JP2011027986A - Endoscope device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an endoscope device which is improved in insertibility into a pipe having a complex path having a plurality of bent parts. <P>SOLUTION: The endoscope device 1 includes: an insertion part 2 having an observation unit at top end; a tube-like insertion auxiliary means 3 in which the insertion part 2 is arranged and which is formed by roughly winding a plane plate; a holding and fixing means 7 which is disposed at the proximal end of the insertion auxiliary means 3, fixes the movement in a longitudinal direction of the insertion auxiliary means 3 with respect to the insertion part 2 and holds the insertion auxiliary means 3 to freely rotate it around a longitudinal axis with respect to the insertion part 2; an operation means 6 which is outside inserted and fixed to the insertion auxiliary means 3, is rotated to compress the insertion auxiliary means 3 and store a spring elastic force, and pushes the insertion auxiliary means in an insertion direction; and a rotation regulating means 21 which is disposed at the top end of the insertion auxiliary means 3 and is locked on a test object 100, to regulate the rotation of the top end of the insertion auxiliary means 3. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an endoscope apparatus including an insertion portion that inspects the inside of a pipe.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an industrial endoscope apparatus is used for inspection of whether or not there is a failure or malfunction by inserting it into an industrial plant or jet engine, for example. Such an industrial endoscope apparatus is also used for inspecting the inside of a pipe having a bent path in which straight pipe lines are joined by a joint.

  As a technique that can improve the insertability in such a bent pipe, for example, Patent Document 1 or Patent Document 2 discloses an in-pipe inspection that is inserted into a pipe while rotating an insertion portion constituted by a flexible pipe. An apparatus is disclosed. In these conventional in-pipe inspection apparatuses, a bent joint is formed by forming two convex portions on the cover member disposed at the distal end and projecting one convex portion toward the distal end side with respect to the other convex portion. It is easy to pass and the insertion property of the insertion part into the piping is improved.

JP 2003-294684 A JP 2003-5094 A

  However, in the in-pipe inspection apparatuses of Patent Literature 1 and Patent Literature 2, if the insertion length is simply rotated as the piping length increases, the rotational force and the pushing force are hardly transmitted to the tip cover member. There is a problem that it becomes difficult to pass through the joint provided in the bent portion, and the insertability of the insertion portion is lowered. Further, as the pipe length becomes longer, a plurality of joints are provided in the pipe path, so it is difficult for the conventional in-pipe inspection apparatus to pass through the joints in the deep part of the pipe line. Further, even in the case of a thin pipe having a small inner diameter, there is a problem that the insertability is similarly lowered.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an endoscope apparatus that has improved insertability into a pipe having a complicated path having a plurality of bent portions. It is to be.

  An endoscope apparatus according to the present invention includes an insertion portion having an observation unit at a distal end portion, a tube-shaped insertion assisting means in which the insertion portion is disposed, and a flat plate is wound loosely so as to have elasticity, A holding and fixing means disposed at a proximal end of the insertion assisting means, for fixing the movement of the insertion assisting means in the longitudinal direction with respect to the insertion portion, and holding the pivoting around the longitudinal axis with respect to the insertion portion; An operation means that is externally fixed to the insertion assisting means, compresses the insertion assisting means by rotating and stores spring elastic force, and pushes the insertion assisting means in the insertion direction; and A rotation restricting means that is disposed at the distal end and is engaged with the subject to restrict the rotation of the distal end portion of the insertion assisting means.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the endoscope apparatus which improved the insertability to piping which has a complicated path | route with a some bending part can be provided.

The perspective view which shows the whole structure which shows the industrial endoscope apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. The perspective view which shows the structure of an insertion auxiliary coil similarly A plan view of the insertion auxiliary coil as seen from the tip side Sectional drawing which shows the structure of the handle | steering-wheel part provided in an insertion auxiliary coil, and a near side fixing | fixed part similarly Sectional drawing which shows the structure of the near side fixing | fixed part of a modification The perspective view which shows the state which is observing the inside of piping by an industrial endoscope apparatus similarly The partial sectional view showing the state before the insertion auxiliary coil passes through the pipe joint The partial sectional view for explaining the state where the insertion auxiliary coil passes through the pipe joint The perspective view which shows the structure of the rotation apparatus which rotates the insertion auxiliary coil which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. The disassembled perspective view which shows the structure of the insertion auxiliary coil which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. The disassembled perspective view which shows the structure which provided the cap at the front-end | tip of the insertion auxiliary coil which concerns on the 4th Embodiment of this invention. The partial sectional view for explaining the state where the insertion auxiliary coil passes through the pipe joint The perspective view which shows the structure of the projection part of the 1st modification provided in the sparsely wound coil front-end | tip of the insertion auxiliary coil which concerns on the 5th Embodiment of this invention. The top view which looked at the insertion auxiliary coil of FIG. 13 from the front end side FIG. 13 is a partial cross-sectional view for explaining a state where the insertion auxiliary coil of FIG. 13 passes through the pipe joint. The perspective view which shows the structure of the projection part of the 2nd modification provided in the sparsely wound coil front-end | tip of an insertion auxiliary coil similarly. The top view which looked at the insertion auxiliary coil of FIG. 16 from the front end side FIG. 16 is a side view of the auxiliary insertion coil shown in FIG. 16 viewed from one side. The perspective view which shows the front-end | tip part of the insertion auxiliary coil which concerns on the 6th Embodiment of this invention FIG. 19 is a perspective view for explaining a state where the insertion auxiliary coil of FIG. 19 passes through the pipe joint. The perspective view which shows the front-end | tip part of the insertion auxiliary coil of a 1st modification same as the above The top view which looked at the insertion auxiliary coil of FIG. 21 from the front end side FIG. 21 is a partial cross-sectional view for explaining a state where the insertion auxiliary coil of FIG. 21 passes through the pipe joint. The perspective view which shows the structure of the insertion auxiliary coil which provided the cap at the front-end | tip of the 2nd modification similarly. FIG. 24 is a partial cross-sectional view for explaining a state of passing through the insertion auxiliary coil pipe joint of FIG. The partial sectional view for explaining the operation at the time of passing the insertion auxiliary coil according to the number of pipe joints The partial sectional view for explaining the operation at the time of passing the insertion auxiliary coil according to the number of pipe joints The perspective view which shows the front-end | tip part of the insertion auxiliary coil which concerns on the 7th Embodiment of this invention FIG. 28 is a plan view of the insertion auxiliary coil shown in FIG. 28 as viewed from the distal end side. The perspective view which shows the front-end | tip part of the insertion auxiliary coil of a modification same as the above The top view which looked at the insertion auxiliary coil of FIG. 30 from the front end side The perspective view which concerns on the 8th Embodiment of this invention and shows the front-end | tip part of the insertion auxiliary coil provided with the pull wire. The partial sectional view showing the state before the insertion auxiliary coil passes through the pipe joint The partial sectional view for explaining the state where the insertion auxiliary coil passes through the pipe joint The partial sectional view showing the state of the insertion auxiliary coil before the operation wire is pulled and operated The partial sectional view showing the insertion auxiliary coil in the state where the operation wire is pulled and operated The perspective view which concerns on 9th Embodiment of this Embodiment and shows the front-end | tip part of the insertion auxiliary coil provided with the guide tube inside The perspective view which shows the front-end | tip part of the insertion auxiliary coil which provided the mechanism in which an insertion auxiliary coil advances / retreats with respect to a guide tube similarly The perspective view which shows the front-end | tip part of the insertion auxiliary coil which provided the mechanism which advances and retracts the insertion auxiliary coil of a modification with respect to a guide tube similarly The perspective view which shows the front-end | tip part of the insertion auxiliary coil provided with the rotating apparatus which concerns on the 10th Embodiment of this invention and rotationally drives a loosely-wound coil. Sectional drawing which shows the structure of the rotation apparatus provided in an insertion auxiliary coil similarly The perspective view which shows the front-end | tip part of the insertion auxiliary coil provided with the extending | stretching member which concerns on 11th Embodiment of this Embodiment and can be extended-operated from a front-end | tip. The partial sectional view for explaining the state where the insertion auxiliary coil passes through the pipe joint The perspective view which shows the insertion auxiliary coil which concerns on 12th Embodiment of this Embodiment and an imaging unit is detachable with respect to a front-end | tip and can change length suitably by a relay member. The perspective view which shows the insertion auxiliary coil by which an imaging unit is arrange | positioned at the front-end | tip similarly The perspective view which shows the insertion auxiliary | assistant coil which concerns on 13th Embodiment of this Embodiment and connected two sparsely wound coils from which an outer diameter differs. The perspective view which shows the connection structure of the two loosely wound coils of FIG.

Hereinafter, a plurality of embodiments of the endoscope apparatus according to the present invention will be described.
(First embodiment)
First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described.
1 to 11 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an overall configuration of an industrial endoscope apparatus, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a configuration of an insertion auxiliary coil. 3 is a view of the insertion assisting coil as viewed from the distal end side, FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the handle portion and the proximal side fixing portion provided on the insertion assisting coil, and FIG. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a state of observing the inside of a pipe by an industrial endoscope apparatus, FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a state before the insertion auxiliary coil passes through the pipe joint, FIG. 8 is a partial cross-sectional view for explaining a state in which the insertion auxiliary coil passes through the pipe joint.

  As shown in FIG. 1, an industrial endoscope apparatus (hereinafter simply referred to as an endoscope apparatus) 1 according to the present embodiment includes a long insertion portion 2, an insertion assisting coil 3, an operation portion 4, and the like. The main body device 5 is mainly configured.

