JP7746239B2 - Pipe inspection equipment - Google Patents

Description

This invention relates to an internal pipe inspection device for inspecting the inside of pipes such as those for waterworks.

In various types of pipes, such as those for water supply systems, checking the condition inside the pipes after installation is important from the perspective of facility maintenance. Methods for checking the condition inside the pipe include, for example, sampling a section of the pipe to check its condition, or draining the water from the pipe and then checking the condition either by entering the pipe directly or using a camera. However, it is often difficult to sample a section of the pipe or to shut off the water supply for an inspection. For this reason, it is common to use an internal pipe inspection device equipped with a camera while water is still flowing through the pipe.

The most common insertion point for an internal pipe inspection device is a branch pipe that branches off from the main pipe to be inspected. One example of such a branch pipe is a branch pipe installed midway through a water pipe to accommodate a fire hydrant. For example, the internal pipe inspection device described in Patent Document 1 has an imaging device (camera) for capturing images attached to the tip of the shaft. The operating shaft is inserted through the opening of the branch pipe, and the imaging device's lighting is used to illuminate the inside of the main pipe, capturing images of the inside of the pipe.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2018-22134

Conventional internal pipe inspection devices are inserted into water supply pipes, which are subject to high water pressure, so the shaft and imaging device are seamlessly integrated to ensure watertightness. However, there are cases where the tip of the imaging device comes into contact with the bottom of the pipe when the device is inserted into the pipe, or where parts of the internal pipe inspection device are damaged when handling the device, such as during transportation. Because the shaft and imaging device cannot be easily disassembled by the user, if the imaging device is damaged, it is necessary to repair or replace not only the damaged imaging device, but the entire internal pipe inspection device, including the shaft. Therefore, repairing and replacing the entire device takes time and effort, and there is room for improvement.

The objective of this invention is to make it possible to easily and quickly repair or replace the imaging device of an internal pipe inspection device.

To solve the above problems, this invention employs an internal pipe inspection device comprising: a shaft; an imaging device connected to the shaft; and a detachable member connecting the shaft and the imaging device, the detachable member comprising: a shaft connecting ring having an upper end opposite the lower end of the shaft; a detachable ring having a threaded portion that screws into the threaded portion of the shaft and a step that faces the step of the shaft connecting ring; an imaging device fixing ring connected to the upper end of the imaging device with a bolt and having a threaded portion that screws into the threaded portion of the shaft connecting ring; a first watertight member provided between the lower end of the shaft and the upper end of the shaft connecting ring; and a second watertight member provided between the inner surface of the shaft connecting ring and the outer surface of the imaging device fixing ring.

Here, a configuration can be adopted that includes a third water-stopping member provided between the upper end of the imaging device and the lower end of the imaging device fixing ring.

A component unit of a detachable member used in a pipe inspection device having any of these aspects can be a detachable member in which an upper lid is connected in place of the shaft, the upper lid has a lower end facing the upper end of the shaft connecting ring and a threaded portion that screws into the threaded portion of the detachable ring, the first water-stopping member is interposed between the lower end of the upper lid and the upper end of the shaft connecting ring, a lower lid is connected in place of the imaging device, the lower lid is connected to the lower end of the imaging device fixing ring with the bolt, and the third water-stopping member is interposed between the upper end of the lower lid and the lower end of the imaging device fixing ring.

This invention makes it possible to easily and quickly repair or replace the imaging device of an internal pipe inspection device.

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing a component unit of a detachable member used in the pipe interior inspection device of the embodiment; A perspective view of FIG. A schematic diagram showing the internal pipe inspection device in use

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. Figure 1 shows an exploded perspective view of an in-pipe inspection device 30, and Figures 2 and 3 show component units of detachable members used in the in-pipe inspection device 30. Figure 4 is a diagram showing the in-pipe inspection device 30 inserted into a branch pipe 2 that branches upward from a main pipe 1, which is a water pipe, and inspecting the inside of the main pipe 1.

