EP2406952A1 - Video inspection device for areas with potentially explosive atmospheres - Google Patents

Video inspection device for areas with potentially explosive atmospheres

Info

Publication number
EP2406952A1
EP2406952A1 EP10719382A EP10719382A EP2406952A1 EP 2406952 A1 EP2406952 A1 EP 2406952A1 EP 10719382 A EP10719382 A EP 10719382A EP 10719382 A EP10719382 A EP 10719382A EP 2406952 A1 EP2406952 A1 EP 2406952A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
video inspection
foregoing
components
casing
inspection according
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP10719382A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Inventor
Ivano Ronconi
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
T&a Sa - Tecnologie E Ambiente
Original Assignee
T&a Sa - Tecnologie E Ambiente
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by T&a Sa - Tecnologie E Ambiente filed Critical T&a Sa - Tecnologie E Ambiente
Publication of EP2406952A1 publication Critical patent/EP2406952A1/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N7/00—Television systems
    • H04N7/18—Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast
    • H04N7/183—Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast for receiving images from a single remote source
    • H04N7/185—Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast for receiving images from a single remote source from a mobile camera, e.g. for remote control
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B23/00—Telescopes, e.g. binoculars; Periscopes; Instruments for viewing the inside of hollow bodies; Viewfinders; Optical aiming or sighting devices
    • G02B23/24—Instruments or systems for viewing the inside of hollow bodies, e.g. fibrescopes
    • G02B23/2476—Non-optical details, e.g. housings, mountings, supports
    • G02B23/2484—Arrangements in relation to a camera or imaging device
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B23/00—Telescopes, e.g. binoculars; Periscopes; Instruments for viewing the inside of hollow bodies; Viewfinders; Optical aiming or sighting devices
    • G02B23/24—Instruments or systems for viewing the inside of hollow bodies, e.g. fibrescopes
    • G02B23/2476—Non-optical details, e.g. housings, mountings, supports
    • G02B23/2492—Arrangements for use in a hostile environment, e.g. a very hot, cold or radioactive environment
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N23/00—Cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors; Control thereof
    • H04N23/50—Constructional details
    • H04N23/51—Housings
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N23/00—Cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors; Control thereof
    • H04N23/50—Constructional details
    • H04N23/555—Constructional details for picking-up images in sites, inaccessible due to their dimensions or hazardous conditions, e.g. endoscopes or borescopes
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N23/00—Cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors; Control thereof
    • H04N23/56—Cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors; Control thereof provided with illuminating means

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a device of compact dimensions designed for the video inspection of enclosed environments where potentially explosive fumes are present, such as a containers for holding hydrocarbons, but also and mainly in closed environments, tunnels or similar places where the formation of potentially explosive gases can be foreseen.
  • the video inspection device provides a device in conformity with current standards for the internal video inspection of environments classified as Zone 0, such as containers or environments for holding hydrocarbons, and where the device is of compact dimensions and also provides a device able to provide good quality images of the zone to be inspected.
  • the invention consists substantially in the use of a metallic support housing at least one imaging device, such as a video camera or similar, and at least one lighting device .
  • the support has a two-fold function, firstly to house electrical and electronic components so as to prevent the escape of very hazardous sparks or electrical discharges and, secondly, to disperse the heat produced by the electrical and electronic components inside. These components are in turn housed inside a protective steel box which is then filled with a transparent resin to encapsulate the system components.
  • the present invention relates principally to the sector for inspection and monitoring devices for tanks in general and in particular for tanks classified as hazardous because they contain hydrocarbons or inflammable or explosive liquids or similar.
  • the plant e.g. pump rooms, etc.
  • the plant for transferring these products, or otherwise designed for stocking dangerous and polluting substances, need to be kept under constant control to view and monitor all parameters linked to safety.
  • the monitoring of such environments producing explosive fumes can only be performed with standard video cameras and emitted light sources.
  • This equipment is however not in the least suited to this function in that it can cause fire.
  • the problem presented by these solutions principally concerns the fact that the equipment used to monitor the environments described above is electrical and therefore a source of sparks whose negative effects in these environments are well known.
  • FIG. 2 shows a diagram of the casing according to the present invention seen from the front
  • the metallic support 10 has a substantially parallelepiped, box shape, but could have any other shape, such as a cylinder, suited to the same purpose, and comprises a cover 11 closed with screws 12.
  • the system components comprise at least one, but preferably two digital cameras 15, with various lenses, which can transmit a "clean" digital signal with a good resolution to a PC located in a safe position, and also comprise at least one but preferably several, for example four, lights 16, characterised by good luminosity combined with limited heat dispersion.
  • All the optical components 15 and light components 16, are mounted in the metallic support 10 thereby enabling the further dispersion of the heat produced.
  • the front part of the components are fitted with optical units which face the opening of the cover 11 and remain protected by the raised protective edge 13 of the cover.
  • the electrical connections are provided by a cable 19 which carries the video signal and the power supply for the cameras and the LED lights and which is protected against damage by a steel sheath and where the cable entry point 20 where the cable enters the box is sealed by cable clamping means suitable for this purpose.
  • the base of the box body 10 also comprises a flange
  • the device described achieves all the aims and functions described in the introduction and in particular provides a metallic support which enables, in conformity with current standards, the video inspection of environments classed as Zone 0, that is environments where there is a high risk of the explosion of fumes from hydrocarbons or similar, and which is of compact dimensions and can provide good quality images of the zone to be inspected.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Multimedia (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Astronomy & Astrophysics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Optics & Photonics (AREA)
  • Investigating Materials By The Use Of Optical Means Adapted For Particular Applications (AREA)