  The insertion part 2 is a tube body having a predetermined flexibility, and is provided with a bending part (not shown) for changing the observation direction and the insertion direction. The proximal end portion of the insertion portion 2 is connected to the operation portion 4. The insertion portion 2 has a tip observation portion (hereinafter simply referred to as a tip portion) 11 at the tip. The distal end portion 11 includes an observation window and an illumination window, and an observation unit (not shown) such as an imaging unit such as a CCD or a CMOS and various optical members are provided. The observation unit is not limited to this, and an image guide fiber or a light guide fiber may be used.

  In the present embodiment, a so-called direct-view type endoscope apparatus 1 in which the observation unit faces the direction along the insertion direction is illustrated. In the following description, the endoscope apparatus 1 of the present embodiment is not limited to the direct-view type, and of course, the so-called direct-view type endoscope in which the observation unit faces the direction substantially orthogonal to the insertion direction. And the so-called perspective endoscope in which the observation unit faces the direction inclined in the insertion direction.

  The insertion assisting coil 3 which is the insertion assisting means of the present embodiment is provided with a substantially cylindrical grip part 6 constituting the operating means on the middle outer peripheral part so that the base end is rotatable with respect to the insertion part 2. It has the hand side fixing | fixed part 7 which is a holding | maintenance fixing means for fixing to.

  The operation unit 4 includes a handle unit 12 that is provided so as to extend rearward and is held by a user. On the upper surface portion of the handle portion 12, a bending operation lever 13a for instructing a bending direction of the bending portion of the insertion portion 2 and various switches 13b for operating an endoscope function are disposed. . The operation unit 4 is electrically connected to the main unit 5 via a universal cord 14 that is a control cable.

  The main unit 5 includes a control box 15 to which the universal cord 14 is connected, and a monitor unit 16 that also serves as a lid that can be opened and closed to the control box 15. In the main body device 5, a light source of white light emitted from the illumination window of the observation unit of the insertion unit 2, a control circuit for performing various controls, and the like are incorporated. The main body device 5 does not have a light source, and illumination means such as an LED may be provided in the observation unit.

The control box 15 has various input units 15a such as a power switch and a keyboard on the top surface in the vertical direction.
The monitor unit 16 has a display screen 16a such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display). The display screen 16a may be a so-called multi-display screen that can display a plurality of images simultaneously.
Note that the insertion portion 2 of the endoscope apparatus 1 is inserted into the pipe 100 to be examined. A pipe attachment member 10 is attached to the inlet opening of the pipe 100.

Next, the insertion auxiliary coil 3 of the present embodiment will be described in detail below.
As shown in FIG. 2, the insertion assisting coil 3 is formed to have flexibility (elasticity) by spirally winding a flat plate member so that the insertion portion 2 of the endoscope apparatus 1 can be inserted. The sparsely wound coil 3a is provided. The insertion assisting coil 3 is set to have an outer diameter dimension that can be inserted into a pipe as a subject and can be inserted into the pipe mounting member 10.

  The distal end of the insertion assisting coil 3 is provided with a protrusion 21 constituting a rotation restricting means formed by bending the distal flat plate member of the loosely wound coil 3a in the outer peripheral direction (outward). As shown in FIG. 3, the protrusion 21 has a predetermined height (length) h from the outer peripheral surface of the auxiliary insertion coil 3. In addition, the predetermined height h of the protrusion 21 is set to a length (height) dimension longer than a wall thickness dimension (length) H of the pipe 100 described later (see FIG. 7).

  As shown in FIG. 4, the grip portion 6 that is externally fixed to the midway portion of the insertion assisting coil 3 has two cylindrical members 31 and 32. The two cylindrical members 31 and 32 are provided with screw grooves 31a and 32a on the inner peripheral portion or the outer peripheral portion so as to be connected to each other by screwing.

  Here, as for the 1st cylindrical member 31 located ahead, the front-end | tip outer peripheral part becomes an outward flange shape. The second cylindrical member 32 located at the rear has an inward flange portion 32b formed on the inner peripheral portion.

  And the grip part 6 has the annular | circular shaped stopper member 33 formed from elastic members, such as rubber | gum, which the amount of protrusions changes inward according to the screwing amount of the two cylindrical members 31 and 32. As shown in FIG. . The stopper member 33 is disposed between a washer 34 disposed so as to contact the rear end surface of the first cylindrical member 31 and the front surface of the inward flange portion 32 b of the second cylindrical member 32. That is, according to the screwing amount (tightening) of the two cylindrical members 31, 32, the distance between the washer 34 and the front surface of the inward flange portion 32b of the second cylindrical member 32 is shortened, and the stopper member 33 is compressed. This increases the amount of inward protrusion.

  Therefore, the stopper member 33 protruding inwardly contacts the loosely wound coil 3a of the auxiliary insertion coil 3 and presses the outer peripheral surface of the loosely wound coil 3a. Thereby, the grip part 6 is fixed to the outer peripheral part of the insertion auxiliary coil 3. Further, the grip portion 6 can easily move to a desired position in the longitudinal direction of the insertion auxiliary coil 3 by releasing the tightening of the two cylindrical members 31 and 32, and tightens the two cylindrical members 31 and 32. Thus, the insertion auxiliary coil 3 can be fixed at a desired position. Thereby, the grip part 6 can be moved and fixed at a desired position along the longitudinal axis of the auxiliary insertion coil 3 (hereinafter also referred to as the insertion axis) by the user.

  Note that the two cylindrical members 31 and 32 of the grip portion 6 have a longitudinal direction on each outer peripheral surface (the outer peripheral surface of the outward flange shape in the first cylindrical member 31) in order to prevent slipping when the user grips it. Are formed (see FIG. 2).

  As shown in FIG. 4, the proximal-side fixing portion 7 disposed at the proximal end of the insertion assisting coil 3 has the insertion portion 2 of the endoscope apparatus 1 loosely inserted therein. The retaining tube 36 is screwed to the proximal end portion of 35, and the two cylindrical members 37, 38 are loosely fitted in the rotary holding tube 35.

  The distal end portion of the rotary holding tube 35 is fitted and fixed to the proximal end portion of the loosely wound coil 3a. The rotation holding tube 35 is coupled to the retaining tube 36 by screwing a thread groove 36 a formed on the outer peripheral portion of the distal end of the retaining tube 36 into a thread groove 35 a formed on the inner peripheral portion of the proximal end.

  The rotary holding tube 35 has a large diameter portion in which a base end portion extends outward and a space portion 35b is formed inside. In the space 35b, two cylindrical members 37 and 38 are arranged so as to be rotatable. These two cylindrical members 37 and 38 are arranged on the insertion portion 2 of the endoscope apparatus 1 by extrapolation.

  These two cylindrical members 37 and 38 have the same structure as that of the grip portion 6, and screw grooves 37a and 38a are formed on the inner peripheral portion or the outer peripheral portion so as to be screwed together. Has been. The overlapping portion of the two cylindrical members 37 and 38 is formed of a washer 34 and an elastic member such as rubber whose amount of protrusion varies inward depending on the amount of screwing of the two cylindrical members 37 and 38. An annular stopper member 39 is provided.

  Again, the stopper member 39 is disposed between the washer 34 disposed so as to contact the rear end surface of the front cylindrical member 37 and the rear cylindrical member 38, and the two cylindrical members 37, 38 are connected to each other. By being compressed according to the amount of screwing (tightening), the amount of protrusion to the inward side increases.

  Therefore, the stopper member 39 protruding inwardly contacts and presses against the outer peripheral surface of the insertion portion 2. Thereby, the two cylindrical members 37 and 38 are fixed to the outer peripheral portion of the insertion portion 2.

  By releasing the tightening of the two cylindrical members 37, 38, the insertion portion 2 can be easily moved to a desired position in the longitudinal direction. By tightening the two cylindrical members 37, 38, the insertion portion 2 can be moved. Can be fixed at a desired position in the longitudinal direction.

The two cylindrical members 37 and 38 connected to each other in a state of being fixed to the insertion portion 2 are space portions of the rotation holding tube 35 in advance when the rotation holding tube 35 extrapolated to the insertion portion 2 and the retaining tube 36 are connected. It is inserted into 35b. The two cylindrical members 37 and 38 are arranged in a closed space portion 35b with the rotary holding tube 35 and the retaining tube 36 connected to each other. These two cylindrical members 37 and 38 regulate the movement of the connected rotary holding tube 35 and the retaining tube 36 in the longitudinal direction of the insertion portion 2 with respect to the insertion portion 2, and The retaining tube 36 is configured to be rotatably held with respect to the insertion portion 2.
As a result, the insertion auxiliary coil 3 is fixed by the proximal side fixing portion 7 so as not to move in the longitudinal direction of the insertion portion 2, and only the loosely wound coil 3 a and the grip portion 6 are around the longitudinal axis of the insertion portion 2 (insertion). It can be freely rotated around the axis.

In addition, the near side fixing | fixed part 7 is good also as a structure shown in FIG. 5, for example, without being limited to the structure demonstrated based on FIG.
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, the proximal side fixing portion 7 includes a base end portion of the loosely wound coil 3 a and two cylindrical members 37 and 38 fixed to the insertion portion 2. Three tubular members (41, 42, 45) are provided so as to cover the outer periphery of the tube.

  A distal end cylindrical member 41, which is a tubular member provided at the distal end, is screwed into a thread groove 42a engraved on the inner periphery of the distal end of a midway cylindrical member 42 provided with a thread groove 41a engraved on the outer periphery of the proximal end. Thus, the intermediate cylindrical member 42 is connected. An annular stopper member formed of a washer 34 and an elastic member such as rubber whose amount of protrusion is inwardly variable according to the amount of screwing is formed in a portion where the tip cylindrical member 41 and the intermediate cylindrical member 42 overlap. 43 is arranged.

  The stopper member 43 is disposed to abut and press the outer peripheral surface of the loosely wound coil 3a to fix the distal end cylindrical member 41 and the intermediate cylindrical member 42 to the loosely wound coil 3a. The midway cylindrical member 42 has an inward flange portion 42c formed on the inner peripheral portion so that the proximal end portion of the stopper member 43 contacts.

  The intermediate cylindrical member 42 has a screw groove 42b engraved in the inner periphery of the proximal end screwed into a thread groove 45a engraved in the inner periphery of the distal end of the retaining tube 45 serving as the proximal end cylindrical member. 45 are connected. At this time, the midway cylindrical member 42 is formed with a space portion 42d closed by the distal end surface of the retaining tube 45 on the proximal end side of the inward flange portion 42c.

  Two cylindrical members 37 and 38 fixed to the insertion portion 2 are disposed in the closed space portion 42d. These two cylindrical members 37 and 38 regulate the movement of the connected intermediate cylindrical member 42 and the retaining tube 45 in the longitudinal direction of the insertion portion 2 in the same manner as described above, and the intermediate cylindrical member 42 and the retaining tube. 45 is rotatably held with respect to the insertion portion 2.

  As a result, in the insertion assisting coil 3, the loosely wound coil 3 a to which the distal end cylindrical member 41 and the midway cylindrical member 42 are connected and fixed, and the grip portion 6 are rotatable around the outer periphery of the insertion portion 2. Note that the proximal end of the loosely wound coil 3a is prevented from contacting the proximal end of the loosely wound coil 3a on the front surface of the cylindrical member 37 in the space portion 42d, thereby reducing damage to the cylindrical member 37 and the like. The cylindrical member 44 is fixedly inserted and fixed.

  The endoscope apparatus 1 of the present embodiment configured as described above is extrapolated to the insertion portion 2 together with the insertion portion 2 as shown in FIG. The insertion assisting coil 3 to be inserted is inserted into the pipe 100 through the pipe mounting member 10 mounted at the inlet opening. Note that the pipe 100 includes a plurality of straight pipe pipes 101, and a pipe joint 102 for connecting each end of the two straight pipe pipes 101 according to various bending paths is provided in order to change the pipe path. It is externally connected.

  Here, in the conventional insertion portion 2, if the tube is simply pushed into the pipe 100, the number of the pipe joints 102 increases as the pipe 100 is inserted into the deep portion of the pipe 100. It is caught at the road joint 102 and is not smoothly inserted. More specifically, if the insertion portion 2 is close to the inlet of the pipe 100, the insertion portion 2 can easily get over the end face (step) of the straight pipe pipe 101 on the deep side inserted and connected in the pipe joint 102. It can pass through the joint 102. However, in the deep part of the pipe 100, the number of the pipe joints 102 increases in accordance with the number of bent parts, and the distal end part 11 of the insertion part 2 comes into contact with and catches on the end face of the straight pipe pipe 101 that forms a step in the pipe joint 102. It will be difficult to get over. In particular, when the pipe diameter of the pipe 100 is small (thin), the distal end portion 11 of the insertion portion 2 is significantly caught on the end face of the straight pipe pipe 101 in the pipe joint 102.

  On the other hand, the endoscope apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment extrapolates the insertion auxiliary coil 3 that is rotatable with respect to the insertion portion 2, and the user rotates the insertion auxiliary coil 3 in the pipe 100. The insertion part 2 can be easily inserted to the deep part of the pipe 100 by being inserted into the pipe 100.

  Specifically, when the user inserts the auxiliary insertion coil 3 extrapolated into the insertion portion 2 into the pipe 100 together with the insertion portion 2, the user fixes the insertion auxiliary coil 3 at a desired position along the longitudinal direction of the insertion auxiliary coil 3. The grip part 6 is gripped and pushed into the pipe 100 while rotating in a predetermined direction around the longitudinal axis (hereinafter referred to as the insertion axis) of the insertion part 2 (insertion auxiliary coil 3). Note that the predetermined direction around the insertion axis is a direction in which the loosely wound insertion auxiliary coil 3 is densely compressed.

  When the insertion assisting coil 3 passes through the pipe joint 102 of the pipe 100, as shown in FIG. 7, a part of the tip end surface comes into contact with and catches on the end face of the straight pipe 101 in the traveling direction (deep side). The insertion (entrance) of the piping 100 in the deep direction is hindered.

  In this state, the insertion assisting coil 3 is pushed into the deep part direction of the pipe 100 and is inserted and compressed while receiving a rotational force in a predetermined direction that becomes dense. At this time, the protruding portion 21 of the insertion assisting coil 3 comes into contact with the inner peripheral surface of the pipe joint 102 and is caught, and the distal end portion of the insertion assisting coil 3 is engaged, and the rotation of the distal end portion is restricted and stopped. Let

  When the insertion auxiliary coil 3 further receives a pushing force toward the deep direction of the pipe 100 and a rotational force in a predetermined direction in which it is compressed densely, the insertion auxiliary coil 3 is hooked on the inner peripheral surface of the pipe joint 102 and the tip portion The protrusion 21 that restricts and stops the rotation of the protrusion 21 can not withstand the rotational force and is bounced, and starts to rotate so as to release the compressed force on the entire loosely-inserted insertion auxiliary coil 3. Then, the insertion assisting coil 3 is stretched so that the tip portion can be flipped forward (in the direction of the depth of the pipe 100) by the spring elastic force accumulated throughout (see FIG. 8).

  Here, as described above, the height dimension h of the protrusion 21 is set to be longer than the thickness dimension H of the straight pipe pipe 101 (see FIG. 7). For this reason, the rotated insertion assisting coil 3 moves toward the inner side of the pipe joint 102 by the height dimension h of the protrusion 21 and is loosened so that the tip portion is repelled forward by the stored spring elastic force. The winding coil 3a extends and can easily get over the end face of the straight pipe 101 that forms a step.

In this way, the insertion assisting coil 3 moves in the depth direction of the pipe 100 by jumping over the end face of the straight pipe pipe 101 which is a step from the state where it is caught in contact with the end face of the straight pipe pipe 101 in the pipe joint 102. It is inserted into the straight pipe 101. Therefore, the user can easily insert the insertion portion 2 inserted and disposed in the insertion auxiliary coil 3 into the pipe 100 deep along the insertion auxiliary coil 3.
In addition, when an endoscope is inserted into a plurality of bent portions as shown in FIG. 6, in order to pass through the bent portions, it is desirable that the hardness of the insertion portion is flexible in order to reduce resistance.
However, if the length of the insertion portion is long, the force when pushing from the hand cannot be transmitted to the distal end side, and the insertion becomes difficult. That is, to insert a long object, it is necessary to be hard.
Therefore, when pushed as shown in FIG. 6, the front side of the insertion portion meanders when it is compressed as flexible, and the coil 3 is compressed in that state, the spring force is stored, and when the spring is repelled, the insertion portion At the same time, it will be pushed forward.

  The user appropriately moves the grip portion 6 to a desired position along the longitudinal direction of the insertion auxiliary coil 3 that is easy to push and rotate according to the insertion amount of the insertion auxiliary coil 3 into the pipe 100. Let

  From the above, the endoscope apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment extrapolates the insertion assisting coil 3 having the protruding portion 21 at the distal end to the insertion portion 2, and generates spring elastic force generated by compression by rotation and pushing of the loosely wound coil 3 a. By utilizing this, it is possible to easily pass through the pipe joints 102 disposed at the bent portions of the plurality of pipe 100 paths, and the insertability of the insertion section 2 can be improved.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a rotating device that rotates the auxiliary insertion coil according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In the following description, the same components as those in the industrial endoscope apparatus according to the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

As shown in FIG. 9, the industrial endoscope apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes a rotation device 50 for rotating the insertion auxiliary coil 3 around the insertion axis.
The rotating device 50 is disposed in the housing 51, a power switch 52 disposed on a side surface of the housing 51, a speed adjustment dial 53 for adjusting the rotational speed, and the housing 51. The motor 54 is mainly configured.

  Further, the insertion auxiliary coil 3 is connected at its proximal end to the distal end portion of the cylindrical portion 22 that is rotatably held by the casing 51 of the rotating device 50. The cylindrical portion 22 is provided with a spur gear 24 on the outer peripheral portion located in the housing 51. The cylindrical portion 22 has a length protruding from the front and rear of the casing 51. Further, the proximal side fixing portion 7 is rotatably connected to the proximal end portion of the cylindrical portion 22.

  The gear 24 provided in the cylindrical portion 22 meshes with the motor gear 55 of the motor 54 in the housing 51. Thereby, the rotational force of the motor 54 is transmitted from the motor gear 55 to the gear 24. Thus, the cylindrical portion 22 is rotationally driven by the rotating device 50, and the rotational drive of the cylindrical portion 22 is transmitted to the insertion assisting coil 3 connected and fixed to the tip of the cylindrical portion 22. Therefore, the insertion assisting coil 3 is rotationally driven around the insertion axis by the rotating device 50.

  The rotational speed of the motor 54 can be adjusted by the speed adjustment dial 53. Therefore, the user can appropriately adjust the rotation speed of the insertion auxiliary coil 3 around the insertion axis to a desired speed.

  As described above, the endoscope apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment needs to rotate the insertion assisting coil 3 by the user by providing the rotating device 50 that rotationally drives the insertion assisting coil 3 around the insertion axis. Disappear. Moreover, this endoscope apparatus 1 has the same operation effect as 1st Embodiment.

(Third embodiment)
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of the auxiliary insertion coil according to the third embodiment of the present invention. In the following description, the same components as those in the industrial endoscope apparatus according to the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 10, in the insertion assisting coil 3 of the present embodiment, three loosely wound coils 3a to 3c are connected in the same longitudinal direction (having the same longitudinal axis) by a connecting ring 24 serving as a connecting portion. It has become the composition.

  The sparsely wound coil (here, the first sparsely wound coil) 3a disposed on the distal end side has the protrusion 21 described in the first embodiment at the distal end. The first sparsely wound coil 3 a is connected to the base end by extrapolation fitting to the connecting ring 24.

