US3885091A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for pipeline inspection
Assignee: PICCIRILLI THEO
•
Filing: 1973-10-24
•
Granted: 1975-05-20
•
Expires: 1993-10-24
Abstract
Abstract A pipeline inspection system including a camera having an annular illumination source surrounding the lens so that the illumination is concentrated on the pipeline sidewalls within the viewing angle of the camera. By use of near-infrared radiation having a wavelength on the order of 900 nanometers, improved operation can be obtained with GaAs emitters and a vidicon having a silicon target. The camera and its illumination source is adapted to be towed through the pipeline, and an instantaneous picture produced on an above-ground video display device.
Inventors
- 👤 Harold D Fish
- 👤 Karl H Kalberer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 11:25
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01M; G01M3/00; G01M3/38; G01M3/005
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
81 words
A method for inspecting underground pipelines wherein a camera is transported through the pipeline comprising: illuminating with radiation having a wavelength in the range of about 750 to 1,000 nanometers the pipeline sidewall surface area closest to and within the viewing angle of said camera as said camera moves through the pipeline; viewing the pipeline sidewall surface area with said camera; and sensing the image viewed by said camera responsive to the range of radiation illuminating said pipeline sidewall surface area.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
81 words
A method for inspecting underground pipelines wherein a camera is transported through the pipeline comprising: illuminating with radiation having a wavelength in the range of about 750 to 1,000 nanometers the pipeline sidewall surface area closest to and within the viewing angle of said camera as said camera moves through the pipeline; viewing the pipeline sidewall surface area with said camera; and sensing the image viewed by said camera responsive to the range of radiation illuminating said pipeline sidewall surface area.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method as defined in claim 1 including the steps of: transmitting the image sensed in said sensing step to a location remote from said pipeline; and producing at said remote location a reproduced image of said image transmitted from said pipeline.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
131 words
A method for inspecting underground pipelines comprising: placing a camera in the pipeline with the centerline of the camera in substantial alignment with the pipeline center; illuminating with radiation having a wavelength in the range of about 750 to 1,000 nanometers the pipeline sidewall surface area about the interior circumference of the pipeline which is closest to and within the viewing angle of the camera; sensing the image viewed by said camera responsive to the range of radiation illuminating said pipeline sidewall surface area; adjusting the focus and lens opening of the camera in accordance with the diameter of the pipeline and intensity of illumination of the pipeline sidewall area that is within the field of view of the camera; and transporting the camera and source of illumination through the pipeline.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
131 words
A method for inspecting underground pipelines comprising: placing a camera in the pipeline with the centerline of the camera in substantial alignment with the pipeline center; illuminating with radiation having a wavelength in the range of about 750 to 1,000 nanometers the pipeline sidewall surface area about the interior circumference of the pipeline which is closest to and within the viewing angle of the camera; sensing the image viewed by said camera responsive to the range of radiation illuminating said pipeline sidewall surface area; adjusting the focus and lens opening of the camera in accordance with the diameter of the pipeline and intensity of illumination of the pipeline sidewall area that is within the field of view of the camera; and transporting the camera and source of illumination through the pipeline.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method as defined in claim 3 including the steps of: transmitting the image sensed in said sensing step to a location remote from said pipeline; and producing at said remote location a reproduced image of the image transmitted from said pipeline.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
120 words
A pipeline inspection system comprising: frame means adapted for longitudinal movement through the pipeline to be inspected; a camera carried by said frame means, said camera having a vidicon responsive to radiation having a wavelength in the range of about 750 to 1,000 nanometers; a plurality of sources of radiation producing a peak intensity in the same wavelength range, each of said plurality of sources being carried by said frame means in spaced relation to surround said camera; and a plurality of reflectors each associated with one of said sources, each of said reflectors being generally conical about a longitudinal axis and confining the emitted radiation within an included angle between about 30* to about 40* from said longitudinal axis.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
120 words
A pipeline inspection system comprising: frame means adapted for longitudinal movement through the pipeline to be inspected; a camera carried by said frame means, said camera having a vidicon responsive to radiation having a wavelength in the range of about 750 to 1,000 nanometers; a plurality of sources of radiation producing a peak intensity in the same wavelength range, each of said plurality of sources being carried by said frame means in spaced relation to surround said camera; and a plurality of reflectors each associated with one of said sources, each of said reflectors being generally conical about a longitudinal axis and confining the emitted radiation within an included angle between about 30* to about 40* from said longitudinal axis.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
