Spring assemblies with variable flexibility for use with push-cables and pipe inspection systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11550214-B1
Application number	US-202117321448-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	May 16, 2021
Priority date	May 7, 2013
Publication date	Jan 10, 2023
Grant date	Jan 10, 2023

Abstract

Push-cables and associated apparatus for pipe inspection systems are disclosed. In one embodiment a pipe inspection system includes a camera head, a push-cable including an outer covering enclosing a plurality of electrical conductors for transmitting signals and/or power between the camera head and an electronic device operatively coupled to the push-cable, and a spring assembly disposed about the push-cable near the distal end where the spring assembly comprises a spring with a tapered flex section having a varying cross-sectional area and/or a varying cross-sectional shape.

First claim

We claim:

1. A push-cable system, comprising:
a push-cable having a proximal end and a distal end;
a spring assembly coupled to the distal end of the push-cable, comprising:
an outer coiled spring having a proximal end and a distal end; and
an inner coiled spring nested at least partially within the outer coiled spring, wherein the inner coil spring is connected to a proximal end of a safety cable.

2. The push-cable system of claim 1 , wherein a camera head is coupled to the distal end of the push-cable.

3. The push-cable system of claim 2 , wherein a distal end of the safety cable is removably attachable to the push-cable and/or the camera head.

4. The push-cable system of claim 1 , wherein either the inner coiled spring, the outer coiled spring, or both, includes a first section having one or more coils of a first coil diameter, and a second section of one or more coils having a second coil diameter different from the first coil diameter.

5. The push-cable system of claim 1 , wherein either the inner coiled spring, the outer coiled spring, or both, includes a section having successively increasing coil diameters.

6. The push-cable system of claim 1 , wherein either the inner coiled spring, the outer coiled spring, or both, includes a first section having one or more coils of a first cross-sectional area, and a second section having one or more coils of a second cross-sectional area different from the first cross-sectional area.

7. The push-cable system of claim 1 , wherein either the inner coiled spring, the outer coiled spring, or both, includes a section having successively increasing coil cross-sectional areas.

8. The push-cable system of claim 1 , wherein either the inner coiled spring, the outer coiled spring, or both, includes a section having successively varying coil cross-sectional shapes.

9. The push-cable system of claim 1 , wherein either the inner coiled spring, the outer coiled spring, or both, includes a first section having two or more coils of a first pitch, and a second section of two or more coils of a second pitch different from the first pitch.

10. The push-cable system of claim 1 , wherein either the inner coiled spring, the outer coiled spring, or both, includes a section having successively varying coil pitches.

11. The push-cable system of claim 1 , further comprising an inner spring mounting element disposed within the outer coil spring, the inner spring mounting element including a threaded element shaped to mate with a corresponding coil threading of the inner coiled spring.

12. The push-cable system of claim 1 , wherein the coils of the inner coiled spring are wound in a direction opposite that of the coils of the outer coiled spring.

13. The push-cable system of claim 1 , wherein one or both of the inner coiled spring and the outer coiled spring includes a first section having two or more successive coils substantially in contact with each other and a second section having a gap between two or more successive coils.

14. The push-cable system of claim 1 , wherein one or both of the inner coiled spring and the outer coiled spring includes a section having gaps between successive coils that increase in length.

15. The push-cable system of claim 1 , wherein one or both of the inner coiled spring and the outer coiled spring includes a first section having a first gap between two or more successive coils and a second section having a second gap, different from the first gap, between two or more successive coils.

16. The push-cable system of claim 1 , wherein one or both of the inner coiled spring and the outer coiled spring includes a first section of a first material and a second section of a second material different from the first material.

17. The push-cable system of claim 1 , further comprising one or more connecting wires disposed at least partially within the spring assembly.

18. The push-cable system of claim 1 , further comprising a transmitter element disposed within the outer coiled spring.

19. The push-cable system of claim 18 , wherein the transmitter element is a sonde.

20. The push-cable system of claim 1 , wherein the camera head includes a camera spring threads feature having a threaded element shaped to mate with a corresponding coil threading of the outer coiled spring.

Assignees

• Seescan Inc

Inventors

• Olsson Mark S
• Chapman Eric M
• Kleyn James F

Classifications

• F16C1/10

  Means for transmitting linear movement in a flexible sheathing, e.g. "Bowden-mechanisms" (guiding-sheathings F16C1/26) · CPC title

• G01N21/8803

  Visual inspection (measuring projectors G01B9/08) · CPC title

• E03F7/12 Primary

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

• Y10T74/20402

  Flexible transmitter [e.g., Bowden cable] · CPC title

• H04N7/185

  from a mobile camera, e.g. for remote control · CPC title