  The connecting ring 24 connected to the first loosely wound coil 3a is connected to the first loosely wound coil 3a with the tip of the second loosely wound coil 3b being extrapolated. The second sparsely wound coil 3b is connected to the base end of the second sparsely wound coil 3b by extrapolating into another connecting ring 24.

  Further, the connecting ring 24 connected to the second loosely wound coil 3b is connected to the second loosely wound coil 3a with the tip of the third loosely wound coil 3c extrapolated. The third sparsely wound coil 3b is connected to the base end of the third sparsely wound coil 3b by extrapolating to another connecting ring 24. The proximal side fixed portion 7 described in the first embodiment (not shown) is connected to the proximal end of the third sparsely wound coil 3b. As described above, the insertion assisting coil 3 has a configuration in which the first sparsely wound coil 3 a is on the distal end side and the sparsely wound coils 3 a to 3 c are sequentially connected via the connecting ring 24.

  The connecting ring 24 that connects and fixes the loosely wound coils 3a to 3c is an annular member, and a convex portion 24a that protrudes outward is provided at a part of the center of the outer periphery. Here, the convex portion 24a has a triangular shape in which a cross-sectional shape orthogonal to the hole axis has an apex outward. And the convex part 24a has protrusion amount (height) from which the height from the outer peripheral surface of the connection ring 24 to a vertex part becomes the same as or more than the height dimension (h) of the protrusion part 21, for example. is doing.

  Further, each of the loosely wound coils 3a to 3c has different rigidity (hardness). In the present embodiment, the flat plate members constituting the sparsely wound coils 3a to 3c are wound and formed at different pitch widths P1 to P3, and are set to have different rigidity.

  More specifically, the first sparsely wound coil 3a has the widest pitch width P1, and is set with lower rigidity than the other sparsely wound coils 3b and 3c. Further, the second sparsely wound coil 3b has a pitch width P2 that is narrower than the pitch width P1, and is set to have higher rigidity than the first sparsely wound coil 3a. Further, the third sparsely wound coil 3c has a pitch width P3 that is narrower than the pitch width P2, and is set to be higher in rigidity than the second sparsely wound coil 3a.

  That is, the insertion assisting coil 3 has the softest first sparsely wound coil 3a on the distal end side, and hardens in the order of the second sparsely wound coil 3b and the third sparsely wound coil 3c toward the proximal end. Is set to The sparsely wound coils 3a to 3c may be made to have different rigidity by winding and forming flat members having different thicknesses, widths, and materials.

  The insertion assisting coil 3 of the present embodiment configured as described above has a shape of the bent portion even with a small pushing force by softening the tip side when passing through the bent portion (pipe joint 102) of the pipe 100. It becomes easy to deform according to. Therefore, in addition to the operational effects of the first embodiment, the insertion assisting coil 3 can easily pass through the bent portion (the pipe joint 102) of the pipe 100.

  On the other hand, if the insertion assisting coil 3 is too soft, there is no overall stiffness, the pushing force from the proximal end side is difficult to be transmitted to the distal end side, and the insertability is lowered. On the other hand, the insertion assisting coil 3 of the present embodiment has higher rigidity, that is, harder in the order of the second sparsely wound coil 3b and the third sparsely wound coil 3c toward the base end. The structure is such that the pushing force from the base end side is sufficiently transmitted to the tip end side, and is prevented from being too hard to be pushed into the deep part of the pipe 100.

  Furthermore, the insertion auxiliary coil 3 according to the present embodiment has a configuration in which the convex portion 24a is provided in the middle portion by providing the convex portion 24a on the connecting ring 24 that connects the loosely wound coils 3a to 3c. As a result, the insertion assisting coil 3 has a level difference from the state in which each convex portion 24a is in contact with the end surface of the straight pipe tube 101 in the pipe joint 102 and hooked in the middle portion as well as the protruding portion 21 at the tip. Therefore, the insertion performance is further improved.

(Fourth embodiment)
Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described.
FIGS. 11 and 12 relate to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view showing a configuration in which a cap is provided at the tip of the insertion auxiliary coil, and FIG. 12 shows the insertion auxiliary coil as a pipe joint. It is a fragmentary sectional view for demonstrating the state which passes through. In the following description, the same components as those in the industrial endoscope apparatus according to the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the insertion assisting coil 3 of the present embodiment has an annular base 25 at the tip of the loosely wound coil 3a, and an annular tip cap 26 is detachably attached to the base 25. It has become. The base 25 is externally fitted to the tip of the loosely wound coil 3a, and a male screw 25a is formed on the outer periphery of the tip.

  The tip cap 26 has an annular shape, and an internal thread 26a is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the cap 26 to be screwed into the external thread 25a of the base 25. Further, the tip cap 26 has a protruding portion 27 serving as a rotation restricting means here on a part of the outer peripheral surface.

  The protrusion 27 extends in the front-rear direction of the tip cap 26 and protrudes outward from the outer peripheral surface of the tip cap 26. In addition, the protrusion amount (height dimension) h of the protrusion 27 is longer (higher) than the wall thickness dimension (length) H of the pipe 100 (like the protrusion 21 of the first embodiment) ( Height) dimension is set. Further, the protrusion 27 is formed with a taper 27 a that is cut away from the front surface of the distal end cap 26 at a predetermined angle θ from the distal end toward the proximal end.

  As described above, the insertion assisting coil 3 of the present embodiment is provided with the tip cap 26 having the projection 27 at the tip of the loosely wound coil 3a instead of the projection 21 of the first embodiment. It has a configuration.

  As shown in FIG. 12, when the insertion assisting coil 3 passes through the pipe joint 102 of the pipe 100, the protrusion 27 of the tip cap 26 is inserted into the insertion assisting coil 3 in the same manner as in the first embodiment. The stored spring elastic force makes it easy for the tip cap 26 to get over the end face of the straight pipe 101 that forms a step. That is, the insertion assisting coil 3 caught in the pipe joint 102 can be stretched by being bent in the deep direction of the pipe 100 by the protrusion 27 of the tip cap 26 and can easily pass through the pipe joint 102.

  At this time, the height dimension h of the projecting portion 27 is set to be longer than the thickness dimension H of the straight pipe pipe 101, and the distal end of the distal end cap 26 is connected to the projecting portion 27 as in the first embodiment. Is moved inward of the pipe joint 102 by the height dimension h. Then, the elastic force stored in the insertion assisting coil 3 easily gets over the end face of the straight pipe 101 so that the tip cap 26 can be flipped, and the loosely wound coil 3a extends. Thus, the insertion assisting coil 3 can easily pass through the pipe joint 102. Further, the end cap 26 is configured to move forward while the end face of the straight pipe pipe 101 abuts along the taper 27a of the protrusion 27, and can easily get over the end face of the straight pipe pipe 101.

  From the above, the endoscope apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment has the same effect as that of the first embodiment even if the distal end cap 26 having the protrusion 27 is provided at the distal end of the insertion assisting coil 3. can do.

  Further, the tip cap 26 is configured to be detachable from the base 25 at the tip of the insertion assisting coil 3. Therefore, the user prepares a plurality of protrusions 27 having different height dimensions h, so that the height is longer (higher) than the wall thickness dimension H of the straight pipe pipe 101 in the pipe 100 serving as the subject at that time. The tip cap 26 having the protrusion 27 having the dimension h can be appropriately selected and used. That is, the tip cap 26 can be an adapter that can be exchanged according to the subject. Of course, the tip cap 26 of the present embodiment may be provided in the insertion assisting coil 3 of the second and third embodiments.

(Fifth embodiment)
Next, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described.
In the present embodiment, various modifications of the protruding portion (the protruding portion 21 of the first embodiment) provided at the tip of the loosely wound coil 3a of the insertion assisting coil 3 will be described.

  FIGS. 13 to 18 relate to a fifth embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a protrusion provided at the tip of a loosely wound coil of an insertion auxiliary coil of a first modification, and FIG. The top view which looked at the insertion auxiliary coil of FIG. 13 from the front end side, FIG. 15 is a fragmentary sectional view for demonstrating the state in which the insertion auxiliary coil of FIG. 13 passes a pipe joint, FIG. 16 is insertion of a 2nd modification. FIG. 17 is a plan view of the insertion auxiliary coil of FIG. 16 as viewed from the distal end side, and FIG. 18 is a side view of the insertion auxiliary coil of FIG. It is the side view seen from. In the following description, the same components as those in the industrial endoscope apparatus according to the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

First, a first modification of the protrusion provided at the tip of the loosely wound coil 3a of the auxiliary insertion coil 3 will be described with reference to FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 13, the insertion assisting coil 3 is a protrusion that is a rotation restricting means here, in which the tip of a loosely wound coil 3 a formed by spirally winding a flat plate member is formed in a straight line. Part 46 is provided.

  As for this projection part 46, the edge along the width direction of a flat plate member is cut by predetermined angle (theta) so that the front end side may become an acute angle. In other words, the protrusion 46 is cut at a predetermined angle θ with respect to the longitudinal axis of the insertion assisting coil 3 so that the tip side has an acute angle.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 14, the protrusion 46 has a dimension in which the straight portion is longer (H + α) than the thickness H of the straight pipe tube 101 than the outer periphery of the loosely wound coil 3 a in the extending direction. ing.

  As shown in FIG. 15, the insertion assisting coil 3 configured as described above has a distal end portion of the loosely wound coil 3a moved inward of the pipe joint 102 by the dimension (H + α) of the protrusion 46. It is possible to easily get over the end face of the straight pipe 101 that becomes a step.

