GB2342419A - Pipe Inspection Device - Google Patents
Pipe Inspection Device Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2342419A GB2342419A GB9821657A GB9821657A GB2342419A GB 2342419 A GB2342419 A GB 2342419A GB 9821657 A GB9821657 A GB 9821657A GB 9821657 A GB9821657 A GB 9821657A GB 2342419 A GB2342419 A GB 2342419A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- view
- looking
- camera
- sideways
- housing
- 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.)
- Granted
Links
Classifications
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16L—PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16L55/00—Devices or appurtenances for use in, or in connection with, pipes or pipe systems
- F16L55/26—Pigs or moles, i.e. devices movable in a pipe or conduit with or without self-contained propulsion means
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16L—PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16L2101/00—Uses or applications of pigs or moles
- F16L2101/30—Inspecting, measuring or testing
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Investigating Materials By The Use Of Optical Means Adapted For Particular Applications (AREA)
Abstract
A pipe inspection device comprises a housing (5) within which are mounted cameras having respectively a forwarding-looking field of view through a forward window (7) and a sideways-looking camera having a field of view through a sideways-looking window (9). The cameras may be rotatable about a longitudinal axis of the housing whilst maintaining fields of view through the respective windows (7), (9).
Description
Pipe Inspection Device
The present invention relates to a pipe inspection device particularly, although not exclusively, for use with a semi-rigid rod or tractor operated inspection systems.
Hitherto, pipeline inspection devices have generally comprised a chassis on which is mounted a camera having a forward-looking view and a separate light source. In some cases the device may be connected to one end of a semirigid rod which rod is pushed down a pipe to be inspected.
The rod carries electrical power to the device from a supply outside the pipe and at the same time image signals from the camera are carried by the rod to a monitor outside the pipe. A particular disadvantage of such a system is that the rod inevitably twists as it is pushed along the pipe thereby rotating the camera about its longitudinal or the roll axis so that the image displayed on the monitor is similarly rotated. As a result, it is often difficult for a viewer of an image displayed on the monitor to determine the orientation of the image unless a separate visual reference, such as a liquid present in the pipe, is visible.
As a result of the problem inherent in the above described system and in recognition of the fact that the viewer is often more interested in viewing the state of the inner surface of the pipe, rather than looking along the pipe, devices have been developed in which the camera is movable between a forward-looking view for use particularly when travelling along the pipe and a sideways-looking view to more closely inspect the inner surface of the pipe at desired locations. However, such devices also suffer from a number of disadvantages. Firstly, they have tended to be larger in order to accommodate the mechanism necessary to provide both views and thus cannot be used in smaller bore pipes. Secondly, the time taken to translate the camera between the two views places a restriction on the speed at which surveys can be undertaken.
Thus it is an object of the present invention to provide a pipe inspection device which overcomes the abovementioned disadvantages.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a device which is more energy efficient and a still further object to provide a device which is more reliable and less vulnerable to damage.
According to the present invention, a pipe inspection device comprises a housing within which are mounted a pair of cameras having respectively forward-looking and sideways-looking fields of view.
In addition to the cameras, the housing may further include at least one illumination source which is compatible with their wavelength of operation.
Advantageously, the housing is provided with one or more transparent sections providing the above described fields of view. Thus, the sideways-looking field of view might be provided by a circumferentially extending section whilst a separate section provides a forward looking field of view. Alternatively, a single transparent nose section might provide both fields of view. In either case, the sideways-looking field of view may extend around the entire housing by providing means for rotating the camera about its pitch axis. Conveniently, the means may also provide for rotation of the camera providing the forward-looking field of view about its roll axis.
The above described device can be produced as a very compact package particularly as both focus and iris control for each camera may be shared. In addition, the fact that the cameras and their associated controls are completely enclosed within the device eliminates the need for expensive sealed rotating external parts. Furthermore by integrating high-intensity LEDs onto PCBs surrounding the camera lenses this provides sufficient illumination for the cameras without the need for an external source.
In order to aid in understanding the invention a specific embodiment thereof will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a side view of a pipe inspection device according to the invention;
Figure 2 is a cross-sectional side view on the line
II-II of Figure 1; and
Figure 3 is a cross-sectional side view on the line
III-III of Figure 1.
