Patent · US Expired

Apparatus for inspecting pipes in a plant

US4255762A · kind A · utility

38Cited by
3References
8Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJul 12, 1979
Grant dateMar 10, 1981
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 12, 1999

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG02B23/2476
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

Apparatus for inspecting pipes in a plant, comprising an elongate inspection head portion which is provided with an optical system for receiving an inspection image by approaching an inner surface of a pipe being an object to-be-inspected; at least one proximity sensor which is disposed in the inspection head portion in order to detect a relative distance between the inspection head portion and the proximate object; a positioning mechanism which consists of a plurality of driving shafts for advancing or retreating, rotating, and revolving the inspection head portion; a control device which is capable of programmed operation and which drives and controls the positioning mechanism in a predetermined operation sequence programmed in advance; a data storage device which stores positional data of the respective driving shafts of the positioning mechanism; and an image processor which is disposed at a position remote from the inspection head portion and which reconstructs the inspection image from video signals; the control device controlling the positioning mechanism on the basis of an output signal from the proximity sensor, so that the inspection head portion can be moved and controll…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.