JP2753272B2 - Endoscope device for welding - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a method for determining the location of a damaged water pipe, gas pipe, or a buried pipe buried in the wall of a building. The present invention relates to a welding endoscope apparatus for repairing by welding.

[Conventional technology]

Buried pipes, such as water pipes and gas pipes, buried underground receive a large external force due to vibration of vehicles, land subsidence, and the like. For this reason, a crack may be generated in the buried pipe, or the buried pipe may be locally broken and fluid may leak. Conventionally, when such a situation occurs, the ground at the place where the damage has occurred is dug up, the buried pipe is exposed, and repair is performed by welding or the like from the outer wall of the pipe. In the case where a buried pipe buried in the wall of the building or a pipe laid in a narrow gap is damaged, a hole is opened in the wall around the damaged location to expose the damaged location, as described above. Has been repaired.

Therefore, when the above-mentioned buried pipe is damaged, a large amount of labor and repair costs are actually spent for the repair work. Accordingly, the present applicant has developed a device capable of repairing a damaged portion of a buried pipe into which a human cannot enter by using an endoscope as described above, and has already filed an application as Japanese Patent Application No. 62-269728. This is such that a laser probe is inserted into a channel provided in an insertion portion of an endoscope, and a laser beam can be applied to a portion to be welded from the tip of the laser probe. That is, welding can be performed while observing the welded portion with an endoscope, and repair can be performed without digging up the ground or making a hole in the wall surface as described above.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

However, as described above, a laser probe is inserted into a channel provided in an insertion portion of an endoscope, and a laser beam is irradiated from a tip of the laser probe to a welded portion. A method is adopted in which the part is heated to the melting temperature and welded. Therefore, when the target object is a thin material, a hole is opened by the laser beam, and there is a situation that only a minute flaw or crack can be repaired.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to make it possible to easily weld a portion to be welded under endoscopic observation even if the object is a thin material. ,
In addition, it is an object of the present invention to provide a welding endoscope apparatus which can be easily formed at a necessary portion at a point where ignition of a welding gas is required and which is highly safe.

[Means and actions for solving the problem]

The present invention provides an endoscope,
Gas supply means for supplying a welding gas to the distal end component through the endoscope; and a welding gas provided at the distal end component and supplied from the gas supply means, which is jetted outward of the distal end component. A nozzle having an opening to be opened, and ignition means disposed near the nozzle and igniting the welding gas ejected from the nozzle, wherein the opening of the nozzle is at a fixed position in the field of view of the endoscope. It is characterized by: By adopting such a configuration, even under endoscopic observation, the distance to the workpiece can be easily grasped with reference to the nozzle opening, and welding can be easily performed. it can. Further, the ignition means includes a heating wire, a connection wire for electrically heating the heating wire, and a heating power supply.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

1 to 9 show a first embodiment, and FIG. 1 shows a distal end of a side-view type welding endoscope (hereinafter referred to as an endoscope). Reference numeral 1 denotes a tip component, which is made of a heat-resistant material such as SUS or ceramics. A first hole 3a, a second hole 3b, and a third hole 3c are formed in the end wall 2 of the distal end component 1 in the axial direction.
An objective lens 4 is provided in the hole 3a, and is optically connected to the image guide fiber 5. Second hole
A light guide fiber 6 is connected to 3b, and a gas supply tube 8 forming a welding gas flow path 7 is connected to the third hole 3c, thereby forming gas supply means. Further, cover glasses 9a and 9b are attached to the front ends of the first hole 3a and the second hole 3b, and a tapered portion 9c is formed at the tip of the third hole 3c. A screw portion 10 is engraved on the outer peripheral surface of the end wall 2 of the distal end component portion 1, and a fixing ring 12 for detachably mounting an adapter 11 described later is screwed to the screw portion 10. .

