DE20020055U1 - Device for inspecting vehicle parts - Google Patents

Description

Andrejewski, Honke & Partners Patent attorneys

European Patent Attorneys European Trademark Attorneys

Graduate Physicist Dr. Walter Andrejewski (-1996) Graduate engineer Dr. Manfred Honke Graduate Physicist Dr. Karl Gerhard Masch Graduate engineer Dr.-lng. Rainer Albrecht Graduate Physicist Dr. Jörg Nunnenkamp Graduate Chemist Dr. Michael Rohmann Attorney file:

92 924/jan/ro

D 45127 Essen, Theaterplatz 3 D 45002 Essen, P.O. Box IO 02 54

23.November 20 0 0

Utility model application

1) TENNECO AUTOMOTIVE EUROPE, registered office, Schurhovenveld 1037

3800 Sint-Truiden / BELGIUM

2) SCHÖLLY FIBEROPTIC GMBH Robert-Bosch-Str. 1-3

79211 Denzlingen / Germany

"Device for inspecting vehicle parts ¹

1
Device for inspecting vehicle parts

This invention relates to a device for inspecting vehicle parts.

The invention is primarily intended for the visual inspection of the exhaust and all associated parts of a motor vehicle, such as the muffler, the catalytic converter, the intermediate pipe parts and the connection part of the exhaust pipe on the engine block.

More generally, however, the invention can also be used for visual inspections of the interior of other vehicle parts.

The aim of the invention is that such an inspection can be carried out in a quick and expedient manner.

To this end, the invention relates primarily to a device for inspecting vehicle parts, with the feature that the device consists of at least one endoscope probe with an optical head; means for illuminating at least a partial area of the vehicle parts to be inspected by means of this endoscope probe; means for taking an image of a partial area of the vehicle part, more specifically of the illuminated partial area, by means of the endoscope probe; and means for reproducing and/or storing this image for the purpose of carrying out a visual inspection.

By means of such a device, a picture of the inside of a vehicle part can be easily taken, and by moving the probe in the

Vehicle part can be used to depict any part of the vehicle part.

This makes it possible to make a diagnosis of the parts being inspected. This is particularly useful in the case of an exhaust inspection, as this inspection allows an estimate of the lifespan that such an exhaust may still have. It is therefore possible to determine in advance whether the exhaust or certain parts of it need to be replaced.

Preferably, the means for recording the image comprise an image recording element integrated into the probe itself, more particularly into the head of the probe, which may for example consist of a camera head such as a CCD image sensitive element. An advantage of this integration is that the path between the point where the image is recorded in the probe and the image recording element is reduced to a minimum, thereby minimizing the risk of possible deformations and disturbances in the image. Also, a very clear image can be recorded.

In practical terms, an image recording lens will be mounted in front of the image recording element and the whole thing is preferably also equipped with a focus control system, especially an autofocus system, which enables particularly sharp images to be obtained.

The means for illuminating at least a portion of the vehicle part to be inspected preferably comprise a light source located outside the probe, as well as one or more optical conductors for bringing the light from this light source through the probe into the vehicle part to be inspected. In this way, a strong light source can be used,

·

·

·

while the probe can be kept relatively slim and flexible.

For the optical guide, a bundle of 5 optical fibers is preferably used, these optical fibers preferably forming a package which is located concentrically in the housing of the probe, the means for image recording being located inside this concentric package of optical fibers. This gives an optical guide which, as a whole, has a relatively large transmission surface, which makes it possible to bring a sufficient quantity of light to the parts to be illuminated.

Other particularly preferred features of the device will become apparent from the embodiment described hereinafter with reference to the figures, as well as from the appended claims.

With the aim of better illustrating the characteristics of the invention, a preferred embodiment is described below, by way of example and without any limiting character, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
25

Figure 1 shows a device according to the invention;

Figure 2 represents the probe indicated in Figure 1 with F2; the

Figures 3 and 4 show, on a larger scale, cross-sections of the parts indicated by F3 and F4 in Figure 2, respectively.

