Pipe inspection system with wireless data transmission

• US 9,444,541 B2
• Filed: 09/11/2013
• Issued: 09/13/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ipek International Gmbh (RELX PLC)
• Original Assignee: Ipek International Gmbh (RELX PLC)
• Inventors: Henn, Peter, Zahnd, Fabian
• Primary Examiner(s): REGO, DOMINIC E
• Application Number:
  US14/024,208
• Publication Number:
  US 20140073238A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,098 Days
• Field of Search: 455/24, 455/41.2, 455/82, 455/115.1, 455/115.2, 455 7- 9, 455/11.1, 455/12.1, 455/13.1, 455/13.2, 455 14- 17, 702 56- 63, 702121-123, 702/171, 702183-190
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/0007 Image acquisition
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/145 Passive relay systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/40 using a wireless architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/50 using a mobile data collecting device, e.g. walk by or drive by
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom

Abstract

An inspection system is provided, in particular, a pipe inspection system for inspection and/or cleaning of pipes, in particular, sewage pipes, whereby the inspection system comprises an inspection unit and a control unit, whereby the inspection system comprises a transmission-/reception means for wireless transmission of control and/or measurement data between the inspection unit and the control unit. Further, an inspection unit and a transmission-/reception unit suitable for this are provided.

Claims

1. An inspection unit for an inspection system for inspecting or cleaning of pipes having a first rinsing hose, whereby

a front end of the rinsing hose having a rinsing head may be coupled to a number of rinsing nozzles substantially directed backwards, and

a rear end of the first rinsing hose having a transmission-/reception unit for wireless transmission of control or measurement data is coupled between the inspection unit and a control unit

whereby an image acquisition means is arranged at the rinsing head, and whereby the first rinsing hose has electrical cables, which:

connect the image acquisition means to the generator or to the accumulator for power supply of the image acquisition means, and

connect the image acquisition means to the transmission-/reception module to transmit images from the image acquisition means to the transmission-/reception module or control signals from the transmission-/reception module to the image acquisition means, and

whereby the electrical cables are integrated into a jacket of the first rinsing hose or are arranged at the jacket surface of the first rinsing hose, whereby the first rinsing hose and the electrical cables are surrounded by an outer jacket, and whereby connection contacts of the electrical cables are provided at the ends of the first rinsing hose, and whereby counter contacts corresponding to the connecting contacts are provided at the rinsing head and at the transmission-/reception unit.

2. The inspection unit of claim 1, whereby the transmission-/reception unit is coupled to a second rinsing hose, whereby a conduit is provided within the transmission-/reception unit, via which the first rinsing hose is coupled to the second rinsing hose, and which has essentially the same diameter as the first and/or the second rinsing hose.

3. The inspection unit of claim 2, whereby a device for transformation of kinetic energy of the rinsing water into electrical energy is arranged in the transmission-/reception unit, whereby the device has at least a water turbine and a generator.

4. The inspection unit of claim 3, whereby an accumulator is arranged within the transmission-/reception unit, which is coupled to the generator.

5. The inspection unit of claim 1, whereby a transmission-/reception module of the transmission-/reception unit is coupled to the generator or to the accumulator for power supply of the transmission-/reception module.

6. The inspection unit of claim 1, whereby the transmission-/reception unit comprises an antenna system with at least one transmitting antenna and at least one receiving antenna, whereby the antennas of the antenna system are directed backwards.