JPH08286124A - Method for inserting inspecting device into pipe - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To insert a cable-like inspecting device for inspecting the inside of a pipe by using a camera from a branch pipe to the pipe in a main body side with a simple constitution where a special insertion guiding device is not required and also with an easy operation. CONSTITUTION: Wires 21 and 22 are installed around a rubber pipe 17 for connecting a camera part 15 installed at the leading end part of the inspecting device 6 with a driving part 16, one end part of each wire is connected to the camera part 15, the other end part of each wire is connected to an actuator 26 arranged in the driving part 16 so as to bend the rubber pipe 17 toward the wire pulled by the actuator 26. The leading end part of the inspecting device 6 is inserted into the pipe 1 from the branch pipe 3, then, the rubber pipe 17 is bent in an inserting direction along the direction of the axial center of the pipe 1 by operating the wires, then, the inspecting device 6 is stillmore inserted into the pipe 1.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for inserting an inspection device into a pipe, and more particularly to a cable-shaped inspection device having a relatively high rigidity, such as an inspection device for a pipe using a television camera.
The present invention relates to a method for inserting an inspection device into a pipe, which is preferably used when the pipe is inserted into a pipe from a branch pipe.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in order to inspect a state in which a fluid such as tap water is kept flowing in a pipe, a cable-shaped inspection device having a television camera for inspection attached to a tip is provided with a branch for attaching a fire hydrant. It is known that a pipe is inserted into the pipe in the axial direction of the pipe. At this time, the branch pipe for attaching the fire hydrant is usually formed in a direction perpendicular to the pipe on the main body side. Therefore, the cable-shaped inspection device has to change the direction from the branch pipe to the pipe on the main body side at a substantially right angle. However, as described above, particularly when the tip portion of the inspection device having relatively high rigidity is inserted from the branch pipe toward the pipe on the main body side in the radial direction of the pipe on the main body side, the orientation of the tip portion on the main body side is changed. It is difficult to orient in the axial direction of the pipe.

For this reason, for example, in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 6-18794, the tip of a guide tube inserted in the axial direction of the branch pipe from the branch pipe to the pipe on the main body side is inserted into the main body from the axial center direction of the branch pipe. There has been proposed an insertion guide device having a configuration in which a plurality of guide plates that are bent stepwise in the axial direction of the side tube are provided. By being guided by these guide plates, the tip end of the cable-shaped inspection device can be relatively easily turned around along the tube axis direction of the tube on the main body side. Since it is necessary for the plurality of guide plates to pass through the narrow path portion of the branch pipe, an openable and closable structure that can be folded into a small size is adopted.

[0004]

However, in such a conventional insertion guide device using the opening / closing type guide plate, the opening / closing structure is complicated and the operation for opening / closing requires labor. In addition, there is a problem that it takes time to install it in the pipe.

Therefore, the present invention solves such a problem, and the cable-shaped inspection device has a simple structure which does not require a special insertion guide device and can be operated easily.
The purpose is to be able to insert from the branch pipe to the pipe on the main body side.

[0006]

In order to achieve this object, the present invention provides a camera at the tip of the inspection device when a cable-shaped inspection device for inspecting the inside of the pipe is inserted into the pipe by using a camera. Section and a drive section, and a plurality of cords are provided around a flexible member that connects the camera section and the drive section, and one end of each cord is connected to the camera section. The other end of the actuator is connected to the actuator in the drive unit, the flexible member is configured to bend toward the cord pulled by the actuator, and the branch pipe provided in the pipe is used to The distal end portion is inserted into the pipe, and the flexible member is curved by an operation of the cord toward the insertion direction along the pipe axial direction, and then the cable-shaped inspection device is further fed into the pipe. is there.

[0007]

With this configuration, the tip end portion of the cable-shaped inspection device is curved from the axial direction of the branch pipe toward the axial direction of the pipe on the main body side. This cable-like inspection device can be easily inserted into the pipe on the main body side without using a complicated insertion guide device that is difficult to install and operate in the pipe itself and has a simple structure.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In FIG. 2, reference numeral 1 is a horizontal pipe buried in the ground, for example, in a state in which clean water is passed. Above the pipe 1, pits 2 for installing underground fire hydrants, air valves, etc. are formed at appropriate intervals. A branch pipe 3 that branches upward from the pipe 1 in the direction perpendicular to the pipe 1 is introduced into the pit 2, and a fire hydrant or an air valve (not shown) is attached to the upper end of the branch pipe 3 via a sub valve 4. ing. When inspecting the inside of the pipe, the auxiliary valve 4 is closed, the fire hydrant, the air valve, etc. are removed, and the insertion device 5 is connected to the auxiliary valve 4 as shown in the drawing.