The adapter 11 has an adapter body 13 having a cylindrical shape, and a rectangular cutout window 14 is provided on a side wall located at an upper portion thereof, as shown in FIG. Further, a reflecting member 16 having a 45 ° inclined surface and having the inclined surface as a mirror portion 15 is housed inside the adapter body 13. And
The reflecting member 16 is fixed integrally with the adapter body 13 by a fixing screw 17 as shown in FIG.
The front end of the reflecting member 16 is protected by a cover 19 fixed by fixing screws 18. In addition, the adapter body
A flange 20 is provided at the base end of the bracket 13, and the adapter 11 is fixed to the distal end component 1 by hooking the fixing ring 12 on the flange 20. The fixing ring 12 is provided with notches 21 as shown in FIGS. The cutout grooves 21 are slightly deformed after being cut and formed, so that the pitch of the screw inside the cutout grooves 21 changes to provide frictional resistance, thereby serving as a slip-out preventing function. If the notch grooves 21 are filled with a heat-resistant adhesive, for example, a ceramic adhesive 22, the rotation of the fixing ring 12 can be more reliably prevented.

Further, a connecting cylinder 23 is provided to penetrate the reflecting member 16 coaxially facing the welding gas passage 7.
The connecting tube 23 is formed in the reflecting member 16 at right angles to the connecting tube 23. One end of the connecting tube 23 is provided in the mirror unit 15, and the other end is provided in the notch window.
It communicates with through-holes 24 that open on the side walls opposite to 14 respectively. A nozzle body 25 is inserted into the through hole 24, a nozzle 26 opening toward the cutout window 14 is connected to an upper end of the nozzle body 25, and an air intake 27 is formed at a lower end. ing. Then, the mixed gas ejected from the nozzle 26 is ignited by igniting by means described later, and constitutes a heating means 26a for heating the welded portion by the flame. Further, the connecting cylinder 23 has a tapered portion 23a at the base end thereof which is closely fitted with a tapered portion 9c provided on an end wall of the distal end component 1, and an end wall 2 near the tapered portion 23a. A smoke suction opening 29 is formed in a space 28 surrounded by the mirror 15 and the adapter body 13. The distal end of the connection tube 23 communicates with the nozzle body 25 through a communication port 30 formed in a side wall of the nozzle body 25, and the center of the communication port 30 is larger than the center of the connection tube 23. Upwards,
That is, it is displaced in the direction of the cutout window 14. Further, a screw hole 31 is formed in a part of the reflection member 16 facing the communication port 30, and an adjusting screw 32 as a mixed air amount adjusting means is screwed into the screw hole 31. The adjusting screw 32 has a tapered portion 33 at the distal end and a knurled operation flange 34 at the base end. As shown in FIG.
A compression spring 36 for preventing play of the adjusting screw 32 is interposed between the operation flange 34 and the cover 19, and is exposed to the inside of the recess 35 provided in the 16 so as to be operable with fingers. By moving the adjusting screw 32 forward and backward, the opening amount of the air intake 27 is adjusted, and the mixing ratio between the combustion gas and the air can be adjusted.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4, an ignition means 37 for igniting the combustion gas is provided at the front end of the reflection member 16. The ignition means 37 is a ceramic insulating case 39 housed in a recess 38 provided at the front end of the reflection member 16.
A battery 40 serving as a heating power source housed in the insulating case 39; a heater 41 comprising contacts 41 and 42 of both electrodes of the battery 40; and a heating wire such as a nichrome wire having both ends connected to the contacts 41 and 42. And 43. And the contact
Normally, the space between the battery 41 and the battery 40 is separated, and when a push button 44 provided so as to be able to protrude and retract on the cover 19 is pressed, the contact 41 and the battery 40 come into contact with each other to be electrically connected to the heater 43, and 43 is designed to heat. The heater 43 is covered with an insulator 45 made of ceramic except for the tip, and the tip protrudes to near the tip of the nozzle 26.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, a fourth hole 3d is formed in the end wall 2 of the distal end component 1, and a brazing material supply passage 46 is formed in the fourth hole 3d. Brazing material delivery tube
47 is connected. And this brazing material delivery tube
A brazing material supply means 49 is configured in which a brazing material 48 made of a flexible thin wire is inserted into the inside of 47 and the leading end protrudes into the space 28 in front of the end wall 2 by sending out the brazing material 48. I have. Further, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a part of the mirror portion 15 of the reflection member 16 has the fourth hole 3d.
A guide groove 50 is provided opposite to. This guide groove 50 is for bending the delivered brazing material 48 and leading its tip to the direction of the nozzle 26, and is formed in an arc shape in a side view,
It is inclined in the direction of the nozzle 26 when viewed from the front. Further, a detachment prevention plate 51 for preventing the brazing material 48 from coming off the guide groove 50 is provided at the opening of the guide groove 50.

