GB2420038A

GB2420038A - Housing for an underwater camera

Info

Publication number: GB2420038A
Application number: GB0424310A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Steve Bowring
Original assignee: Bowtech Products Ltd
Current assignee: Teledyne Bowtech Ltd
Priority date: 2004-11-02
Filing date: 2004-11-02
Publication date: 2006-05-10
Also published as: GB0424310D0

Abstract

A submersible housing for an underwater camera 40 comprises a window portion 44 and a housing portion 32, wherein the window portion and the housing portion are formed as a one-piece item. The housing is shaped to receive a camera and provide water-tight and pressure-tight case for the camera. The provision of the window and housing as a one-piece item reduces the number of seals required and thus provides a more reliable and robust submersible housing for a camera. A releasable end bell 41 is provided to seal the housing. The window and housing are preferably made form a plastic material, moulded as a one-piece item or machined from a single block. The housing is preferable adapted to operate in depths up to 1500 m.

Description

1 "Housing for a Camera" 3 The present invention relates to a submersible

4 housing for a camera, an apparatus including a submersible housing and a camera, and a method of 6 making a submersible housing for a camera.

8 In order to use submerged cameras it is necessary to 9 provide a housing to surround and seal internal electronic cameras. When these are deployed in deep 11 water, the housing must maintain the seal around the 12 camera under the associated large pressures. Thus 13 the housing must be made from a robust material, 14 such as titanium, steel, aluminium or brass.

16 Figs. 1 and 2 respectively show a side and a 17 sectional view of a typical prior art camera and 18 housing to seal the camera from the external 19 environment in which it is placed. A stainless steel housing 10 comprises a main body portion 12, a 21 window retainer 13 and an end bell 11.

1 The end bell 11 has electrical conducting pins 16 2 for connection to an external power source (not 3 shown) and to feed the video signal back to the 4 operator. A threaded connector 15 is provided to hold the pins in connection with the power source 6 and video connection. At its opposite end, the end 7 bell 11 attaches to the main body portion 12 by 8 means of nut and bolt threaded connectors 29 and 9 this join is sealed by means of an annular 0-ring 27 and a back-up ring 25.

12 The main body portion 12 has a void 14 to receive 13 the camera 20 and also has an attachment means for 14 connection to the bell end 11 at one end and the window retainer 13 at its opposite end.

17 The window retainer 13 is attached to the main body 18 portion 12 by attachment means 19. A window 18 is 19 enclosed within the window retainer 13. An annular 0-ring 17 seals the window 18 to the window retainer 21 13. In use the window 18 is aligned with a lens 21 22 of a camera 20.

24 Fig. 2 shows a camera 20 provided within the housing 10. The lens 21 is provided towards one end 22 of 26 the camera 20.

28 As clearly seen from the side view of Fig. 1, the 29 outer casing of the camera apparatus 10 is provided in four parts: the end bell 11, the main body 31 portion 12, the window retainer 13 and the window 32 18.

1 Whilst generally satisfactory, the seals between the 2 various parts are prone to leaking.

4 According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a submersible housing for a 6 camera, the housing comprising a window portion and 7 a housing portion, wherein the window portion and 8 the housing portion are formed as a one-piece item.

The integral housing portion and window portion may 11 be an end cap attachable to a container portion, the 12 container portion being shaped to define a void 13 suitable to receive a portion of a camera. However, 14 preferably the integral housing portion and window portion comprises a container portion the container 16 portion being shaped to define a void suitable to 17 receive a portion of a camera.

19 Preferably therefore the container portion is formed with the housing portion and window portion all as a 21 one-piece item.

23 The window portion is typically suitable so that, in 24 use, the camera can see through the window portion to the environment outside the housing.

27 Preferably the window portion/housing portion and 28 the container portion are made from the same 29 material.

31 Preferably the housing is made substantially from a 32 plastic material. Thus preferably the window 1 portion/housing portion and the container portion 2 are made from a plastic material.

4 Preferably the housing further comprises a releasable end cap. Preferably the end cap can be 6 secured and sealed onto an end of the container 7 portion.

9 Preferably therefore, the housing provides a watertight and pressuretight case for the camera 11 comprising the end cap, container portiop and 12 integral window portion/housing portion.