Referring to the Figures, there is shown a pipe inspection device 1 connected to a semi-rigid rod 3. The device 1 has a protective casing 5 in which is provided a pair of transparent windows 7,9 one of which 7 provides a forward-looking field of view for a camera 11 and its associated LED illumination array 13 and the other 9 providing a sideways-looking field of view about the entire circumference of the device 1 for a further camera 15 and its associated LED illumination array 17. The illumination arrays 13,17 are each carried on a PCB 19,21 which encircles the lens of its respective camera 11,15.
The cameras 11,15 are mounted within a rotatable member 23 suspended between bearings 25, 27 towards opposite ends of the casing 5. A single rotation motor 29 mounted within the casing 5 provides for rotation of the member 23 which brings about rotation not only of the forward-looking camera 11 about its roll axis but also rotation of the sideways-looking camera 15 about its pitch axis. Thus the motor 29 can compensate for rotation in the forward-looking view and also provide a sideways-looking view around the entire circumference of the casing 5. If required, an output signal from a sensor (not shown) can steady the image shown on a monitor (not shown) by driving the rotation motor 29 in response to changes in the attitude of the device 1. The member 23 further carries separate iris and focus control motors 30,31 each of which is linked to both cameras via gearing 33 in the case of the focus control and a system of cables and pulleys 35 for iris or depth of field control. The operation of the rotation, iris and focus motors 29,30,31 is all under software control such that their various settings or an"image state"are memorised on leaving a view such that the monitor display will revert to the previously stored"image state" associated with a view when returning to that view.
Furthermore, the selection of a particular view activates solely that camera and its associated illumination array thereby saving power.
In use, the device is introduced to a pipe (not shown) and moved along the length of the pipe by manipulating a semi-rigid rod which carries both power and control signals to the device and image signals from the cameras to the monitor. An operator controls the view obtained from the device with a keypad and joystick which provide the control signals to the device.
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that although the above describes an embodiment of the device suited for use with a semi-rigid rod system, the device of the invention is equally suited to being mounted on a tractor-type inspection apparatus which trails a cable rather than a semi-rigid rod.
Claims (10)
- CLAIMS 1. A pipe inspection device comprising a housing within which are mounted a pair of cameras having respectively forward-looking and sideways-looking fields of view.
- 2. A device according to Claim 1 wherein the housing further includes at least one illumination source which is compatible with the wavelength of operation of the cameras.
- 3. A device according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the housing comprises one or more transparent sections corresponding to the fields of view of said cameras.
- 4. A device according to Claim 3 wherein the housing comprises a circumferentially extending transparent section corresponding to the field of view of the sideways-looking camera.
- 5. A device according to Claim 4 wherein a single transparent nose section of the housing provides fields of view for both cameras.
- 6. A device according to Claim 4 or 5 wherein the circumferentially extending section extends around the entire circumference of the housing, and means is provided for rotating the sideways-looking camera about its pitch axis.
- 7. A device according to Claim 6, wherein the means for rotating the sideways-rotating camera also provides for rotation of the camera providing the forwarding-looking field of view about its roll axis.
- 8. A device according to Claim 6 or 7 wherein a sensor responsive to changes in attitude of the device is arranged to drive the rotation means.
- 9. A device according to Claim 2 or any one of Claims 3 to 8 as appended thereto, wherein the said illumination source or sources each comprise an array of high intensity light emitting diodes integrated onto a printed circuit board surrounding a camera lens.
