Patent · US Expired

Pipe-inspecting apparatus having a self propelled unit

US5090259A · kind A · utility

78Cited by
12References
56Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 2, 1990
Grant dateFeb 25, 1992
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 2, 2010

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01N21/954
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A pipe-inspecting apparatus having a self-propelled unit. The self-propelled unit comprises an elastic tube which has forward and rear ends, and into which a fluid is supplied and from which the fluid is discharged, a restriction member mounted on the elastic tube, for restricting an axial expansion of the elastic tube, a bias member for biasing the elastic tube in the axial direction thereof, first and second holding members coupled to the ends of the elastic tube, respectively, for holding the ends of the elastic tube to the inner periphery of a pipe being inspected, while the fluid is being supplied into the holding members, and releasing the ends of the elastic tube from the inner periphery of the pipe, while the fluid is being discharged from the holding members. An observation device is coupled to the self-propelled unit. A display device is connected to the observation device, for displaying the image scanned by the observation device. A fluid control device is connected to the elastic tube, and to the first and second holding members.

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