Abstract

A device designed for the video inspection of enclosed environments which typically contain explosive fumes and which typically comprise containers for holding hydrocarbons, but also closed environments of various types such as tunnels or similar where the formation of potentially explosive gases is foreseeable and where the device comprises a metallic casing (10) made from a sealed material suitable for preventing any form of emission towards Zone 0 class environments, charged with explosive fumes or of sparks or electrical charges of any type produced by the components inside the casing, and where the container is designed to hold digital video cameras (15) and suitable lights (16), and where the video cameras (15), the lights (16) and the associated electronic circuits are embedded in a resin filling (14) or similar which encapsulates the system components inside the metallic casing (10), thereby making it completely impossible for sparks or electrical charges of any type to be emitted from the casing.

Description

"VIDEO INSPECTION DEVICE FOR AREAS WITH POTENTIALLY
EXPLOSIVE ATMOSPHERES"
* * * * *
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a device of compact dimensions designed for the video inspection of enclosed environments where potentially explosive fumes are present, such as a containers for holding hydrocarbons, but also and mainly in closed environments, tunnels or similar places where the formation of potentially explosive gases can be foreseen.
In particular the video inspection device according to the present invention provides a device in conformity with current standards for the internal video inspection of environments classified as Zone 0, such as containers or environments for holding hydrocarbons, and where the device is of compact dimensions and also provides a device able to provide good quality images of the zone to be inspected.
The invention consists substantially in the use of a metallic support housing at least one imaging device, such as a video camera or similar, and at least one lighting device . The support has a two-fold function, firstly to house electrical and electronic components so as to prevent the escape of very hazardous sparks or electrical discharges and, secondly, to disperse the heat produced by the electrical and electronic components inside. These components are in turn housed inside a protective steel box which is then filled with a transparent resin to encapsulate the system components.
The present invention relates principally to the sector for inspection and monitoring devices for tanks in general and in particular for tanks classified as hazardous because they contain hydrocarbons or inflammable or explosive liquids or similar.
BACKGROUND ART
In the sector for hydrocarbons and for inflammable liquids which produce explosive fumes, sector specialists are well aware of the need to constantly control and monitor environments in order to verify a variety of parameters and any critical situations which may arise.
For example, in all the sectors where there are confined spaces of various types designed for containing inflammable fluids, hydrocarbons, oils, fuel oils, fuels and lubricants in general, the plant (e.g. pump rooms, etc.) for transferring these products, or otherwise designed for stocking dangerous and polluting substances, need to be kept under constant control to view and monitor all parameters linked to safety. At the present time the monitoring of such environments producing explosive fumes can only be performed with standard video cameras and emitted light sources. This equipment is however not in the least suited to this function in that it can cause fire. In effect, the problem presented by these solutions principally concerns the fact that the equipment used to monitor the environments described above is electrical and therefore a source of sparks whose negative effects in these environments are well known. In practice this equipment consists of electrical devices which are positioned close to the container or its manhole or which is in any case supplied by cables which pass close to the tank or manhole or even inside the tank thus creating a serious hazard given that the tanks are generally filled with highly flammable substances or fumes .
The current technology most widely used for these applications substantially consists of standard video cameras housed inside special commercially available explosion-proof casings.
This however has the effect of declassing the equipment from Zone 0 to Zone 1 so that it is only suitable for use in the less hazardous Zone 1 class environments. This equipment is also bulky in size and has reduced versatility and therefore has all the negative consequences which follow from these characteristics.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a video inspection device, in conformity with current standards, which can be used in Zone 0 class environments, has compact dimensions and is able to provide good quality images of the zone to be inspected and which, above all is able to prevent the emission of all electrical charges and thereby overcome the drawbacks described above.
This is achieved by a compact device designed for video inspection in enclosed environments where explosive fumes are present, which has the characteristics described in the main claim.
The device substantially comprises a sealed metallic casing containing digital video cameras and suitable light units . The video cameras, the lights and the associated electronic circuits are embedded in a resin filling or similar which encapsulates the system components inside the metallic casing making it completely impossible for sparks or electrical charges of any type to be emitted and also prevents the formation of hot spots.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the description of an example embodiment which follows with reference to the annexed drawings, given purely by way of a non-limiting example, in which: - Figure 1 shows a diagram of the casing according to the present invention seen from below;
- Figure 2 shows a diagram of the casing according to the present invention seen from the front;
- Figure 3 shows a side, vertical cross-section of the casing according to the present invention;
- Figures 4 and 5 show axonometric views of the casing according to the present inventions.
DESCRIPTION OF ONE EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION With reference to the annexed drawings, the numeral 10 indicates in its entirety a metallic support according to the present invention which enables, in conformity with the current standard, the video inspection of environments classified as Zone 0 and which is of compact dimensions and can provide good quality images of the zone to be inspected.
The metallic support 10 can house the optical and electrical components for monitoring and video inspection and is designed to prevent the emission into an environment filled with explosive fumes or sparks or electrical charges of any type produced by the components inside the support.
The metallic support 10 has a substantially parallelepiped, box shape, but could have any other shape, such as a cylinder, suited to the same purpose, and comprises a cover 11 closed with screws 12.
The cover 11 has a front opening framed by a raised edge 13 which functions as a protection for the delicate front optical units of the equipment inside as described in more detail below.
The inside of the box body houses the system components which are completely immersed in a resin filling 14 which entirely fills the inside of the box body and the spaces between the components.
