JPH116801A - In-pipe image pickup apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an in-pipe image pickup apparatus which enables taking of a clear image by washing a cover provided in front of an image pickup means such as camera. SOLUTION: A transparent cover 2 is provided in the direction of photographing by an image pickup means 1 and has a washing nozzle 3 to wash the cover by blowing washing water 12 thereto. The washing nozzle 3 is connected to a washing water tank 5 through a water path 11 having a solenoid valve 10 and a flexible hose 8 in the tank is connected to a washing water outlet 5a of the washing water tank 5 facing the inside of the tank. A weight 9 is mounted at the tip part of the hose 8 in the tank.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an in-pipe image pickup apparatus for picking up an image of the inside of a pipe such as an electric wire pipe by an image pickup means such as a video camera.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In-pipe self-propelling devices (for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No.
6-293259), there is an in-tube imaging device that is mounted (connected) and moved. The in-pipe imaging device is provided with an imaging means such as a video camera, and displays the inside of the pipe on a monitor outside the pipe so that an operator can check the state.

[0003] However, dirt adheres to the inside of the pipe, and sewage often accumulates in the lower portion. Moving along such a tube may cause damage or dirt on the lens of the imaging means, so a cover made of a transparent resin or the like is often attached in front of the lens of the imaging means.

[0004] The in-pipe imaging device may pass through a dirty portion in the pipe such as a location where sewage is accumulated, and the stain may adhere to the cover. If the cover becomes dirty in this way, the field of view of the imaging direction of the camera or the like is obstructed, and it becomes impossible to clearly image the inside of the tube and display it on the monitor.

[0005]

Therefore, there is a need for an in-pipe image pickup apparatus which can wash a cover in front of an image pickup means such as a camera and can pick up a clear image.

[0006]

The in-pipe imaging apparatus of the present invention is provided with a transparent cover (2) in the imaging direction of the imaging means (1), and the cleaning water (12) is applied to the cover (2). It has a washing nozzle (3) for spraying and washing, and the washing nozzle (3) is a solenoid valve (10)
The washing water tank (5) is connected to the washing water tank (5) via a water channel (11) having a washing water outlet (5a) of the washing water tank (5). 8) is connected, and a weight (9) is attached to the tip of the hose (8) in the tank.

[0007]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to preferred embodiments. [Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of an in-pipe imaging apparatus according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a plan sectional view of the same. In actual use, a self-propelled machine (not shown) is connected and used.

[0008] In the figure, (A) is a pipe to be inspected. (1) is a camera body as an imaging means, which includes a lens unit (1a) and a lighting device (1b). (2) is a transparent cover made of resin for protecting the camera body from damage and dirt. Reference numeral (4) denotes a camera control unit which functions to change the direction and orientation of the camera by a motor.

[0009] A guide (6) is provided to make it easy to get over the joints of the pipes and the mud accumulated in the pipes as the pipe moves.

A washing water tank (5) stores washing water (12). The inside of the washing water tank (5) is pressurized by the air injected from the air injection port (7).

Reference numeral (8) denotes a hose in the tank, which is attached to the washing water outlet (5a) of the washing water tank (5) toward the inside of the tank. To the water channel (11) outside the washing water tank (5). When the solenoid valve (10) provided in the water channel (11) is opened, the washing water (12) in the washing water tank (5) is attached to the washing water outlet (5a) of the washing water tank (5). Cover from washing nozzle (3) through hose (8), water channel (11) and solenoid valve (10)
It is sprayed on (2).

By the way, a self-propelled machine is often designed to travel straight in a pipe (A) without rotating.
It may pass through a bent pipe or rotate in a twisted manner in the traveling direction due to the influence of the contact pressure between the drive wheel and the inner wall of the pipe (A). Then, the in-pipe imaging device connected to the self-propelled machine also rotates together.

The washing water (12) in the washing water tank (5) always moves downward in the washing water tank (5).
(8) rotates together with the washing water tank (5). And get exposed in the air.

Then, even when the solenoid valve (10) is opened, air is sucked in from the hose (8) in the tank and the cleaning liquid cannot be guided to the cleaning nozzle (3). Furthermore, since the air in the washing water tank (5) is rapidly released, the washing water tank
(5) Even if the inside of the tank (8) is suddenly depressurized and the tip of the hose (8) in the tank is immersed in the washing liquid again,
The force for pushing out the cleaning water (12) in (5) by the air pressure has been lost, so that cleaning cannot be performed by spraying the cleaning water (12).

Therefore, in this embodiment, the tank hose (8)
Is flexible (flexible), and a weight (9) is attached to the tip thereof. Since the weight (9) always moves downward due to gravity, the hose (8) in the tank
Is moved together with the washing water (12) by the weight (9) and is always immersed in the washing water (12). Therefore, the washing water in the washing water tank (5) can be guided to the washing nozzle (3) regardless of the posture of the in-pipe imaging device.

[0016]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an in-pipe image pickup apparatus capable of washing a cover provided in front of an image pickup means such as a camera and capable of picking up a clear image.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of an in-pipe imaging device according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional plan view of the in-pipe imaging apparatus according to the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 (1) Camera body (imaging means) (2) Cover (3) Wash nozzle (4) Camera control unit (5) Wash water tank (5a) Wash water outlet (6) Guide (7) Air inlet (8) Tank Inner hose (9) Weight (10) Solenoid valve (11) Water channel (12) Wash water (A) Pipe

Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Akio Saito 6-2-27 Nakanoshima, Kita-ku, Osaka-shi Kansai Tec Co., Ltd.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A transparent cover is provided in an imaging direction of an imaging means, and a cleaning nozzle for spraying cleaning water on the cover to wash the cover is provided. The cleaning nozzle is a cleaning water tank via a water passage having an electromagnetic valve. Is connected to the washing water outlet of the washing water tank, a hose in the tank that has flexibility toward the inside of the tank, and a weight is attached to the tip of the hose in the tank. An in-pipe imaging device characterized by the above-mentioned.