As shown in Figure 4, the branch pipe 2 through which the internal pipe inspection device 30 passes includes a branch pipe 2a molded integrally with the main pipe 1, and a fire hydrant 2b connected to the branch pipe 2a. The fire hydrant 2b is equipped with a valve 3 for controlling the flow of water to the outside. During internal pipe inspection, this valve 3 is opened and the internal pipe inspection device 30 is inserted into the main pipe 1. A watertight member (not shown) is installed in the gap between the upper side of the internal pipe inspection device 30 and the inner surface of the branch pipe 2 to appropriately prevent water leakage.

The internal pipe inspection device 30 is configured to include a shaft 11, an imaging device 10 connected to the shaft 11, and a detachable member 20 that connects the shaft 11 and the imaging device 10.

The shaft 11 is cylindrical and has a threaded portion 11a slightly above the lower end 11f of the shaft 11 (hereinafter referred to as the shaft lower end 11f). In this embodiment, the threaded portion 11a is configured with a male thread. The shaft 11 is preferably made of steel pipe so that it can withstand the water pressure within the main pipe 1 and branch pipe 2 and the torsional force that occurs when the imaging device 10 is rotated around the axis of the shaft 11, but other materials such as fiber-reinforced resin can also be used as long as they can withstand this water pressure and torsional force. When the shaft 11 is rotated around its axis, the imaging device 10 attached to the lower part of the shaft 11 also rotates around the axis, allowing smooth observation of the entire area around this axis.

As shown in Figure 1, the imaging device 10 comprises a camera 15 capable of capturing images of the interior of the main pipe 1, and a pair of lights 14, 16 mounted above and below the camera 15, attached to a frame 13. The camera 15 is mounted so that it faces perpendicular to the axial direction of the shaft 11. The camera 15 may be, for example, a compact camera equipped with a CMOS image sensor, or a different type of compact camera that uses elements such as a CCD image sensor. Power is supplied to the imaging device 10 and image signals are transmitted via a cable (not shown) that runs through the shaft 11. Reference numeral 17 in Figure 1 denotes a terminal 17 for connecting to the cable. A connector on the cable side is connected to this terminal 17.

As shown in FIG. 1, the detachable member 20 is primarily composed of a shaft connecting ring 23, a detachable ring 24, and an imaging device fixing ring 27. All of these are annular members with a circular cross section. The detachable member 20 also includes a plurality of bolts 26 that connect the imaging device fixing ring 27 to the imaging device 10. The detachable member 20 also includes a first water-stopping member 22 provided between the shaft 11 and the shaft connecting ring 23, a second water-stopping member 25 provided between the shaft connecting ring 23 and the imaging device fixing ring 27, and a third water-stopping member 28 provided between the imaging device 10 and the imaging device fixing ring 27. While the third water-stopping member 28 is optional, it is desirable to provide the third water-stopping member 28 to further enhance water-stopping properties.

Figures 2 and 3 show the detachable member 20 before it is used to connect the shaft 11 and the imaging device 10. Before use, the detachable member 20 has the upper lid 21 connected in place of the shaft 11 and the lower lid 29 connected in place of the imaging device 10, protecting the interior from foreign objects. The detachable member 20 before use shown in Figures 2 and 3 is referred to as the detachable member 20 component unit. When using the detachable member 20 component unit, the upper lid 21 is removed and the shaft 11 is connected to the removed part, and the lower lid 29 is removed and the imaging device 10 is connected to the removed part.

The shaft connecting ring 23 is an annular member having an upper end 23f that faces the shaft lower end 11f. As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the shaft connecting ring 23 has a downwardly protruding insertion cylindrical portion 23d and a flange-shaped outer surface convex portion 23b that protrudes radially outward from the upper end of the insertion cylindrical portion 23d. A threaded portion 23a is formed on the inner surface of the insertion cylindrical portion 23d. In this embodiment, the threaded portion 23a is configured as a female thread.

The lower surface of the outer surface convex portion 23b forms a downward step 23c between it and the insertion tube portion 23d. The upper ends (top surfaces) of the insertion tube portion 23d and the outer surface convex portion 23b form a continuous flat surface. This flat upper end 23f is hereinafter referred to as the shaft connecting ring upper end 23f. An annular recessed groove 23h is formed in the shaft connecting ring upper end 23f, and the first water-stopping member 22 is accommodated within this recessed groove 23h. In this embodiment, a rubber O-ring (hereinafter referred to as the first O-ring 22) is used as the first water-stopping member 22. Furthermore, a cylindrical shaft connecting ring inner surface 23g is provided above the threaded portion 23a on the inner surface of the insertion tube portion 23d.

