EP3252242B1 - Hose guide for a channel inspection and maintenance system - Google Patents

Description

Field of the invention

The invention relates to a hose guide for a sewer inspection and / or maintenance system for deflecting leading to an inspection and / or maintenance device hose from a shaft into a channel, wherein between an arranged outside the shaft control device and located in the channel inspection and / or maintenance device a wireless communication link can be established.

Background of the invention

Inspection and / or maintenance systems for inspection and / or maintenance of pipes or channels are known in the art. In maintenance and cleaning systems, a high-pressure hose is transported via a shaft (inspection shaft) into a channel branching from the shaft. The hose can for example be pulled by a trolley in the channel. At the front end of the hose, a rinsing nozzle may be arranged.

To check the cleaning success, it is known to arrange on the carriage an image pickup device, such as a video camera. The image data is then transmitted to an outside of the shaft control device, wherein the transmission can be done wirelessly.

At the point where the channel branches off from the shaft, deflection rollers may be arranged, for example, in order to avoid damaging the hose during deflection. For deflecting the radio signal for wireless data transmission, it is known to arrange a deflecting mirror on the bottom of the shaft.

However, the solutions known from the prior art have the disadvantage that both the pulleys and the deflection mirror are designed as separate units and must be introduced separately from each other in the shaft. During operation, care must be taken that, on the one hand, the deflecting mirror is not covered by the hose and / or by the deflection rollers. On the other hand, it must be ensured that the hose, the deflection rollers or other foreign objects located in the channel do not damage the deflection mirror. In addition, it must be ensured that the deflection mirror is correctly aligned. It may therefore happen that the wireless communication link between the carriage and the control device is interrupted frequently, so that a complete monitoring of cleaning success during the cleaning process is not guaranteed.

From the EP 1 927 702 A1 a hose guide is known for deflecting a hose leading to an inspection and / or maintenance device from a shaft into a channel, the hose guide having a guide device. The guide device has a predetermined radius of curvature such that a front portion of the guide device projects into the channel and a rear portion into the shaft, wherein the guide device deflects the hose from the shaft into the channel. Further, a camera is provided, wherein images from the camera are transmitted via a cable from the channel to a data acquisition and / or display system.

From the DE 10 2013 100 960 A1 and from the DE 10 2014 106 251 A1 are each an inspection and / or maintenance system is known in which data is transmitted via a cable or wirelessly from the channel to a control device arranged outside the channel. At the shaft, the cable is deflected. In the wireless variants, a repeater is provided in the region of the shaft floor, with which the signal is deflected.

Object of the invention

Object of the present invention is therefore to provide solutions that allow not only the redirecting a hose from a slot in a channel and a largely uninterrupted wireless data transmission between an arranged in the channel inspection and / or maintenance device and an outside of the shaft control device.

Inventive solution

According to the invention this object is achieved with an inspection and / or maintenance system according to the independent claim. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

• eine in einem Kanal verfahrbare oder verschiebbare Inspektions- und/oder Wartungseinrichtung,
• eine außerhalb eines Schachtes, der in den Kanal mündet, anordenbare Kontrolleinrichtung, und
• eine Schlauchführung zum Umlenken eines zu der Inspektions- und/oder Wartungseinrichtung führenden Schlauches aus dem Schacht in den Kanal,

wobei

• die Schlauchführung eine Führungseinrichtung aufweist,
• die Führungseinrichtung einen vorbestimmten Krümmungsradius aufweist, derart, dass
• ein vorderer Abschnitt der Führungseinrichtung in den Kanal hineinragt, und
• ein hinterer Abschnitt der Führungseinrichtung in den Schacht ragt,

wobei mit der Führungseinrichtung der Schlauch von dem Schacht in den Kanal umgelenkt wird,
und wobei

• die Schlauchführung eine Sende-/Empfangseinrichtung aufweist
• die Sende-/Empfangseinrichtung angepasst ist, eine drahtlose Kommunikationsverbindung zwischen der im Kanal angeordneten Inspektions- und/oder Wartungseinrichtung und der außerhalb des Schachtes angeordneten Kontrolleinrichtung einzurichten,
• die Sende-/Empfangseinrichtung ein Sende-/Empfangsmodul und eine Antenneneinrichtung aufweist, wobei
  • das Sende-/Empfangsmodul mit der Antenneneinrichtung gekoppelt ist,
  • die Antenneneinrichtung am vorderen Abschnitt der Führungseinrichtung angeordnet ist, und
  • das Sende-/Empfangsmodul am hinteren Abschnitt der Führungseinrichtung angeordnet ist, und
• die Antenneneinrichtung schwenkbar an der Führungseinrichtung angelenkt ist, derart, dass die Antenneneinrichtung unabhängig von einem Neigungswinkel der Führungseinrichtung lotrecht ausgerichtet bleibt.

