Video pipe inspection system employing non-rotating cable storage drum
US6958767B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 31, 2002 |
| Grant date | Oct 25, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 20, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04N7/185
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A resilient, flexible video push cable is coiled in a stack of coils inside an annular portion of a non-rotating cable storage drum. A video camera head is electro-mechanically connected to a distal end of the push cable. A display is connected to a system interconnect cable which is in turn connected to a proximal end of the push cable. While the drum is held stationary, the push cable can be unwound from its main annular portion and the camera head pushed down a length of pipe. This unwinding of the push cable is facilitated by routing it through a centrally located frusto-conical guide portion of the drum. The video camera head can be pulled out of the pipe, and the push cable can be manually re-inserted through the guide portion to facilitate re-forming of the stack of coils within the main annular portion of the drum.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.