An insertion assisting instrument has an outer diameter dimension set to satisfy a relationship of xb′<xc′ assuming that an insertion assisting instrument is projected on X-Y coordinates such that a point on a circumference where the insertion assisting instrument has a largest outer diameter (that is, a point on an outer periphery of a proximal-end-side tapered surface at a distal end) is set as an origin and the proximal-end-side tapered surface is brought into contact with an X axis, coordinates of a second point B, which is most distal from the X axis on the circumference where the insertion assisting instrument has the largest outer diameter are (xb′, yb′), and coordinates of a third point C, which is most proximal from the X axis on a circumference at the proximal end of the insertion assisting instrument, are (xc′, yc′).

A scanner for scanning a dental site comprises a base, a detector mounted to the base, and an optical element to redirect light reflected off of the dental site towards the detector along a detection axis in a first direction. Two or more flexures couple the optical element to the base, wherein the two or more flexures maintain an alignment of the optical element to the detector with changes in temperature.

A tether control system for an inspection vehicle operable in a housing having a liquid medium is disclosed in the present application. The tether system includes a tether connected between the inspection vehicle and an electronic controller. A controllable buoyancy system associated with the tether is operable for moving the tether in a desired location. The controllable buoyancy system includes one or more floating bodies having a propulsion system and one or more buoyant elements having variable buoyancy capabilities.

A high temperature cooling tube for use with an inspection device is provided. The cooling tube permits operation of the inspection device in environments having a temperature of greater than about 302° F. (150° C.). By providing the capability to inspect equipment in a relatively hot condition, cooling time required before inspection is reduced, overall turnaround time for such inspections is reduced, inspected equipment is placed back into service more quickly, and revenues are increased. In an exemplary embodiment, the cooling tube includes an inner sleeve for protecting the inspection device, a middle sleeve for insulation and air flow, and an outer sleeve for protecting the cooling tube and the inspection device from damage. The middle sleeve can include expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (EPTFE), which protects the inspection device from extreme high temperature working environments, and which permits flexibility. Related apparatuses, systems, techniques and articles are also described.

A scanner for scanning a dental site comprises a base, a detector mounted to the base, and an optical element to redirect light reflected off of the dental site towards the detector along a detection axis in a first direction. Two or more flexures couple the optical element to the base, wherein thermal expansion or contraction of the optical element with respect to at least one of the detector or the base bends each flexure of the two or more flexures in a respective second direction without bending the flexure in a respective third direction approximately perpendicular to the first direction and the respective second direction, wherein the two or more flexures maintain an alignment of the optical element to the detector with changes in temperature.

A method of retrieving a mobile platform from a tank at least partially filled with a non-conductive, energetic substance includes configuring the mobile platform to include at least a retrieval system including a buoyant body, an electrically conductive member, and a tether. The tether electrically isolates the buoyant body from the enclosure. The method further includes the steps of releasing the buoyant body to convey the tether toward a surface of the non-conductive, liquid energetic substance; conveying an electrically conductive cable to the electrically conductive member using the tether; electrically connecting a voltage neutralizing end of the electrically conductive cable to a voltage differential neutralizing body in a spark inhibiting ambient condition; electrically connecting a mobile platform end of the electrically conductive cable to the electrically conductive member of the mobile platform while the electrically conductive member is below the surface of the non-conductive, liquid energetic substance.

The invention relates to a monitoring system for a gas turbine, in particular for an aircraft engine. The monitoring system comprises at least one borescope device that is able to be mounted in a borescope opening of a gas turbine housing and has a housing, in which at least one optical sensor device for acquiring images of at least one inner region of the gas turbine is arranged, and an evaluation device that is able to be connected to the at least one borescope device in order to exchange data and is designed to inspect the at least one inner region for the presence of a fault on the basis of the at least one image acquired by way of the sensor device. The invention furthermore relates to a borescope device to an evaluation device and to a gas turbine.

A true-seeing infrared industrial endoscope endoscope includes an external shell protective unit including a housing and an electrical appliance component box connected to a rear end of the housing. A cavity of the housing is provided with a dual capturing-imaging unit including at least two capturing-imaging subunits. Each of the capturing-imaging subunits includes a light splitter, an image capturing lens, an infrared imaging tube, and a visible light imaging tube. The electrical appliance component box is provided with a communication module and a power supply electrically connected to the dual capturing-imaging unit and the communication module. The communication module is communicatively connected to the dual capturing-imaging unit and an upper computer via a communication bus, and the power supply is electrically connected to the dual capturing-imaging unit via a power bus.

There is provided an endoscope in which the generation of heat at a front-end portion is reduced.

An endoscope includes an imaging system; and, an illumination system, wherein the illumination system includes a light guide and at least one illumination lens, and the imaging system includes an objective lens unit and an image pickup element, and when a direction along a long side of the image pickup element is let to be a first direction, and a direction along a short side of the image pickup element is let to be a second direction, the illumination system is disposed at a position shifted in the second direction with respect to the imaging system, and the endoscope satisfies the following conditional expressions (1), (2) and (3)

1.35<A   (1)

1<L.sub.H/L.sub.V   (2)

1.5<(r.sub.V−L.sub.V)/(r.sub.H−L.sub.H)≦3.17   (3) where, A denotes a value calculated by the following expression when an aspect ratio long side:short side of an area of the image pickup element corresponding to a display image range is let to be H:V

A=H/V, L.sub.H denotes a dimension corresponding to the first direction of an end surface on an illumination lens side of the light guide, L.sub.V denotes a dimension corresponding to the second direction of the end surface on the illumination lens side of the light guide, r.sub.H denotes an outer-diameter dimension corresponding to the first direction of the illumination lens, and r.sub.V denotes an outer-diameter dimension corresponding to the second direction of the illumination lens.

In some embodiments, a camera skid is presented. The camera skid includes a body into which a camera can be inserted; and a front portion received into the body, the front portion including a lip that contacts a face of the camera.