Accordingly, an inspection and / or maintenance system is provided, comprising

• an inspection and / or maintenance device which can be moved or displaced in a channel,
• an outside of a shaft, which opens into the channel, arrangeable control device, and
• a hose guide for deflecting a tube leading to the inspection and / or maintenance device out of the shaft into the channel,

in which

• the hose guide has a guide device,
• the guide means has a predetermined radius of curvature such that
• a front portion of the guide means projects into the channel, and
• a rear section of the guide device protrudes into the shaft,

wherein with the guide device, the hose is deflected from the shaft into the channel,
and where

• the hose guide has a transmitting / receiving device
• the transmitting / receiving device is adapted to set up a wireless communication link between the inspection and / or maintenance device arranged in the channel and the control device arranged outside the shaft,
• the transmitting / receiving device comprises a transmitting / receiving module and an antenna device, wherein
  • the transmitting / receiving module is coupled to the antenna device,
  • the antenna device is arranged at the front portion of the guide device, and
  • the transmitting / receiving module is arranged at the rear portion of the guide device, and
• the antenna device is pivotably articulated to the guide device, such that the antenna device remains vertically aligned independently of an inclination angle of the guide device.

The signal transmitted by the inspection and / or maintenance device can be received via the antenna device projecting into the channel, or a signal can be sent to the inspection and / or maintenance device. The received signal is forwarded to the transmitting / receiving module projecting into the slot. From the send / receive module can then over the antenna device received signal to be sent through the shaft to the outside to the control device. Conversely, the transmitter / receiver module arranged in the shaft can receive a signal from the control device and send it to the inspection and / or maintenance device via the antenna device projecting in the channel. This ensures a reliable, ie largely uninterrupted, deflection of the radio signals. In addition, it can be ensured in an advantageous manner that the guide device can be tilted during operation, without the antenna device is also inclined. As a result, the antenna of the antenna device always remains largely optimally aligned independently of the angle of inclination of the guide device.

The transmitting / receiving module and the antenna device can be electrically coupled to one another via one or more cables, wherein the cables are guided in a cable guide along the guide device from the front section to the rear section of the guide device. With the cable guide, the cables can be protected against external mechanical influences.

In one embodiment of the invention, the guide device can be designed tubular.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the guide means may comprise a number of spaced-apart circular or oval-shaped rings which are held with at least two rails having the predetermined radius of curvature.

Due to the predetermined radius of curvature, the guide device has approximately a banana-shaped form.

The antenna device may be arranged in a fluid-tight housing. It is advantageous if the front housing side, ie facing the channel interior Housing side, designed stably.

The transmission / reception module can be arranged in a fluid-tight housing.

It is advantageous if the antenna device is arranged on the underside of the guide device. Because the guide device is guided around the edge between the shaft and the channel during operation, it is largely ensured that the antenna device arranged on the underside of the guide device is arranged substantially in the center of the channel. This ensures optimum reception and transmission quality.

In an alternative embodiment, the antenna device may comprise a two-part antenna, wherein in each case a part of the antenna is arranged laterally on the guide device. This is particularly advantageous if the hose guide according to the invention is to be used in a channel with a small diameter.

The transmitting / receiving device can be designed as a repeater.

By means of the inspection and / or maintenance system according to the invention, a compact hose guide is provided which makes it possible to redirect a radio signal from the channel into the shaft or from the shaft into the channel. At the same time, the arrangement of the antenna device according to the invention on the guide device ensures that the antenna device is largely channel-center-aligned during operation, so that wireless data transmission between the inspection and / or maintenance device and the control device is ensured even with a water-carrying channel. On additional facilities with which the radio signal is redirected, can be dispensed with.

