Active cooling of inspection or testing devices

Abstract

Inspection device comprising: a first housing having a user interface and a first heat sink (70); a second housing connected to the first housing, the second housing having an associated sensor and a second heat sink (90) disposed adjacent to the first heat sink (70); a fan assembly (80) disposed in either the first or second housing and configured to provide airflow over both the first heat sink (70) and the second heat sink (90); a first strut (76) disposed on a first side of the first heat sink (70) and a second strut (76) disposed on an opposite second side of the first heat sink (70), the first and second struts (76) configured to form an air hopper for directing airflow from the first heat sink (70) toward the second heat sink (90).

Claims

[1] Inspection device comprising: a first housing having a user interface and a first heat sink (70); a second housing connected to the first housing, the second housing having a sensor associated therewith and a second heat sink (90) disposed adjacent to the first heat sink (70); a fan assembly (80) disposed in either the first or second housing and configured to provide airflow over both the first heatsink (70) and the second heatsink (90); a first strut (76) arranged on a first side of the first heat sink (70), and a second strut (76) arranged on an opposite second side of the first heat sink (70), wherein the first and second struts (76) are arranged to form an air funnel for guiding an air flow from the first heat sink (70) towards the second heat sink (90). [2] Inspection device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second heat sinks (70, 90) each have a fin arrangement (74, 94) having a first and second side, and wherein the first and second sides of the first and second heat sinks (70, 90) are oriented substantially perpendicular to the air flow. [3] Inspection device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the fan assembly (80) is arranged within a central portion of the first heat sink (70) of the first housing. [4] Inspection device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the fan assembly (80) is inserted within an elastomeric holder (84) arranged in the first heat sink (70). [5] Inspection device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the fan assembly (80) comprises a first and a second fan (82). [6] Inspection device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first housing has a first portion having the user interface arranged thereon and a handle portion (22), and wherein the second housing is releasably connected to the handle portion of the first housing, and wherein the first heat sink (70) is preferably arranged within the first portion of the first housing. [7] Inspection apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sensor is adapted for use as at least one of an imaging device, an eddy current detector, an ultrasonic device, an X-ray device and a temperature measuring device. [8] Inspection device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the user interface comprises at least one of a viewing screen (24), a digital measurement display, a scope display and an operation control unit. [9] Inspection device comprising: a first housing having a distal portion with a user interface and a proximal handle portion (22), the first housing containing a first circuit board (27); a flexible elongated insert shaft having a proximal end connected to the first housing and a distal end having a sensor associated therewith; a first heat sink (70) disposed on the distal portion of the first housing and in contact with the first circuit board (27), the first heat sink (70) including a plurality of fins extending substantially parallel to one another, the fins having a central opening (78) formed in a portion thereof; a second housing detachably connected to the first housing and having a second heat sink (90) connected to a heat-generating electronic component; a fan assembly (80) inserted into the central opening (78) of the fins of the first heat sink (70) and configured to provide airflow over the first heat sink (70); a first strut (76) arranged on a first side of the first heat sink (70), and a second strut (76) arranged on an opposite second side of the first heat sink (70), wherein the first and second struts (76) are arranged to form an air funnel for guiding an air flow from the first heat sink (70) towards the second heat sink (90). [10] Inspection device comprising: a housing with a user interface arranged thereon; an elongated insert shaft extending from the housing and having a sensor associated therewith, the sensor being configured for use as at least one of an imaging device, an eddy current detector, an ultrasound detector, an x-ray device, and a temperature measuring device to transmit data to the user interface; a first and second heat sink (70, 90) arranged in the housing and arranged such that exhaust air from the first heat sink (70) is distributed through the second heat sink (90); wherein the housing has a first housing section and a second housing section which are detachably connected to one another, and wherein the first heat sink (70) is arranged in the first housing section and the second heat sink (90) is arranged in the second housing section; a first strut (76) arranged on a first side of the first heat sink (70), and a second strut (76) arranged on an opposite second side of the first heat sink (70), wherein the first and second struts (76) are arranged to form an air funnel for guiding an air flow from the first heat sink (70) towards the second heat sink (90).

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