The detachable ring 24 is an annular member having a threaded portion 24a that screws onto the threaded portion 11a of the shaft 11 and a step portion 24c that faces the step portion 23c of the shaft connecting ring 23. As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the detachable ring 24 has an upper cylindrical portion 24b that protrudes upward and a lower cylindrical portion 24e that protrudes downward. The threaded portion 24a is formed on the inner surface of the upper cylindrical portion 24b. In this embodiment, the threaded portion 24a is configured as a female thread. The boundary between the upper cylindrical portion 24b and the lower cylindrical portion 24e is an upward step portion 24c. In addition, the lower cylindrical portion 24e has an inner surface protrusion 24d that is recessed in the inward direction for the purpose of attaching a jig used to fasten the detachable ring 24. The inner surface protrusion 24d is designed to abut against the outer surface of the shaft connecting ring 23. Multiple inner surface protrusions 24d are provided around the circumference (four at equal intervals in this embodiment). This inner surface convex portion 24d forms the step portion 24c.

The upper lid 21, which is removed during use, is a circular member having a threaded portion 21a with the same thread shape as the threaded portion 11a of the shaft 11. In this embodiment, the threaded portion 21 is configured with a male thread. The upper lid 21 has a disk-shaped closing portion 21b, an annular reinforcing rib 21c that rises upward along the outer edge of the closing portion 21b, and a flange portion 21e that protrudes outward around the entire circumference outside the reinforcing rib 21c. The upper lid 21 also has an insertion tube portion 21d that protrudes downward from the outer edge of the closing portion 21b. The threaded portion 21a is formed on the outer surface of the insertion tube portion 21d. The lower end 21f of the insertion tube portion 21d (hereinafter referred to as the upper lid lower end 21f) is an annular flat surface.

The imaging device fixing ring 27 is connected to the upper end 12 of the imaging device 10 by a bolt 26 and is an annular member having a lower end 27h (hereinafter referred to as the imaging device fixing ring lower end 27h) that faces the upper end 12 of the imaging device 10. As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the imaging device fixing ring 27 has a base 27b located below and an insertion tube portion 27c that protrudes upward from the base 27b. The outer edge of the base 27b forms a flange that protrudes radially outward, and multiple bolt holes 27f are formed in this flange portion along the circumferential direction. The bolt holes 27f have a narrow hole portion through which the shank of the bolt 26 is inserted and a countersunk portion for accommodating the head of the bolt 26.

The imaging device fixing ring 27 has a threaded portion 27a that screws into the threaded portion 23a of the shaft connecting ring 23. The threaded portion 27a is formed on the outer surface of the insertion tube portion 27c. In this embodiment, the threaded portion 27a is configured as a male thread. The upper surface of the base portion 27b forms an upward step between it and the insertion tube portion 27c, and this step faces the lower end of the shaft connecting ring 23 (although it does not necessarily have to be in contact). In addition, the lower end 27h of the imaging device fixing ring is a flat surface, and the upper end 12 of the imaging device 10 facing it is also a flat surface.

Furthermore, a cylindrical outer surface 27g (hereinafter referred to as the imaging device fixing ring outer surface 27g) is provided on the outer surface of the insertion tube portion 27c of the imaging device fixing ring 27 above the threaded portion 27a. The imaging device fixing ring outer surface 27g faces the shaft connecting ring inner surface 23g along its entire circumference. An annular recessed groove 27e is formed in the imaging device fixing ring outer surface 27g, and a second water-stopping member 25 is accommodated within this recessed groove 27e. In this embodiment, a rubber O-ring (hereinafter referred to as the second O-ring 25) is used as the second water-stopping member 25.

A circular groove 27d is formed in the lower end 27h of the imaging device fixing ring, and a third water-blocking member 28 is accommodated within this groove 27d. In this embodiment, a rubber O-ring (hereinafter referred to as the third O-ring 28) is used as the third water-blocking member 28.