The distal end component 1 of the endoscope configured as described above is provided at the distal end of a flexible insertion portion 52 as shown in FIG. An operation unit 53 is provided. The image guide fiber 5, the light guide fiber 6, the gas supply tube 8, and the brazing material delivery tube 47 are inserted into the insertion section 52, and the image guide fiber 5 is connected to the eyepiece section 54 provided in the operation section 53.
In addition, the light guide fiber 6 and the gas supply tube 8 are inserted into the cable 55 via the operation unit 53. This cable 55 is provided with a light source connector 56 and a welding machine connector 58 provided on the light source connector 56 via a branch cable 57. The light source connector 56 is connected to the light source device 59, and the welding machine connector 58 is connected to the welding machine 60. Have been. Further, the light source device 59 and the welding machine 60 are mounted on a carriage 61 and can be moved.

The operating portion 53 is provided with a bending knob 62, a gas control switch 63, and a sealed brazing material delivery port 64, and the brazing material delivery port 64 communicates with the brazing material delivery tube 47. Further, a delivery roller 65 is rotatably provided at the brazing material delivery port 64, and the brazing material 48 can be delivered by rotating the delivery roller 65 by a finger.

Next, the operation of the welding endoscope configured as described above will be described.

As shown in FIG. 8, when the inspection object is a pipe A such as a water pipe or a gas pipe into which a human cannot enter, the opening B thereof is used.
Then, the insertion section 52 of the endoscope is inserted. Then, the inner wall C of the tube A is inspected while visually confirming it at the eyepiece 54.
When a crack D as a welded portion is found on the inner wall C of the pipe A as shown in FIG. 1, the operation knob 62 of the operation unit 53 is operated to be attached to the distal end component 1. The adapter 11 facing the crack D. Next, when the crack D is repaired by gas welding, as shown in FIG. 4, the push button 44 is pressed against a wall or the like to bring the contact 41 into contact with the battery 40, thereby energizing the heater 43. After the heater 43 heats up to the ignition temperature, the gas control switch
When the combustion gas is supplied from the welding machine 60 by operating the 63, the combustion gas is guided to the adapter 11 through the welding gas passage 7. Then, when the combustion gas is directed from the connecting cylinder 23 to the nozzle body 25, air is sucked from the air intake 27 by the negative pressure, and the combustion gas and oxygen in the air are mixed, and this mixed gas is ejected from the nozzle 26 at the same time. It is ignited by the heater 43. A flame 66 is generated from the nozzle 26. The flame 66 is directed toward the crack D, and when the delivery roller 65 provided on the operation section 53 is rotated by a finger, the brazing material 48 is formed.
Is guided to the adapter 11 through the brazing material supply section 46. Then, the brazing material 48 is guided by the guide groove 50, and FIGS.
As shown in the figure, it is sent out toward the flame 66 which is jetting from the nozzle 26. Therefore, the brazing material 48 by the flame 66
Is melted, the crack D is filled with the melted brazing material 48, and only the crack D can be repaired without damaging the tube A.

Such a welding operation state can be visually confirmed by the eyepiece 54 of the endoscope, and the field of view 67 is as shown in FIG. During the welding operation, smoke is generated from the welded portion, and this smoke is sucked from the smoke suction port 29 provided in the connecting cylinder 23. Therefore, smoke does not stay in the space 28, and a clear field of view can be secured.

FIGS. 10 to 15 show the second embodiment, and the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted.
FIG. 10 shows a distal end portion of a direct-view welding endoscope (hereinafter, referred to as an endoscope). End wall 2 of tip component 1
The adapter 80 is removably mounted by the fixing ring 12 screwed into the screw portion 10 of FIG. A part of the adapter 80, that is, a part facing the welding gas passage 7,
The nozzle 81 is provided in the mounting port 81. The base end of the nozzle body 82 is provided with a tapered portion 83 that fits tightly with the tapered portion 9c of the third hole 3c, and a nozzle 84 protruding forward is fixed at the distal end with a rivet 85. ing. Further, as shown in FIG.
An air intake 86 is formed in the middle of the nozzle body 82, and a rotary ring 87 is fitted therein. A wedge-shaped air intake adjusting port 88 is formed in the rotating ring 87, and constitutes a mixed air amount adjusting means 89 capable of adjusting the opening amount of the air intake opening 86 by rotation of the rotating ring 87.

