JP2606217Y2 - In-pipe inspection camera device - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an in-pipe inspection camera device capable of visually inspecting the inside of a water pipe, a sewer pipe, a gas pipe or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An in-pipe inspection camera apparatus used for inspection of water and sewer pipes captures an image of the inside of a pipe by a television camera section which has entered the pipe, transmits an image signal to an external monitor through a cable, and transmits the image signal to the pipe. The inside can be visually observed. Thereby, it is possible to detect a damaged state or the like of the pipe inner wall and the pipe connection part.

[0003]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, according to the conventional in-pipe inspection camera apparatus, the inspection of underwater such as water pipes is difficult.
Since it is difficult to control the imaging position and the imaging posture of the camera as desired, the imaging range is narrow, and scratches and damage may be overlooked. Also, if mud or the like accumulates inside the pipe, the camera comes into contact with it and pollutes the water, so you have to wait for sedimentation, and it takes time to find the damaged part. Was. Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an in-pipe inspection camera device capable of controlling the direction of a camera head section inserted into a pipe.

[0004]

According to the present invention, there is provided a camera head, a connecting member having one end attached to the camera head and having flexibility and restoring force, and the other end of the connecting member attached to the inside. Shi is a direction control unit in which a plurality of cylinders about an axis is provided, controlled longitudinal axial direction by the cylinder, an actuator member connected to the corresponding cylinder between said camera head unit, the plurality
In order to drive the cylinder, the cylinder and the remote control
And a plurality of tubes connected between them.

[0005]

By the above means, the direction of the camera head can be freely changed by controlling the plurality of cylinders, so that the smoothness when entering the inside of the tube and the free selection of the imaging area to be monitored can be improved. It becomes possible,
It can improve the reliability of tube inspection.

[0006]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an in-pipe inspection camera device according to the present invention. The camera head unit 100 has a solid-state imaging device and a lens system 102 in front of the solid-state imaging device inside an external frame 101. A plurality of illumination units 103 for illuminating the front are provided around the lens system 102. A power supply for driving the solid-state imaging device, a control signal, and an imaging signal acquired by the solid-state imaging device were routed through the inside of the coupling member 200, the inside of the orientation control unit 300, and the inside of the camera control cable 400. Through the signal line, the remote control unit 50
Associated with zero.

Next, the direction controller 300 has a plurality of cylinders 30a, 30b, 30c, 30d (3
0d is not shown) so that the cylinder shaft can move in the axial direction. For example, wires 31a to 31d (31d is not shown) are attached to the movable shafts of the cylinders 30a to 30d, and the other ends of the wires 31a to 31d are attached to the external frame 101 of the camera head unit 100. .

The cylinders 30a-30d are connected to tubes 32a-3 inserted inside the camera control cable 400.
It is controlled by the remote control unit 500 through 2d. The remote control unit 500 includes solenoid valves 50a to 50d to which the tubes 32a to 32d are attached, and a control unit 501 that controls the solenoid valves 50a to 50b. Further, a compressor 502 is connected to the solenoid valves 50a to 50d. The camera control cable 400 also includes a cable 401 in which a signal line for guiding an image signal to a video processing circuit of the remote control unit 500 and a signal line for driving a solid-state image sensor are inserted.

The connecting portion 200 is made of, for example, a hollow material such as rubber, and has elasticity and a restoring force. The connecting portion 200 is not limited to this embodiment, and may be, for example, a coil spring wound around a normal electric cable. Further, the wires 31a to 31d are not limited thereto, and may be connecting rods, as long as they serve as an actuator.

