Apparatus for inspecting lateral sewer pipes

An apparatus for inspecting a lateral conduit from a main conduit, the apparatus comprising:

• a frame;
• a drive motor interconnected with the frame;
• at least one drive gear selectively rotated by the drive motor in one of an insertion direction and a retraction direction;
• a push rod cable engaged by the at least one drive gear such that rotation of the at least one drive gear in the insertion and retraction direction causes respective insertion and retraction of the push rod cable with respect to the lateral conduit, the push rod cable including
• a core having sufficient longitudinal compressive rigidity to allow insertion of the push rod cable into the lateral conduit and having sufficient transverse flexibility to negotiate substantially all bends within the lateral conduit, and
• a push rod circuitry disposed along an outside surface of the core;
• a lateral camera interconnected with the push rod cable for insertion into the lateral conduit with the push rod cable, wherein the push rod circuitry contains the necessary electrical and video circuitry to operate the lateral camera;
• a launch chute assembly interconnected with a front portion of the frame, the launch chute assembly at least partially supporting the lateral camera when the lateral camera is in a fully retracted position;
• a rotate motor interconnected with the frame and with the launch chute assembly and adapted to selectively rotate the launch chute assembly in one of a clockwise and a counterclockwise direction about a rotate axis that is generally parallel to the longitudinal axis;
• the launch chute assembly including a launch chute member;
• said lateral camera being at least partially supported by the launch chute member when the lateral camera is in the fully retracted position;
• and
• a tilt motor operably interconnected with the launch chute assembly to selectively raise and lower the launch chute member and the lateral camera with respect to the rotate axis.

An apparatus for inspecting a lateral conduit from a main conduit, the apparatus comprising:

• a frame;
• a drive motor interconnected with the frame;
• at least one drive gear selectively rotated by the drive motor in one of an insertion direction and a retraction direction;
• a push rod cable engaged by the at least one drive gear such that rotation of the at least one drive gear in the insertion and retraction directions causes respective insertion and retraction of the push rod cable with respect to the lateral conduit the push rod cable including
• a core having sufficient longitudinal compressive rigidity to allow insertion of the push rod cable into the lateral conduit and having sufficient transverse flexibility to negotiate substantially all bends within the lateral conduit, and
• a push rod circuitry disposed along an outside surface of the core;
• a lateral camera interconnected with the push rod cable for insertion into the lateral conduit with the push rod cable, wherein the push rod circuitry contains the necessary electrical and video circuitry to operate the lateral camera;
• a launch chute assembly interconnected with a front portion of the frame, the launch chute assembly at least partially supporting the lateral camera when the lateral camera is in a fully retracted position;
• a rotate motor interconnected with the frame and with the launch chute assembly, and adapted to selectively rotate the launch chute assembly in one of a clockwise and a counterclockwise direction about a rotate axis that is generally parallel to the longitudinal axis;
• and
• said launch chute assembly including
• a first bracket interconnected with the frame and rotatable by the rotate motor about the rotate axis;
• a second bracket interconnected with the first bracket for rotation therewith about the rotate axis and pivotable with respect to the first bracket about a first transverse axis that is substantially normal to the rotate axis, the second bracket defining a channel in which the lateral camera is at least partially housed when the fully retracted position;
• a third bracket interconnected with the second bracket for rotation therewith about the rotate axis, the second and third brackets pivotal with respect to each other about a second transverse axis that is substantially normal to the rotate axis;
• and
• a tilt motor interconnected with the third bracket to selectively move the third bracket toward or away from the tilt motor, thereby causing the second bracket to raise or lower the lateral camera with respect to the rotate axis.

A self-propelled apparatus for inspecting a lateral conduit from a main conduit, the apparatus comprising:

• a frame;
• a push rod cable movable in an insertion direction and a retraction direction with respect to the lateral conduit;
• a lateral camera interconnected with the push rod cable for insertion into the lateral conduit with the push rod cable;
• a movable friction member interconnected with the frame for movement with respect to the frame, and adapted to frictionally engage an inner surface of a wall of the main conduit;
• a propulsion motor carried by the frame, and operatively interconnected with the movable friction member to cause movement of the friction member to move the apparatus with respect to the main conduit;
• and
• a drive motor interconnected with the frame, the drive motor causing the push rod to move in the insertion and retraction directions;
• wherein the propulsion motor is more powerful than the drive motor, and wherein the drive motor is adapted to be selectively locked, thereby preventing insertion and retraction of the push rod cable with respect to the lateral conduit, to permit the propulsion motor to move the apparatus in forward and reverse directions with respect to the main conduit in rapid succession to overcome an obstruction encountered within the lateral conduit.