  Furthermore, since the insertion assisting coil 3 is formed with an acute angle at the edge end side of the protrusion 46, the protrusion 46 is easily caught on the inner peripheral surface of the pipe joint 102. Further, when the tip portion is caught on the straight pipe pipe 101 in front of the pipe joint 102, it is difficult to slide back and to move forward. For this reason, the rotation assisting force of the tip portion of the insertion assisting coil 3 by the protrusion 46 is improved, and the spring elastic force stored in the whole is increased. Thereby, in addition to the effect of 1st Embodiment, the insertion auxiliary | assistant coil 3 is extended so that a front-end | tip part can be flipped forward (pipe 100 deep direction) with the big spring elastic force stored in the whole. To do. Therefore, the insertion auxiliary coil 3 further facilitates passage of the pipe joint 102.

Next, the 2nd modification of the projection part provided in the front-end | tip of the loosely-wound coil 3a of the insertion auxiliary coil 3 is demonstrated using FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 16, the insertion auxiliary coil 3 is formed with a bent portion 47a in which the tip portion of the flat plate member of the loosely wound coil 3a is formed in a straight line and the tip is further bent outward from the straight shape. The projection 47 is a rotation restricting means.

  As shown in FIG. 17, the protruding portion 47 has a dimension (H + α) in which the straight portion is longer than the thickness H of the straight pipe tube 101 than the outer periphery of the loosely wound coil 3 a in the extending direction. The bent portion 47a is also bent at a substantially right angle with respect to the straight portion so as to be longer (H + α) than the thickness H of the straight pipe tube 101.

  Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 18, the bent portion 47 a has an edge along the width direction of the flat plate member cut at a predetermined angle θ so that the tip side has an acute angle. That is, the bent portion 47a is cut at a predetermined angle θ with respect to the longitudinal axis of the insertion assisting coil 3 so that the distal end side has an acute angle.

  Also in the insertion assisting coil 3 configured as described above, the end of the loosely wound coil 3a is equal to the dimension (H + α) of the straight line portion of the projection 47 where the tip portion abuts against the inner surface of the pipe joint 102. By moving inward, it is possible to easily get over the end face of the straight pipe 101 that forms a step. Since the insertion assisting coil 3 is formed with an acute angle at the edge tip side of the bent portion 47a, the projection portion 47 is easily caught on the inner peripheral surface of the pipe joint 102, and the tip portion is rotated by the projection portion 46. Regulatory power is improved. As a result, the insertion assisting coil 3 has a large spring elastic force stored in the whole, and the large spring elastic force stored in the whole extends so that the tip portion can be flipped forward (in the direction of the depth of the pipe 100). The passage of the pipe joint 102 becomes easy.

  Note that, as described above, the insertion assisting coil 3 has a level difference due to the linear portion of the protrusion 47 with respect to the rotation in the A direction (here, the rotation direction in which the loosely wound coil 3a is compressed). Get over the end face of straight pipe 101. Further, the insertion assisting coil 3 has an inner portion of the pipe joint 102 corresponding to the dimension (H + α) of the bent portion 47a with respect to rotation in the B direction opposite to the A direction (rotating direction in which the loosely wound coil 3a becomes sparse). It can move to the side, and it can get over the end face of the straight pipe 101 that forms a step.

  As described above, in addition to the operational effects of the first embodiment, the insertion assisting coil 3 further facilitates passage of the pipe joint 102 and forms the bent portion 47a in the protrusion 47. Thus, even in the rotation direction opposite to the rotation direction in which the loosely wound coil 3a is compressed, it is possible to get over the end face of the straight pipe pipe 101 that becomes a step. Therefore, the user can easily insert the insertion portion 2 inserted and disposed in the insertion auxiliary coil 3 into the pipe 100 deep along the insertion auxiliary coil 3.

(Sixth embodiment)
Next, a sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described.
In the present embodiment, the insertion assisting coil 3 easily passes through the pipe joint 102 without providing the protrusions (the protrusions 21, 27, 46, 47 in the first, fourth, and fifth embodiments). Various configurations made possible will be described.

  FIGS. 19 to 27 relate to a sixth embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 19 is a perspective view showing a tip portion of the insertion auxiliary coil, and FIG. 20 is a state in which the insertion auxiliary coil of FIG. 19 passes through the pipe joint. FIG. 21 is a perspective view showing the distal end portion of the insertion assisting coil of the first modification, FIG. 22 is a plan view of the insertion assisting coil of FIG. 21 as seen from the distal end side, and FIG. FIG. 24 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the insertion auxiliary coil provided with a cap at the tip of the second modification, and FIG. 25 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the insertion auxiliary coil of FIG. 26 and 27 are partial cross-sectional views for explaining a state in which the insertion auxiliary coil passes through the pipe joint, and FIGS. 26 and 27 are parts for explaining the operation when the insertion auxiliary coil passes according to the number of pipe joints. It is sectional drawing. In the following description, the same reference numerals are used for the same components as those in the industrial endoscope apparatus according to each of the above-described embodiments, and detailed descriptions of those components are omitted.

  The insertion assisting coil 3 shown in FIG. 19 does not have the above-described various protrusions, and the edge along the width direction of the flat plate member is cut at a predetermined angle θ so that the distal end side of the loosely wound coil 3a has an acute angle. It constitutes a hanging part. In other words, the insertion auxiliary coil 3 is cut at a predetermined angle θ with respect to the longitudinal axis of the insertion auxiliary coil 3 so that the tip flat plate member has an acute angle.

As shown in FIG. 20, when the insertion assisting coil 3 passes through the pipe joint 102, the tip of the loosely wound coil 3a is caught on the inner peripheral surface of the straight pipe pipe 101 on the traveling direction side. From the state where the loosely wound coil 3a is hooked on the inner peripheral surface of the straight pipe tube 101 in this way, the user rotates the insertion assisting coil 3 so that the end portion of the insertion assisting coil 3 has a stepped end surface. Can be easily overcome.
Here, the rotation direction of the insertion assisting coil 3 is a direction in which the loosely wound coil 3a is further sparse (stretching direction).

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 21 and 22, the insertion assisting coil 3 may be formed so that the tip of the loosely wound coil 3 a is brought inward. In this case, the thin plate tip forming the loosely wound coil 3a is, as shown in FIG. The length is deformed to the inner diameter side by h.

  Even in such a configuration, as shown in FIG. 23, when the insertion assisting coil 3 passes through the pipe joint 102, the tip of the loosely wound coil 3a is caught on the inner peripheral surface of the straight pipe 101 on the traveling direction side. It is easy and can be further rotated to easily get over the end face of the straight pipe 101 where the tip of the insertion assisting coil 3 becomes a step.

  Moreover, as shown in FIG. 24, you may form the hook part 26b toward the front in a part of front-end | tip peripheral surface of the front-end | tip cap 26 described in 4th Embodiment. The hook portion 26b has a claw shape that is notched at a predetermined angle θ with respect to the distal end surface of the distal end cap, and the distal end portion has an acute angle.

  Even in such a configuration, as shown in FIG. 25, when the insertion assisting coil 3 passes through the pipe joint 102, the hooking portion 26 b is hooked on the inner peripheral surface of the straight pipe pipe 101 on the traveling direction side. Further, the insertion assisting coil 3 is further rotated, so that the distal end portion of the insertion assisting coil 3, that is, the end face of the straight pipe pipe 101 where the distal end cap 26 forms a step can be easily overcome.

Here, the operation at the time when each insertion auxiliary coil 3 of the present embodiment passes according to the number of the pipe joints 102 will be described with reference to FIGS. 26 and 27. FIG.
By the way, the number of pipe joints 102 in the pipe 100 increases as the distance from the entrance (deep part) increases. For example, when the number of the pipe joints 102 is as small as 1 to 3, the insertion assisting coil 3 sufficiently transmits the pushing force from the proximal side to the distal end side. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 26, the distal end portion of the loosely wound coil 3 a is sufficiently compressed and is bent along the inner peripheral curved surface of the pipe joint 102.

  In this state, the insertion assisting coil 3 is stressed (propulsive force) in the direction of a predetermined angle θ1 with respect to the traveling direction at a position (point A) where the end surface of the sparsely wound coil 3a contacts the end surface of the straight pipe 101. (Spring elastic force) F1 is applied. From this state, when the insertion assisting coil 3 flips over the end face of the straight pipe 101 and gets over it, the length that the loosely wound coil 3a extends forward is L1.

  On the other hand, in the deep part of the piping 100, for example, the number of the pipe joints 102 is increased to 4 to 5, and the insertion assisting coil 3 is difficult to transmit the pushing force from the proximal side to the distal end side. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 27, the distal end portion of the loosely wound coil 3a is not sufficiently compressed, and is bent away from the inner peripheral curved surface of the pipe joint 102.

  In this state, the insertion assisting coil 3 has a predetermined angle that is wider than the predetermined angle θ1 with respect to the traveling direction at a position (point A) where the end surface of the loosely wound coil 3a contacts the end surface of the straight pipe 101. In a direction θ2 (θ1 <θ2), a stress (spring elastic force serving as a driving force) F2 (F1> F2) smaller than the stress F1 is applied. From this state, when the insertion assisting coil 3 jumps over the end face of the straight pipe tube 101, the length of the sparsely wound coil 3a extending forward becomes a length L2 shorter than the length L1.

  That is, when the insertion assisting coil 3 is in contact with the end face of the straight pipe pipe 101 that forms a step in the deep part of the pipe 100 where the number of pipe joints 102 increases, the loosely wound coil 3a is in the traveling direction. Since it abuts at a large angle and the pushing force is small, it is not sufficiently compressed and the stretch amount is shortened. Therefore, it becomes difficult for the insertion assisting coil 3 to get over the end face of the straight pipe 101 that forms a step.