The system components comprise at least one, but preferably two digital cameras 15, with various lenses, which can transmit a "clean" digital signal with a good resolution to a PC located in a safe position, and also comprise at least one but preferably several, for example four, lights 16, characterised by good luminosity combined with limited heat dispersion.
All the optical components 15 and light components 16, are mounted in the metallic support 10 thereby enabling the further dispersion of the heat produced. In particular the front part of the components are fitted with optical units which face the opening of the cover 11 and remain protected by the raised protective edge 13 of the cover.
These components are, as already described, housed in the protective steel box 10 which is filled with a transparent resin which encapsulates the system components . Each of the components is connected by wires 17 to an electronic card 18, also embedded in resin, which in turn has a connecting cable 19 leading to the outside.
The electrical connections are provided by a cable 19 which carries the video signal and the power supply for the cameras and the LED lights and which is protected against damage by a steel sheath and where the cable entry point 20 where the cable enters the box is sealed by cable clamping means suitable for this purpose.
The cameras and the LED lights are electrically powered from a control panel located in a safe, remote position outside the hazard zone.
The control panel also has a USB connector for connecting the camera to a portable PC, and a series of protection fuses.
The base of the box body 10 also comprises a flange
21 or another fastening or fixing element for an external bracket 22 whose shape can be adapted for fixing the optical device described to a surface provided for this purpose in the environment to be monitored.
It should be noted that the device described achieves all the aims and functions described in the introduction and in particular provides a metallic support which enables, in conformity with current standards, the video inspection of environments classed as Zone 0, that is environments where there is a high risk of the explosion of fumes from hydrocarbons or similar, and which is of compact dimensions and can provide good quality images of the zone to be inspected.
The device described ensures in particular that electrical emissions, charges and sparks produced by the electrical and electronic components housed inside the casing remain inside the casing and in particular inside the resin in which the components are embedded thereby completely preventing such emissions from reaching the outside .
The invention as described above refers to a preferred embodiment. Naturally, while the principle of the invention remains the same, the details of construction and the embodiments may widely vary with respect to what has been described and illustrated purely by way of the example, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A device designed for the video inspection of enclosed environments which typically contain explosive fumes and which typically comprise containers for holding hydrocarbons, but also closed environments of various types such as tunnels or similar where the formation of potentially explosive gases is foreseeable and where the device is characterised in that it comprises a metallic casing (10) made from a sealed material suitable for preventing any form of emission towards Zone 0 class environments charged with explosive fumes or of sparks or electrical charges of any type produced by the components inside the casing and where the container is designed to hold digital video cameras (15) and suitable lights (16) and characterised in that the video cameras (15), the lights (16) and the associated electronic circuits are embedded in a resin filling (14) or similar which encapsulates the system components inside the metallic casing (10) thereby making it completely impossible for sparks or electrical charges of any type to be emitted from the casing.
2. The device for video inspection according to the foregoing claim, characterised in that the metallic support (10) has a substantially parallelepiped box shape but could have any other shape suited to the same purpose, and comprising a cover (11), closed with screws
(12), where the cover (11) has a front opening framed by a raised protective edge (13) protecting the front of the equipment contained in the casing.
3. The device for video inspection according to one of the foregoing claims, characterised in that the inside of the box body houses the system components which are completely embedded in a resin filling (14) which completely occupies the inside of the box body and the spaces between the components.
4. The device for video inspection according to one of the foregoing claims, characterised in that the components comprise at least one but preferably two digital cameras (15), with various lenses, which can transmit a "clean" digital signal with a good resolution to a PC and at least one, but preferably multiple lights (16) which provide good illumination combined with limited heat dispersion.
5. The device for video inspection according to one of the foregoing claims, characterised in that all the optical components (15) and light components (16) are mounted in the metallic support (10) designed to enable the further dispersion of the heat produced.
6. The device for video inspection according to one of the foregoing claims, characterised in that front parts of the optical components (15) and light components (16) are fitted with optical units which face the opening of the cover (11) and remain protected by the raised protective edge (13) of the cover.
7. The device for video inspection according to one of the foregoing claims, characterised in that each of the components (15, 16) is connected by wires (17) to an electronic card (18), also embedded in resin, which in turn has a connecting cable (19) leading to the outside.
8. The device for video inspection according to one of the foregoing claims, characterised in that electrical connections are provided by a cable (19) which carries the video signal and the power supply for the cameras and the LED lights and which is protected against damage by a steel sheath and where the cable entry point (20) into the box is sealed by means of a cable clamp.
9. The device for video inspection according to one of the foregoing claims, characterised in that the cameras and the LED lights are electrically powered from a control panel located in a safe, remote position outside the hazard zone and also characterised in that control panel has a USB connector for connecting the camera to a portable PC, and a series of protection fuses or similar.
10. The device for video inspection according to one of the foregoing claims, characterised in that the base of the box body (10) also comprises a flange (21) or another fastening or fixing element for an external bracket (22) whose shape can be adapted for fixing the optical device described to a surface provided for this purpose in the environment to be monitored.
EP10719382A 2009-03-12 2010-03-03 Video inspection device for areas with potentially explosive atmospheres Withdrawn EP2406952A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
SM200900016A SM200900016B (en) 2009-03-12 2009-03-12 Device for video inspection in areas with the possible presence of an explosive atmosphere
PCT/IB2010/050902 WO2010103426A1 (en) 2009-03-12 2010-03-03 Video inspection device for areas with potentially explosive atmospheres