49 words
The system as defined in claim 5 wherein said reflectors are mounted with their longitudinal axes angularly related relative to the longitudinal axis of said camera for concentrating the radiation on the pipeline sidewall surface area that is closest to and within the field of view of said camera.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
75 words
The system as defined in claim 6 wherein the camera includes a watertight casing, an iris control means, and a focus control means with both of said control means being located internally of said casing; and means for manually manipulating the control means for said iris and said focus control located at the rear end of said casing to allow adjustment of the iris and focus manually after the camera is placed into said pipEline.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
68 words
The system as defined in claim 7 further including: display apparatus including a cathode ray tube located outside the pipeline; a cable including electrical conductors for supplying operating power from terminals located outside the pipeline to said camera and said radiation sources, and for transmitting electronic output signals from the vidicon to said cathode ray tube; and a tow cable connected to pull the camera through the pipeline.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
88 words
The system as defined in claim 8 wherein: the electrical conductor cable includes a connector rigidly mounted to a casing for the camera and connected to the camera at one end, said connector being connected at the other end to said electrical conductor cable with a coupling adapted to pull the cable along behind the camera as it moves through the pipeline, and said connector having an intermediate terminal for connection to one end of a cable that is connected to supply operating power to the radiation sources.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
102 words
Apparatus for viewing the interior surface of a right circular cylinder comprising: a camera having a lens which has a longitudinal axis; a housing for the camera mounted for movement along the central axis of the right cylinder; and means having an annular concave radiation reflecting surface encircling the camera lens for illuminating an annular region of the wall surface of the right cylinder that is within the viewing angle of the camera lens including a plurality of sources of radiation located on said annular concave radiation reflecting surface and spaced apart to surround the camera lens in a substantially circular pattern.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
102 words
Apparatus for viewing the interior surface of a right circular cylinder comprising: a camera having a lens which has a longitudinal axis; a housing for the camera mounted for movement along the central axis of the right cylinder; and means having an annular concave radiation reflecting surface encircling the camera lens for illuminating an annular region of the wall surface of the right cylinder that is within the viewing angle of the camera lens including a plurality of sources of radiation located on said annular concave radiation reflecting surface and spaced apart to surround the camera lens in a substantially circular pattern.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein said annular concave surface has a parabolic cross section with the axis of the parabola angularly related to the axis of the camera lens.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein said sources of radiation comprise radiation emitting filaments that lie along a circle formed by the revolution about the lens axis of the focus of the parabola.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
77 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 12 wherein the right circular cylinder is a pipeline, the camera is in a watertight casing having an iris control means and a focus control means both located internally of said casing, and means for manually manipulating the control means for said iris and said focus control, located at the rear end of said casing to allow adjustment of the iris and focus manually after the camera is placed into said pipeline.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
67 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 13 further including: display apparatus including a cathode ray tube located outside the pipeline; a cable including electrical conductors for supplying operating power from terminals located outside the pipeline to said vidicon and said radiation sources, and for transmitting electronic output signals from the vidicon to said cathode ray tube; and a tow cable connected to pull the camera through the pipeline.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
86 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 14 wherein: the electrical conductor cable includes a connector rigidly mounted to the casing for the camera and connected to the camera at one end, said connector being connected at the other end to said electrical conductor cable with a coupling adapted to pull the cable behind the camera as it moves through the pipeline, and said connector having an intermediate terminal for connection to one end of a cable that is connected to supply operating power to said radiation sources.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2971259A
Cited
US3215774A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-05-19 | 1978-11-18 | 1979-05-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-05-19 | 1982-11-18 | 1983-05-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-05-19 | 1986-11-18 | 1987-05-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |