PIPE-OR DUCT PROBE AND SYSTEM COMPRISING PIPE-OR DUCT PROBE

Abstract

The invention relates to a pipe or duct probe (10) for insertion into a pipe (90) or into a duct. According to the invention, the pipe or duct probe (10) comprises: at least one motor (15), at least one motor shaft (18), at least one working means (30, 30, 30) connected to the motor shaft (18), a connection device (40) for connecting the motor (15) to a cable (75), and at least one centring device (50) connected to a housing (20).

Claims

1. A pipe or duct probe (10) for insertion into a pipe (90) or into a duct, characterised in that the pipe or duct probe (10) comprises at least one motor (15), at least one motor shaft (18), at least one working means (30, 30, 30) connected to the motor shaft (18), a connection device (40) for connecting the motor (15) to a cable (75), and at least one centring device (50) connected to a housing (20).

2. The pipe or duct probe (10) according to claim 1, characterised in that the motor (15) is a direct current motor.

3. The pipe or duct probe (10) according to claim 1, characterised in that the centring device (50), at least in part, is formed by a plurality of resilient elements (55), which are spaced apart, preferably evenly, in the circumferential direction of the housing (20).

4. The pipe or duct probe (10) according to claim 3, characterised in that the resilient elements (55) are formed as brush elements or as leg springs or as shaped springs or as tension springs or as resilient pressure pieces, especially resilient balls, or are formed in a manner similar to turbine blades.

5. The pipe or duct probe (10) according to claim 3, characterised in that the resilient elements (55) are arranged on a centring device base (51), which especially is annular.

6. The pipe or duct probe (10) according to claim 1, characterised in that the centring device (50) has bent arms.

7. The pipe or duct probe (10) according to claim 1, characterised in that the working means (30) is an application device, especially an application brush.

8. The pipe or duct probe (10) according to claim 1, characterised in that the working means (30, 30) is a cleaning device, especially a brush head and/or an abrasive paper arrangement and/or a chain scraper and/or a blade drill and/or a paddle blade drill and/or a cutting head and/or a milling head.

9. The pipe or duct probe (10) according to claim 1, characterised in that the working means (30, 30, 30) is directly connected to the motor shaft (18) or is indirectly connected to the motor shaft (18) by means of a joint, especially a ball joint, or by means of a spring.

10. The pipe or duct probe (10) according to claim 1, characterised in that the connection device (40) is formed as a plug connector or as a spiral spring with attachment piece or as a joint, especially as a ball joint.

11. The pipe or duct probe (10) according to claim 1, characterised by a temperature sensor and/or a camera.

12. The pipe or duct probe (10) according to claim 1, characterised by a static mixer (80), which is preferably attached to the centring device (50).

13. A system (60) comprising a pipe or duct probe (10) according to claim 1 and a cable (75).

14. The system (60) according to claim 13, characterised by a reel (70) in which the cable (75), especially a push cable, is stored.

15. The system (60) according to claim 13, characterised by a control unit (71), which is preferably arranged in or on a housing of the reel (70).

Description

[0069] The invention is explained in greater detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0070] In the drawings:

[0071] FIG. 1a-1c show different illustrations with regard to a possible embodiment of a pipe or duct probe according to the invention;

[0072] FIG. 2 shows a longitudinal sectional view through the pipe or duct probe according to the invention as shown in FIGS. 1a-1c;

[0073] FIG. 3 shows a system according to the invention with representation of possible working means; and

[0074] FIG. 4 shows an illustration of the system according to the invention with a pipe or duct probe according to the invention inserted in a pipe.

[0075] In the following, the same reference numerals are used for like and similarly acting parts.

[0076] FIGS. 1a-1c and FIG. 2 show the basic structure of a possible embodiment of a pipe or duct probe 10.

[0077] FIG. 1a shows a side view of the pipe or duct probe. FIG. 1b shows a front view of the pipe or duct probe. FIG. 1c is shows a perspective view of the pipe or duct probe 10 according to the invention. FIG. 2 shows a longitudinal sectional view through the pipe or duct probe according to the invention as shown in FIGS. 1a-1c.

[0078] The pipe or duct probe 10 has a motor 15 (see FIG. 2). The motor 15 itself has a motor housing and is located in a housing 20. In other words, the motor 15 is mounted in the housing 20.

[0079] The motor 15 is a direct current motor. The provision of a separate alternating current motor is no longer necessary due to the design of the pipe or duct probe 10 according to the invention.

[0080] The motor 15 also has a motor shaft 18 (see FIG. 2). A working means 30 is directly connected to the motor shaft 18.

[0081] Furthermore, a connection device 40 is shown.

[0082] The connection device 40 is used to connect the motor 15 to a cable (not shown here). A part of the connection device 40, especially the cap-shaped part 41 of the connection device 40, can form part of the capsule-shaped housing 20. The other end of the connection device 40 is used to connect to the indicated cable by means of an attachment piece 42.

