Borescope

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9435750-B2
Application number	US-201314011759-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 28, 2013
Priority date	Sep 12, 2012
Publication date	Sep 6, 2016
Grant date	Sep 6, 2016

Abstract

A borescope includes a plurality of bending parts, a plurality of lens barrels, a plurality of joint parts, an objective lens device, a plurality of reflectors, a plurality of relay lenses, and a camera mount. The plurality of lens barrels are connected via the plurality of bending parts with predetermined bend angles, respectively. Rotation angles of the plurality of bending parts are changeable via the plurality of joint parts relative to the plurality of lens barrels. The objective lens device has an objective lens and is detachably provided at a front end side of the plurality of lens barrels. The plurality of reflectors are respectively disposed in the plurality of bending parts. The plurality of relay lenses are respectively disposed in the plurality of lens barrels. The camera mount is provided at a rear end side of the plurality of lens barrels.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A borescope comprising:
a plurality of bending parts with predetermined bend angles;
a plurality of lens barrels which are connected via and between respective ones of the plurality of bending parts;
a plurality of joint parts via which rotation angles of the plurality of bending parts is changeable relative to the plurality of lens barrels, each of the plurality of joint parts having a lock ring disposed around an outer circumference of one of the plurality of lens barrels and configured to be selectively tightened to apply a frictional force and loosened to relieve the frictional force by rotating the lock ring relative to one of the plurality of lens barrels thereby moving the lock ring between a tightened position adjacent to one of the plurality of bending parts and a loosened position spaced from the one of the plurality of bending parts;
an objective lens device which has an objective lens and is detachably provided at a front end side of the plurality of lens barrels;
a plurality of reflectors respectively disposed in the plurality of bending parts;
a plurality of relay lenses respectively disposed in the plurality of lens barrels; and
a camera mount provided at a rear end side of the plurality of lens barrels.

2. The borescope according to claim 1 , further comprising:
an air supply hole through which air is to be supplied to an inside of each of the plurality of lens barrels;
a plurality of air passages which each communicate with a rear face side and a front face side of each of the plurality of relay lenses; and
an air discharge hole which communicates with a rear face side and a front face side of the objective lens and through which air is to be discharged to an outside of the objective lens device.

3. The borescope according to claim 1 ,
wherein in each of the plurality of joint parts, an inner cylindrical portion provided in each of the plurality of lens barrels is rotatably fitted via a bearing to an inner circumference of an outer cylindrical portion provided in each of the plurality of bending parts, and a friction material is disposed between the lock ring and an end face of the outer cylindrical portion, the lock ring being screwed into the outer circumference of each of the plurality of lens barrels.

4. The borescope according to claim 1 ,
wherein the objective lens device is exchangeable to another objective lens device different from the objective lens device, and
wherein an initial image formation position located rearward of the objective lens unit is same as an initial image formation position located rearward of the another objective lens unit.

5. The borescope according to claim 1 ,
wherein the camera mount includes
a spring collet provided to be fixed to a camera, and
a fixed ring which is screwed into an outer circumference of the spring collet,

wherein the spring collet includes
a plurality of slits which are open in a direction away from the camera, and
an outer circumferential tapered surface which is formed on each of the plurality of slits and has a diameter gradually increasing toward the camera, and

wherein the fixed ring includes an inner circumferential tapered surface which has a diameter gradually increasing toward the camera and which is in contact with the outer circumferential tapered surface.

6. The borescope according to claim 5 ,
wherein the camera mount includes a bayonet auxiliary camera mount to fix another camera different from the camera.

7. The borescope according to claim 1 ,
wherein each of the plurality of reflectors comprises one of a mirror and a prism.

8. The borescope according to claim 1 ,
wherein each of the plurality of joint parts comprises a joint.

9. The borescope according to claim 1 ,
wherein the plurality of joint parts each include a bearing configured to allow the plurality of bending parts to rotate relative to the plurality of lens barrels.

10. The borescope according to claim 1 ,
wherein the plurality of bending parts are each rotatable in respective planes that are substantially orthogonal to corresponding planes in which the predetermined bend angles lie.

11. The borescope according to claim 1 ,
wherein the plurality of bending parts are rotatable relative to the plurality of lens barrels such that any rotational angle can be formed between the plurality of bending parts and the plurality of lens barrels.

12. The borescope according to claim 1 ,
wherein a first one of the plurality of bending parts is rotatable relative to a second one of the plurality of bending parts.

13. The borescope according to claim 1 , wherein loosening the lock ring to relieve the frictional force allows rotation of the plurality of the bending parts relative to the plurality of lens barrels when the lock ring is in the loosened position, and tightening the lock ring to apply the frictional force integrates the plurality of joint parts and the plurality of lens barrels when the lock ring is in the tightened position.

14. The borescope according to claim 1 , wherein the objective lens device is detachable from the front end side of the plurality of lens barrels.

15. The borescope according to claim 1 ,
wherein one of the lock rings is disposed around the outer circumference of a first lens barrel of the plurality of lens barrels, the first lens barrel being connected to a first bending part of the plurality of bending parts, and
wherein the first bending part remains connected to the first lens barrel when the one of the lock rings disposed on the outer circumference of the first lens barrel is moved to the loosened position spaced away from the first bending part.

16. A borescope comprising:
a first bending part having a first reflector;
a second bending part having a second reflector;
a first lens barrel connected to and disposed between the first bending part and the second bending part;
a first joint part configured to allow rotation of the first lens barrel with respect to one of the first bending part and the second bending part, the first joint part having a lock ring disposed on an outer circumference of the first lens barrel and configured to be selectively tightened to apply a frictional force and loosened to relieve the frictional force by rotating the lock ring relative to the first lens barrel thereby moving the lock ring between a tightened position adjacent to one of the first bending part and the second bending part and a loosened position spaced from the one of the first bending part and the second bending part; and
a plurality of relay lenses disposed in the first lens barrel,
wherein the first bending part is connected to:
an objective lens device having an objective lens, the objective lens device being detachably attached to the first bending part; or
a camera mount, and

wherein the first and second bending parts are bent at respective predetermined bend angles.

17. The borescope according to claim 16 , further comprising:
a second lens barrel connected to the second bending part; and
a third bending part having a third reflector and being connected to the second lens barrel.

18. The borescope according to claim 17 , further comprising:
a third lens barrel connected to the third bending part;
a fourth bending part having a fourth reflector and being connected to the third lens barrel,
wherein the camera mount is provided at the first bending part and the objective lens device is provided at the fourth bending part.

19. The borescope according to claim 16 ,
wherein the

Assignees

• Honda Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Matsumoto Kenji

Classifications

• G01N21/954 Primary

  Inspecting the inner surface of hollow bodies, e.g. bores · CPC title

• G02B23/2484

  Arrangements in relation to a camera or imaging device (processing or control of video signals generated by an endoscope H04N23/60, H04N23/70) · CPC title

• G02B23/2446

  of the image relay (G02B23/26 takes precedence) · CPC title