Abstract An optical system for inspecting a 360* annular section of a housing interior. The optical system includes a telescope whose objective lens end is axially aligned and slidably affixed to a hollow cylindrical extension tube, a hollow cylindrical bellows has one end fixedly attached to the objective lens end and the other end slidably attached to the housing so that it is axially aligned with the extension tube and the housing, a light transmitting means extends longitudinally through said extension tube and bellows so that its output end protrudes into the housing interior, a 360* reflecting means is axially disposed adjacent to the light means output end, a 360* viewing means is axially positioned adjacent to the reflecting means so that the viewing means field of view coincides with the reflecting means field of illumination, a light source is directed into the input end of a fiber optic light pipe for illuminating a 360* area of the housing interior so that the latter may be viewed by focusing the telescope on an image formed by the viewing means reflecting surface, and the entire interior surface visually scanned by longitudinally moving the housing relative to the viewing means.
Inventors
👤 M Weinberg
Bibliographic Details
Application Number—
JurisdictionUS
Data Sourcegoogle_patents
Last Synchronized2026-10-25 11:03
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B23/00; G02B23/24; G02B23/2407
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
227 words
An optical system for inspecting a 360* annular sector within a housing which comprises: a telescope having an eye piece end and an objective lens end; a hollow cylindrical extension tube axially aligned and slidably affixed to said objective end; a hollow cylindrical bellows having one end fixedly attached to said objective end and another end slidably attached to said housing, and axially aligned with said extension tube and said housing; a light transmitting means having a supported light input end and a cantilever supported output end axially held in said extension tube, extending longitudinally through said extension tube and bellows so that said output end protrudes into said housing interior; a 360* reflecting means axially disposed immediately adjacent to said light means output end; a 360* viewing means having a reflecting surface axially positioned adjacent to said reflecting means so that said viewing means field of view coincides with said reflecting means field of illumination; and a light source operatively affixed to said light transmitting means input end for illuminating a full 360* area of said housing interior so that said interior may be viewed by focusing said telescope on an image formed by said viewing means reflecting surface, and scanned by longitudinal movement of the housing relative to the viewing means, thereby allowing visual scanning of the entire interior surface of said housing being inspected.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
227 words
An optical system for inspecting a 360* annular sector within a housing which comprises: a telescope having an eye piece end and an objective lens end; a hollow cylindrical extension tube axially aligned and slidably affixed to said objective end; a hollow cylindrical bellows having one end fixedly attached to said objective end and another end slidably attached to said housing, and axially aligned with said extension tube and said housing; a light transmitting means having a supported light input end and a cantilever supported output end axially held in said extension tube, extending longitudinally through said extension tube and bellows so that said output end protrudes into said housing interior; a 360* reflecting means axially disposed immediately adjacent to said light means output end; a 360* viewing means having a reflecting surface axially positioned adjacent to said reflecting means so that said viewing means field of view coincides with said reflecting means field of illumination; and a light source operatively affixed to said light transmitting means input end for illuminating a full 360* area of said housing interior so that said interior may be viewed by focusing said telescope on an image formed by said viewing means reflecting surface, and scanned by longitudinal movement of the housing relative to the viewing means, thereby allowing visual scanning of the entire interior surface of said housing being inspected.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
67 words
An optical system as recited in claim 1 wherein the light transmitting means comprises: a fiber-optic light pipe; a hollow steel tube partially covering said light pipe along its longitudinal length leaving said light pipe uncovered at said output end; a hollow transparent tube covering said uncovered output end and enclosing therein said reflecting means so that it is operatively positioned immediately adjacent to said output end.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
An optical system as recited in claim 2 wherein the reflecting means comprises: a rod having a highly reflective curved conically shaped surface on one end axially disposed adjacent to said light pipe output end.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
51 words
An optical system as recited in claim 3 wherein the viewing means comprises: a cylindrically shaped member having an axial bore therein for fixedly holding said member attached to said transparent tube; and an annularly curved reflecting surface axially disposed on one end of said member adjacent to said reflecting means.