# US 2014/0192180 A1 · Inspection system and method for use in underground boring operations > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0192180 A1 - Document ID: US20140192180A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/234,051 - Filed: 2012-07-19 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2011-07-21 - Assignees: Emerson Electric Co. - Inventors: Josh Sooy; Michael J. Rutkowski; Jon R. Dunkin - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140192180A1 ## CPC - E21B 47/002: by visual inspection - G03B 37/005: {Photographing internal surfaces, e.g. of pipe, (G03B37/02 - G03B37/06 take precedence; instruments for performing medical examinations of cavities or tubes of the body by photographic inspection A61B1/00)} - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS - G03B: APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR (optical parts of such apparatus G02B; photosensitive materials or processes for photographic purposes G03C; apparatus for processing exposed photographic materials G03D) ## Abstract An inspection system and method for use in underground utility construction, especially underground boring operations, is provided. The inspection system generally includes a sensor, a sensor carrier apparatus, and an output device. The sensor is employed to obtain inspection data regarding the condition of a tunnel created in an underground boring operation. The sensor carrier is adapted to incorporate the sensor and connect to means for transporting the sensor through the tunnel. The output device receives an output signal from the sensor corresponding to the inspection data and presents it to an operator for interpretation and/or otherwise documents and/or records the inspection data. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An inspection system for inspecting an underground tunnel created by a boring tool connected to a retrieval mechanism, comprising: a sensor for obtaining inspection data regarding the condition of the tunnel; a sensor carrier adapted to incorporate the sensor and to connect to the retrieval mechanism, the sensor carrier being adapted to travel through the tunnel and to transport the sensor through the tunnel; and an output device for receiving an output signal from the sensor corresponding to the inspection data. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The inspection system of claim 1 wherein the boring tool includes one of a pneumatic boring tool and a drill bit, and the retrieval mechanism includes one of a pneumatic hose and a drill pipe. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The inspection system of claim 2 wherein the sensor includes a camera, the sensor carrier includes a camera rigging, and the output device includes a display. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The inspection system of claim 3 wherein the camera rigging includes a frame, a camera connector clamp, a camera guide, and a connector fitting that adapts the camera rigging for connection to at least one of the pneumatic hose, a utility line, and the drill bit. ### Claim 5 A visual inspection system for use in an underground boring operation comprising: a camera; a display; a cable connecting the camera to the display; and a camera rigging adapted to travel through a tunnel created in the underground boring operation, the camera rigging having a first end and a second end opposite from the first end, the camera rigging comprising: a frame comprising at least one elongated member; a camera connector clamp disposed at or adjacent to the first end of the camera rigging and adapting the camera rigging to clamp onto the cable; a camera guide disposed at a location between the first and second ends of the camera rigging and adapting the camera rigging to incorporate the camera; and a connector fitting that adapts disposed at the second end of the camera rigging and adapting the camera rigging for connection to at least one of a pneumatic hose, a utility line, and a drill bit. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The camera rigging of claim 5 wherein the camera connector clamp and the connector fitting are secured to the frame. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The camera rigging of claim 6 wherein the camera guide positions the camera relative to the frame. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The visual inspection system of claim 7 wherein the cable extends through and is secured to the camera connector clamp. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The visual inspection system of claim 7 further comprising a tether that connects to the first end of the camera rigging for pulling the camera through the tunnel. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The visual inspection system of claim 9 further comprising a snap clip that releasably attaches the tether to the camera rigging. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The visual inspection system of claim 10 wherein the tether extends into an interior space of the camera connector clamp and is secured therein. ### Claim 12 A camera rigging for a visual inspection system for use in underground pneumatic boring, the camera rigging having a first end and a second end opposite from the first end, the camera rigging comprising: a frame comprising at least one elongated member; a camera connector clamp disposed at or adjacent to the first end of the camera rigging and adapting the camera rigging to clamp onto a cable that connects a camera to a display; a camera guide disposed at a location between the first and second ends of the camera rigging and adapting the camera rigging to incorporate the camera; and a connector fitting disposed at the second end of the camera rigging and adapting the camera rigging for connection to at least one of a pneumatic hose, a utility line, and a drill bit; and wherein the camera rigging is adapted to travel through a tunnel created in an underground boring operation. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The camera rigging of claim 12 wherein the camera connector clamp and the connector fitting are secured to the frame. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The camera rigging of claim 13 wherein the camera guide is configured to position the camera relative to the frame. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The camera rigging of claim 14 wherein the camera connector clamp is configured to secure the cable relative to the frame. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The camera rigging of claim 15 wherein the at least one elongated member includes flexible rope. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The camera rigging of claim 16 further comprising fasteners threaded into apertures in the camera connector clamp and the connector fitting to secure the camera connector clamp and the connector fitting to the frame. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The camera rigging of claim 15 wherein the camera connector clamp includes a pair of body members joined together by fasteners. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The camera rigging of claim 18 wherein the body members define a pair of grooves that are configured to receive the cable. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The camera rigging of claim 18 wherein the camera connector clamp includes a hinge and the body members pivot about the hinge. ### Claim 21 (depends on 18) The camera rigging of claim 18 wherein the camera connector clamp includes a bulb that is configured to clamp onto the cable, the body members cooperating to form a pocket that receives and retains the bulb. ### Claim 22 (depends on 18) The camera rigging of claim 18 wherein the at least one elongated member includes a plurality of rigid rods. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The camera rigging of claim 22 wherein the rigid rods have L-shaped ends and the body members define grooves that receive and retain the L-shaped ends to secure the camera connector clamp to the frame. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The camera rigging of claim 23 wherein the rigid rods have threaded ends opposite the L-shaped ends that engage female threads formed in the connector fitting to secure the connector fitting to the frame. ### Claim 25 (depends on 12) The camera rigging of claim 12 wherein the camera guide has a slit extending through a portion thereof and an aperture extending perpendicular to the slit for receiving a fastener to secure the camera within the camera guide. ### Claim 26 (depends on 12) The camera rigging of claim 12 wherein the camera is secured within the camera guide using a fastener that extends through the camera guide and engages the camera. ### Claim 27 (depends on 12) The camera rigging of claim 12 further comprising a pair of guide wipers that are configured to engage the tunnel to form a seal therebetween, wherein the camera guide is located between the camera connector clamp and the connector fitting, and each of the guide wipers are secured to one of the camera guide and the connector fitting. ### Claim 28 A method for visually inspecting an underground tunnel for a utility line for potential crossbores, comprising: creating the tunnel using a boring tool traveling in a first direction; removing the boring tool from an air supply hose; attaching a camera to the air supply hose by connecting a camera rigging to the air supply hose, the camera being secured in the camera rigging; pulling the air supply hose, the camera and the camera rigging through the tunnel in a second direction opposite to the first direction; obtaining inspection data regarding the condition of the tunnel as the camera is pulled through the tunnel in the second direction; disconnecting the air supply hose from the camera rigging; attaching the utility line to the camera rigging; and pulling the camera rigging and the utility line through the tunnel in the first direction. ### Claim 29 A method for visually inspecting an underground tunnel for a utility line for potential crossbores, comprising: creating the tunnel using a drill bit traveling in a first direction; attaching a camera to the drill bit by connecting a camera rigging to the drill bit, the camera being secured in the camera rigging; pulling the drill bit, the camera and the camera rigging through the tunnel in a second direction opposite to the first direction; obtaining visual inspection data regarding the condition of the tunnel as the camera is pulled through the tunnel in the second direction; disconnecting the drill bit from the camera rigging; attaching the utility line to the camera rigging; and pulling the camera rigging and the utility line through the tunnel in the first direction. ### Claim 30 (depends on 4) The inspection system of claim 4 wherein the connector fitting comprises a cone portion centered in the frame and located in front of the camera such that it reflects an image peripheral to the axis of the camera within the field of view of the camera. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) The inspection system of claim 30 wherein the connector fitting further comprises a passageway therethrough to enable compressed air to pass through the connector fitting when the camera rigging is connected to the pneumatic hose. ### Claim 32 (depends on 5) The visual inspection system of claim 5 wherein the connector fitting comprises a cone portion centered in the frame and located in front of the camera such that it reflects an image peripheral to the axis of the camera within the field of view of the camera. ### Claim 33 (depends on 32) The visual inspection system of claim 32 wherein the connector fitting further comprises a passageway therethrough to enable compressed air to pass through the connector fitting when the camera rigging is connected to the pneumatic hose. ### Claim 34 (depends on 12) The camera rigging of claim 12 wherein the connector fitting comprises a cone portion centered in the frame and located in front of the camera such that it reflects an image peripheral to the axis of the camera within the field of view of the camera. ### Claim 35 (depends on 34) The camera rigging of claim 34 wherein the connector fitting further comprises a passageway therethrough to enable compressed air to pass through the connector fitting when the camera rigging is connected to the pneumatic hose. ### Claim 36 (depends on 12) The camera rigging of claim 12 further comprising means for minimizing snow plowing in the tunnel when the camera rigging travels through the tunnel. ### Claim 37 (depends on 5) The visual inspection system of claim 5 wherein the connector fitting has a first end and a second end opposite from the first end, the connecting fitting defining a first hole extending through the first and a second hole extending through the second end, the first hole being configured to receive the frame, the second hole being configured to receive the at least one of the pneumatic hose, the utility line, and the drill bit. ### Claim 38 (depends on 37) The visual inspection system of claim 37 wherein the connector fitting includes first internal threads disposed in the first hole for threadingly connecting to the frame, and the connector fitting includes second internal threads disposed in the second hole for threadingly connecting to the at least one of the pneumatic hose, the utility line, and the drill bit. ### Claim 39 (depends on 12) The camera rigging of claim 12 wherein the connector fitting has a first end and a second end opposite from the first end, the connecting fitting defining a first hole extending through the first and a second hole extending through the second end, the first hole being configured to receive the frame, the second hole being configured to receive the at least one of the pneumatic hose, the utility line, and the drill bit. ### Claim 40 (depends on 12) The camera rigging of claim 12 wherein the connector fitting includes first internal threads disposed in the first hole for threadingly connecting to the frame, and the connector fitting includes second internal threads disposed in the second hole for threadingly connecting to the at least one of the pneumatic hose, the utility line, and the drill bit.