Brief description of the figures

Fig. 1

eine erfindungsgemäße Schlauchführung in einer perspektivischen Ansicht;

Fig. 2

eine erfindungsgemäße Schlauchführung in einer Seitenansicht und in einer Ansicht von vorne sowie in einer Seitenansicht, bei der die Führungseinrichtung relativ zur Antenneneinrichtung geneigt ist;

Fig. 3

die in Fig. 1 gezeigte erfindungsgemäße Schlauchführung in einer dreidimensionalen, schattierten Ansicht;

Fig. 4

ein Beispiel eines erfindungsgemäßen Inspektions- und/oder Wartungssystems, anhand dem die Anwendung der erfindungsgemäßen Schlauchführung ersichtlich ist; und

Fig. 5

zwei Beispiele zur Anordnung der Antenneneinrichtung relativ zur Führungseinrichtung.

Further details and features of the invention and specific, particularly advantageous embodiments of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings. It shows:

Fig. 1

a hose guide according to the invention in a perspective view;

Fig. 2

a hose guide according to the invention in a side view and in a view from the front and in a side view, in which the guide device is inclined relative to the antenna device;

Fig. 3

in the Fig. 1 shown hose guide according to the invention in a three-dimensional, shaded view;

Fig. 4

an example of an inspection and / or maintenance system according to the invention, based on which the application of the hose guide according to the invention is apparent; and

Fig. 5

two examples of the arrangement of the antenna device relative to the guide device.

Detailed description of the invention

Fig. 1 shows a hose guide 10 according to the invention in a perspective view.

The hose guide 10 consists of a guide device 20, through which the hose is guided or deflected, and of a transmitting / receiving device 30, which is arranged on the guide device 20. The guide device 20 has a predetermined radius of curvature, so that it has substantially the shape of a torus segment or is designed banana-shaped.

The guide device can be configured as a bent tube through which the tube is passed. Alternatively, as in Fig. 1 shown, the guide means 20 may comprise a plurality of circular or oval-shaped rings, which are spaced from each other and are held by two lateral, a predetermined radius of curvature having rails 22.

In the region of the rear end section H, a fastening device can be provided, on which, for example, a cable can be fastened, with which the guide device 20 or the hose guide 10 can be lowered into a shaft.

On the underside of the guide device 20, the transmitting / receiving device 30 is arranged. The transmitting / receiving device has a transmitting / receiving module 31 and an antenna device 32 remote therefrom. The transmission / reception module 31 is arranged on the rear section H of the guide device 20. The antenna device 32 is arranged in the region of the front end section or at the front end V of the guide device 20. Via one or more cables running in a cable guide 33, the antenna device 32 is electrically coupled to the transceiver module 31. The cable guide 33 is also arranged on the underside of the guide device 20, so that the cables running therein are guided substantially along the underside of the guide device 20. Through the cable guide 33, which is designed stably and is preferably made of metal, the cables are protected from external mechanical influences.

The antenna device 32 comprises at least one antenna 34, wherein the antenna device is preferably arranged in a stable and fluid-tight housing. For clarification is in Fig. 1 the housing partially open. The front side of the housing, ie the side of the housing facing the channel inside, is preferably made of a stable material in order to protect the antenna 34 from external mechanical influences such as rockfall.

The transmission / reception module 31 is likewise arranged in a fluid-tight housing.

The transceiver module 31 and the antenna device 32 may be attached to the cable guide 33 so that the entire transceiver 30 can be removed as a unit from the guide device 20, for example if no radio transmission is necessary, or if the transceiver Receiving device is to be attached to a guide device 20 which has a larger or smaller diameter.

Due to the modular construction of the hose guide 10, the transmitting / receiving device 30 can be combined with different guide devices 20.

Furthermore, at the rear end H of the tube guide 10, a second antenna device (not shown here) may be arranged, which is coupled to the transceiver module 31. At the second antenna device, the signal of the antenna device 32 is coupled out in a damped form. Thus, the transmission quality of the communication link F2 (see Fig. 4 ) be improved.

Fig. 2 shows a hose guide 10 according to the invention, wherein in Figure (a) is a side view and in Figure (b) is a view from the front of the hose guide shown. In Figure (c) is also shown a side view of the hose guide according to the invention, but with a different angle of inclination of the guide device relative to the antenna device.

