KR101057813B1 - Endoscope to take image in inside of gas pipe - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: Endoscope equipment for photographing the interior of a pipe is provided to prevent poor contact between a rotating contactor and a fixed contactor and improve the operating stability of a camera assembly by securing the fixed contactor with an elastic position maintaining member. CONSTITUTION: Endoscope equipment for photographing the interior of a pipe comprises a camera assembly(1), a cable(9), and a display device. The cable is connected to the camera assembly and transmits power and signals. The display device is connected to the cable and displays images photographed by the camera assembly. The camera assembly comprises a case, a camera, a connection ring, a weight, a rotating member, a rotating contactor, a fixed contactor, a position maintaining member, and an external connector.

Description

Endoscope device for shooting inside pipes {Endoscope to take image in inside of gas pipe}

The present invention can be used to photograph the interior of the gas pipe and relates to an endoscope apparatus for photographing the inside of the pipe in a state where the camera is always kept horizontal without tilting left and right.

In general, gas pipes for transporting city gas, etc., may be accumulated for a long time, foreign matters such as dust or moisture may accumulate therein or damage the inner wall of the pipe.

An endoscope apparatus capable of photographing the inside of the gas pipe is used as a device for checking the internal state of the inside of the gas pipe.

The endoscope device includes a camera assembly including a camera and lighting, and is connected to a power cable for supplying power to the camera assembly and a signal cable for transmitting a video signal and the like to the display device.

When the operator takes a picture of the inside of the gas line, he pushes the camera assembly into the inside of the gas line. At this time, the camera assembly is transmitted to the display device while the camera is inclined in the left and right directions while the camera is rotated or tilted in the left and right directions while moving along the gas pipe.

As such, when the image transmitted from the camera of the camera assembly is displayed on the display device in a state inclined left and right, it is difficult for the operator to determine the state of the gas pipe.

Therefore, the present invention has been proposed to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to take an image of the inside of the gas pipe while the camera of the camera assembly is always kept horizontal without tilting in the left and right directions The present invention provides an endoscope apparatus for photographing inside a pipe that can be transmitted to a display device to improve workability.

In addition, the present invention provides a structure capable of transmitting power and signals to the camera assembly stably even when the camera of the camera assembly rotates to improve the operating stability of the camera assembly and increase the quality of the endoscope device for in-pipe shooting To provide.

In order to achieve the object of the present invention as described above, the present invention is a camera assembly, a cable connected to the camera assembly for transmitting power and signals, a display device connected to the cable to display the image taken by the camera assembly The camera assembly includes a case, a camera disposed inside the case and photographing the inside of the pipe to transmit an image signal to the display device, a connection ring coupled to the camera, a weight coupled to the connection ring, Rotating member coupled to the weight, a plurality of rotary contactors provided along the circumferential surface on the outer circumferential surface of the rotating member, both ends are bent to correspond to each other and elastically supported on the outer circumferential surface of the rotary contactor is a power or electric signal A plurality of fixed contactor for transmitting a, is coupled to both ends of the fixed contactor Group maintains the posture of the fixed contactor and delivers the pipe inside the endoscope image taking apparatus including an external connector that is posture holding member made of an elastic material, connected to said fixed contactor.

The fixed contactor is made of an elastic body, it is preferable that both ends have a bent portion bent in the opposite direction to each other.

The posture holding member is preferably made of a tension coil spring or a torsion spring.

The case and the camera are provided with a bearing therebetween so that the camera can freely rotate left and right with respect to the case.

Preferably, the case is provided with illumination made of a light emitting diode.

The fixed contactor is preferably provided to a fixing member fixed to the case.

One end of the coil spring made of an elastic body is coupled to the camera assembly, a foreign matter suction unit is coupled to the other end of the coil spring, a suction hose connected to the foreign substance suction unit to discharge foreign substances to the outside, and connected to the suction hose. A vacuum device for generating a vacuum in the foreign matter suction unit may be provided.

The foreign material suction unit is preferably coupled to the protection member for protecting the suction hose.