12 to 14 on the side adjacent to the nozzle body 82.
As shown in the figure, a brazing material supply means 90 and an ignition means 91 are provided. That is, a tapered pipe 92 is provided at a part of the adapter 80, that is, at a part facing the brazing material supply passage 46, and the tapered pipe 92 is bent at an appropriate angle in a direction toward the tip of the nozzle 84. The brazing material inside this
It protrudes from its tip through 48. The tapered pipe 92 has a heater made of nichrome wire.
The nozzle 93 is wound, and a part thereof is provided with a loop portion 94 which is close to the tip of the nozzle 84. The heater 93 is electrically connected to the light source device 59 via the operation section 53 of the endoscope via the lead wire 96 insulated by the ceramic insulating member 95, as shown in FIG. Operation unit 53
Is heated by the operation of an ignition switch 97 provided in the power supply. Therefore, if a portion requiring welding repair is formed on the inner wall C of the tube A during observation by inserting the insertion portion 53 of the endoscope into the tube A, the ignition switch 97 is turned on at that time. Can be operated and ignited.

According to such a direct-view type endoscope, as shown in FIG. 12, a crack D or the like generated in a narrow structure E into which a human cannot enter can be repaired by the same welding means as in the first embodiment. The field of view 98 at the time of welding is as shown in FIG. 15, and welding can be performed while visually confirming the portion to be welded with the eyepiece 54. Therefore, by mounting the side-view type adapter 11 to the distal end component 1 of the endoscope as shown in the first embodiment, or by mounting the direct-view type adapter 80 as shown in the second embodiment. In addition, welding can be reliably performed while visually checking the welded portion.

In the above-described embodiment, an adapter is provided at the distal end portion of the endoscope, and a nozzle for gas welding is provided on the adapter.However, the present invention is not limited to gas welding, and the brazing material may be melted by other heating means. May be welded.

Further, the present invention can also be applied to an electronic endoscope in which a solid-state imaging device such as a CCD is provided at a distal end portion of the endoscope.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, according to the present invention, even if the target is a tube or a structure into which a human cannot enter, and even if the target is a thin material, there is a reference point of the nozzle opening in the field of view, The distance to the welded part can be easily grasped even under endoscopic observation. Therefore, welding can be easily performed. Therefore, a wide range of welding repairs on water pipes, gas pipes, buildings, and the like can be performed. In addition, by providing the ignition means in the distal end portion, the welding gas can be ignited at a necessary point and at a necessary point, and the safety can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

1 to 9 show a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional side view of a distal end portion of an endoscope, FIG. 2 is a bottom view thereof, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a longitudinal side view of the tip component section of the ignition means section, FIG. 5 is a front view as viewed from the direction of arrow V in FIG. 6, and FIG. 6 is a view of the brazing material supply means. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VII-VII of FIG. 6, FIG. 8 is a side view showing the entire endoscope device, and FIG. 9 is a view showing a visual field. FIGS. 10 to 15 show a second embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 10 is a vertical side view of the tip component section of the nozzle part,
FIG. 11 is a side view of a nozzle portion, FIG. 12 is a longitudinal side view of a tip component section of a section of brazing material supply means, and FIG.
FIG. 12 is a front view of FIG. 12, FIG. 14 is a side view of a distal end component part of which is partially cut out of an ignition means, and FIG. 15 is an explanatory view showing a visual field. 1... Tip configuration part, 8... Gas supply tube (gas supply means), 37, 91... Ignition means, 52.
Operation unit.

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] An endoscope comprising an operation section, an insertion section and a distal end portion; a gas supply means for supplying a welding gas to the distal end portion via the endoscope; and a gas supply means provided on the distal end portion. A nozzle having an opening for ejecting the welding gas supplied from the gas supply means toward the outside of the distal end component, and an ignition means disposed near the nozzle and igniting the welding gas ejected from the nozzle. Wherein the opening of the nozzle is at a fixed position in the field of view of the endoscope. 2. The welding endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said ignition means includes a heating wire, a connection wire for electrically heating said heating wire, and a heating power supply.