personnel. The inspection vehicle includes inspection tools for inspecting underground power lines and equipment, recording inspection results, and transmitting the inspection results to the inspection personnel.

Claims

1. An underground utility vault inspection system, comprising:

(a) a pre-defined railway installed in an underground utility vault, the railway being configured to receive an inspection vehicle mounted thereon; and

(b) an inspection vehicle adapted to traverse the railway to provide inspection results to inspection personnel, wherein the inspection vehicle includes inspection tools for inspecting underground power lines and equipment, recording inspection results, and transmitting the inspection results to the inspection personnel.

2. The underground utility vault inspection system according to claim 1, wherein the inspection vehicle is a robot.

3. The underground utility vault inspection system according to claim 1, wherein the inspection vehicle is pre-programmed to traverse a pre-defined path of the railway.

4. The underground utility vault inspection system according to claim 1, wherein the inspection vehicle is manually controlled by the inspection personnel.

5. The underground utility vault inspection system according to claim 1, wherein the inspection vehicle includes a manipulator arm adapted to extend and be articulated into tight areas of the vault.

6. The underground utility vault inspection system according to claim 5, wherein the manipulator arm allows inspection personnel to perform inspections, clean inspection surfaces, and perform repairs.

7. The underground utility vault inspection system according to claim 1, wherein the railway is permanently installed in the vault.

8. The underground utility vault inspection system according to claim 1, wherein the railway is portable for use in inspecting utility vaults at various locations.

9. The underground utility vault inspection system according to claim 1, wherein the inspection tools are selected from the group consisting of optical imaging, thermal imaging, gas monitoring, and arcing detection.

10. A method for inspecting underground utility vaults, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing an inspection vehicle adapted to traverse a railway disposed in an underground utility vault;

(b) moving the inspection vehicle along the railway to a pre-determined location in the utility vault; and

(c) using the inspection vehicle to inspect utilities located in the utility vault.

11. The method according to claim 10, further including the step of providing a railway for installation in the underground utility vault.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein the inspection vehicle includes a manipulator arm adapted to extend and articulate to allow inspections or repairs to be conducted on utilities contained in the underground utility vault.

13. The method according to claim 12, further including the step of using the manipulator arm to inspect utilities located in the underground utility vault.

14. The method according to claim 12, further including the step of using the manipulator arm to repair utilities located in the underground utility vault.

15. The method according to claim 10, further including the step of transmitting inspection results to inspection personnel.

16. The method according to claim 10, further including the step of pre-programming the inspection vehicle to move to the pre-determined location.