- 10. A pipe inspection device substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB9821657A GB2342419B (en) | 1998-10-05 | 1998-10-05 | Pipe inspection device |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB9821657A GB2342419B (en) | 1998-10-05 | 1998-10-05 | Pipe inspection device |
Publications (3)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
GB9821657D0 GB9821657D0 (en) | 1998-11-25 |
GB2342419A true GB2342419A (en) | 2000-04-12 |
GB2342419B GB2342419B (en) | 2002-09-18 |
Family
ID=10840003
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
GB9821657A Expired - Lifetime GB2342419B (en) | 1998-10-05 | 1998-10-05 | Pipe inspection device |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
GB (1) | GB2342419B (en) |
Cited By (12)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2004113861A1 (en) * | 2003-06-25 | 2004-12-29 | RICO Gesellschaft für Mikroelektronik mbH | Dolly |
GB2399971B (en) * | 2003-01-22 | 2006-07-12 | Proneta Ltd | Imaging sensor optical system |
US7460980B2 (en) | 2004-06-23 | 2008-12-02 | Rico Gesellschaft Fur Mikroelektronik | Method for the control of a pipe inspection system and for the evaluation of the inspection data |
US8587648B2 (en) | 2004-06-01 | 2013-11-19 | SeeScan, Inc. | Self-leveling camera head |
WO2014200398A1 (en) | 2013-06-12 | 2014-12-18 | Vretmaskin El & Mekanik Ab | Pipe inspection device |
US9448376B2 (en) | 2012-05-01 | 2016-09-20 | SeeScan, Inc. | High bandwidth push cables for video pipe inspection systems |
US9927368B1 (en) | 2011-01-26 | 2018-03-27 | SeeScan, Inc. | Self-leveling inspection systems and methods |
EP3346175A1 (en) * | 2017-01-06 | 2018-07-11 | Per Aarsleff A/S | Assembly for relining a junction between a branch pipeline and a main pipeline, and for relining a part of or the whole branch pipeline |
WO2018127583A1 (en) * | 2017-01-06 | 2018-07-12 | Per Aarsleff A/S | Assembly for relining a junction between a branch pipeline and a main pipeline, and for relining a part of or the whole branch pipeline |
US20190104252A1 (en) * | 2017-09-29 | 2019-04-04 | Redzone Robotics, Inc. | Multiple camera imager for inspection of large diameter pipes, chambers or tunnels |
EA038065B1 (en) * | 2017-12-01 | 2021-06-30 | Пер Орслефф А/С | Assembly for relining a junction between a branch pipeline and a main pipeline, and for relining a part of or the whole branch pipeline |
US11391406B2 (en) | 2019-11-11 | 2022-07-19 | The Charles Machine Works, Inc. | System and method for repairing an underground pipeline |
Families Citing this family (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
CN114658957A (en) * | 2022-02-28 | 2022-06-24 | 国能朔黄铁路发展有限责任公司 | Pipeline detection device |
Citations (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB2064059A (en) * | 1979-11-20 | 1981-06-10 | Nuttall Ltd Edmund | Remote inspection equipment |
GB2177278A (en) * | 1985-07-05 | 1987-01-14 | Hunger Ibak H Gmbh & Co Kg | Variable sight line television camera |
JPS6454234A (en) * | 1987-08-25 | 1989-03-01 | Nippon Kokan Kk | Tv pig for inspection of pipe body |
GB2263115A (en) * | 1992-01-13 | 1993-07-14 | G C Dental Ind Corp | Composition for dental restorative material |
EP0623814A2 (en) * | 1993-05-05 | 1994-11-09 | RICO GESELLSCHAFT FüR MIKROELEKTRONIK mbH | Procedure for operating a movable pipe inspecting device |
EP0654631A1 (en) * | 1993-11-18 | 1995-05-24 | Conseil General Du Val De Marne | Device for inspecting the physical state of pipelines which are accessible by humans |
-
1998
- 1998-10-05 GB GB9821657A patent/GB2342419B/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Patent Citations (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB2064059A (en) * | 1979-11-20 | 1981-06-10 | Nuttall Ltd Edmund | Remote inspection equipment |
GB2177278A (en) * | 1985-07-05 | 1987-01-14 | Hunger Ibak H Gmbh & Co Kg | Variable sight line television camera |
JPS6454234A (en) * | 1987-08-25 | 1989-03-01 | Nippon Kokan Kk | Tv pig for inspection of pipe body |
GB2263115A (en) * | 1992-01-13 | 1993-07-14 | G C Dental Ind Corp | Composition for dental restorative material |
