Optical inspection insertion apparatus for pressurized vessels
US6259523A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | May 4, 2000 |
| Grant date | Jul 10, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 4, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF21W2131/411
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An optic device for use in viewing the interior of pressurized vessels, especially high pressure fluid pipelines. Embodiments of the optic device allow manual or automatic insertion/retraction of the viewing head allowing variable depth viewing of the interior. The viewing head is capable of various embodiments including the ability to carry various optic devices and is adapted to withstand high pressures. The automatically insertable optic device can be either hydraulically or pneumatically actuated. Both the automatic and manual optic devices may be fixed or variable focus. The fixed focus devices utilize lenses, ultra-miniature color cameras, and fiberscopes either with or without integral light sources as part of the viewing head. The variable focus device utilizes lenses and a reflector. Preferably, the viewing head utilizes sapphire viewing windows which exhibit excellent light transmission and resistance to high pressures. In this manner, light may be received for pickup by the lenses, camera, fiberscope, or the like.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.