The protective member is preferably made of another coil spring and disposed while surrounding the outer circumferential surface of a portion of the suction hose.

In the present invention as described above, even if the camera assembly rotates in the left and right directions, the camera can always maintain the horizontal direction at the set position, thereby increasing the reliability of the captured image and improving workability.

In addition, the present invention has the effect of fixing the fixed contactor by using the posture holding member having an elastic force to prevent a poor contact between the rotary contactor and the fixed contactor to improve the operational stability of the camera assembly to increase the quality.

1 is a view illustrating an endoscope apparatus for photographing inside a pipe to explain an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a view illustrating a camera assembly which is a main part of FIG. 1.
3 is a front view of Fig.
4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IV-IV of FIG. 3.
5 is a view showing a part of the inside of the endoscope device for the inside of the pipe for explaining the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is an exploded view illustrating main parts of FIG. 5.
7 is a view illustrating a coupling relationship between a rotary contactor and a fixed contactor to explain an embodiment of the present invention.
8 is a front view of FIG. 7.
9 is a diagram illustrating another example of a coupling relationship between a rotary contactor and a fixed contactor to explain an embodiment of the present invention.
10 is a front view of FIG. 9.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings so that those skilled in the art may easily implement the present invention. The present invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. In order to clearly illustrate the present invention, parts not related to the description are omitted, and the same or similar components are denoted by the same reference numerals throughout the specification.

1 is a perspective view for explaining an embodiment of the present invention, and shows an endoscope apparatus for photographing inside a pipe. The endoscope apparatus for in-pipe imaging of an embodiment of the present invention includes a camera assembly (1), a first coil spring (3), a foreign matter suction unit (5), a suction hose (7), a vacuum device (not shown), and a cable (9). It includes. In addition, the endoscope apparatus for intra-pipe imaging according to an embodiment of the present invention further includes a second coil spring 11 coupled to the foreign matter suction unit 5.

The camera assembly 1 may be connected to the cable 9 and transmit a photographed signal to a display device (not shown) installed outside.

The first coil spring 3 is coupled to the back of the camera assembly 1. The first coil spring 3 will always return the camera assembly 1 to its initial position (initial direction of the first coil spring) by the elastic force while the camera assembly 1 moves along the curved portion of the gas pipe. Can be.

The foreign material suction unit 5 is coupled to one end of the first coil spring 3 described above. And the foreign matter suction unit 5 is connected to the suction hose (7). The second coil spring 11 is coupled to the foreign matter suction unit 7.

The second coil spring 11 is coupled to the spring fixing part 13 coupled to the foreign matter suction part 5 and the suction hose 7. The spring fixing part 13 is disposed at a predetermined distance from the foreign matter suction part 5 and is disposed at a position surrounding a part of the suction hose 7.

The second coil spring 11 serves to always restore the position of the tip of the suction hose 7 of the foreign matter suction unit 5 in a linear direction. The second coil spring 11 further includes a function of protecting the tip portion of the suction hose 7 which is repeatedly bent along the curved portion of the gas pipe.

The vacuum apparatus may be connected to the suction hose 7 to form a vacuum or maintain the vacuum in the foreign matter suction unit 5.

On the other hand, although not shown, foreign matter discharged through the suction hose 7 may be accommodated in a separate foreign matter receiving device connected to the suction hose (7).

Meanwhile, the cable 9 may be connected to the camera assembly 1 to transmit power and signals to the display device. That is, the cable 9 includes a power cable and a signal cable.

3 to 5, the above-described camera assembly 1 includes a case 15 forming an appearance, an illumination 19 composed of a camera 17, and an LED (LED), and a connection ring 21. , A weight 23, a rotating member 25, a rotary contactor 27 (shown in FIG. 7), a fixed contactor 29, a posture maintaining member 31, and an external connection connector 33. .

As shown in FIG. 4, the case 15 preferably forms an external appearance of the camera assembly 1 and is composed of a plurality of parts assembled therein.

