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US 11,231,377 B2Granted
Hazardous environment inspection system and related apparatus and methods
AssigneeNorthrop Grumman System Corporation
InventorsJonathan G. Melton, Mark R. Eggett
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An inspection device for inspecting explosive environments. The inspection device may include a camera and an intrinsic safety barrier. The intrinsic safety barrier may be configured to receive camera power and control signals and transmit intrinsically safe camera power and control signals to the camera.
Claims20
An inspection apparatus for inspecting a rocket bore comprising:
- a first camera configured to be used in a rocket bore, wherein the first camera is configured to receive camera power and camera control signals from an area outside the rocket bore;
- a second camera configured to be used in the rocket bore, wherein the second camera is configured to receive camera power and camera control signals from the area outside the rocket bore, the second camera positioned on an angled extended portion of the inspection apparatus;
- an illuminating device adjacent at least one of the first camera and the second camera, the illuminating device configured to receive illumination power and illumination control signals from the area outside the rocket bore;
- and
- an intrinsic barrier configured to receive the camera power, the camera control signals, the illumination power, and the illumination control signals in the area outside the rocket bore and pass the camera power, the camera control signals, the illumination power, and the illumination control signals to the first camera, the second camera, and the illuminating device into the rocket bore in an intrinsically safe manner.
2 more elements
An inspection system for explosive environments comprising:
- an inspection head comprising a camera and an illumination device, the inspection head configured to be secured within an explosive environment;
- and
- a first intrinsic barrier configured to receive electrical signals for the inspection head and a second intrinsic barrier configured to receive power for the inspection head in an area outside the explosive environment, the first intrinsic barrier further configured to transmit intrinsically safe electrical signals to the inspection head and the second intrinsic barrier further configured to transmit intrinsically safe power to the inspection head.
A method of performing inspections in hazardous environments comprising:
- mounting an inspection head inside a hazardous environment, the inspection head comprising a first externally powered camera, a second externally powered camera, and an illumination device, the second externally powered camera positioned on an angled extended portion of the inspection head;
- transmitting power to the inspection head through an intrinsic barrier;
- transmitting electrical control signals to the inspection head through the intrinsic barrier;
- and
- receiving imaging data from the inspection head.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.