Hub connection for pipeline inspection device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11248982-B2
Application number	US-201916407825-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 9, 2019
Priority date	May 9, 2018
Publication date	Feb 15, 2022
Grant date	Feb 15, 2022

Abstract

A pipeline inspection device, including a rotatable drum housing a cable, where the cable is extendable into a pipe, a camera positioned on an end of the cable, and a hub housing electrical components of the pipeline inspection device and including a battery housing. A stand includes a mounting assembly having a first portion rotatably supporting the drum and a second portion supporting the hub within an interior of the drum, the second portion including a core, where the hub is removably coupled to the mounting assembly via the core. The hub is removably coupled to the mounting assembly by a first engagement member on the hub and a second engagement member on the core.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A pipeline inspection device, comprising:
a rotatable drum housing a cable, the cable extendable into a pipe;
a camera positioned on an end of the cable;
a hub housing electrical components of the pipeline inspection device; and
a stand including a mounting assembly having a first portion rotatably supporting the drum and a second portion supporting the hub within an interior of the drum, the second portion including a core, the hub being removably coupled to the mounting assembly via the core,
wherein the hub is removably coupled to the mounting assembly by a first engagement member on the hub and a second engagement member on the core,
wherein the core includes a first electrical connection extending from a front face of the core, and wherein the hub includes a second electrical connection that is selectively engageable with the first electrical connection to provide power to the pipeline inspection device.

2. The pipeline inspection device of claim 1 , wherein the core is received within a cavity disposed within a rear end of the hub when the hub is coupled to the mounting assembly.

3. The pipeline inspection device of claim 1 , wherein the second portion of the mounting assembly fixedly supports the hub to prevent the hub from rotating relative to the stand.

4. The pipeline inspection device of claim 1 , wherein one of the first engagement member and the second engagement member includes a projection and the other of the first engagement member and the second engagement member includes a recess.

5. The pipeline inspection device of claim 1 , wherein the core includes a front face with a side wall extending around the perimeter of the face, and wherein the second engagement member is formed by a flattened portion in the side wall.

6. The pipeline inspection device of claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the mounting assembly includes a shaft extending from a center support into the interior of the drum, and wherein the core is coupled to a distal end of the shaft.

7. The pipeline inspection device of claim 1 , wherein the hub includes a battery housing for receiving a battery.

8. The pipeline inspection device of claim 1 , wherein the hub includes a wireless communication module configured to wirelessly output images captured by the camera.

9. The pipeline inspection device of claim 1 , where the second engagement member is formed by a side wall of the core, and wherein the first engagement member includes a latch having a hook that selectively grips the side wall.

10. The pipeline inspection device of claim 9 , wherein the hook is received within a space between two arms extending radially outward from the side wall of the core.

11. The pipeline inspection device of claim 9 , wherein the hub includes a trigger actuable to disengage the hook from the core to enable the hub to be removed from the interior of the drum.

12. A pipeline inspection device, comprising:
a rotatable drum housing a cable, the cable extendable into a pipe;
a camera positioned on an end of the cable;
a hub housing electrical components of the pipeline inspection device; and
a stand including a mounting assembly having a first portion rotatably supporting the drum and a second portion supporting the hub within an interior of the drum, the second portion including a core, the hub being removably coupled to the mounting assembly via the core,
wherein the hub is removably coupled to the mounting assembly by a first engagement member on the hub and a second engagement member on the core, and
wherein the first portion of the mounting assembly includes a shaft extending from a center support into the interior of the drum, and wherein the core is coupled to a distal end of the shaft.

Assignees

• Milwaukee Electric Tool Corp

Inventors

• Krohlow Samuel J
• Turner Christopher J

Classifications

• B65H75/4444

  with manually adjustable brake pads · CPC title

• B65H75/364

  the stored material being coiled · CPC title

• G01M3/005 Primary

  using pigs or moles (G01M3/246, G01M3/2823 take precedence) · CPC title

• F16L55/30

  of the propulsion means, e.g. towed by cables · CPC title

• F16L2101/30

  Inspecting, measuring or testing · CPC title