The case 15 has a camera 17 disposed therein. The bearing 35 is disposed between the case 15 and the camera 17. The bearing 35 has an outer race coupled to the case 15 and an inner race coupled to the camera 17. That is, the camera 17 is coupled to the case 15 with the bearing 35 therebetween so as to be free to rotate about the optical axis.

The camera 17 may transmit an image signal photographed by photographing the inside of the gas pipe to the display device.

The connection ring 21 is coupled to the back of the camera 17. The connection ring 21 is formed in a substantially donut shape and is fixed integrally with the camera 17. Therefore, the connection ring 21 may rotate in the left and right directions with respect to the optical axis together with the camera 17. The weight 23 is coupled to the connection ring 21.

The weight 23 is preferably made of a shape in which the center of gravity is eccentric in the downward direction. Therefore, the weight 23 is also integrally fixed to the camera 17 can be rotated in the left and right directions based on the optical axis.

The rotating member 25 is coupled to the weight 23. The rotating member 25 has a plurality of rotary contactors 27 (shown in FIG. 7) disposed on the outer circumferential surface along the circumferential direction at regular intervals. As for the rotary contactor 27, it is preferable that the conductive material which is excellent in electroconductivity consists of a cylindrical strip | belt shape. The rotary contactor 27 may be connected to a conductor such as an electric wire at an inner side thereof to supply power to the camera 17 and the lighting 19 or transmit an electrical signal.

In addition, the rotary contactor 27 is connected to a plurality of fixed contactors 29 in contact with the outer circumferential surface so as to conduct electricity. The fixed contactors 29 (shown in FIG. 7) are bent in a roughly 'c' shape so that both ends are disposed at positions corresponding to each other. The fixed contactors 29 may be elastically supported on the outer circumferential surface of the rotary contactor 27 to transmit power or an electrical signal.

That is, the rotary contactor 27 is inserted into the groove formed by the fixed contactors 29 bent, so that the fixed contactor 29 and the rotary contactor 27 may be electrically connected to each other.

The fixed contactor 29 is preferably accommodated inside the fixing member 37 coupled to the case 15. That is, the fixing member 37 is coupled to the inside of the case 15 and the rotating member 25 is coupled to the fixed member 37 so as to allow relative rotation. In some cases, a bearing or the like may be disposed between the fixing member 37 and the rotating member 25 to facilitate relative rotation.

And the fixed contactor 29 has a bent portion (29a) is bent in opposite directions to each other to prevent the departure of the posture holding member (33). That is, the bent portion (29a) may be formed in the shape of the end slightly bent. Of course, the bent portion (29a) is not limited to the above-described example, if only the posture holding member 31 is made of a structure that is coupled to both ends of the bent portion (29a) does not escape also made of other shapes such as circular It is possible. The fixed contactor 29 has an elastic force and is preferably made of a conductive metal such as an elongated wire.

At both ends of the fixed contactor 29 described above, the posture maintaining member 31 is coupled. The posture maintaining member is made of an elastic body and an elastic force acts in the direction of pulling both ends of the fixed contactor 29. That is, the posture maintaining member 31 may maintain the state where power or electrical signals are always communicated by pulling both ends of the fixed contactor 29 so that the fixed contactor 29 is in close contact with the rotary contactor 27.

The posture maintaining member 31 may be formed of a tension coil spring as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. In addition, the posture maintaining member 31 may be formed of a torsion spring in another example as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. In the present invention, the posture maintaining member 31 may have various shapes as long as the elastic force acts in the direction in which both ends of the fixed contactor 29 are pulled from each other.

The fixed contactors 29 may be electrically connected to an external connection connector 39 disposed inside the case 15 by an electric wire or the like. The external connector 39 may be connected to the above-described cable (9, power cable and signal cable).

Referring to the process of photographing the interior of the gas pipe with the endoscope device for internal piping imaging that is an embodiment of the present invention as described above are as follows.

Description of the embodiment of the present invention will be described on the assumption that the gas pipe is placed horizontally.

First, the operator inserts the camera assembly 1 into the gas pipe. When the operator pushes the suction hose 7, the camera assembly 1 may move along the inside of the gas pipe.