14 The end cap may include a sealing portion and an electrical connector. The sealing portion and 16 electrical connector may be formed separately and 17 joined together during assembly or alternatively 18 formed as a one-piece item. The provision of a 19 separate sealing portion and electrical connector allows the connection of a variety of different 21 sizes of electrical connector to the sealing 22 portion.

24 Preferably no more than two parts in addition to the end cap (typically the container portion and 26 integral window portion/housing portion) are 27 required to provide said watertight and pressure- 28 tight case for the camera. More preferably no more 29 than one part in addition to the end cap (typically the integral container portion/window 31 portion/housing portion) is required to provide said 32 watertight and pressure-tight case for the camera.

1 Preferably the window portion has a rim which 2 extends outwardly therefrom. This can reduce the 3 abrasion and damage to the window portion if the 4 housing is placed on its end.

6 Typically the housing is adapted to operate in 7 depths of at least lOm. Preferably the housing can 8 be used in depths of up to 1000m. More preferably 9 the housing can withstand depths of up to 1500m.

Even more preferably the housing can be used in any 11 depth of water. Where the housing is required to be 12 used in particularly deep water, the thickness of 13 the housing is typically increased to add strength.

The invention also provides an apparatus comprising 16 a housing according to the first aspect of the 17 invention and a camera.

19 According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of 21 manufacturing a submersible housing for a camera, 22 the housing comprising a window portion and a 23 housing portion, 24 the method comprising forming the window portion and the housing portion as a one-piece item.

27 Preferably the method according to the second aspect 28 of the invention is used to manufacture the housing 29 according to the first aspect of the invention.

31 Preferably the window portion and the housing 32 portion are moulded together as a one-piece item.

1 Alternatively the window portion and the housing 2 portion may be machined from a block.

4 The housing/window portion and the container are typically moulded together as a one-piece item.

7 An embodiment of the present invention will now be 8 described with reference to and as shown in the 9 accompanying drawings, in which:-

11 Fig. 1 is a side view of a prior art camera;

12 Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the prior art

13 camera of Fig. 1; 14 Fig. 3 is a side view of a housing according to the present invention with internal camera 16 components provided therein; 17 Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the Fig. 3 18 housing and associated components along the 19 line A-A shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is one end view of the housing and 21 associated components of Fig. 3; 22 Fig. 6 is an opposite end view of the housing 23 and associated components of Fig. 3; 24 Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional view of the area of the housing and associated components 26 shown by circle B in Fig. 4; 27 Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the housing and 28 associated components shown in Fig. 3; and, 29 Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the housing and associated components shown in Fig. 3 with half 31 the outer housing cut away to reveal its 32 interior.

1 Camera apparatus is shown generally at 30 and 2 comprises a housing 31 to house a camera component 3 40 and other internal electronics. The housing 31 4 comprises a main body portion 32, an end bell 41 and a connector 70.

7 The main body portion 32 is a substantially 8 cylindrical plastic moulded portion having a 9 longitudinal bore or void 33 running partially therethrough. A transparent viewing port or window 11 44 is provided at the end of the void 33 and an open 12 end 55 is provided at the opposite end of the bore 13 33 for receiving the end bell 41 as described 14 further below.

16 The main body portion 32 is moulded as a single- 17 piece item along with the window 44. Thus it is not 18 necessary to assemble and seal a window into the 19 housing, nor is it necessary to provide a separate window retainer and seal this to the rest of the 21 housing. Thus embodiments of the invention are 22 easier to assemble, easier to manufacture and do not 23 have as many joins (which are susceptible to 24 leaking) as certain known housing apparatus for underwater cameras.

27 A rim 52 is provided around the outer face of the 28 transparent window 44 and this defines a recess 46.

29 This prevents the window 44 from becoming damaged by scratching in the event that the housing 32 is 31 placed on its end. Fig. 5 shows an enlarged view, 32 showing the rim 52, recess 46 formed therein and 1. transparent window 44, through which a lens 90 of

2 the camera 40 has a clear field of view to the

3 environment beyond the main body portion 32.

The end bell 41 has a shoulder portion 45 and 6 threads 74 for connection to the open end 55 of the 7 main body portion 32. A bore within the bell end 41 8 receives the connector 70.

The connector 70 comprises a threaded boss 76 for 11 connection to the bore 55 of the bell end 41, a 12 further thread 35 for securement to a power supply 13 (not shown) and conducting pins 36 to receive the 14 power from the power supply. The pins 36 also serve to feed back the video signal received from the 16 camera component 40 to the operator. An 0-ring seal 17 (not shown) is provided between the connector 70 and 18 end bell 41. Control communications may also be 19 provided via the connector 70, for example for control of a zoom function on the camera component 21 40.

