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US4607925A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

In-pipe inspection system

Assignee: ADEK CORP
•
Filing: 1984-12-28
•
Granted: 1986-08-26
•
Expires: 2004-12-28
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Abstract

Abstract An in-pipe inspection system comprising a train of cars made up of at least a camera car, a drive car, the train being made to travel in a pipe laid underground, under water or on the ground; a cable connected to the train of cars, the cable being led out from one open end of the pipe and being adapted to be fed or retracted by a capstan as the train of cars travels in selected directions within the pipe; and equipment installed outside the pipe consisting of a control unit, a measuring device, etc., the equipment being connected with the end of the cable; whereby the train of cars is made to travel in the pipe so that pictures of flaws, wear or corrosion in the internal wall of the pipe can be taken by the camera car, and correllative inspection data transmitted through the cable to the equipment for detailed analysis, and whereby movement of the train of cars, and inspection functions performed by such cars as the camera car, are remotely controlled, through the cable, from the outside equipment.

Inventors

  • 👤 Hideyuki Kamigaichi
  • 👤 Kazuto Kurachi
  • 👤 Nobuyoshi Asano
  • 👤 Tatsuo Hanada

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-27 20:19
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B23/00; G02B23/24; G03; G03B; G03B37/00; G03B37/005

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim 203 words
An in-pipe inspection system comprising: a train of cars including a camera car, a drive car, a solenoid valve car, a hydraulic pump car, an oil tank car and a slip ring car, said train being adapted to travel in a pipe laid on the ground, underground or under water, and having at least one open end; said drive car including drive wheels driven by a hydraulic motor and push wheels pressed by a hydraulic cylinder against the internal wall of the pipe; said solenoid valve car carrying solenoid valves for controlling said hydraulic motor and hydraulic cylinder; said hydraulic pump car carrying a hydraulic pump for the hydraulic motor and hydraulic cylinder; said slip ring car being located at the end of said train; a cable connected to said slip ring car and composed of a centrally disposed tension member, and power lines and optical fiber means surrounding said tension member; outside equipment installed outside the pipe including control means for controlling said train of cars, said outside equipment being coupled with said cable; and means provided outside the pipe and between said train of cars and said outside equipment, for selectively feeding or retracting said cable through said pipe open end.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 203 words
An in-pipe inspection system comprising: a train of cars including a camera car, a drive car, a solenoid valve car, a hydraulic pump car, an oil tank car and a slip ring car, said train being adapted to travel in a pipe laid on the ground, underground or under water, and having at least one open end; said drive car including drive wheels driven by a hydraulic motor and push wheels pressed by a hydraulic cylinder against the internal wall of the pipe; said solenoid valve car carrying solenoid valves for controlling said hydraulic motor and hydraulic cylinder; said hydraulic pump car carrying a hydraulic pump for the hydraulic motor and hydraulic cylinder; said slip ring car being located at the end of said train; a cable connected to said slip ring car and composed of a centrally disposed tension member, and power lines and optical fiber means surrounding said tension member; outside equipment installed outside the pipe including control means for controlling said train of cars, said outside equipment being coupled with said cable; and means provided outside the pipe and between said train of cars and said outside equipment, for selectively feeding or retracting said cable through said pipe open end.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 20 words
An in-pipe inspection system according to claim 1, wherein said control means includes a control unit, and a measuring device.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 35 words
The in-pipe inspection system of claim 1 wherein said outside equipment includes a video monitoring system, and said cable means comprises means for electronically coupling said video monitoring system with said information signal sending means.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2953979A Cited
US3270641A Cited
US3832724A Cited
US4063283A Cited
US4249810A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1989-08-25 1990-02-24 1990-08-26 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1993-08-25 1994-02-24 1994-08-26 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1997-08-25 1998-02-24 1998-08-26 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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