As shown in Figure 1, the invention relates to a device 1 for inspecting vehicle parts, in this case for inspecting the inside of a

·

4
Outlet 2 of a motor vehicle 3.

The device 1 consists, as shown in the respective figures, mainly of an endoscope probe 4 with an optical head 5; of means 6 for illuminating, by means of this endoscope probe 4, at least a partial area of the vehicle parts to be inspected, in this case the inner side 7 of the parts forming the outlet 2; means 8 for taking an image of a partial area of the vehicle part, more specifically of the illuminated partial area, by means of the endoscope probe 4; and means 9 for reproducing and/or storing this image for the purpose of carrying out a visual inspection.

The probe 4 consists of a flexible elongated body 10 and an optical head 5 fastened to the front end 11 of this body 10, which optical head 5 is preferably rigid in itself.

At the rear end, the probe 4 is provided with a handle 12, whereby this probe 4 can be easily held and handled.

The probe 4 is connected by means of a flexible line 13 to a device 14 which will be described below.

The means 6 for illuminating at least a portion of the vehicle part to be inspected comprise both a light source 15, which is only shown schematically and is located in the device 14, and an optical conductor 16 for bringing the light from this light source 16 into the vehicle part to be inspected by means of the line 13 and the probe 4.

This optical conductor 16 consists in the illustrated

Example of a bundle of optical fibres, these optical fibres preferably forming a package located concentrically in the housing 17 of the probe 4, the means 8 for taking the image being located inside this concentric package of optical fibres. The package may consist of a large number of plastic optical fibres, even up to several thousand. The advantage of such a package is that it can be easily fitted around the other parts and its fibres can be locally pushed aside to provide passages for supports and the like, whereby the intermediate parts can be secured to the surrounding housing 17.

The supplied light is guided outwards by means of an output 18, which in the example shown is located at the distal end 19 of the probe 4, more specifically the head 5. The light can exit directly from the optical fibers, but preferably a rigid optically conductive end piece 20, for example made of glass, is used.

The output 18 for the light preferably extends concentrically around the input 21 for recording the image.

In the example shown, the means 8 for recording an image of a partial area of the vehicle part in question consist of an image recording element 22 which is integrated into the probe 4, more specifically the head 5 of the probe 4.

The image recording element 22 is only shown schematically and can be of any type, but preferably a camera head, more specifically a CCD-sensitive element, is used for this purpose. In

The probe 4, more specifically the optical head 5, also has an associated electronic unit 23 for signal transmission integrated therein, which is connected to the means 9 for reproducing and/or storing the recorded image by means of a low-capacitance signal transmission line 24 extending through the probe 4.

In front of the image recording element 22 there is an image recording lens 25 and preferably also an infrared filter 26.

The whole can also be equipped with a focus control system, preferably an autofocus system, which can be of optical, electronic or optoelectronic type and is preferably built into the optical head 5.

Furthermore, as shown in Figure 3, the probe 4 is preferably provided at its distal end 19 with one or more means which offer protection, in particular against impacts. In the example shown, these means consist of a distal protective glass 27 and a distal protective ring 28 located on the edge.
-

The distal protective ring 28 is preferably provided with a curve 29 on its outer edge, whereby the probe 4 is better guided during its insertion. Such a curve 29 can also be used if no separate protective ring 28 is present.

Moreover, the distal protective ring 28 preferably projects slightly forwards in relation to the intermediate part of the distal end 19 of the probe, thereby also protecting the protective glass 27 itself, thereby reducing the risk of scratches and the like on this

7
Protective glass 27 is minimized.

The optical head 5, as shown, preferably has a general shape which is made up of a front part 30, a central part 31 and a rear part 32, the diameter of the central part 31 being smaller than the diameters of each of the front part 30 and the rear part 32, whereby the optical head 5 can be guided more easily around a corner or through a bend.

The housing 17 of the probe 4 is formed by, on the one hand, a rigid housing part 33, such as a metal quiver, which surrounds the optical head 5 and to which the distal protective ring 28 is attached, and, on the other hand, a flexible part which forms the elongated body 10. This flexible part, in other words the elongated body 10, preferably consists of a braided protective hose. Metal and/or another relatively stable material which is also heat-resistant is preferably used as the braiding material. Such a braiding structure results in a body 10 which is sufficiently flexible to be guided along a curved path into vehicle parts, but still has sufficient stability to provide the compressive forces required to push the probe 4 with the optical head 5 through curved channels.

The probe 4, or at least the head 5 of the probe 4, is preferably splash-proof and also heat-resistant, in this case against the highest temperatures that can occur in an outlet 2 of a motor vehicle 3.

The means 9 for storing and/or reproducing the image perceived by the probe 4 may be

· ft · 1

of different types and may consist essentially of all types of means which enable an image to be reproduced or printed and/or which enable an image to be stored, for example electronically in a memory.

In the example shown, these means 9 consist of an image monitor 34 and a printer 35, more particularly a video printer, for recording a recorded image on a support, more particularly a strip or a sheet of paper.

The whole can also possibly be equipped with an electronic memory to store images and/or a video recording device to record either moving or still images.

The means 9 are suitably coupled to the aforementioned device 14. This device 14 is an electronic control unit in which, as previously mentioned, the light source 15 is mounted and where the electronic signals received by means of the line 24 are converted into a signal usable by the peripheral equipment. The device 14 can also have means, more particularly an electronic control unit, for manipulating the image obtained. The adjustment can hereby take place by means of buttons 37 or the like, in the example shown a button for displaying an image over the entire screen or several images, for example four, distributed over this screen, and a button for switching between a live display of the perceived image and the display of images stored in the memory (for example the last four fixed images).

An operating element 38, such as a switch or push button, is mounted on the aforementioned handle 12 and can interact with the means 9 for reproducing and/or storing the image in order to carry out a specific action relating to the reproduction and/or storing, such as temporarily freezing the image, in which case, for example, the last four frozen images always remain stored in a memory.

As shown in Figure 1, the device 1 is preferably mobile. For this purpose, it is mounted on a small trolley 39, which is suitable for use in a workshop, car repair shop or the like, on which small trolley 39 at least the means 9 for storing and displaying the image, as well as the device 14 with, among other things, the light source 15, are mounted, and to which the probe 4 is attached by means of the flexible line 13, in which the electrical line 24 and the optical conductor 16 are located. The line 13 can consist of a rubber hose or the like.

It is clear that the device 1 can be powered electrically in any way, either by means of a connection to the mains, or by means of a battery or the like.

The use of the device 1 and its effect, as well as the method used, can be easily derived from the preceding description, but will be briefly described again below.

When inspecting the outlet 2, the probe 4 is pushed into the outlet 2. When the device 1 is switched on, light from the light source 15 is emitted through the

optical conductor 16 and the concentric end piece 20 are projected onto the inside 7 of the part to be inspected. The image then visible is perceived by means of the image recording element 22 and transmitted as an electronic signal via the line 24 to the device 14, from where a suitable signal is then passed to the image monitor 34.

When moving the probe 4, the inside of the outlet 2 can thus be systematically visually probed. Images that one wishes to capture or view as a still image can be printed out or frozen on the image monitor 34.

It is clear that the various components of the aforementioned device 1, in addition to the essential parts described in the appended claim 1, are each optional and, depending on the embodiment, may or may not be present. Variants are also possible.

For example, the light source 15 can be provided at a different location instead of in the device 14, for example in the handle 12 of the probe 4 or in the optical head 5. On the other hand, it is also possible to install the image recording element 22 not in the optical head 5 or in the rest of the probe 4, but for example in the device 14, wherein the image is then transmitted from the probe 4 to the device 14, for example by means of a second bundle of optical fibers.

It is noted that the optical head 5 does not necessarily have to be a single piece. For example, the optical head 5 may consist of two separate parts held together in one manner or another, each serving to illuminate the inside of the respective parts and to record the visible image.