The radius of curvature of the guide device 20 and the transmitting / receiving device 30 arranged on the underside of the guide device 20 can clearly be seen in Figure (a), wherein the transmitting / receiving module 31 at the rear section H of the guide device 20 and the antenna device 32 at the front section or are arranged at the front end V of the guide device 20.

The distance of the antenna device 32 to the guide device 20 substantially corresponds to the distance of the transmitting / receiving module 31 to the guide device 20, so that the transmitting / receiving module 31 is arranged above the antenna device 32 due to the radius of curvature of the guide device 20. By the horizontal distance of the antenna device 32 to the transmitting / receiving module 31 is ensured in use of the hose guide 10 according to the invention that the antenna device 32 is located in the channel and that the transmitting / receiving module 31 is located in the shaft or directly below the shaft.

It is advantageous if the antenna device 32 is pivoted on the underside of the guide device 20, so that the antenna device 32 is always substantially perpendicular or perpendicular aligned relative to the antenna device 32 regardless of the inclination angle α of the guide device 20, ie the antenna device 32 always substantially is aligned perpendicular to the channel bottom.

In Figure (c) is shown a side view of the hose guide according to the invention, wherein the inclination angle α of the guide device 20 relative to the antenna device 32 is smaller than the inclination angle α shown in Figure (a). Due to the freely pivotable arrangement of the antenna device 32 on the guide device 20, the antenna device 32 still remains largely aligned vertically.

The fact that the antenna device 32 always remains largely vertically aligned independently of the angle of inclination of the guide device 20 ensures that the effective antenna surface does not become smaller or smaller, even if the guide device 20 inclines. As a result, an optimal transmission and reception quality can be ensured even with changing inclination angle of the guide device.

Fig. 3 shows a three-dimensional representation of in Fig. 1 shown hose guide. A protective jacket 25 arranged in the guide device 20, which has a substantially semicircular cross section and extends from the front end V to the rear end H of the guide device 20, can be seen here.

Fig. 4 shows an inventive inspection and / or maintenance system, which consists of an arranged in the channel K inspection and / or maintenance device 60, from an outside of the shaft S arranged control device 50 and a hose guide 10 according to the invention.

The inspection and / or maintenance device 60 is associated with a transmitting / receiving device 61. The control device 50 is also assigned a transmitting / receiving device 51. Between the transmitting / receiving device 51 of the control device 50 and the transmitting / receiving device 61 of the inspection and / or maintenance device 60, a wireless communication link is set up, wherein this wireless communication link consists of a first Communication connection F1, which is established between the hose guide 10 and the inspection and / or maintenance device 60, and from a second communication link F2, which is established between the hose guide 10 and the control device 50 consists.

By means of the transmitter / receiver device 30 arranged on the guide device 20 of the hose guide, the signal received by the inspection and / or maintenance device 60 via the antenna device 32 is forwarded to the control device 50. Conversely, the signal received at the transmitting / receiving module 31 from the control device 50 is transmitted via the antenna device 32 to the inspection and / or maintenance device 60. The transmitting / receiving device 30 acts as a so-called repeater, with which the radio signals from the shaft S in the channel K or from the channel K in the shaft S are deflected. At the same time, by means of the guide device 20, the hose 15, which is coupled to the inspection and / or maintenance device 60, is deflected from the shaft S into the channel K.

As explained above, the curved configuration of the guide device 20 and the transmitting / receiving device 30 arranged thereon ensure that the antenna device 32 is located in the channel K or projects into the channel K. Furthermore, this ensures that the transmitting / receiving module 31 protrudes into the shaft S or is located directly below the shaft opening of the shaft S. For a largely trouble-free wireless communication link between the inspection and / or maintenance device 60 and the control device 50 is ensured. The arrangement of the antenna device 32 at the front end of the guide device 20 also ensures that even with a water-bearing channel, the antenna device 32 is always aligned approximately channel tube center and thereby does not dive into the water, whereby the reception or transmission quality would be impaired.

Fig. 5 shows two alternative embodiments of an antenna device or alternative arrangement possibilities of the antennas of the antenna device to the guide device.

In the embodiment shown in Figure (a), the antenna device 22 is disposed below the guide means.

In the embodiment shown in Figure (b), the antenna device 32 has two antennas or a two-part antenna, wherein the antennas are each arranged laterally on the guide device 20.