The lower cover 29, which is removed when in use, is a circular member that has a female screw hole 29a that has the same thread shape as the female screw hole 12a formed in the upper end 12 of the imaging device 10. The upper end 29h of the lower cover 29 (hereinafter referred to as the lower cover upper end 29h) is a circular flat surface.
The upper end 29h of the lower cover faces the lower end 27h of the imaging device fixing ring.

As described above, the component unit of the detachable member 20 before use has the upper lid 21 connected in place of the shaft 11 of the pipe inspection device 30. The upper lid 21 has the upper lid lower end 21f facing the shaft connecting ring upper end 23f and the threaded portion 21a that screws into the threaded portion 24a of the detachable ring 24. A first O-ring 22 is interposed between the upper lid lower end 21f and the shaft connecting ring upper end 23f. Furthermore, the lower lid 29 is connected in place of the imaging device 10. The lower lid 29 is connected to the imaging device fixing ring lower end 27h with a bolt 26, and a third O-ring 28 is interposed between the lower lid upper end 29h and the imaging device fixing ring lower end 27h. Because the product is provided as a component unit of the detachable member 20, it can be used appropriately for replacement and repair work of the imaging device 10, etc.

When the detachable member 20 is in its component unit state before use, the flat surface of the upper lid lower end 21f faces the flat surface of the shaft connecting ring upper end 23f. In use, the flat surface of the shaft lower end 11f faces the flat surface of the shaft connecting ring upper end 23f. The first O-ring 22 is interposed between these opposing surfaces, providing a predetermined watertight function both before and after use.

In addition, when the detachable member 20 is in its component unit state before use and when in use, the cylindrical imaging device fixing ring outer surface 27g and the cylindrical shaft connecting ring inner surface 23g face each other along their entire circumference. The second O-ring 25 is interposed between these opposing surfaces, providing a predetermined watertight function both before use and when in use.

Furthermore, before use, when the detachable member 20 is in its component unit state, the flat upper end 29h of the lower cover faces the flat lower end 27h of the imaging device fixing ring, and when in use, the flat upper end 12 of the imaging device 10 faces the flat lower end 27h of the imaging device fixing ring. Because the third O-ring 28 is interposed between these opposing surfaces, it is possible to achieve a predetermined watertight function both before use and in use.

In addition, the opposing surfaces of the components sandwiching the first O-ring 22, second O-ring 25, and third O-ring 28 are, from top to bottom, a surface perpendicular to the axial direction of the shaft 11, a cylindrical surface around the axis of the shaft 11, and a surface perpendicular to the axial direction of the shaft 11, so that the surfaces are not continuous in the same direction, which is expected to provide better watertightness.

The detachable ring 24 also has a threaded portion 24a on its upper inner surface that serves as a threaded fastening portion for the shaft 11 (or upper lid 21), and a step 24c is formed at the bottom of the threaded portion 24a that faces the step 23c of the shaft connecting ring 23. Therefore, when the threaded portion 24a of the detachable ring 24 is tightened onto the threaded portion 11a of the shaft 11 (or the threaded portion 21a of the upper lid 21), the lower end 11f of the shaft (or the lower end 21f of the upper lid) and the upper end 23f of the shaft connecting ring are crimped together, pushing down the shaft connecting ring 23. Further tightening causes the shaft connecting ring 23 and the detachable ring 24 to be crimped together at the step 23c and step 24c. Because the first O-ring 22 is installed at this crimped location, the first O-ring 22 is compressed by tightening the threaded portion 24a.

Furthermore, the second O-ring 25 is compressed by tightening the threaded portion 27a of the imaging device fixing ring 27 onto the threaded portion 23a of the shaft connecting ring 23. Furthermore, the third O-ring 28 is compressed by tightening the imaging device fixing ring 27 and the imaging device 10 (or the lower cover 29) with the bolt 26.

Note that the threaded fastening portions described in the above embodiment, i.e., the threaded fastening portion between threaded portion 24a and threaded portion 11a (or threaded portion 21a), and the threaded fastening portion between threaded portion 23a and threaded portion 27a, may have the female and male threads that screw together (screw together) reversed. Furthermore, the first to third water-stopping members 22, 25, and 28 are not limited to the first to third O-rings 22, 25, and 28 shown in the above embodiment, and may be other types of water-stopping members that have water-stopping function.

