Pipeline inspection device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11110495-B2
Application number	US-201916591342-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 2, 2019
Priority date	Dec 15, 2016
Publication date	Sep 7, 2021
Grant date	Sep 7, 2021

Abstract

A pipeline inspection system including a first drum including a first cable having a first camera disposed on a distal end of the first cable, where the first cable is received within an interior of the first drum and is configured to be directed into a conduit, a second drum including a second cable having a second camera disposed on a distal end of the second cable, where the second cable is received within an interior of the second drum and is configured to be directed into a conduit, and a hub housing electrical components for operation of the pipeline inspection system, where the hub is removably received in the interior of the first drum, and where the hub is selectively removable from the first drum and insertable into an interior of the second drum.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A pipeline inspection system comprising:
a first drum including a first cable having a first camera disposed on a distal end of the first cable, the first cable received within an interior of the first drum and configured to be directed into a conduit, the first drum including a central opening having a first electrical connection;
a second drum including a second cable having a second camera disposed on a distal end of the second cable, the second cable received within an interior of the second drum and configured to be directed into a conduit, the second drum having a different configuration than the first drum; and
a hub housing electrical components for operation of the pipeline inspection system, the hub being removably received at least partially in the central opening of the first drum, and wherein the hub is selectively removable from the first drum and selectively couplable to the second drum,
wherein the electrical components include a battery, a wireless communication module configured to communicate with a remote display, and a second electrical connection configured to mate with the first electrical connection on the first drum.

2. The pipeline inspection system of claim 1 , wherein the hub includes a mating member removably coupling the hub at least partially within the central opening of the first the drum and removably coupling the hub at least partially within the central opening of the second drum.

3. The pipeline inspection system of claim 2 , wherein the mating member includes a latch for securing the hub within the first and second drums and a trigger for adjusting the latch from a locked position to an unlocked position.

4. The pipeline inspection system of claim 1 , wherein the hub, electrical components further include a processor; and a memory.

5. The pipeline inspection system of claim 1 , wherein the battery selectively provides power to the first camera while the hub is coupled to the first drum and selectively provides power to the second camera while the hub is coupled to the second drum, and wherein the battery also provides power to a monitor for displaying images captured by the first camera and the second camera.

6. The pipeline inspection system of claim 1 , wherein the hub is removably received within the central opening on the first side of the drum, and wherein the cable extends out of a first side of the drum.

7. The pipeline inspection system of claim 1 , wherein the central opening of the first drum provides access to the interior of the first drum.

8. A hub for use with a pipeline inspection device, the hub comprising:
a housing sized and shaped to be removably supported by a first drum, the first drum housing a first cable having a first camera disposed on a distal end of the first cable, wherein the hub is selectively removable from the first drum and removably supported by a second drum, the second drum housing a second cable having a second camera disposed on a distal end of the second cable;
a mating member configured to removably couple the hub to the first the drum and configured to removably couple the hub to the second drum, the mating member configured to engage a core disposed within a central opening of the first drum when the hub is coupled to the first drum;
a power source supported by the housing;
a processor positioned within the housing and configured to be in communication with the first camera while the hub is coupled to the first drum and in communication with the second camera while the hub is coupled to the second drum;
a memory positioned within the housing and coupled to the processor, the memory operable to at least temporarily store images captured from the first camera and the second camera; and
an electrical connection supported by the housing and configured to directly engage with a corresponding electrical connection disposed within the central opening of the first drum when the hub is coupled to the first drum.

9. The hub of claim 8 , wherein the mating member includes a latch for securing the hub at least partially within the first and second drums and a trigger for adjusting the latch from a locked position to an unlocked position.

10. The hub of claim 8 , wherein the power source is a rechargeable battery.

11. The hub of claim 8 , wherein the power source is configured to provide power to the first camera when the hub is coupled to the first drum and is configured to provide power to the second camera when the hub is coupled to the second drum.

12. The hub of claim 8 , wherein the power source is configured to provide power to a monitor, the monitor having a display for viewing images captured by the first and second cameras.

13. The hub of claim 8 , further including a wireless communication module positioned within the housing, the wireless communication module enabling wireless communication between the hub and the first and second cameras.

14. The hub of claim 8 , wherein the processor is configured to process images data captured by the first and second cameras.

15. The hub of claim 8 , wherein the housing further includes a channel for receiving a portion of at the first and second cables.

16. The hub of claim 8 , wherein the housing is defined by a front end, a rear end, and an outer wall extending around a perimeter of the hub between the front end and the rear end, wherein the rear end is received within a central opening of the first drum when the hub is supported by the first drum, and wherein the front end of the hub is exposed to the exterior of the first drum when the hub is supported by the first drum.

17. The hub of claim 16 , wherein the first cable is wound around the perimeter of the hub when the hub is supported by the first drum.

18. The hub of claim 8 , further comprising a wireless communication module, wherein the wireless communication module is configured to wirelessly communicate with a display, the display being remote from the hub.

19. The hub of claim 8 , wherein the first drum has a different configuration than the second drum.

20. The hub of claim 8 , wherein the power source is removably coupled to a first side of the hub, and wherein the electrical connection is disposed on a second side of the hub, the second side being opposite the first side.

21. A pipeline inspection system comprising:
a first drum including a rear wall, a front wall, and a side wall defining an interior, the front wall having an opening providing access to the interior;
a first cable received within the interior of the first drum and configured to be directed into a conduit;
a first camera disposed on a distal end of the first cable; and
a hub including a power source, a processor, a memory, a first electrical connection, and a housing, the housing defined by a front end, a rear end, and an outer wall extending around a perimeter of the hub between the front end and the rear end, wherein the processor and the memory are disposed within the housing, wherein the power source is removably coupled to the front end of the housing, and wherein the first electrical connection is disposed on the rear end of the housing,
wherein the hub is removably received at least partially in an opening on the front wall of the first drum, and wherein the hub is selectively removable from the first drum and selectively couplable to a second drum, and
wherein the first electrical connection engages a second electrical connection disposed in the opening of the first drum when the hub is coupled to the first drum.

Assignees

• Milwaukee Electric Tool Corp

Inventors

• Turner Christopher J
• Mueckl Gareth
• Krohlow Samuel J

Classifications

• B65H75/403

  Carriage with wheels · CPC title

• E03F7/12

  Installations enabling inspection personnel to drive along sewer canals · CPC title

• B65H75/4484 Primary

  Electronic arrangements or adaptations for controlling the winding or unwinding process, e.g. with sensors · CPC title

• B65H75/4471

  Housing enclosing the reel · CPC title

• B08B9/043 Primary

  moved by externally powered mechanical linkage, e.g. pushed or drawn through the pipes · CPC title