Small diameter, deep bore optical inspection system

In a rod optic system comprising metal tubing defining a probe, a rod lens centrally located in the metal tubing, glass fibers within the metal tubing and surrounding the rod lens, wherein light from a source is directed through the glass fibers to an object to be viewed and light reflected from an object to be viewed is transmitted through the rod lens;

• the improvement consisting of:
• means for minimizing optical distortion when examining sides of a curved bore and being capable of providing simultaneous viewing at shallow and right angles of artifacts in a curved bore, said means including a curved mirror having a single inclined convex surface and positioned adjacent to and in axial alignment with an outer end of said rod lens such that light traveling through the rod optic system is bent about an angle of 90.degree. by said curved mirror, said inclined convex surface of said mirror being at about 45.degree. to the longitudinal axis of the rod lens, and means having an opening therein adjacent said curved mirror for retaining said curved mirror adjacent said rod lens.

A method for inspecting bore holes having a diameter of no greater than about 0.0625 inch while minimizing optical distortions comprising of the steps of:

• forming at least a portion of a probe of a rod optic system so as to define a diameter less than about 0.0625 inches, and providing a curved mirror assembly having a single inclined convex surface adjacent an outer end of the probe and of about the same diameter as the probe to increase the intensity of the light transmitted through the rod optics system.