Centralizer for internal pipe inspection device

A collapsible centering mechanism for a pipe inspection device insertable into a pipeline through a lateral opening smaller than an internal diameter of the pipeline, said inspection device including an inspection head and a hose section trailing therefrom, said collapsible centering mechanism comprising:

• at least three bendable support legs, each support leg having a first end and a second end, each support leg being pivotally secured to said inspection head near its first end;
• a ferrule slidably encircling said hose section, each support leg being pivotally secured to said ferrule adjacent its second end, said ferrule comprising means for extending said support legs outwardly from said inspection head to support said device and means for collapsing said support legs towards said inspection head to allow the inspection device's insertion into and removal from the pipeline through the small lateral pipe opening;
• and
• a biasing mechanism for biasing said at least three support legs in said outwardly extended position from said inspection device, said extended legs providing centering of said inspection device when within said pipeline.

Pipe inspection apparatus insertable into a pipeline for inspection or repair thereof, said apparatus comprising:

• a compact pipe inspection head including a central body portion, said body portion including a viewing assembly for imaging the interior of a pipeline when said inspection head is positioned therein;
• a flexible hose section connected to trail said central body portion;
• multiple bendable support legs, each of said support legs having a first end and a second end, each support leg being pivotally secured to said central body portion adjacent said first end;
• at least two ferrules slidably surrounding said hose section, a first one of said at least two ferrules being closer to said central body portion than a second one of said at least two ferrules, each support leg being pivotally connected adjacent said second end to said second ferrule and each support leg being pivotally connected intermediate its first end and second end to said first ferrule;
• and
• a biasing mechanism for extending said multiple bendable support legs outwardly when said inspection head is positioned within a pipeline, each said support leg defining a substantially sinusoidal shape when extending outwardly, said biasing mechanism being operable to allow collapsing of said support legs towards said central body portion and said trailing hose section.

A collapsible support mechanism for a pipe inspection device having an inspection head and a cable trailing therefrom, said collapsible support mechanism comprising:

• a plurality of bendable support legs, each of said support legs having a first end and a second end;
• three ferrules slidably encircling said cable, a first ferrule of said three ferrules being disposed nearest to said inspection head in comparison with a second ferrule and a third ferrule of said three ferrules, said second ferrule being disposed between said first ferrule and said third ferrule, said bendable support legs each being pivotally secured adjacent said first end to said first ferrule, adjacent said second end to said third ferrule, and between its first end and its second end to said second ferrule such that when said first, second and third ferrules are slid near said inspection head, said support legs flexibly bend and pivot outwardly from said cable to support said cable and inspection head, and when said three ferrules are slid away from said inspection head, said support legs collapse towards said cable;
• and
• biasing means for selectively maintaining said support legs in their outwardly extending position from said cable.