The operator may perform the foreign matter removal operation inside the gas pipe while viewing the image photographed by the camera assembly 1 through a display device provided outside.

At this time, when the operator moves or rotates the suction hose 7, the case 15 of the camera assembly 1 is tilted to the left or the right while keeping the level.

Then, the weight 23 is fixed to the bearing 35 and always rotates toward the ground. Accordingly, the camera 17 may also be rotated together with the weight 23 to maintain the initial horizontally set posture.

In this case, when the camera 17 and the weight 23 rotate, the rotating member 25 also rotates together, and the rotating contactor 27 coupled to the rotating member 25 also rotates together. Since the rotary contactor 27 is in electrical contact with the fixed contactor 29, the rotary contactor 27 may continuously supply power or transmit a signal.

In particular, the elastic force acts in the direction in which the posture maintaining member 33 pulls both ends of the fixed contactor 29 to prevent the fixed contactor 29 from being separated from the rotary contactor 27. Therefore, in the embodiment of the present invention, the camera 17 photographs the inside of the gas pipe while the camera 17 is always horizontal in the process of photographing the inside of the gas pipe and transmits it to the display device, thereby increasing the reliability of the captured image. In addition to improving the quality of the product can also increase the stability and quality of the product.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited thereto, and various modifications and changes can be made within the scope of the claims and the detailed description of the invention and the accompanying drawings. Naturally, it belongs to the scope of the invention.

1. camera assembly, 3. first coil spring,
5. Foreign body suction part, 7. Suction hose,
9. cable, 11. second coil spring,
13. Spring retainer, 15. Case,
17. camera, 19. lighting,
21. connecting ring, 23. weight,
25. rotary member, 27. rotary contactor,
29. Fixed contactor, 29a. Bent portion, 31.
33. External connector, 35. Bearing,
37. Fixing member, 39. Externally connected connector

Claims (9)

Camera assembly,
A cable connected to the camera assembly to transmit power and signals;
A display device connected to the cable to display an image captured by the camera assembly,
The camera assembly
case,
A camera disposed inside the case and photographing the inside of the pipe to transmit an image signal to the display device;
A connection ring coupled to the camera,
A weight coupled to the connection ring,
Rotating member coupled to the weight,
A plurality of rotary contactors provided on an outer circumferential surface of the rotating member;
A plurality of fixed contactors, both ends being bent to correspond to each other and elastically supported on an outer circumferential surface of the rotary contactor to transmit a power or electric signal;
A posture maintenance member coupled to both ends of the fixed contactor to maintain the posture of the fixed contactor, and formed of an elastic body;
An external connection connector connected to the fixed contactor,
The posture holding member
Endoscopic device for in-pipe imaging consisting of a tension coil spring or a torsion spring. The method according to claim 1,
The fixed contactor
Endoscope device for internal shooting inside the pipe provided with a bent portion made of an elastic body, both ends are bent in opposite directions to prevent separation of the posture holding member. delete The method according to claim 1,
The case and the camera
An endoscope apparatus for in-pipe photographing, wherein a bearing is provided therebetween so that the camera freely rotates left and right with respect to the case. The method according to claim 1,
In the case
An endoscope apparatus for photographing inside a pipe provided with a light emitting diode. delete The method according to claim 1,
The camera assembly
One end of the first coil spring made of an elastic body is coupled,
The foreign material suction unit is coupled to the other end of the first coil spring,
Suction hose connected to the foreign matter suction unit for discharging foreign substances to the outside,
A vacuum device connected to the suction hose to generate a vacuum in the foreign matter suction portion
Endoscopic apparatus for photographing inside the pipe having a. The method according to claim 7,
The foreign matter suction unit
Endoscopic apparatus for photographing inside the pipe is coupled to the protection member for protecting the suction hose. The method according to claim 8,
The protective member
Endoscope device for internal shooting inside the inner tube is made of a second coil spring and is disposed while surrounding the outer peripheral surface of the section of the suction hose.

Images