With this invention, even if only the imaging device 10 or only the shaft 11 is damaged, only the damaged area can be repaired or replaced easily and quickly. Furthermore, by using the detachable member 20, even if the imaging device 10 and shaft 11 are separated and handled as separate parts, they can be assembled while maintaining watertightness between them, improving convenience.

1 Main pipe 2 Branch pipe 2a Branch pipe 2b Fire hydrant 3 Valve 10 Imaging device 11 Shaft 11a Threaded portion 11f Lower end (lower end of shaft)
12 Upper end of imaging device 13 Frame 14, 16 Lighting 15 Camera 17 Connection terminal 20 Detachable member 21 Upper cover 21a Threaded portion 21b Closure portion 21c Reinforcement rib 21d Insertion tube portion 21e Flange portion 21f Lower end (lower end of upper cover)
22 First water-stopping member (first O-ring)
23 Shaft connection ring 23a Threaded portion 23b Outer surface convex portion 23c Step portion 23d Insertion tube portion 23f Upper end (shaft connection ring upper end)
23g Inner surface (inner surface of shaft connecting ring)
23h: Groove 24; Detachable ring 24a: Threaded portion 24b: Upper cylindrical portion 24c: Step portion 24d: Inner surface convex portion 24e: Lower cylindrical portion 25: Second water-stopping member (second O-ring)
26 Bolt 27 Imaging device fixing ring 27a Threaded portion 27b Base portion 27c Insertion tube portion 27d Groove 27e Groove 27f Bolt hole 27g Outer surface (outer surface of imaging device fixing ring)
27h bottom end (bottom end of imaging device fixing ring)
28 Third water-stopping member (third O-ring)
29 Lower lid 29a Female screw hole 29h Upper end (lower lid upper end)
30 Pipe inspection equipment

Claims (3)

A shaft (11),
an imaging device (10) connected to the shaft (11) , powered via a cable passing through the shaft (11), and transmitting an image signal ;
a detachable member (20) that connects the shaft (11) and the imaging device (10);
The detachable member (20) is
a shaft connecting ring (23) having an upper end (23f) opposite to a lower end (11f) of the shaft (11);
a detachable ring (24) having a threaded portion (24a) that screws onto the threaded portion (11a) of the shaft (11) and a step portion (24c) that faces the step portion (23c) of the shaft connecting ring (23);
an imaging device fixing ring (27) connected to the upper end (12) of the imaging device (10) with a bolt (26) and having a threaded portion (27a) that screws into the threaded portion (23a) of the shaft connecting ring (23);
a first water-stopping member (22) provided between the lower end (11f) of the shaft (11) and the upper end (23f) of the shaft connecting ring (23);
a second water-stopping member (25) provided between an inner surface (23g) of the shaft connecting ring (23) and an outer surface (27g) of the imaging device fixing ring (27);
An internal pipe inspection device equipped with the device. a third water-stopping member (28) provided between an upper end (12) of the imaging device (10) and a lower end (27h) of the imaging device fixing ring (27);
2. The pipe interior inspection device according to claim 1 , wherein the first water-stopping member (22), the second water-stopping member (25), and the third water-stopping member (28) are made up of O-rings . A component unit of the detachable member (20) used in the pipe interior inspection device according to claim 2 ,
An upper lid (21) is connected in place of the shaft (11), and the upper lid (21) has a lower end (21f) facing the upper end (23f) of the shaft connecting ring (23) and a threaded portion (21a) that screws into the threaded portion (24a) of the detachable ring (24), and the first water-stopping member (22) is interposed between the lower end (21f) of the upper lid (21) and the upper end (23f) of the shaft connecting ring (23),
A component unit of the detachable member (20) in which a lower lid (29) is connected in place of the imaging device (10), the lower lid (29) is connected to the lower end (27h) of the imaging device fixing ring (27) with the bolt (26), and the third water-stopping member (28) is interposed between the upper end (29h) of the lower lid (29) and the lower end (27h) of the imaging device fixing ring (27).