Video pipe inspection system employing non-rotating cable storage drum

A video pipe inspection system, comprising:

• a resilient, flexible video push cable having a length sufficient for insertion a substantial distance down a pipe;
• a video camera head operatively connected to a distal end of the video push cable;
• and
• a non-rotating drum including a main substantially annular portion for holding the stack of coils and a central frusto-conical guide portion, the main annular portion of the drum and the frusto-conical guide portion being integrally molded of plastic and being dimensioned and configured to facilitate manual paying out the video push cable from the main substantially annular portion and manual re-insertion of the video push cable into the main substantially annular portion and re-formation of the stack of coils by having a central axis of the frusto-conical guide portion substantially coincident with a central axis of the stack of coils, a lower end of the central guide portion terminating at a location intermediate a height of the main substantially annular portion, and a round exit aperture of the frusto-conical guide portion with a first diameter selected in accordance with a predetermined proportional relationship to an outer second diameter of the stack of coils.

A video pipe inspection system, comprising:

• a resilient, flexible video push cable having a length sufficient for insertion a substantial distance down a pipe;
• a video camera head operatively connected to a distal end of the video push cable;
• and
• a cable drum configured for stowing the video push cable in a stack of coils, the drum including a main portion for holding the stack of coils and a central guide portion configured to facilitate manual paying out the video push cable from the main portion and manual re-insertion of the video push cable into the main portion and re-formation of the stack of coils.

A method of inspecting an interior of a length of pipe, comprising the steps of:

• providing a resilient, flexible video push cable in a stack of coils wound inside a non-rotating cable drum with a video camera head operatively connected to a distal end of the video push cable and a video display operatively connected to a proximal end of the push cable;
• manually paying out the video push cable from the cable drum while the drum is stationary by uncoiling the stack of coils through a central guide portion of the drum and pushing the video camera head down a length of pipe to be visually inspected;
• generating a video image of the interior of the pipe based on signals from the video camera head;
• and
• manually pulling the video camera head out of the pipe and re-inserting the video push cable back into the stationary cable drum through the guide portion to re-form the stack of coils.

A video camera head and wet end termination assembly for use in video pipe inspection system, comprising:

• a video camera head;
• an elongated bladder having a forward end sealed to the video camera head;
• an elongated spring surrounding and enclosing the bladder;
• and
• a rearward coupling assembly connected to a rearward end of the coil spring and sealed to a rearward end of the bladder.

A video camera head and wet end termination assembly for use in video pipe inspection system, comprising:

• a video camera head;
• an elongated spring having a forward end connected to a rearward end of the video camera head;
• a transmitter mounted inside the spring including a transmitter coil that surrounds an elongated flexible transmitter core;
• and
• a rearward coupling assembly connected to a rearward end of the coil spring.

A transmitter for use in locating a defect, leak or blockage in a pipe, comprising:

• a flexible ferro-magnetic transmitter core;
• a coil surrounding at least a portion of the core;
• means for supplying the coil with an electrical signal that will cause the core to emit signals that can be remotely detected;
• and
• housing means for providing a water-tight enclosure for at least the coil and the core.