[0083] A centring device base 51 of a centring device 50 is formed on the housing 20 or partially surrounding the housing 20. The centring device base 51 is formed as an annular portion. A plurality of resilient elements 55 are formed on the centring device base 51. The resilient elements 55 are evenly spaced apart from each other in the circumferential direction of the housing 20, as shown in FIG. 1b.

[0084] The centring device base 51 may be interchangeably arranged on the housing 20. It is possible that different centring devices 50 can be mounted on the housing 20. Thus, it is possible that different centring devices 50 can be slid onto the housing 20 and connected to the housing 20 depending on the inner diameter of the pipe or duct.

[0085] Eight resilient elements 55 (see FIG. 1b) are formed, which are formed in a manner similar to turbine blades. The elements 55 are preferably made of a plastic material so that the bending radius of the resilient elements 55 can be reduced or increased. When the pipe or duct probe 10 is inserted into a pipe, the resilient elements 55 can be bent in the direction of the centre axis M so that the outer diameter of the centring device 50 can be reduced.

[0086] The resilient elements 55 do not have a constant width B in the direction of the longitudinal extent L. Rather, the resilient element 55 is formed in such a way that a kind of convex surface is formed. On the one hand, this enables good centring of the pipe or duct probe 10 in a pipe, and on the other hand, good bendability.

[0087] The housing 20 has a sealing cover or sealing cap 25. This sealing cap 25 is formed in the region of the motor shaft 18. A seal 35 is formed in the sealing cap 25. By means of the seal 35, it is prevented that an agent, especially a resin-hardener mixture or other liquids, can penetrate into the motor 15.

[0088] The seal 35 is formed in the present case as a shaft ring seal. By means of a shaft ring seal, the penetration of liquid into the housing 20, especially into the motor 15, can be demonstrably prevented.

[0089] Preferably, the sealing cap 25 is attached to the rest of the housing 20 in such a way that the seal 35 can be renewed or replaced. For example, the sealing cap 25 is screwed onto another portion of the housing 20.

[0090] The working means 30 shown is an application device, namely an application brush. With the aid of such an application brush, an agent, especially a resin-hardener mixture, can be evenly applied to a pipe, especially to a liner located in a pipe.

[0091] The working means 30 shown, or the application brush, is directly connected to the motor shaft 18. It is possible that a working means, for example the application brush, is also indirectly connected to the motor shaft 18. Springs, especially spiral springs, are especially suitable for this.

[0092] FIG. 1b also shows a recess 52. This recess 52 is used for attaching, especially for clamping, a static mixer (see FIG. 3).

[0093] FIG. 3 shows a system 60 according to the invention. The system 60 has a pipe or duct probe 10 according to the invention. Furthermore, a reel 70 is shown. The reel 70 serves to support the cable 75 or the push cable. The system 60 further comprises a control unit 71. By means of this control unit 71, the motor of the pipe or duct probe 10 can be controlled accordingly.

[0094] Also visible is a static mixer 80, which is connected to the centring device 50 of the pipe or duct probe 10. Accordingly, with the aid of the centring device 50, the static mixer 80 can be moved or transported exactly to a position in a pipe to be treated or coated.

[0095] The cable 75 is connected to the pipe or duct probe 10 by means of the connection device 40. An attachment piece 76 of the cable 75 is connected to the attachment piece 42 of the connection device 40. The two attachment pieces 42 and 76 form a kind of quick connector.

[0096] FIG. 3 shows alternative embodiments with regard to the working means 30. The working means 30 is an application brush.

[0097] The working means 30 is a cleaning device, namely a chain scraper. The working means 30 is also a cleaning device in the form of an abrasive paper assembly.

[0098] The working means shown can be variably interchanged, as indicated in FIG. 3. In this respect, direct fastening to the motor shaft 18 or indirect fastening can be provided. The working means 30, 30 and 30 have corresponding fastening devices in this respect.

[0099] FIG. 4 also shows the system 60 according to the invention. From this illustration, it is clear which components of the system are actually formed as belonging to the pipe or duct probe 10. The cable 75 is preferably not to be described as belonging to the system 60. This is because the cable 75 is not completely inside the pipe 90.

[0100] It can be seen that, due to the design of the pipe or duct probe 10 according to the invention, a transport in the pipe 90 is possible which, among other things, also comprises 90 bend portions 95.

[0101] Lastly, it should be noted that all features mentioned in the application documents and especially in the dependent claims, despite the formal reference back to one or more specific claims, are also intended to have independent protection individually or in any combination.

REFERENCE SIGNS

[0102] 10 pipe or duct probe [0103] 15 motor [0104] 18 motor shaft [0105] 20 housing [0106] 25 sealing cap [0107] 30, 30, 30 working means [0108] 35 seal [0109] 40 connection device [0110] 41 cap-shaped part [0111] 42 attachment piece [0112] 50 centring device [0113] 51 centring device base [0114] 55 resilient element [0115] 60 system [0116] 70 reel [0117] 71 control unit [0118] 75 cable [0119] 76 attachment piece [0120] 80 static mixer [0121] 90 duct [0122] 95 bend portion [0123] M centre axis [0124] L longitudinal extent [0125] B width