JP2018173513A - Industrial endoscope and observation method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an industrial endoscope and an observation method capable of greatly moving an imaging device.SOLUTION: Provided is an industrial endoscope which includes: an imaging device: a flexible holding member for holding the imaging device; and one or a plurality of nozzles fixed to the holding member and injecting fluid.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an industrial endoscope and an observation method.

  A general industrial endoscope is provided with an imaging device at the tip, and the position of the imaging device can be changed by bending the vicinity of the tip.

JP 2008-202575 A

  However, there is a problem that the movable range of the imaging device is narrow only by bending the tip, and the range that can be observed with an industrial endoscope is limited.

  This invention is made | formed in view of such a problem, and the subject of this invention is providing the industrial endoscope and observation method which can move an imaging device largely.

According to one aspect of the present invention, an industrial interior comprising: an imaging device; a flexible holding member that holds the imaging device; and one or more nozzles that are fixed to the holding member and eject fluid. An endoscope is provided.
By ejecting the fluid, the imaging apparatus can be moved greatly. As a result, the observable range is expanded. Further, when there is a branching portion in the photographing target, it is possible to advance to a desired branch.

  It is desirable that the imaging device held by the holding member moves in a direction different from the direction of fluid ejection from the nozzle when the nozzle ejects fluid.

The plurality of nozzles may include a first nozzle that ejects fluid in a photographing direction of the imaging device and a second nozzle that ejects fluid in a direction opposite to the photographing direction of the imaging device.
Thereby, the imaging device can be moved forward or backward.

You may provide the film member which covers the said imaging device, the said holding member, and the said 1 or several nozzle.
As a result, the risk of getting caught in the observation target can be reduced, and even when underwater observation is performed, it is difficult for water to penetrate into the industrial endoscope.

The flow path includes one flow path, and the plurality of nozzles include two or more nozzles connected to the one flow path, and whether to inject the fluid to each of the two or more nozzles. It is desirable to provide a valve to control.
Thereby, the number of flow paths and fluid supply sources can be reduced.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an observation method for performing observation while moving an imaging device held by the holding member by ejecting a fluid from a nozzle fixed to the holding member.
By ejecting the fluid, the imaging apparatus can be moved greatly. As a result, the observable range is expanded.

  The imaging device can be moved greatly.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an industrial endoscope 100 according to an embodiment. The figure explaining operation | movement of the industrial endoscope 100. FIG. The schematic block diagram of the industrial endoscope 101 which is a 1st modification. The schematic block diagram of the industrial endoscope 102 which is a 2nd modification. The schematic block diagram of the industrial endoscope 103 which is a 3rd modification. The schematic block diagram of the industrial endoscope 104 which is a 4th modification. The schematic block diagram of the industrial endoscope 105 which is a 5th modification.

  Embodiments according to the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an industrial endoscope 100 according to an embodiment. The industrial endoscope 100 includes an imaging device 1, nozzles 2a and 2b, flow paths 3a and 3b, high-pressure sources 4a and 4b, and a holding member 5, and is used for, for example, observation inside the pump. It is done.

  The imaging device 1 may be a camera provided with a lens at the tip or an optical fiber. The imaging device 1 is held at the tip of a flexible holding member 5. A wiring connected to the imaging device 1 passes through the holding member 5, and power supply and control of the imaging device 1 are performed from the outside, and image data obtained by the imaging device 1 is transmitted to the image processing system 11. Or The captured image is displayed in real time on a monitor (not shown) disposed in the vicinity of the operator, and can be appropriately captured or recorded.

  The nozzle 2a is attached to the tip of the flexible flow path 3a. A high pressure source 4a is connected to the other end of the flow path 3a through a valve 41a. The flow path 3a is fixed to the holding member 5 directly or indirectly. Therefore, it can be said that the nozzle 2 a is fixed to the holding member 5 or the imaging device 1. The high-pressure source 4a may be a tank or a pump that supplies a liquid such as water, or a compressor that supplies a gas such as air. That is, the high-pressure source 4a may be any one that supplies fluid via the flow path 3a. By providing such a flow path 3a and a high-pressure source 4a, the nozzle 2a can eject a fluid from its tip.

  The nozzle 2b, the flow path 3b, and the high pressure source 4b have the same configuration. However, the fluid ejecting direction from the nozzle 2a and the fluid ejecting direction from the nozzle 2b are different from each other, and in the specific example of FIG.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the industrial endoscope 100. As shown in the figure, when the fluid is ejected from only the nozzle 2a, the holding member 5 holding the imaging device 1 and the flow paths 3a and 3b are in a direction different from the fluid ejection direction (specifically, the opposite direction). The direction is largely changed, and as a result, the imaging device 1 moves to change the imaging position. Although not shown, when the fluid is ejected from only the nozzle 2b, the imaging device 1 also moves in a direction different from the ejection direction. Thus, an arbitrary observation target can be observed while moving the imaging device 1. In particular, when the observation target includes a branch portion, the imaging device 1 can be advanced to a desired branch.

  FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of an industrial endoscope 101 which is a first modification. As illustrated, more nozzles 2a1, 2a2, 2b1, and 2b2 may be provided so that the degree of freedom for moving the imaging device 1 is increased.

  FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram of an industrial endoscope 102 which is a second modified example. As shown in the figure, a nozzle 2a that ejects fluid in the photographing direction (front) of the imaging apparatus 1 and a nozzle 2b that ejects fluid in the opposite direction (backward) may be provided. The industrial endoscope 102 moves backward by ejecting the fluid only from the nozzle 2a. The industrial endoscope 102 moves forward by ejecting fluid from only the nozzle 2b.

  FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram of an industrial endoscope 103 which is a third modification. As shown in the figure, this industrial endoscope 103 includes flow passages 3a and 3b to which nozzles 2a and 2b are attached, respectively, and a coating member 6 that covers the holding member 5. When performing observation in water such as a pump, the coating member 6 serves as a protective material, so that water does not easily penetrate into the industrial endoscope 103. Moreover, by using the cylindrical coating member 6, the vicinity of the nozzle 2a becomes smooth, and the surface of the industrial endoscope 103 is reduced, so that it is difficult to catch on the observation target.

  FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram of an industrial endoscope 104 which is a fourth modified example. As illustrated, the coating member 6 in the vicinity of the nozzles 2a and 2b may be thickened.

  FIG. 7 is a schematic configuration diagram of an industrial endoscope 105 that is a fifth modification. As shown, two or more nozzles 2a and 2b may be connected by branching one flow path 3 to which one high pressure source 4 is connected at one end. In this case, valves 21a and 21b are provided on the nozzles 2a and 2b, respectively. It is desirable that the valves 21a and 21b can be remotely operated using electric wires, radio waves, sound waves, light, wires, or the like.

  By opening the valve 21a and closing the valve 21b, fluid is ejected only from the nozzle 2a. On the other hand, by opening the valve 21b and closing the valve 21a, fluid is ejected only from the nozzle 2b. By setting it as such a structure, the number of the flow paths 3 and the high voltage | pressure sources 4 can be reduced.

Two or more modifications described above may be arbitrarily combined.
Thus, in this embodiment, since the fluid is ejected from the nozzle, the imaging apparatus 1 can be moved greatly, and the range that can be observed is expanded.

  The embodiment described above is described for the purpose of enabling the person having ordinary knowledge in the technical field to which the present invention belongs to implement the present invention. Various modifications of the above embodiment can be naturally made by those skilled in the art, and the technical idea of the present invention can be applied to other embodiments. Therefore, the present invention should not be limited to the described embodiments, but should be the widest scope according to the technical idea defined by the claims.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Imaging device 11 Image processing system 2a, 2a1, 2a2, 2b, 2b1, 2b2 Nozzle 3, 3a, 3b Flow path 4, 4a, 4b High pressure source 5 Holding member 6 Coating member 11 Image processing system

Claims (6)

An imaging device;
A flexible holding member for holding the imaging device;
An industrial endoscope comprising: one or a plurality of nozzles fixed to the holding member and ejecting fluid.   The industrial endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the imaging device held by the holding member moves in a direction different from a fluid ejection direction from the nozzle by ejecting the fluid from the nozzle. The plurality of nozzles are:
A first nozzle that ejects fluid in the imaging direction of the imaging device;
A second nozzle that ejects fluid in a direction opposite to the imaging direction of the imaging device;
The industrial endoscope according to claim 1, comprising:   The industrial endoscope according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a coating member that covers the imaging device, the holding member, and the one or more nozzles. Comprising one flow path through which the fluid flows;
The plurality of nozzles includes two or more nozzles connected to the one flow path,
The industrial endoscope according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein each of the two or more nozzles is provided with a valve for controlling whether or not to inject a fluid.   An observation method for performing observation while moving an imaging device held by the holding member by ejecting a fluid from a nozzle fixed to the holding member.