FIG. 2 shows an operation example of the invented device [FIG.
(A) to FIG. 2 (C)] and another embodiment [FIG. 2 (D)]. FIG. 2A shows the posture of the camera head unit 100 when the cylinders 30a to 30d are in the initial state. FIG. 2 (B) shows a state in which it is turned upward, and FIG.
(C) has shown the state turned downward. Thus, according to this apparatus, the direction of the camera head unit 100 can be freely controlled, and the usability of the apparatus and the reliability of tube inspection can be improved.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2D, a float 600 is provided around the direction control unit 300, for example.
May be attached. The air pressure of the float 600 can be controlled by an external remote control unit 500 similarly to the cylinder. By providing the float 600 in this manner, when the inspected pipe 700 has a large diameter as shown in FIG. 2D, the entire position of the camera can be controlled up and down, and the inspection becomes easy. In particular, this is extremely effective when the camera head unit 100 is small and it is necessary to move the main body to focus the lens system. In this case, the camera head 1
The direction control of 00 may be performed.

In addition, since the direction of the camera head unit 100 can be changed in this manner, the direction can be changed in the case of entering the inside of a bent tube or in the case of a T-junction. It is easy, and no excessive force is applied to the camera head unit 100 from the outside. The number of cylinders is four in the embodiment, but may be further increased. Also, three or two may be used. Further, in the case where the upper and lower sides of the inspection apparatus are always determined, at least one connection member may have a return amount.

FIG. 3 shows three solenoid valves 5 for orientation control.
0a, 50b, 50c are provided, and two solenoid valves 50e, 50f are provided for position control (floating, sinking control). Here, control of the float 600 will be described. The solenoid valve 50e is a normally closed valve.
f is a normally open valve. Therefore, when both are off, the float 600 maintains the current state. Next, when the solenoid valve 50e is on and the solenoid valve 50f is off, the float volume increases and the camera head unit 100 is floated.
Conversely, when the solenoid valve 50e is off and the solenoid valve 50f is on, the float volume decreases and the camera head unit 100 sinks.

[0014]

As described above, according to the present invention, the direction of the camera head provided at the end of the cable can be freely controlled, and the smoothness when entering the inside of the tube and the freedom of the imaging area to be monitored can be improved. This makes it possible to select various directions, thereby improving the usability of the apparatus and the reliability of pipe inspection. Further, according to this device, when changing the direction of the camera head, the direction of the camera head is not utilized, so that surrounding water can be stirred and the direction can be changed quietly without turbidity.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an operation example of the in-pipe inspection device of the present invention and a diagram showing another embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view of a cylinder and a float control system used in the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 100: Camera head unit, 200: Connection unit, 300: Orientation control unit, 400: Camera control cable, 500: Remote control unit, 101: External case, 102: Lens system, 10
3. Illumination unit, 30a-30c ... cylinder, 31a-31
c: wire, 32a to 32d: tube, 50a to 50
d ... Solenoid valve.

Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Ei Igarashi 5-11-204 Hachioji, Yono-shi, Saitama (72) Inventor Kazuyoshi Kuroiwa 1-6-131 Midoricho, Akishima-shi, Tokyo KEN T HOUSE A-201 ( 56) References JP-A-3-69971 (JP, U) JP-A-6-9338 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04N 5/222-5/253 H04N 7/18 G02B 23/24-23/26

Claims (2)

(57) [Scope of request for utility model registration] 1. A camera head unit, a connecting member having one end attached to the camera head unit and having flexibility and a return force, and a plurality of cylinders around an axis inside the other end of the connecting member attached to the other end. An orientation control unit provided; an actuator member that is controlled back and forth in the axial direction by the cylinder, connects the corresponding cylinder and the camera head unit, and is remote from the cylinder to drive the plurality of cylinders.
An in-pipe inspection camera device, comprising: a plurality of tubes connected to a separation control unit . 2. A camera head, a connecting member having one end attached to the camera head and having flexibility and a restoring force, and a cylinder provided around the axis inside the other end of the connecting member. An orientation control unit, an actuator member that is controlled back and forth in the axial direction by the cylinder, connects the cylinder and the camera head unit, and remotely controls the cylinder to drive the cylinder.
A tube inspection camera device, comprising: a tube connected to a section .