Electrical contact assemblies for use in rotating video camera heads are disclosed. A contact assembly may include a first element movable relative to the camera head's housing on which an imager is disposed, a second element rotationally movable relative to the first element, and a slip ring including one or more PCB brush elements to transfer imager signals to an output connector.

Disclosed are a wellbore inspection system and method for an ultra-deep vertical shaft. The wellbore inspection system includes a wire rope moving system, inspection robots, a visual image acquisition system, a wireless communication module, a central control system, and an image post-processing system of an upper computer. The wire rope moving system includes a surface wire rope guide rail, an underground wire rope guide rail, a surface wire rope moving device, an underground wire rope moving device, and a wire rope. The visual image acquisition system includes explosion-proof cameras. After image information acquired by the explosion-proof cameras is processed by a lower computer, the processed image is transmitted by a wireless image transmission module to the image post-processing system of the upper computer. The central control system is connected to the inspection robots and the wire rope moving system, and the inspection robots are connected to the central control system.

Video inspection systems are disclosed. In one embodiment a video camera for use in a pipe inspection system includes a camera head including an outer housing, a camera module assembly including video and non-video sensors, a processing circuit, and a data link receiver.

Electrical contact assemblies for use in rotating video camera heads are disclosed. A contact assembly may include a first element movable relative to the camera head's housing on which an imager is disposed, a second element rotationally movable relative to the first element, and a slip ring including one or more PCB brush elements to transfer imager signals to an output connector.

Camera head apparatus, systems, and methods for providing wide angle/panoramic images and/or video of the interior of pipes or other cavities using multiple imaging and illumination modules are disclosed.

Video inspection systems are disclosed. In one embodiment a video camera for use in a pipe inspection system includes a camera head including an outer housing, a camera module assembly including video and non-video sensors, a processing circuit, and a data link receiver.

A system for automated detection and removal of visual obstructions such as debris, fumes, or mist from the view zone of an imaging device. An autodetection algorithm runs on incoming visual data from a data acquisition (DAQ) system to determine if a visual obstruction is present. A controller initiates a dry-cleaning dual cycle (DCDC) run including a wet clean cycle and a dry clean cycle. During the wet clean cycle, a base fluid mist is distributed onto the view zone. Subsequently during the dry clean cycle, compressed air is distributed onto the view zone.

A pipe inspection and/or maintenance system is provided, having a control device, an image recording device and a feed device. The image recording device can be mechanically coupled to the feed device, and the image recording device and the feed device are operatively connected to one another via a first communication link. The feed device and the control device are operatively connected to one another via a second communication connection. The feed device has a processing unit which is operatively connected to the first communication connection and to the second communication connection, and the processing unit is adapted to receive image data from the image recording device by way of the first communication link, to process the received image data, and to transmit the processed image data to the control device by way of the second communication link. A corresponding method is also provided.

A wastewater monitoring system uses a digital camera in a fixed location in a wastewater pipe. The digital camera is coupled to a binary sensor that provides a binary trip signal that indicates when the sensor detects wastewater in the pipe exceeding a defined threshold. When the digital camera detects a trip signal from the binary sensor, operating logic in the digital camera changes frequency for taking pictures. The digital camera preferably adds visible data to a stored digital photograph file that may include any or all of the following: camera serial number, state of sensor(s), temperature, battery level in the digital camera, and battery level in the sensor(s). The visible data is stored in the digital photograph file such that the visible information is overlaid on the digital photograph so it is visible to the eye of the person viewing the digital photograph.

A probe assembly for a process vessel for viewing the inside of the vessel, the probe assembly includes an elongated bracket, an elongated frame, an ICPC unit, and a camera unit. The elongated bracket has a front face and a rear face, the elongated bracket having an upper portion and a lower portion, the lower portion has a first aperture. The elongated frame has a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end of the elongated frame is coupled to the upper portion of the front face of the bracket. The ICPC unit includes a housing that has a front wall, a rear wall, and side wall extended between the front wall and the rear wall, the front wall has a second aperture, the rear wall has a third aperture. The ICPC unit further includes an actuator enclosed in the housing and an elongated tube operably coupled to the actuator, the tube extends through the second aperture and the first aperture away from the rear face of the bracket, the actuator configured to reciprocate the tube between an extended position and a retracted position. The camera unit includes a camera enclosure housing a camera, wherein the actuation member is configured to reciprocate the camera unit between the engage mode and stand-by mode, in the engage mode, the lens' hood is within the tube of the ICPC unit, and in the stand-by mode, the camera unit is away from the ICPC unit towards the proximal end of the elongated frame.