The insertion device 5 is divided into two parts which allow the inspection device 6 to pass while maintaining a seal between the drum 7 around which the cable-shaped inspection device 6 to be inserted into the pipe 1 is wound and the inside of the pipe 1. The sealing device 8 and the manual feeding device 10 configured to feed the inspection device 6 toward the inside of the pipe by rotating the rollers while the inspection device 6 is sandwiched by the pair of rollers. Sending device 10
It has an emergency shutoff valve 11 and an insertion outer cylinder 12 which are interposed between the lower end of the and the sub valve 4.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the inspection device 6 includes
It has a columnar camera unit 15 having a built-in television camera at its tip, and a drive unit 16 formed in a columnar shape and having substantially the same diameter as the camera unit 15 is provided at a position apart from the camera unit 15. Has been. A flexible rubber pipe 17 is provided between the camera unit 15 and the driving unit 16. The rubber pipe 17 is formed to have a smaller diameter than the camera unit 15 and the driving unit 16 and has a camera inside. A signal cable etc. to the part 15 is passed through.

The rubber pipe 17 is covered with a flexible rubber tube 19 having substantially the same diameter as the camera section 15 and the driving section 16, and one end of the rubber tube 19 is tightly fitted to the camera section 15. Fitted outside and the other end is the drive unit
These camera parts 15 are closely fitted to 16
An annular watertight space 20 is formed around the rubber pipe 17 between the drive unit 16 and the drive unit 16.

Inside the rubber tube 19, a pair of wires 21 and 22 arranged in the length direction of the rubber pipe 17 are provided at positions spaced by 180 degrees in the circumferential direction along the circumference of the rubber pipe 17. Has been. These wires
One ends of 21, 22 are connected to predetermined positions on the rear end surface of the camera unit 15, respectively.

An intermediate ring 24, which is divided into two in the circumferential direction, is fixed to the outer circumference of the rubber pipe 17 between the camera section 15 and the driving section 16 in an externally fitted state. The wires 21, 22 are configured to be guided by the intermediate ring 24 by penetrating the intermediate ring 24 in the axial direction.

The other ends of the wires 21 and 22 are guided into the driving unit 16 and connected to the actuator 26. The actuator 26 is configured to be able to pull and loosen the wires 21 and 22, respectively. When the actuator 26 pulls the wire, the rubber pipe 17 is bent toward the pulled wire.

Further, the inspection device 6 is provided with one or a plurality of cylindrical bodies 27 accommodating a control device and the like behind the drive unit 16. With such a configuration, when inspecting the inside of the pipe 1, as shown in FIG. 2, the auxiliary valve 4 from which a fire hydrant or an air valve (not shown) is removed
The insertion outer cylinder 12 is connected to and the insertion device 5 is installed. Next, the sub valve 4 is opened, and the delivery device 10 is manually operated, for example, to insert the camera unit 15 and the drive unit 16 at the tip of the inspection device 6 to the position of the branch pipe 3.

If it is confirmed that the camera unit 15 has passed through the branch pipe 3 and entered the inside of the pipe 1 by observing with the camera unit 15, as shown in FIG. The actuator 26 is driven so as to pull one of the wires 21 and 22 which corresponds to the direction of the tube 1 into which the inspection device 6 is to be inserted. Then, the rubber pipe 17 is curved so that the camera unit 15 faces the tube axis direction as shown in the drawing. Therefore, if the feeding device 10 is further operated to feed the cable-shaped inspection device 6 into the inside of the pipe, the inspection device 6 is moved in the axial direction inside the pipe 1 as shown in FIG. The camera unit 15 is returned so as to face the tube axis by driving the actuator 26 at an appropriate time.

When the camera section 15 is inserted into the tube 1 without observation by the camera section 15, the camera section 15 hits the bottom of the tube 1 as shown by the phantom line in FIG. The operation of the feeding device 10 is continued until the time is felt. When the camera section 15 hits the bottom of the tube 1, the feeding device 10 is operated in the opposite direction, and the camera section 15 is pulled back upward by a certain amount and positioned near the center of the tube 1. Then, if the actuator 26 is also driven to bend the rubber pipe 17 in the same manner, the camera unit 15 is similarly driven.
Can be oriented in the axial direction of the tube 1.

Alternatively, as described above, the feeding device 10 is operated while observing with the camera portion 15, and after confirming that the camera portion 15 has reached the bottom of the pipe 1, the feeding device 10 is moved in the reverse direction. You may operate it.

When observing the inner surface of the pipe requiring inspection, the in-pipe inspection device 6 is stopped at that position and one of the wires 21, 22 corresponding to the inner surface of the pipe to be observed is selected. The actuator 26 is driven so as to be pulled.
For example, when the actuator 26 is driven so as to pull the wire 21 as shown by the phantom line in FIG. 3, the rubber pipe 17 bends toward the wire 21 as shown in the drawing, and the camera unit 15 is required so as to correspond thereto. Will be deflected in the direction of.

Since the camera unit 15 is deflected only by the pair of wires 21, 22, the camera unit 15
Can be deflected only in a fixed direction such as the up-down direction or the left-right direction, but by using a camera unit 15 with a wide viewing angle, the inner surface of the pipe can be inspected over the entire circumference without any problem. . It is also possible to arrange a plurality of wires that exceed one pair, and in that case, the configuration of the drive unit 16 needs to be changed correspondingly. For example, if a pair of wires, which are 180 degrees apart from each other as described above, are offset by 90 degrees from each other and are used in two sets,
It is possible to deflect in any of the four directions of up, down, left and right.

When the inspection is completed, the feeding device 10 is operated in the reverse direction to pull up the cable-shaped inspection device 6.
At this time, when pulling up the drive unit 16 and the camera unit 15, similarly, the wires 21 and 22 are pulled by the actuator 26 to bend the rubber pipe 17, and then the drive unit 16 and the camera unit 15 are branched from the pipe 1. 3 or, if possible, the rubber pipe 17 may enter the branch pipe 3 without bending.

Finally, the sub-valve 4 is closed, the insertion device 5 is removed, and a fire hydrant and an air valve are attached to complete the inspection work.

[0023]

As described above, according to the present invention, the distal end of the cable-shaped inspection device is inserted into the pipe from the branch pipe provided in the pipe, and the distal end is flexible by operating the cord. Bending the elastic member in the insertion direction along the tube axis direction,
In addition, since the inspection device is further fed into the pipe, the tip end portion of the cable-shaped inspection device can be bent from the axial direction of the branch pipe to the axial direction of the pipe on the main body side, and thus the structure is improved. Without using a complicated insertion guide device that is difficult to install and operate in the pipe itself,
This cable-shaped inspection device can be inserted into the pipe on the main body side with a simple configuration and by only easy operation.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining an embodiment of a method of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an overall view of the insertion device of the inspection device for carrying out the method of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the movement of the tip portion of the inspection device inside the tube.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 pipe 3 branch pipe 6 inspection device 15 camera unit 16 drive unit 17 rubber pipe 21 wire 22 wire 26 actuator

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Akira Shozaki 1-1-1 Hama, Amagasaki City, Hyogo Prefecture Kubota Institute of Technology Development Co., Ltd. (72) Akio Kamada 1-1-1 Hama, Amagasaki City, Hyogo Kubota Technology Development Laboratory

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. When inserting a cable-shaped inspection device for inspecting the inside of a pipe using a camera into the pipe, a camera unit and a drive unit are provided at the tip of the inspection device, and the camera unit and the drive unit are provided. A plurality of cords are provided around a flexible member that connects to each other, one end of each cord is connected to the camera unit, and the other end of each cord is connected to an actuator in the drive unit. The flexible member is configured to be curved toward the cord pulled by the actuator, and the distal end portion of the inspection device is inserted into the pipe through a branch pipe provided in the pipe to operate the cord. The flexible member is bent in the insertion direction along the axial direction of the pipe, and the cable-shaped inspection device is further fed into the pipe, thereby inserting the inspection device into the pipe.