23 To assemble the camera apparatus 30, the camera 24 component 40 is inserted into the open end 55 of the main body portion 32 such that the lens 90 is 26 adjacent the window 44, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9.

28 The end bell 41 is inserted into the open end 55 of 29 the main body portion 32 around the camera apparatus, to seal the camera 40 therein. Fig. 7 31 shows an expanded view of the circle B in Fig.4.

32 The end bell 41 is pushed into the aperture so that 1 a shoulder portion 45 abuts the end of the casing 32 2 such that there is substantially no gap 3 therebetween. The end bell 41 should preferably be 4 manufactured such that it lies flush with the main body portion 32 when fully inserted into the open 6 end. A retaining cord 75 maintains the two portions 7 in engagement. An annular 0-ring seal 77 is 8 provided for sealing the main body portion 32 and 9 the bell end 41.

11 The camera apparatus 30 can then be attached to a 12 power source using pins 36 and threaded connectors 13 35.

Thus embodiments of the housing and camera apparatus 16 according to the present invention benefit in that 17 they are quicker and easier to assemble than 18 previous submersible housings for cameras. Moreover 19 the complex interfaces between the different parts in known housings are simplified for embodiments of 21 the present invention since some parts previously 22 provided separately are moulded as a one-piece item.

24 The main body portion 32 may be made from plastic such as acrylic. Alternatively sapphire glass may 26 be used. One embodiment can operate at depths of up 27 to 3000m of water.

29 Camera apparatus in accordance with one aspect of the present invention, such as the camera apparatus 31 30, have numerous applications including but not 32 limited to deployment underwater by Remotely 1 Operated Vehicles (ROVs), Autonomous Underwater 2 Vehicles (AUV5), manned submarines and by divers.

3 Additionally they may be fixed underwater, for 4 example fixed to a welihead or other underwater furniture; all to provide visual feedback to an 6 operator.

8 A further use is to deploy the camera apparatus in a 9 liquid for inspection of submerged parts of a nuclear power plant.

12 Improvements and modifications may be made without 13 departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1 Claims 3 1. A submersible housing for a camera, the housing 4 comprising

a window portion and a housing portion, wherein the window portion and the housing portion 6 are formed as a one-piece item.

8 2. A housing as claimed in claim 1, further 9 comprising a container portion the container portion being shaped to define a void suitable to receive a 11 portion of a camera, the container portion, housing 12 portion and window portion all being formed as a 13 one-piece item.

3. A housing as claimed in claim 2, further 16 comprising a releasable end cap, which in use is 17 secured and sealed onto an end of one of the housing 18 portion and the container portion.

4. A housing as claimed in claim 3, wherein the 21 housing provides a water-tight and pressure-tight 22 case for the camera comprising the end cap, 23 container portion and integral window 24 portion/housing portion.

26 5. A housing as claimed in claim 4, wherein no 27 more than two parts in addition to the end cap are 28 required to provide said water-tight and pressure- 29 tight case for the camera.

31 6. A housing as claimed in claim 4, wherein no 32 more than one part in addition to the end cap is 1 required to provide said watertight and pressure- 2 tight case for the camera.

4 7. A housing as claimed in one of claims 2 to 6, wherein the housing portion and the container 6 portion are made from the same material.

8 8. A housing as claimed in one of claims 2 to 7, 9 wherein the window portion and the container portion are made from the same material.

12 9. A housing as claimed in any preceding claim, 13 made substantially from a plastic material.

10. A housing as claimed in any preceding claim, 16 wherein the window portion has a rim which extends 17 outwardly therefrom.

19 11. A housing as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the housing is adapted to operate in depths 21 of at least lOm.

23 12. A housing as claimed in any preceding claim, 24 wherein the housing is adapted to operate in depths of up to 1500m.

27 13. An apparatus comprising a housing as claimed in 28 any preceding claim and a camera.

14. A method of manufacturing a submersible housing 31 for a camera, the housing comprising a window 32 portion and a housing portion, the method comprising 1 forming the window portion and the housing portion 2 as a one-piece item.

4 15. A method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the window portion and the housing portion are moulded 6 together as a one-piece item or machined as a single 7 part from a block.