On the other hand, in the insertion auxiliary coil 3 of the present embodiment described above, the hook (26b) is hooked on the inner peripheral surface of the straight pipe pipe 101 at the tip, and in addition to the pushing force, further rotation is applied. When the coil 3 is pushed, the coil 3 is compressed and the spring force is stored. In addition, the coil 3 is twisted to store the torsion spring force. Since the tip of the coil 3 is held in the pipe 100 in a state where both compression and torsion spring forces are stored, the spring force is larger. In this state, since the loosely wound coil 3a moves so as to be lifted toward the inner diameter side of the pipe joint 102 and the straight pipe pipe 101 with the hook portion (26b) as a fulcrum, a large propulsive force is generated, and the straight pipe pipe 101 end face can be easily overcome. As a result, the insertion assisting coil 3 enters the straight pipe pipe 101 that has been caught.
As described above, the insertion assisting coil 3 is configured to easily pass through the pipe joint 102 without providing a protruding portion protruding outward. Therefore, the user can also easily insert the insertion portion 2 inserted and disposed in the insertion auxiliary coil 3 into the deep portion of the pipe 100 along the insertion auxiliary coil 3.

(Seventh embodiment)
Next, a seventh embodiment of the present invention will be described.
FIGS. 28 to 31 relate to a seventh embodiment of the present embodiment, FIG. 28 is a perspective view showing a distal end portion of the insertion assisting coil, and FIG. 29 is a view of the insertion assisting coil of FIG. 28 from the distal end side. FIG. 30 is a perspective view showing a distal end portion of an insertion assisting coil according to a modification, and FIG. 31 is a plan view of the insertion assisting coil shown in FIG. 30 as viewed from the distal end side. In the following description, the same reference numerals are used for the same components as those in the industrial endoscope apparatus according to each of the above-described embodiments, and detailed descriptions of those components are omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 28, the insertion assisting coil 3 of the present embodiment has a configuration in which two loosely wound coils 3a are doubled. These two sparsely wound coils 3a have their winding directions reversed. In addition, protrusions 21 are provided at the tips of these two loosely wound coils 3a.

  As shown in FIG. 29, these protrusions 21 have a predetermined height (length) h in which the protrusion dimension from the outer peripheral surface of the outer sparsely wound coil 3 a is longer than the wall thickness dimension (length) H of the pipe 100. It has become. That is, the protrusions 21 of the double-arranged loosely wound coils 3a have the same height protruding from the outer peripheral surface of the outer loosely wound coil 3a.

  In the insertion assisting coil 3 of the present embodiment configured as described above, either one of the protruding portions 21 of the outer and inner sparsely wound coils 3a is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the pipe joint 102 in accordance with the rotation direction. Hook and restrict the rotation of the tip to stop. As a result, as in the first embodiment, the insertion assisting coil 3 is in contact with the end face of the straight pipe 101 and hooked when the rotation restriction by the projection 21 is released in the pipe joint 102. Then, it is inserted into the straight pipe pipe 101 in the depth direction of the pipe 100 by jumping over the end face of the straight pipe pipe 101 that becomes a step. Therefore, the user can easily insert the insertion portion 2 inserted and disposed in the insertion auxiliary coil 3 into the pipe 100 deep along the insertion auxiliary coil 3.

  As shown in FIGS. 30 and 31, the inner sparsely wound coil 3a may have a protrusion 21 and the outer sparsely wound coil 3a may not have the protrusion 21. As in the sixth embodiment, the outer sparsely wound coil 3a has a hook portion in which the edge along the width direction of the flat plate member is cut at a predetermined angle θ so that the tip side has an acute angle. Yes.

  Even in such a configuration, the insertion assisting coil 3 restricts and stops the rotation of the tip portion by the protrusion 21 being caught on the inner peripheral surface of the pipe joint 102 in one rotation direction. When the rotation restriction by the protruding portion 21 is released, the insertion assisting coil 3 moves over the end face of the straight pipe pipe 101 that forms a step in the pipe joint 102 from the state of being in contact with and caught by the end face of the straight pipe pipe 101. The pipe 100 is inserted into the straight pipe 101 in the depth direction.

Further, since the insertion assisting coil 3 moves so as to be lifted toward the inner diameter side of the pipe joint 102 and the straight pipe pipe 101 with the hanging portion as a fulcrum in the other rotation direction, it becomes a step in the pipe joint 102. The end face of the straight pipe 101 can be easily overcome.
Therefore, the user can also easily insert the insertion portion 2 inserted and disposed in the insertion auxiliary coil 3 into the deep portion of the pipe 100 along the insertion auxiliary coil 3.

(Eighth embodiment)
Next, an eighth embodiment of the present invention will be described.
FIGS. 32 to 36 relate to an eighth embodiment of the present embodiment, FIG. 32 is a perspective view showing a distal end portion of an insertion assisting coil provided with a pulling wire, and FIG. 33 is a diagram illustrating that the insertion assisting coil is a pipe joint. FIG. 34 is a partial cross-sectional view illustrating a state before the insertion auxiliary coil passes through the pipe joint, and FIG. 35 is an insertion auxiliary coil before the operation wire is pulled. FIG. 36 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the insertion auxiliary coil in a state where the operation wire is pulled. In the following description, the same components as those in the industrial endoscope apparatuses according to the first and fourth embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

  The insertion assisting coil 3 of the present embodiment shown in FIG. 32 has an annular base 25 at the tip of the loosely wound coil 3a as in the fourth embodiment, and a tip cap 26 is attached to the base 25. It has a detachable configuration. An operation wire 28 having a tip inserted and fixed to the base 25 is inserted into the loosely wound coil 3a.

  The operation wire 28 extends to the proximal end of the insertion assisting coil 3. For example, although not shown here, a pulling / relaxation operation can be performed at the proximal side fixing portion 7. That is, the insertion assisting coil 3 is configured such that the operation wire 28 is provided so that the loosely wound coil 3 a can be compressed by a pulling operation of the operation wire 28.

  The user pulls the operation wire 28 from the state shown in FIG. 33 when the tip (tip cap) of the insertion assisting coil 3 gets over the end face of the straight pipe pipe 101 that forms a step in the pipe joint 102. As shown, the loosely wound coil 3a is compressed. Thereafter, the user can relax the operation wire 28 while rotating the insertion assisting coil 3, and can extend the loosely wound coil 3a.

  As described above, the rotation of the insertion assisting coil 3 by the user and the pulling and relaxation of the operation wire 28 are repeatedly performed, so that the distal end cap 26 provided at the distal end of the insertion assisting coil 3 is different from the step in the pipe joint 102. The end surface of the straight pipe pipe 101 is easily overcome. Then, the insertion assisting coil 3 is stretched so as to be flipped forward by the spring elastic force of the loosely wound coil 3 a and inserted into the straight pipe 101.

  In addition, the protrusion part 27 of the front-end | tip cap 26 has the height dimension h longer than the thickness dimension H of the straight pipe pipe 101, as described in 4th Embodiment. Therefore, the tip of the tip cap 26 moves inward of the pipe joint 102 by the height dimension h of the protrusion 27. Thus, the insertion assisting coil 3 easily gets over the end face of the straight pipe 101 so that the tip cap 26 can be flipped, and the loosely wound coil 3a extends. The protrusion 27 of the tip cap 26 has a taper 27a. The tip cap 26 moves forward while the end face of the straight pipe tube 101 abuts along the taper 27a. 101 is configured to be able to get over the end face.

  As described above, the insertion assisting coil 3 according to the present embodiment is easily expanded and contracted by the pulling / relaxing operation of the operation wire 28 and easily climbs over the end face of the straight pipe tube 101 that becomes a step in the pipe joint 102. Therefore, it is possible to improve the insertability of the insertion portion 2 inserted and arranged inside the pipe 100 deeply.

  As shown in FIG. 35, in a state where the insertion assisting coil 3 is curved, if the spacing (pitch width) between the loosely wound coils 3a is large, the distal end portion 11 of the insertion portion 2 is the same as the winding portion of the loosely wound coil 3a. It will contact | abut with an end surface, it will become difficult for the insertion part 2 to pass the inside of the loosely-wound coil 3a, and insertability will fall.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 36, by pulling the operation wire 28, the interval (pitch width) of the loosely wound coil 3a is narrowed, so that the distal end portion 11 of the insertion portion 2 is wound by the loosely wound coil 3a. It becomes difficult to come into contact with the end face of the turning portion, and the insertion portion 2 is likely to pass through the loosely wound coil 3a. Thereby, it can also prevent that the insertion property to the insertion auxiliary coil 3 of the insertion part 2 is inhibited.

(Ninth embodiment)
Next, a ninth embodiment of the present invention will be described.
FIGS. 37 to 39 relate to a ninth embodiment of the present embodiment, FIG. 37 is a perspective view showing a distal end portion of an insertion auxiliary coil having a guide tube therein, and FIG. 38 guides the insertion auxiliary coil. FIG. 39 is a perspective view showing a distal end portion of an insertion auxiliary coil provided with a mechanism for advancing and retracting the tube, and FIG. It is a perspective view. In the following description, the same components as those in the industrial endoscope apparatuses according to the first and fourth embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 37, a guide tube 60 having flexibility is inserted and disposed in the insertion assisting coil 3 of the present embodiment. The guide tube 60 restricts the movement of the loosely wound coil 3a in the longitudinal direction in the middle part on the proximal end side, and an annular projection 61 serving as a stopper for rotatably holding the loosely wound coil 3a on the outer periphery. It is fixed.

  The sparsely wound coil 3a is provided with a rotation holding portion 64 in which the proximal end opening of the cylindrical body 62 and the retaining tube 63 are connected to the proximal end portion. The rotation holding portion 64 is disposed so as to cover the annular protrusion 61 of the guide tube 60. Thereby, the loosely wound coil 3 a is held so as to be rotatable with respect to the guide tube 60.

  Further, the guide tube 60 has a distal end position defined on the proximal end side by a predetermined distance from the distal end position of the loosely wound coil 3a. Thereby, the softness | flexibility of the front-end | tip part of the loosely wound coil 3a is not impaired. Note that the insertion portion 2 is inserted into the guide tube 60.

