Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100208055 | Push-Cable for Pipe Inspection System - In accordance with the present invention a push-cable comprises a central core including a least one conductor, a plurality of non-metallic resilient flexible stiffness members surrounding the core, and a layer of sheathing surrounding the stiffness members. | 08-19-2010 |
20100208056 | Pipe Inspection System with Replaceable Cable Storage Drum - A pipe inspection system includes a cable storage drum and a housing configured to removably receive and rotatably support the cable storage drum. A push-cable with a plurality of conductors is stored in the cable storage drum. A camera head is connected to a distal end of the push-cable. A slip-ring assembly has first and second mating portions that when mated provide conductive paths between the plurality of conductors at a proximal end of the push-capable and a display device. The first portion of the slip-ring assembly is mounted on the housing and the second portion of the slip-ring assembly is mounted on the removable cable storage drum. The system connection cable joining the inspection system with a display unit is removable and may be replaced with cables compatible with various alternate image display systems. | 08-19-2010 |
20120211580 | ASYMMETRIC DRAG FORCE BEARINGS FOR USE WITH PUSH-CABLE STORAGE DRUMS - A pipe inspection system may include a cable storage drum and a length of resilient flexible push-cable. An asymmetric bearing device supports the cable storage drum for rotation about the rotational axis in a pay-out direction and an opposite pay-in direction. In one embodiment, the asymmetric bearing device automatically decreases, without the for manual adjustment, an amount of friction exerted against rotation of the cable storage drum upon reversal of the direction of rotation of the cable storage drum from the pay-out direction to the pay-in direction. | 08-23-2012 |
20140147086 | HIGH BANDWIDTH PUSH CABLES FOR VIDEO PIPE INSPECTION SYSTEMS - High-bandwidth push cables configured for high speed data communication, such as that used in video signal transmission between a camera head and a cable reel or other device, are disclosed. | 05-29-2014 |
20140152802 | MULTI-CAMERA PIPE INSPECTION APPARATUS, SYSTEMS AND METHODS - A camera head for inspecting pipes or cavities including an array of two or more imaging elements with overlapping Fields of View (FOV) is disclosed. The camera head may include one or more light source elements, such as LEDs, for providing illumination in dimly lit inspection sites, such as the interior of underground pipes. The imaging elements and LEDs may be used in conjunction with a remote display device, such as an LCD panel of a camera control unit (CCU) or monitor in proximity to an operator, to display the interior of a pipe or other cavity. | 06-05-2014 |
20140168407 | PIPE INSPECTION SYSTEMS WITH SNAP-ON PIPE GUIDES - A video pipe inspection system may include a push-cable, camera head, and pipe guide having a pair of cylindrical shells, with each shell having a plurality of radially extending circumferentially spaced vanes and structure for holding the shells together when the shells are axially mated end-to-end. A pair of curved tab arms may extend circumferentially about corresponding ones of the cylindrical shells. A pair of slide-locks may be configured to slide over corresponding ones of the tab arms to move them into a locking position in which keys on the tab arms extend between adjacent coils of a coil spring surrounded by the shells. | 06-19-2014 |
20140176696 | ROTATING CONTACT ASSEMBLIES FOR SELF-LEVELING CAMERA HEADS - Camera heads and associated rotating contact assemblies are disclosed. In one embodiment a slip-ring assembly includes a rotating contact assembly including slip rings having a cylindrical ring assembly and a flexible or bendable brush assembly. Brush elements may flexed to remain in contact with corresponding ring assembly electrical contacts. Bush contacts may be coated or have attached contact assemblies to increase hardness and oxide resistance with materials such as palladium nickel, rhodium, or hard gold, though a variety of other materials may be used as a suitable coating. | 06-26-2014 |
20140233247 | SEMICONDUCTOR LIGHTING DEVICES AND METHODS - Lighting device embodiments having a housing enclosing one or more interior volumes, along with a serviceable port in the housing to allow venting of one or more of the interior volumes, are disclosed. The lighting devices may further include internal venting paths to allow transfer of contaminating gases to the serviceable port, and a gas permeable pressure valve to allow transfer of contaminants from the interior of the lighting device. The pressure valve may be selectively permeable as a function of applied exterior pressure. The lighting device may also include one or more electronic circuit elements disposed in the one or more interior volumes, and a selectively permeable barrier element disposed in the housing having a first area exposed to one of the interior volumes and a second area exposed to a gas or liquid volume exterior to the housing to allow diffusion of browning contaminants from the one of the interior volumes to the gas or liquid volume exterior to the housing. | 08-21-2014 |
20140268822 | SEMICONDUCTOR LIGHTING DEVICES AND METHODS - Lighting device embodiments having a housing enclosing one or more interior volumes, along with a serviceable port in the housing to allow venting of one or more of the interior volumes, are disclosed. The lighting devices may further include internal venting paths to allow transfer of contaminating gases to the serviceable port, and a gas permeable pressure valve to allow transfer of contaminants from the interior of the lighting device. The pressure valve may be selectively permeable as a function of applied exterior pressure. The lighting device may also include one or more electronic circuit elements disposed in the one or more interior volumes, and a selectively permeable barrier element disposed in the housing having a first area exposed to one of the interior volumes and a second area exposed to a gas or liquid volume exterior to the housing to allow diffusion of browning contaminants from the one of the interior volumes to the gas or liquid volume exterior to the housing. | 09-18-2014 |
20140313321 | OPTICAL GROUND TRACKING APPARATUS, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS - Optical ground tracking apparatus for use with buried object locators or other instruments or devices are disclosed. In one embodiment, a ground tracking apparatus integral with or coupled to a buried object locator includes a housing, a plurality of camera modules, a distance measurement module, and a processing element to generate tracking information based on images or video streams from the camera modules in combination with distance data generated from the distance measurement module. | 10-23-2014 |
20140320631 | MULTI-CAMERA PIPE INSPECTION APPARATUS, SYSTEMS AND METHODS - Systems for inspecting pipes or cavities including a camera head having an array of two or more imaging elements with overlapping Fields of View (FOV) are disclosed. The camera head may include one or more light source elements, such as LEDs, for providing illumination in dimly lit inspection sites, such as the interior of underground pipes. The imaging elements and LEDs may be used in conjunction with a remote display device, such as an LCD panel of a camera control unit (CCU) or monitor in proximity to an operator, to display the interior of a pipe or other cavity. | 10-30-2014 |
20140333753 | SPRING ASSEMBLIES WITH VARIABLE FLEXILIBILITY FOR USE WITH PUSH-CABLES AND PIPE INSPECTION SYSTEMS - Push-cables and associated apparatus and systems are disclosed. In one embodiment, a push-cable assembly for use with a pipe inspection system may include a push-cable element having a proximal end and a distal end, with a spring assembly having varying flexibility coupled to or near the distal end. The spring assembly may include an outer coiled spring having a proximal and a distal end, and an inner coiled spring nested at least partially within the outer coiled spring. A camera head and/or other elements such as a cutting or jetting apparatus may be coupled at or near the distal end. | 11-13-2014 |
20140347867 | PRESSURE RELIEF VALVE DEVICES AND METHODS - Pressure relief valves for use in high pressure applications that may include a conical shaped plunger, a body with a conical shaped mating surface corresponding to the shape of the conical shaped plunger, and one or more sealing elements, such as a pair of O-rings, are disclosed. | 11-27-2014 |