Sensor for imaging inside equipment

• US 9,423,354 B2
• Filed: 02/05/2014
• Issued: 08/23/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Narayanaswami, Chandrasekhar, Raghunath, Mandayam Thondanur, Caceres, Ramon, Berger, Stefan
• Primary Examiner(s): VILLECCO, JOHN M
• Application Number:
  US14/173,113
• Publication Number:
  US 20140218500A1
• Time in Patent Office: 930 Days
• Field of Search: 348/373, 348/82, 348/83, 348/86, 348/125, 705/305, 702/33, 702/34, 702/35, 702/36, 702/40, 702/184, 702/185, 702/188
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/0118 Apparatus with remote processing
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/889 providing a bare video image, i.e. without visual measurement aids
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/8803 Visual inspection measuring projectors G01B9/08
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/954 Inspecting the inner surface of hollow bodies, e.g. bores
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/06 Illumination; Optics
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/08 Optical fibres; light guides
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/20 Administration of product repair or maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 3/00 Registering or indicating the condition or the working of machines or other apparatus, other than vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast

Abstract

A system for monitoring performance of a machine for detection of visible signs of failure, includes: a machine enclosure housing machine parts; at least one canal through the machine enclosure acting as a visual conduit for providing a view into the interior of the machine; a guide rail within the canal for moving a camera into the interior; an interface to the machine configured to receive images from the visual conduit; and a repair network for linking the interface to a monitoring center that provides for the repair of problems with the machine.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring performance of a machine for detection of visible signs of failure, the system comprising:

a machine enclosure housing a plurality of machine parts disposed within an interior of the machine;

at least one canal through the machine enclosure, said at least one canal acting as a visual conduit for providing a view into the interior of the machine;

a guide rail within the canal to facilitate movement of a camera into the interior of the machine; and

a repair network for linking to a monitoring center to provide for the repair of problems with the machine.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein a second canal comprises a flexible tube.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein a second canal comprises a tube with an internally reflective surface.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the second canal comprises a fiber optics cable.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a light source within the at least one canal.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one sensor disposed inside the machine enclosure.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the at least one sensor includes a second camera.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the visual conduit comprises a material that is transparent to a source of electromagnetic radiation at one or more frequencies.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the camera is mountable on the guide rail.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the camera is configured to move along the guide rail automatically in accordance with a program.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising a motor to control movement of the camera.

12. The system of claim 1, further comprising an external controller to control movement of the camera.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the camera is an infrared camera.