  As described above, the insertion assisting coil 3 according to the present embodiment is provided with a flexible guide tube 60 so that the insertion portion 2 can be inserted and disposed in the guide tube 60. 3a is prevented from coming into contact with the end face of the winding portion and being caught. That is, the insertion assisting coil 3 is configured in consideration of the insertion property of the insertion portion 2. Other functions and effects are the same as those of the first embodiment.

The insertion assisting coil 3 provided with the guide tube 60 may be configured such that the loosely wound coil 3a can be moved forward and backward with respect to the guide tube 60 as shown in FIG.
More specifically, the insertion assisting coil 3 has a leaf spring 68 made of metal such as stainless steel between the loosely wound coil 3a and the guide tube 60 so as not to hinder flexibility as much as possible.

  Here, the leaf spring 68 is provided with a fixing portion 67 fixed to the tip cap 26 provided at the tip of the loosely wound coil 3a at the tip. Further, the base end of the leaf spring 68 is fixed to a fixed ring 69 disposed at the base end portion of the guide tube 60. The leaf spring 68 is curved so as to rise from the outer peripheral surface of the guide tube 60 between the proximal end of the loosely wound coil 3a and the stationary ring 69 of the guide tube 60.

  The portion of the leaf spring 68 that is curved so as to rise is pushed toward the guide tube 60 by the user, and the tip portion slides forward. As a result, the loosely wound coil 3 a moves forward with respect to the guide tube 60.

  In addition, the portion formed to be curved so that the leaf spring 68 is raised returns to the original state (state to bend so as to rise) when the user releases the push, and the tip portion slides backward. As a result, the loosely wound coil 3 a moves rearward with respect to the guide tube 60. With this configuration, the insertion assisting coil 3 can move forward and backward with respect to the guide tube 60 by a predetermined distance.

  In this insertion assisting coil 3, the leaf spring 68 is pushed in and the loosely wound coil 3 a moves forward, so that the tip cap 26 provided at the tip contacts the end surface of the straight pipe 101 that forms a step in the pipe joint 102. After the contact, the loosely wound coil 3a can be further reduced. That is, the insertion assisting coil 3 can further increase the spring elastic force stored in the loosely wound coil 3a. For this reason, the insertion assisting coil 3 can also be inserted into the straight pipe tube 101 because the extension force of the loosely wound coil 3 a is increased, and the end of the straight pipe tube 101 that becomes a step in the pipe joint 102 can be easily flipped. .

Further, the insertion assisting coil 3 may be configured such that the loosely wound coil 3a can be advanced and retracted with respect to the guide tube 60 as shown in FIG.
Specifically, the insertion assisting coil 3 is provided with a cylindrical body 70 provided with a fixing portion 70a for fixing the distal end portion of the leaf spring 68 to the proximal end portion of the loosely wound coil 3a. The cylindrical body 70 is extrapolated to the guide tube 60 and is configured to be movable forward and backward with respect to the guide tube 60 together with the loosely wound coil 3a.

In addition, a fixing ring 69 including a fixing portion 69 a that fixes the base end portion of the leaf spring 68 is provided at the base end portion of the guide tube 60.
The leaf spring 68 is curved so as to rise between the cylindrical body 70 of the loosely wound coil 3a and the stationary ring 69 of the guide tube 60.

  Even in such a configuration, in the same manner as described above, in the insertion auxiliary coil 3, when the leaf spring 68 is pushed toward the guide tube 60, the loosely wound coil 3 a moves forward with respect to the guide tube 60. . In addition, the portion formed to be curved so that the leaf spring 68 rises, the tip end portion slides rearward when the push by the user is released.

  Even with this insertion assisting coil 3, the spring elastic force stored in the loosely wound coil 3a can be further increased, so that the insertion assisting coil 3 also increases the stretching force of the loosely wound coil 3a. Accordingly, the insertion assisting coil 3 can be easily inserted over the straight pipe tube 101 so that the distal end portion, here, the distal end cap 26 can repel the end surface of the straight pipe tube 101 that forms a step in the pipe joint 102. In the insertion assisting coil 3, the leaf spring 68 is not provided between the loosely wound coil 3 a and the guide tube 60, so that the flexibility is not hindered by the leaf spring 68.

(Tenth embodiment)
Next, a tenth embodiment of the present invention will be described.
40 and 41 relate to a tenth embodiment of the present embodiment, and FIG. 40 is a perspective view showing a distal end portion of an insertion auxiliary coil provided with a rotating device that rotationally drives a loosely wound coil. These are sectional drawings which show the structure of the rotation apparatus provided in an insertion auxiliary coil. In the following description, the same components as those in the industrial endoscope apparatuses according to the first and ninth embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 40, the insertion assisting coil 3 of the present embodiment has a loosely wound coil 3a of a predetermined length at the tip portion, and a rotating device 71 that rotationally drives the loosely wound coil 3a is in the middle. The arrangement is arranged. Similarly to the ninth embodiment, the insertion assisting coil 3 includes a guide tube 60 through which the insertion portion 2 is inserted, and a flexible tube that extrapolates the guide tube 60 from the rotating device 71 to the proximal end side. 77 is arranged.

  As shown in FIG. 41, the rotating device 71 has an annular gear 72 in which the proximal end portion of the loosely wound coil 3a is connected and fixed by being extrapolated and a gear groove 72a is formed on the inner peripheral surface. The annular gear 72 is connected to the cylindrical tube 75 of the rotating device 71 so as to be rotatable via a bearing 72b.

  A gear groove 72 a of the annular gear 72 meshes with a motor gear 74 a of a motor 74 that is a driving unit of the rotating device 71. That is, the driving force of the motor 74 is transmitted by the engagement of the motor gear 74a and the gear groove 72a, and the annular gear 72 is rotationally driven around the insertion axis of the insertion assisting coil 3 together with the loosely wound coil 3a. From the motor 74, a cable 74b for power supply and drive stop control extending through the flexible tube 77 is extended.

  The motor 74 is held and fixed to an intermediate member 73 fitted and fixed to the cylindrical tube 75 together with the guide tube 60. Further, the cylindrical tube 75 is connected and fixed to the distal end portion of the flexible tube 77 through the connecting portion 76 at the base end portion.

  The driving stop of the motor 74 is operated by an operation instruction section (not shown) provided at the proximal end of the auxiliary insertion coil 3. This operation instruction unit can also change the rotation speed of the motor 74.

  In the insertion auxiliary coil 3 of the present embodiment configured as described above, since the loosely-wound coil 3a is rotationally driven by the rotating device 71, there is no need to rotate the insertion auxiliary coil 3 by the user. Further, the insertion assisting coil 3 is provided with a loosely wound coil 3a having a predetermined length at the distal end portion, and if the distal end of the loosely wound coil 3a passes through the pipe joint 102, the proximal end side can be easily arranged. The pipe joint 102 can be passed. In addition, the endoscope apparatus 1 including the insertion assisting coil 3 has the same operational effects as those of the first embodiment.

(Eleventh embodiment)
Next, an eleventh embodiment of the present invention will be described.
42 and 43 relate to the eleventh embodiment of the present embodiment. FIG. 42 is a perspective view showing a distal end portion of an insertion assisting coil provided with an extending member that can be extended from the distal end. FIG. It is a fragmentary sectional view for demonstrating the state in which an insertion auxiliary coil passes a pipe joint. In the following description, the same components as those in the industrial endoscope apparatus according to the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 42, the insertion assisting coil 3 of the present embodiment has an annular cap body 81 at the tip, and a predetermined length from a part of the outer peripheral edge portion of the cap body 81 to the front side. An extending member 82 that can be extended is provided.

  The extending member 82 is formed in a rod shape from a thin metal plate such as stainless steel, and has a predetermined flexibility that does not hinder the flexibility of the insertion assisting coil 3 as much as possible. Further, the extending member 82 is inserted and disposed in the loosely wound coil 3a and extends to the proximal end portion of the loosely wound coil 3a. The tip portion of the extending member 82 has a shape memory so as to bend toward the outer side of the auxiliary insertion coil 3.

  The insertion assisting coil 3 configured as described above is configured such that the proximal end portion of the extending member 82 is moved forward by the user so that the extending member 82 can be moved from the distal end surface of the cap body 81 according to the amount of movement. The tip is extended.

  As shown in FIG. 43, the insertion assisting coil 3 according to the present embodiment is extended by the user from the state in which the cap body 81 at the tip abuts against the end face of the straight pipe pipe 101 when passing through the pipe joint 102. The member 82 is operated to extend forward. The extending member 82 extends forward from the cap body 81 so as to be in sliding contact with the inner peripheral surface of the straight pipe pipe 101. The extending member 82 has a curved shape with a distal end portion directed toward the outer side of the auxiliary insertion coil 3. Therefore, the extending member 82 is moved so as to lift the distal end portion of the insertion assisting coil 3 inwardly of the pipe joint 102 and the straight pipe pipe 101.

  Then, the insertion assisting coil 3 is able to jump over the end face of the straight pipe tube 101 by the pushing force of the user and the spring elastic force of the loosely wound coil 3 a stored by the rotation operation in the dense direction and repel in the straight pipe tube 101. Go forward. In this manner, the insertion assisting coil 3 can easily get over the end face of the straight pipe 101 that forms a step. Therefore, the user can also easily insert the insertion portion 2 inserted and arranged in the insertion auxiliary coil 3 into the deep part of the pipe 100 along the insertion auxiliary coil 3.

(Twelfth embodiment)
Next, a twelfth embodiment of the present invention will be described.
44 and 45 relate to a twelfth embodiment of the present embodiment, and FIG. 44 shows an insertion assisting coil in which the imaging unit is detachable from the tip and the length can be appropriately changed by a relay member. FIG. 45 is a perspective view showing an insertion auxiliary coil in which an imaging unit is disposed at the tip. In the following description, the same reference numerals are used for the same components as those in the industrial endoscope apparatus according to each of the above-described embodiments, and detailed descriptions of those components are omitted.

