# US 7,612,878 B2 · Device for inspecting a pipeline > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,612,878 B2 - Document ID: US7612878B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/874,686 - Filed: 2007-10-18 - Published: 2008-05-08 - Granted: 2009-11-03 - Earliest claimed: 2006-11-08 - Assignees: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V. - Inventors: Christian W. Frey - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7612878B2 ## CPC - G01B 11/24: for measuring contours or curvatures - G01B 11/25: by projecting a pattern, e.g. {one or more lines,} moiré fringes on the object (G01B11/255 takes precedence {; image analysis for depth or shape recovery G06T7/50}) - G01S 17/48: Active triangulation systems, i.e. using the transmission and reflection of electromagnetic waves other than radio waves - G01S 7/481: Constructional features, e.g. arrangements of optical elements - G01B: MEASURING LENGTH, THICKNESS OR SIMILAR LINEAR DIMENSIONS; MEASURING ANGLES; MEASURING AREAS; MEASURING IRREGULARITIES OF SURFACES OR CONTOURS - G01S: RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES ## Abstract A device to inspect a pipeline includes an optical system for contactless detection of an interior contour of the pipeline by optical triangulation, with the optical system being attachable to a carrier structure, which is insertable in a pipeline. The optical system includes at least n≧2 triangulation sensors or light section sensors disposed rotatably about a common axis of rotation and by the n triangulation sensors or n light section sensors being disposed about the common axis of rotation spaced the greatest possible distance apart angle-wise. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A device to inspect a pipeline, comprising: an optical system for contactless detection of an interior contour of a pipeline by optical triangulation, with the optical system being attachable to a carrier structure, which is insertable in the pipeline, wherein the optical system comprises at least two triangulation sensors or light section sensors disposed rotatably about a common axis of rotation, and wherein the at least two triangulation sensors or light section sensors are disposed about the common axis of rotation spaced the greatest possible distance apart angle-wise, wherein the optical system is designed as a rotatable sensor head which is attached to the carrier structure and comprises: a stationary part which is connected to the carrier structure and which is articulated to a motor-driven, rotatable part to which the at least two triangulation sensors or light section sensors are attached, a rotary drive unit which is directly or indirectly connected to the stationary part and which supplies signals and energy to an external unit via a cable, and a transmission unit which is connected at least partly to the stationary part and ensures contactless signal exchange between and to the triangulation sensors or light sensors attached to the rotatable part as well as contactless supplying of energy to the triangulation or light sensors. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the at least two triangulation sensors or light section sensors are each designed as laser triangulation sensors or light section sensors having at least one receiver and at least one laser light source. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The device according to claim 2, wherein the at least one receiver is a CCD matrix camera, a linear sensor, or a position sensitive device (PSD). ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The device according to claim 2, wherein the at least two triangulation sensors or light section sensors are each allocatable to an optical axis along which the laser light source emits light which forms an angle α unequal 0° with a viewing direction which is allocatable to the receiver. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The device according to claim 4, wherein the at least two triangulation sensors or light section sensors are disposed such that the optical axes of the at least two triangulation sensors or light section sensors lie in a common plane which is oriented perpendicular to the axis of rotation. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the transmission unit comprises two coil elements borne rotatably relative to each other between which at least one of the energy exchange or signal exchange occurs inductively, and wherein one coil element is connected directly to the rotatable part and the other coil element is connected to the stationary part, and wherein the two coil elements are spaced axially apart in longitudinal direction to the axis of rotation by an air gap. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the triangulation sensor comprises a line triangulation sensor. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, further comprising a camera unit attached to the carrier structure for visual coverage of an interior wall of the pipe. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A device according to claim 1, further comprising drive wheels. ### Claim 10 A device to inspect a pipeline, comprising: a stationary part connected with a rotary drive; a rotatable part positioned in a longitudinal direction to the stationary part and which engages the rotary drive, wherein the rotatable part serves as a platform for at least two triangulation laser sensors or light section sensors, wherein beams of said at least two laser triangulation sensors or light section sensors are oriented perpendicular to an axis of rotation about which the rotatable platform rotates; and a transmission unit comprising two coil elements, one coil element being connected to the stationary part, and the other coil element being connected to the rotatable part, wherein the transmission unit ensures contactless energy transmission and signal transmission between the stationary part and the rotatable part. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) A device according to claim 10, wherein for n laser triangulation sensors or light section sensors, an angle between individual beams is 360°/n.