EP0623814A2 (en) * | 1993-05-05 | 1994-11-09 | RICO GESELLSCHAFT FüR MIKROELEKTRONIK mbH | Procedure for operating a movable pipe inspecting device |
EP0654631A1 (en) * | 1993-11-18 | 1995-05-24 | Conseil General Du Val De Marne | Device for inspecting the physical state of pipelines which are accessible by humans |
Non-Patent Citations (1)
Title |
---|
WPI Accession no. 89-109418 & JP 01 054 234 A * |
Cited By (28)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB2399971B (en) * | 2003-01-22 | 2006-07-12 | Proneta Ltd | Imaging sensor optical system |
US8018486B2 (en) * | 2003-06-25 | 2011-09-13 | Rico Gesellschaft fur Mikoroelektronik mbH | Camera carriage |
WO2004113861A1 (en) * | 2003-06-25 | 2004-12-29 | RICO Gesellschaft für Mikroelektronik mbH | Dolly |
US8587648B2 (en) | 2004-06-01 | 2013-11-19 | SeeScan, Inc. | Self-leveling camera head |
US10009519B2 (en) | 2004-06-01 | 2018-06-26 | SeeScan, Inc. | Self-leveling camera heads |
US9277105B2 (en) | 2004-06-01 | 2016-03-01 | SeeScan, Inc. | Self-leveling camera heads |
US10715703B1 (en) | 2004-06-01 | 2020-07-14 | SeeScan, Inc. | Self-leveling camera heads |
US7460980B2 (en) | 2004-06-23 | 2008-12-02 | Rico Gesellschaft Fur Mikroelektronik | Method for the control of a pipe inspection system and for the evaluation of the inspection data |
US10613034B2 (en) | 2011-01-26 | 2020-04-07 | SeeScan, Inc. | Self-leveling inspection systems and methods |
US11674906B1 (en) | 2011-01-26 | 2023-06-13 | SeeScan, Inc. | Self-leveling inspection systems and methods |
US9927368B1 (en) | 2011-01-26 | 2018-03-27 | SeeScan, Inc. | Self-leveling inspection systems and methods |
US10855950B1 (en) | 2012-05-01 | 2020-12-01 | SeeScan, Inc. | High bandwidth video push-cables for pipe inspection systems |
US10356360B2 (en) | 2012-05-01 | 2019-07-16 | SeeScan, Inc. | High bandwidth video push-cables for pipe inspection systems |
US9448376B2 (en) | 2012-05-01 | 2016-09-20 | SeeScan, Inc. | High bandwidth push cables for video pipe inspection systems |
CN105358892A (en) * | 2013-06-12 | 2016-02-24 | 建筑机械公司 | Pipe inspection device |
US10697901B2 (en) | 2013-06-12 | 2020-06-30 | Vretmaskin El & Mekanik Ab | Pipe inspection device |
WO2014200398A1 (en) | 2013-06-12 | 2014-12-18 | Vretmaskin El & Mekanik Ab | Pipe inspection device |
KR20160018732A (en) * | 2013-06-12 | 2016-02-17 | 프레트마스킨 이엘 운트 메카닉 에이비 | Pipe inspection device |
AU2013392147B2 (en) * | 2013-06-12 | 2018-02-01 | Vretmaskin El & Mekanik Ab | Pipe inspection device |
KR102017323B1 (en) * | 2013-06-12 | 2019-09-02 | 프레트마스킨 이엘 운트 메카닉 에이비 | Pipe inspection device |
CN105358892B (en) * | 2013-06-12 | 2017-04-26 | 建筑机械公司 | Pipe inspection device |
EP3008372A4 (en) * | 2013-06-12 | 2017-03-08 | Vretmaskin El & Mekanik AB | Pipe inspection device |
EP3346175A1 (en) * | 2017-01-06 | 2018-07-11 | Per Aarsleff A/S | Assembly for relining a junction between a branch pipeline and a main pipeline, and for relining a part of or the whole branch pipeline |
WO2018127583A1 (en) * | 2017-01-06 | 2018-07-12 | Per Aarsleff A/S | Assembly for relining a junction between a branch pipeline and a main pipeline, and for relining a part of or the whole branch pipeline |
US20190104252A1 (en) * | 2017-09-29 | 2019-04-04 | Redzone Robotics, Inc. | Multiple camera imager for inspection of large diameter pipes, chambers or tunnels |
US11949989B2 (en) * | 2017-09-29 | 2024-04-02 | Redzone Robotics, Inc. | Multiple camera imager for inspection of large diameter pipes, chambers or tunnels |
EA038065B1 (en) * | 2017-12-01 | 2021-06-30 | Пер Орслефф А/С | Assembly for relining a junction between a branch pipeline and a main pipeline, and for relining a part of or the whole branch pipeline |
US11391406B2 (en) | 2019-11-11 | 2022-07-19 | The Charles Machine Works, Inc. | System and method for repairing an underground pipeline |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
GB2342419B (en) | 2002-09-18 |
GB9821657D0 (en) | 1998-11-25 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
732E | Amendments to the register in respect of changes of name or changes affecting rights (sect. 32/1977) | ||
PE20 | Patent expired after termination of 20 years |
Expiry date: 20181004 |