G01N2021/9544

Sensor device and method of inspecting the surface of a cylindrical hollow enclosure

A sensor device for the inspection of the surface of a cylindrical hollow enclosure having at least one sensor unit set up for an optical confocal distance measurement. The at least one sensor unit has an elongated shape and exhibits an external optical system, through which a measurement device in which light can be emitted and received, is disposed transversely to a longitudinal axis of this sensor unit. The sensor device additionally comprises a movement mechanism, which is adapted to move the at least one sensor unit in one direction of motion into and out of a cylindrical hollow enclosure to be inspected. Control means are provided for measuring raisings of a surface of the cylindrical hollow enclosure and are adapted to control the at least one sensor unit for carrying out a first distance measurement, during which the measuring direction relative to the direction of motion is at an angle from 20 to 85, and to control the at least one sensor unit for carrying out a second distance measurement, during which the measuring direction relative to the direction of motion is at an angle from 95 to 160. To this end, the measuring direction of the at least one sensor unit can be at an angle between 95 and 175 relative to the longitudinal axis of said sensor unit, wherein this sensor unit is mounted on a rotatable bearing such that one and the same sensor unit can be moved to different positions of rotation for the first distance measurement and for the second distance measurement. Alternatively, the at least one sensor unit can comprise at least one first sensor unit and at least one second sensor unit, the first sensor unit being formed and linked with the movement device in such a manner that its measuring direction relative to the direction of motion is at an angle from 20 to 85, and the second sensor unit being formed and linked with the movement device in such a manner that its measuring direction relative to the direction of motion is at an angle from 95 to 160. In addition, a corresponding method is disclosed.

Swivel for sewer cleaning system
10549326 · 2020-02-04 · ·

Provided is a rinsing head for a pipe or sewer inspection system, comprising imaging means arranged at the front end and rinsing means arranged axially behind the imaging means. The rinsing means comprises a number of rinsing nozzles with openings arranged on its lateral surface and spaced apart from each other circumferentially. The rinsing nozzles are connected via to an inlet opening for pressurized water provided at the rear end of the rinsing means. A WLAN module is arranged within the rinsing head and coupled to a camera module of the imaging means operatively. An antenna unit of the WLAN module is arranged axially behind the rinsing nozzles with at least one antenna arranged at least partially radially around the inlet opening for pressurized water. The WLAN module and the antenna unit are adapted to transmit image and/or video data provided by the camera module to a control/display means.

Inspection assembly
10545330 · 2020-01-28 · ·

This invention relates to an inspection assembly comprising a light source and a lens. In particular this invention relates to the provision of a reflection surface for improving the illumination of a field of view of a wide angle camera. An inspection assembly comprises a main body having a longitudinal axis and a distal end; a lens located at the distal end; a light source positioned to illuminate an area beyond the distal end of the main body; and a reflection surface, an angle between the reflection surface and the longitudinal axis of the main body being between 10 and 70, wherein the reflection surface is positioned such that, in use, a first fraction of the light emitted by the light source is reflected by the reflection surface and a second fraction of the light emitted by the light source travels to an area beyond the distal end of the main body without being reflected by said surface.

Borescope that processes image data into 3-d data for optically inspecting gas turbines

A borescope is for optically inspecting gas turbines of aircraft engines. The borescope having an electronic image capture unit as a borescope objective at an end of a shaft, which is suitable for insertion into a borescope opening and configured for accurate positioning of the borescope objective relative to the borescope opening and through which data lines and supply lines for the image capture unit are guided. The image capture unit has: two spaced apart image capture sensors, recording cones of which overlap in a specified recording plane forming a recording region, in such a way that image data of the two image capture sensors are configured to be processed into 3-D data by way of triangulation.

BUILT-IN SYSTEM FOR INSPECTION, TESTING AND SAMPLING OF CASTED OR ADDITIVE MANUFACTURED MATERIAL

Systems and methods for condition assessment of a formed material include a testing tube in contact with the formed material. An access tube is in contact with the formed material and with a testing end open to the testing tube. A tube cap is located at a cap end of the access tube. The cap end is opposite the testing end of the access tube. The access tube has an internal bore sized to provide passage for a testing tool.

Managing infrastructure data

Embodiments may be used to evaluate completed inspection jobs using updated pipe segment data obtained by inspecting a rehabilitated pipe after completion of a project. One embodiment provides a method of generating an infrastructure project summary, including: collecting, using one or more sensors of an inspection robot, pipe segment data relating to the one or more pipe segments; the second pipe segment data comprising one or more of laser condition assessment data and sonar condition assessment data; generating infrastructure summary data for at least a part of the network using the pipe segment data, comparing, using a processor, first and second infrastructure summary data; generating, using the processor, a parameter of the infrastructure project summary based on the comparing; and including the parameter of the infrastructure project summary in a project summary report. Other embodiments are disclosed and claimed.

CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD

A control system includes one or more processors configured to determine when to extend a life span of an engine by applying an additional restorative coating to the engine based on one or more monitored parameters of the engine. The monitored parameters include a condition of a previously applied restorative coating. The one or more processors are configured to determine the condition of the previously applied restorative coating based on an optical response of the previously applied restorative coating. The one or more processors also are configured to direct application of the additional restorative coating based on the one or more monitored parameters of the engine.

Inspection system

An inspection system (1) includes: a probe (12) that is hollow, extends in a rod shape along a center axis (11), and rotates around the center axis; an optical system (30) that, through the probe, supplies laser light for inspection purposes along the center axis and receives reflected light from a surface of an inspection target that has returned along the center axis; an optical element (50) that, through an opening at a front end of the probe, emits the laser light for inspection purposes toward the inspection target with respect to the center axis and guides the reflected light in the direction of the center axis; and a gas supplying system (80) that discharges gas (89) from the opening through the probe.

TECHNIQUES FOR CONTROL OF NON-DESTRUCTIVE TESTING DEVICES VIA A PROBE DRIVER
20190331613 · 2019-10-31 ·

A probe driver may include a coupling that interfaces with a conduit section at a first position of the conduit section. A probe driver may also have one or more positioning elements to reposition the conduit section to interface with the coupling at a second position of conduit section in response to one or more commands based on a recorded inspection, where through completing the one or more commands is configured to initiate a second inspection identical to the recorded inspection.

Image Processing Techniques for Multi-Sensor Inspection of Pipe Interiors

An embodiment provides a method, including: obtaining, from a multi-sensor pipe inspection robot that traverses through the interior of a pipe, sensor data, such as structured laser light sensor data and Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) sensor data, for the interior of the pipe; identifying a pipe feature using one or more of the sensor data types; selecting an image processing technique based on the pipe feature identified using a stored association between the pipe feature and an image processing technique; and forming an image of the interior of the pipe by implementing the selected image processing technique. Other embodiments are described and claimed.