In Fig. 5 only two examples of an embodiment of the antenna device or the antennas are shown. Depending on the specific application, the antenna device or the antennas can also be configured differently. For example, the antenna device may comprise two semicircular antennas, one antenna being arranged on the underside of the guide device and the other antenna being arranged on the upper side of the guide device. Furthermore, the antenna device can also have more than two antennas. In one embodiment of the invention, it may also be provided that only some of the antennas are active.

Reference numerals:

10

hose guide

15

tube

20

Guide device (the tube guiding device)

21

circular or oval rings

22

Rails having a predetermined radius of curvature

25

mantle

30

Transmitting / receiving device

31

Transceiver module of the transceiver 30

32

Antenna device of the transceiver 30

33

Cable guide of the transceiver 30

34

antenna

50

control device

51

the control device 50 associated first transmitting / receiving device

60

Inspection and / or maintenance facility

61

the inspection and / or maintenance device 60 associated second transmitting / receiving device

F1

first communication connection

F2

second communication connection

H

Rear end portion of the guide device 20th

K

channel

S

shaft

V

front end of the guide device 20

α

Inclination angle of the guide device 20

Claims (11)

1. Inspection and/or maintenance system comprising

   - an inspection and/or maintenance device (60) which is movable or displaceable in a channel (K),

   - a control device (50) which is arrangeable outside of a shaft (S) which opens into the channel (K),

   - and a hose guide (10) for diverting a hose (15) leading to the inspection and/or maintenance device (60) out of the shaft (S) and into the channel (K),

   - the hose guide (10) comprising a guidance device (20),

   - the guidance device (20) having a predetermined radius of curvature, such that

   - a front portion (V) of the guidance device (20) protrudes into the channel (K),

   - and a rear portion (H) of the guidance device protrudes into the shaft (S),

   the hose (15) being diverted from the shaft (S) into the channel (K) by means of the guidance device (20),
   characterized in that

   - the hose guide (10) comprises a transmitting/receiving device (30)

   - the transmitting/receiving device (30) is adapted so as to establish a wireless communication link (F1, F2) between the inspection and/or maintenance device (60) arranged in the channel (K) and the control device (50) arranged outside of the shaft (S),

   - the transmitting/receiving device (30) comprises a transmitting/receiving module (31) and an antenna device (32),

   - the transmitting/receiving module (31) being coupled to the antenna device (32),

   - the antenna device (32) being arranged on the front portion (V) of the guidance device (20),

   - and the transmitting/receiving module (31) being arranged on the rear portion (H) of the guidance device,

   - and the antenna device (32) is pivotally articulated on the guidance device (20), such that the antenna device (32) remains oriented perpendicularly to the channel bottom irrespective of an inclination angle (α) of the guidance device (20).
2. Inspection and/or maintenance system according to the preceding claim, wherein the transmitting/receiving module (31) and the antenna device (32) are electrically coupled to one another via one or more cables, wherein the cables are guided along the guidance device (20) from the front portion to the rear portion of the guidance device (20) in a cable guide (33).
3. Inspection and/or maintenance system according to either of the preceding claims, wherein the guidance device (20) is tubular.
4. Inspection and/or maintenance system according to either claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the guidance device (20) comprises a number of mutually spaced circular or oval-shaped rings (21) which are held by means of at least two rails (22) having the predetermined radius of curvature.
5. Inspection and/or maintenance system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the antenna device (32) is arranged in a fluid-tight housing.
6. Inspection and/or maintenance system according to the preceding claim, wherein at least the front side of the housing is designed so as to be stable against falling rocks.
7. Inspection and/or maintenance system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the transmitting/receiving module (31) is arranged in a fluid-tight housing.
8. Inspection and/or maintenance system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the antenna device (32) is arranged on the underside of the guidance device (20).
9. Inspection and/or maintenance system according to any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the antenna device (32) comprises a two-part antenna, wherein each part of the antenna is arranged laterally on the guidance device (20).
10. Inspection and/or maintenance system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the transmitting/receiving device (30) is designed as a repeater.
11. Inspection and/or maintenance system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein a first transmitting/receiving device (51) is associated with the control device (50) and a second transmitting/receiving device (61) is associated with the inspection and/or maintenance device (60), wherein the transmitting/receiving device (30) of the hose guide (10) is adapted so as to establish a wireless communication link (F1, F2) between the first transmitting/receiving device (51) and the second transmitting/receiving device (61).

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