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP2406952A1 true EP2406952A1 (en) 2012-01-18

Family

ID=42224170

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP10719382A Withdrawn EP2406952A1 (en) 2009-03-12 2010-03-03 Video inspection device for areas with potentially explosive atmospheres

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP2406952A1 (en)
SM (1) SM200900016B (en)
WO (1) WO2010103426A1 (en)

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP5977518B2 (en) * 2011-12-28 2016-08-24 オリンパス株式会社 Control circuit device and endoscope device
CH714454A2 (en) * 2017-12-15 2019-06-28 T Meili Reto Device for monitoring processes inside explosion-proof reaction vessels.
CA3077301C (en) 2017-12-15 2021-09-14 Tankbots, Inc. Methods for performing tasks in a tank containing hazardous substances
BR112021007852A2 (en) * 2019-02-20 2021-11-23 Tankbots Inc Method of performing a selected task in a tank at least partially filled with an energetic substance

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5089895A (en) * 1990-05-07 1992-02-18 Cues, Inc. Encapsulated television camera and method and apparatus for fabricating same
US5903306A (en) * 1995-08-16 1999-05-11 Westinghouse Savannah River Company Constrained space camera assembly
GB2378522B (en) * 2001-08-08 2003-08-13 Pearpoint Ltd Integrated camera and lighting device and a method of manufacture thereof
IL162251A0 (en) * 2004-05-31 2005-11-20 Medigus Ltd A reusable laparoscopic or endoscopic camera head
US8810636B2 (en) * 2006-12-20 2014-08-19 Ge Inspection Technologies, Lp Inspection apparatus method and apparatus comprising selective frame output

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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Title
See references of WO2010103426A1 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
SM200900016B (en) 2011-11-11
SM200900016A (en) 2010-11-12
WO2010103426A1 (en) 2010-09-16

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