Steerable nozzle-mounted camera system and method
AssigneeEnvirosight LLC
InventorJosef Riezler
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system for imaging a pipe comprising: (a) a first nozzle having a plurality of jets configured such that expelling fluid from the first nozzle urges the nozzle in an axial direction without substantially biasing the first nozzle laterally; (b) a second nozzle in fluid communication with the first nozzle, the second nozzle having one or more jets configured such that expelling fluid from the second nozzle biases the second nozzle laterally, wherein at least one of the first or second nozzles is configured for attachment to a hose for providing pressurized fluid, wherein the second nozzle is operatively connectable to the hose such that rotating the hose rotates the second nozzle; and (c) a camera attached proximately to the second nozzle.
Claims20
A system for imaging a pipe, said system comprising:
- (a) a first nozzle having a plurality of jets configured such that expelling fluid from said first nozzle urges the nozzle in an axial direction without substantially biasing the first nozzle laterally;
- (b) a second nozzle in fluid communication with said first nozzle, said second nozzle having one or more jets configured such that expelling fluid from said second nozzle biases the second nozzle laterally, wherein at least one of said first or second nozzles is configured for attachment to a hose for providing pressurized fluid, wherein said second nozzle is operatively connectable to said hose such that rotating said hose rotates said second nozzle;
- and
- (c) a camera attached proximately to said second nozzle.
A system for imaging a pipe, said system comprising:
- (a) a first hose for conveying pressurized fluid, said first hose having a distal end;
- (b) a first nozzle attached to said distal end, said first nozzle configured with a plurality of jets symmetrically arranged around said first nozzle such that expelling fluid from said first nozzle urges the nozzle in an axial direction opposite of said distal end without substantially biasing the first nozzle laterally;
- (c) a second hose attached to said first nozzle at a first end;
- (d) a second nozzle attached to a second end of said second hose, said second nozzle configured with one or more jets asymmetrically arranged around said second nozzle such that expelling fluid from said second nozzle biases the second nozzle laterally, thereby allowing said system to be steered as it is propelled along a pipe by rotating the first hose;
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- (e) a camera attached proximately to said second nozzle.
A method for imaging a pipe having one or more laterals extending laterally from said pipe using an inspection system comprising at least a first nozzle having a plurality of jets configured such that expelling fluid from said first nozzle urges the nozzle in an axial direction without substantially biasing the first nozzle laterally, a second nozzle having one or more jets configured such that expelling fluid from said second nozzle biases the second nozzle laterally, a camera attached proximately to said second nozzle, and a hose connected to at least one of said first or second nozzles;
- said method comprising:
- (a) inserting said camera in said pipe;
- (b) pressurizing said hose such that fluid is expelled from said first nozzle to propel said camera axially along said pipe;
- (c) identifying a lateral, a bend or debris in said pipe;
- (d) rotating said hose to rotate said second nozzle, thereby laterally biasing said second nozzle toward said lateral, into said bend or around said debris;
- and
- (e) imaging at least a portion of the interior of said pipe.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.