• · ··#♦

The present invention is in no way limited to the embodiment described by way of example and shown in the figures, but such a device can be realized according to various variants without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (19)

1. Device for inspecting vehicle parts, characterized in that the device ( 1 ) consists of at least one endoscope probe ( 4 ) with an optical head ( 5 ); means ( 6 ) for illuminating at least a partial area of the vehicle parts to be inspected by means of this endoscope probe ( 4 ); means ( 8 ) for taking an image of a partial area of the vehicle part, more specifically of the illuminated partial area, by means of the endoscope probe ( 4 ); and means ( 9 ) for reproducing and/or storing this image for the purpose of carrying out a visual inspection. 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the means ( 8 ) for recording an image of a partial area of a vehicle part comprise an image recording element ( 22 ) which is integrated into the probe ( 4 ) itself, more particularly the head ( 5 ) of the probe ( 4 ). 3. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the image recording element ( 22 ) consists of a camera head, more particularly a CCD image-sensitive element. 4. Device according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that in addition to the image recording element ( 22 ) an associated electronic unit ( 23 ) for signal transmission is also integrated in the probe ( 4 ), which is connected to the means ( 9 ) for reproducing and/or storing the recorded image by means of a low-capacitance signal transmission line ( 24 ) extending through the probe ( 4 ). 5. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the probe ( 4 ) is equipped with an image recording lens ( 25 ) and/or a focus control system, preferably an autofocus system. 6. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the probe ( 4 ) comprises an infrared filter ( 26 ) for the recorded image. 7. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the means ( 6 ) for illuminating at least a partial area of the vehicle part to be inspected comprise a light source ( 15 ) and also one or more optical conductors ( 16 ) for bringing the light from this light source ( 15 ) into the vehicle part to be inspected by means of the probe ( 4 ). 8. Device according to claim 7, characterized in that it comprises an optical guide ( 16 ) for the aforementioned light, consisting of a bundle of optical fibers, these optical fibers preferably forming a package located concentrically in the housing ( 17 ) of the probe ( 4 ), the means ( 8 ) for recording the image being located inside this concentric package of optical fibers. 9. Device according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the probe ( 4 ) comprises an output ( 18 ) for the supplied light, through which this light is projected onto a partial area of the vehicle part to be inspected, this output ( 18 ) being located at the distal end ( 19 ) of the probe ( 4 ). 10. Device according to claim 9, characterized in that the output ( 18 ) for the light extends concentrically around an input ( 21 ) for recording the image. 11. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the probe ( 4 ), more particularly its optical head ( 5 ), is provided near its distal end ( 19 ) with one or more of the following means: - protective means for protecting the distal end ( 19 ) of the probe ( 4 ) from impacts and the like; - a distal protective glass ( 27 ); - a distal peripheral protective ring ( 28 ); - a distal protective ring ( 28 ) which is rounded at its outer edge and/or projects slightly forwards with respect to the intermediate part of the distal end ( 19 ) of the probe ( 4 ). 12. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the probe ( 4 ) consists at least of, on the one hand, a flexible elongate body ( 10 ), and, on the other hand, an optical head ( 5 ) fixed to the flexible elongate body ( 10 ). 13. Device according to claim 12, characterized in that a handle ( 12 ) is attached to the elongated body ( 10 ). 14. Device according to claim 13, characterized in that an operating element ( 38 ), such as a switch or push button, is attached to the handle ( 12 ) and can cooperate with the means ( 9 ) for reproducing and/or storing the image in order to carry out a specific action related to the reproduction and/or storing, such as, for example, temporarily holding the image. 15. Device according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that the elongated body ( 10 ) consists of a braided protective hose. 16. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the probe ( 4 ) comprises an optical head ( 5 ) having at least a front part ( 30 ), a central part ( 31 ) and a rear part ( 32 ), the diameter of the central part ( 31 ) being smaller than the diameters of the front part ( 30 ) and the rear part ( 32 ), respectively. 17. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the probe ( 4 ), or at least the head ( 5 ) of the probe ( 4 ), is splash-proof and/or heat-resistant against the highest temperatures that can occur in an outlet ( 2 ) of a motor vehicle ( 3 ). 18. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the means ( 9 ) for storing and/or reproducing the image comprise one or more of the following elements: - an image monitor ( 34 ); - a printer ( 35 ) for recording a recorded image on a support, special paper ( 36 ); - an electronic memory to store images; - a video recording device to record moving or still images. 19. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device ( 1 ) is mobile and is therefore mounted on a small trolley ( 39 ) suitable for use in a workshop, car repair shop or the like, on which small trolley ( 39 ) at least the means ( 9 ) for storing and/or reproducing an image, as well as the light source ( 15 ) are mounted, and to which the probe ( 4 ) is attached by means of a flexible line ( 13 ).