As shown in FIG. 44, the insertion assisting coil 3 according to the present embodiment has a configuration in which the distal end is detachable from the imaging unit 85 and the length can be changed by the relay member 88.
First, the imaging unit 85 is a capsule body in which an imaging unit such as a CCD or CMOS and an illumination light source such as an LED are disposed. The imaging unit 85 is formed with a stepped portion so that the outer diameter of the base end portion is reduced, and an electric connection terminal 85b for supplying power and transmitting information is provided on the outer peripheral portion of the base end portion.

  Further, the imaging unit 85 has a thread groove 85a formed on the outer peripheral portion of the stepped boundary position in the middle. When the imaging unit 85 is not in use, a cover body 86 is attached to the base end portion in order to protect the electrical connection terminal 85b. The cover body 86 is formed with a thread groove 86a that is screwed into the thread groove 85a of the imaging unit 85 at the end of the inner peripheral surface.

  The loosely-wound coil 3a of the present embodiment has a contact terminal 87 that is in contact with and electrically connected to the electrical connection terminal 85b of the imaging unit 85 on the inner surface of the tip. And the printed circuit board (FPC) etc. which have the wiring 87a for supplying with electricity to the contact terminal 87 are affixed on the inner surface of the loosely wound coil 3a from the front end to the base end.

  The loosely wound coil 3 a and the imaging unit 85 are connected so that the distal end of the loosely wound coil 3 a covers the proximal end portion of the imaging unit 85. At this time, the contact terminal 87 of the loosely wound coil 3a and the electrical connection terminal 85b of the imaging unit 85 come into contact with each other.

  In addition, a contact terminal 87 is provided on the inner surface of the proximal end of the loosely wound coil 3a (not shown). The contact terminal 87 at the base end of the loosely wound coil 3a is for contacting and electrically connecting with the contact terminal 88b of the relay member 88.

  The relay member 88 is a substantially columnar member, and a concave portion 88a for connecting the loosely wound coil 3a is formed before and after the midway portion. A contact terminal 88b is provided on each part of the surface of the two recesses 88a. Thereby, since the loosely wound coil 3a can be connected via the relay member 88, the total length of the insertion assisting coil 3 can be changed.

  As described above, the endoscope apparatus 1 does not need to include the insertion portion 2 due to the configuration of the auxiliary insertion coil 3 in which the imaging unit 85 is detachably provided at the distal end. Therefore, in the insertion auxiliary coil 3, the loosely wound coil 3a has more flexibility than when the insertion portion 2 is inserted and arranged. In addition, since the insertion assisting coil 3 can connect a plurality of loosely wound coils 3a in accordance with the number of relay members 88, the total length of the insertion assisting coil 3 is appropriately adjusted according to the length of the pipe 100 serving as the subject. Can be changed.

  Note that the imaging unit 85 is not limited to wired power supply and information communication, and may be configured to incorporate a battery and wirelessly communicate information. With such a configuration of the imaging unit 85, it is not necessary to provide the wiring 87a on the inner surface of the loosely wound coil 3a.

  The configuration in which the imaging unit is provided at the distal end of the insertion assisting coil 3 may be an imaging unit 91 fixed to the distal end cap 26 as shown in FIG. In the imaging unit 91, a cable 93 for power feeding and information communication extends to the base end side. The cable 93 is covered with a covering tube 92, is inserted and disposed in the sparsely wound coil 3 a, and extends to the proximal end of the auxiliary insertion coil 3.

  Even with such a configuration, the insertion assisting coil 3 is more flexible in the sparsely wound coil 3a than when the insertion portion 2 is inserted and disposed in the sparsely wound coil 3a. In addition, the endoscope apparatus 1 having the insertion assisting coil 3 provided with the imaging units 85 and 91 of the present embodiment at the tip can be applied to each of the above-described embodiments. The described effects are exhibited.

(Thirteenth embodiment)
Next, a thirteenth embodiment of the present invention will be described.
46 and 47 relate to a thirteenth embodiment of the present embodiment, FIG. 46 is a perspective view showing an insertion auxiliary coil in which two loosely wound coils having different outer diameters are connected, and FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the connection structure of two sparsely wound coils. In the following description, the same reference numerals are used for the same components as those in the industrial endoscope apparatus according to each of the above-described embodiments, and detailed descriptions of those components are omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 46, in the insertion auxiliary coil 3 of the present embodiment, two loosely wound coils 3a having different outer diameters D1 and D2 are connected. The sparsely wound coil 3a located at the front has a larger outer diameter (D1> D2) than the sparsely wound coil 3a connected at the rear.

  These two sparsely wound coils 3a have the same plate thickness t and winding pitch of the thin plate member. Thereby, the sparsely wound coil 3a on the front side has more flexibility than the sparsely wound coil 3a connected to the rear side. In other words, the rear sparsely wound coil 3a is less flexible than the front sparsely wound coil 3a, that is, has a hard structure.

  For example, when the pipe joint 102 is disposed at five places and the inside of the pipe 100 that is a subject having a portion bent at five places is examined, the insertion assisting coil 3 is provided with a flexible loosely wound coil 3a on the front side. The length L1 is set to such a length as to pass through one or two pipe joints 102, and the rest is set to the length L2 of the rear sparsely wound coil 3a. As described above, when the number of the pipe joints 102 is large, the insertion assisting coil 3 makes the distal end side a flexible loosely wound coil 3a to facilitate passage of the pipe joints 102 even with a small pushing force, and the piping 100 In order to transmit the force to the deep part, the rear part is a sparsely wound coil 3a that is harder than the tip side, so that it is easy to push.

  In connecting the loosely wound coils 3a having different outer diameters as described above, as shown in FIG. 47, the proximal end of the distally wound coil 3a having a large outer diameter D1 is slightly bent toward the inner diameter side. The distal end of the proximal-side sparsely wound coil 3a having a small outer diameter D2 is slightly bent outward. And by connecting while twisting so that the inner peripheral surface of the distal end of the sparsely wound coil 3a on the base end side is covered with the outer peripheral surface of the proximal end of the sparsely wound coil 3a on the distal end side, the diameter can be reduced without particularly providing a connecting part. Two sparsely wound coils 3a having different sizes can be connected.

  As described above, the insertion auxiliary coil 3 is connected to a plurality of, here two, loosely wound coils 3a having different diameters, so that the distal end side is flexible and the proximal end according to the number and position of the pipe joints 102 of the pipe 100. Insertability into the pipe 100 can be further improved by appropriately changing the length of each loosely wound coil 3a so that the side becomes hard.

  The invention described in each of the above-described embodiments is not limited to the embodiments and modifications, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention in the implementation stage. is there.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Industrial endoscope apparatus 2 ... Insertion part 3 ... Insertion auxiliary coil 3a ... Sparsely wound coil 4 ... Operation part 5 ... Main body apparatus 6 ... Grip part 7 ... Hand side fixing | fixed part 21 ... Protrusion part 100 ... Piping 101 ... Straight line Pipe pipe 102 ... Pipe joint

Claims (16)

An insertion part with an observation unit at the tip,
The tube-shaped insertion assisting means in which the insertion portion is arranged and a flat plate is wound loosely to have elasticity,
A holding and fixing means that is disposed at a base end of the insertion assisting means and fixes the movement of the insertion assisting means in the longitudinal direction with respect to the insertion portion, and is held rotatably about the longitudinal axis with respect to the insertion portion; ,
An operating means that is externally fixed to the insertion assisting means, compresses the insertion assisting means by rotating and stores spring elastic force, and pushes the insertion assisting means in the insertion direction;
A rotation restricting means disposed at the distal end of the insertion assisting means, and latched on a subject to restrict the rotation of the distal end portion of the insertion assisting means;
An endoscope apparatus comprising:   The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the rotation restricting unit is a protruding portion protruding outward from an outer peripheral surface of a distal end of the insertion assisting unit.   The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the rotation restricting unit is detachably attached to the insertion assisting unit.   The endoscope apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the insertion assisting means is provided with a detachable annular cap having the rotation restricting means.   The endoscope apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the rotation restricting unit is tapered so as to have a predetermined angle in a proximal direction with respect to a distal end surface of the cap.   The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a rotating device that rotationally drives the insertion assisting unit.   The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the insertion assisting unit has higher rigidity on the proximal end side than on the distal end side.   The insertion assisting means increases the winding pitch of the flat plate on the distal end side, decreases the winding pitch of the flat plate on the proximal end side, and makes the distal end side more flexible than the proximal end side. The endoscope apparatus according to 7.   The endoscope apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the insertion assisting unit includes a connecting portion that connects a plurality of loosely wound coils so as to have the same longitudinal axis.   The endoscope apparatus according to claim 9, wherein a convex portion is provided on a part of the outer periphery of the connecting portion.   The insertion assisting means is formed such that the outer diameter of the coil on the distal end side, which is wound at the same pitch using the same flat plate, is larger than the outer diameter of the coil on the proximal end side so that the distal end side is more flexible than the proximal end side. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 7.   The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an operation wire that pulls and compresses the insertion assisting unit.   The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a guide tube for inserting and arranging the insertion portion is provided in the insertion assisting means.   The endoscope apparatus according to claim 13, wherein a distal end of the guide tube is located on a proximal end side by a predetermined distance from a distal end of the insertion assisting unit.   The endoscope apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the insertion assisting means is movable forward and backward in the longitudinal direction with respect to the guide tube.   By pushing toward the guide tube, the insertion assisting means moves forward with respect to the guide tube, and when the pushing toward the guide tube is released, the insertion assisting means moved forward moves to the guide tube. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising a leaf spring for advancing and retracting the insertion assisting unit so as to move backward.

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