US4616258A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Device for monitoring the interior of a conduit
Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries Ltd
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Filing: 1983-01-20
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Granted: 1986-10-07
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Expires: 2003-01-20
Abstract
Abstract A monitoring device for monitoring an interior conduit wall includes a plurality of sliding members each resiliently urged by equal amounts away from the device body toward the conduit wall, so that the device can be used in conduits of different diameters while always remaining substantially centered within the conduit.
Inventors
- 👤 Kimizo Ono
- 👤 Yoshikazu Nishiwaki
- 👤 Koichi Tsuno
- 👤 Toru Iwai
- 👤 Mitsuru Nishikawa
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 04:17
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01M; G01M3/00; G01M3/005
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
192 words
A device for monitoring the interior of a conduit, said device comprising: a body; a plurality of sliding members supported on said body for slidably engaging an interior surface of said conduit; and a resilient mechanism for urging said sliding members for equal amounts of radially outward movement from said body toward said interior surface, wherein each said sliding member has first and second ends and wherein said resilient mechanism comprises: a first member having a fixed position with respect to a direction substantially parallel to an axis of said conduit; a second member movable with respect to said first member, in said direction substantially parallel to said axis of said conduit; a plurality of first arms each pivotably connected at one end to said first member and at another end to a respective one of said sliding members; a plurality of second arms each pivotably connected at one end to said second member and at another end to a respective one of said sliding members; and bias means for urging said first and second members for relative movement along said movement direction to urge said sliding members away from said body.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
192 words
A device for monitoring the interior of a conduit, said device comprising: a body; a plurality of sliding members supported on said body for slidably engaging an interior surface of said conduit; and a resilient mechanism for urging said sliding members for equal amounts of radially outward movement from said body toward said interior surface, wherein each said sliding member has first and second ends and wherein said resilient mechanism comprises: a first member having a fixed position with respect to a direction substantially parallel to an axis of said conduit; a second member movable with respect to said first member, in said direction substantially parallel to said axis of said conduit; a plurality of first arms each pivotably connected at one end to said first member and at another end to a respective one of said sliding members; a plurality of second arms each pivotably connected at one end to said second member and at another end to a respective one of said sliding members; and bias means for urging said first and second members for relative movement along said movement direction to urge said sliding members away from said body.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
A monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of sliding members comprises at least three sliding members.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
A monitoring device according to claim 2, wherein said sliding members are positioned at substantially equal angular intervals around the periphery of said body.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
52 words
A monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein said bias means comprises at least one connecting rod secured at one end to said first member and passing through said second member, and a spring member secured to said rod at its other end and urging said second member toward said first member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
64 words
A monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein each said first arm is pivotably connected to its respective sliding member at a first position and each said second arm is pivotably connected to its respective sliding member at a second position which is closer than said first position to said first member, said resilient mechanism urging said first and second members toward one another.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
A monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein said body contains an image transmission fiber and a light guide for transmitting illumination light.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
A monitoring device according to claim 1, further comprising a monitoring detector carried on said body and having a field of view rotatable about an axis of said body.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
52 words
A monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein each said first arm is pivotably connected to its respective sliding member at a first position and each said second arm is pivotably connected to its respective sliding member at a second position which is closer than said first position to said second member.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
61 words
A monitoring device according to claim 8, wherein said first and second positions are separated by a distance L and said first and second arms are pivotably secured to said first and second members at positions separated by a distance x which is variable and always greater than L, said bias means urging said first and second members toward one another.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
62 words
A monitoring device according to claim 8, wherein said first and second positions are separated by a distance L and said first and second arms are pivotably secured to said first and second members at positions separated by a distance x which is variable and always less than L, said bias means urging said first and second members away from one another.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
56 words
A monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of sliding members comprises a plurality of groups of sliding members, said groups being offset with respect to one another along an axis of said body and each group including a plurality of sliding members disposed at substantially equal intervals about said axis of said body.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
A monitoring device according to claim 11, wherein each group of sliding members includes at least three sliding members.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
A monitoring device according to claim 12, wherein said plurality of sliding members consists of two groups with each group consisting of three sliding members, whereby a total of six sliding members are provided.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
218 words
A device for monitoring the interior of a conduit, said device comprising: a body; a plurality of sliding members supported on said body for slidably engaging an interior surface of said conduit; and a resilient mechanism for urging said sliding members for equal amounts of radially outward movement from said body toward said interior surface, wherein each said sliding member has first and second ends and wherein said resilient mechanism comprises: first and second members movable with respect to one another in a movement direction substantially parallel to an axis of said conduit; a plurality of first arms each pivotably connected at one end to said first member and at another end to a respective one of said sliding members; a plurality of second arms each pivotably connected at one end to said second member and at another end to a respective one of said sliding members; and bias means for urging said first and second members for relative movement along said movement direction to urge said sliding members away from said body, wherein said bias means comprises at least one connecting rod secured at one end to said first member and passing through said second member, and a spring member secured to said rod at its other end and urging said second member toward said first member.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
218 words
A device for monitoring the interior of a conduit, said device comprising: a body; a plurality of sliding members supported on said body for slidably engaging an interior surface of said conduit; and a resilient mechanism for urging said sliding members for equal amounts of radially outward movement from said body toward said interior surface, wherein each said sliding member has first and second ends and wherein said resilient mechanism comprises: first and second members movable with respect to one another in a movement direction substantially parallel to an axis of said conduit; a plurality of first arms each pivotably connected at one end to said first member and at another end to a respective one of said sliding members; a plurality of second arms each pivotably connected at one end to said second member and at another end to a respective one of said sliding members; and bias means for urging said first and second members for relative movement along said movement direction to urge said sliding members away from said body, wherein said bias means comprises at least one connecting rod secured at one end to said first member and passing through said second member, and a spring member secured to said rod at its other end and urging said second member toward said first member.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-10-06 | 1990-04-07 | 1990-10-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-10-06 | 1994-04-07 | 1994-10-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-10-06 | 1998-04-07 | 1998-10-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |