Control tooling intended for use with an endoscope

Abstract

The invention relates to a control tool (3) for equipping an endoscope, characterized in that it comprises a body (4) including a fastening portion (4c) for attachment to one end of the endoscope and an opening (11), and a transparent element including at least one calibrated visual marker, said transparent element being mounted at the opening (11) of the body (4). Figure to be published with the abstract: Figure 4

Description

Title of the invention: Control tool intended to equip an endoscope Technical field of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to a control tool intended to equip an endoscope, an assembly comprising such a tool and a method for controlling a hollow part using such an assembly. State of the prior art

[0002] Such a tool and such a method can be used in particular in the context of the manufacture of hollow parts comprising an internal surface which must be covered with a coating, for example by chrome plating. The quality control of the coating deposited on the internal surface is generally carried out using an endoscope.

[0003] Such an endoscope conventionally comprises an end equipped with an observation head comprising lighting means and image-taking means. The images obtained using such an endoscope make it possible to visualize whether an indication is present at the coating level. Such an indication is, for example, a scratch or a cavity.

[0004] It is currently difficult to characterize such indications, in particular to know their dimensions. Consequently, as soon as such indications are present, then either the coating is changed, by removing the coating and depositing a new coating, or the part is scrapped, which reduces the manufacturing rate of such parts and increases manufacturing costs.

[0005] Furthermore, it is also necessary to be able to inspect parts whose surface to be checked is not coated. In such a case, it may be useful to decide whether or not it is necessary to make retouches to the said surface or to scrap the part. Presentation of the invention

[0006] In order to overcome these drawbacks, the invention proposes a control tool intended to equip an endoscope, characterized in that it comprises a body comprising a fixing part intended to be fixed on one end of the endoscope and an opening, and a transparent element comprising at least one visual marker of calibrated dimension, said transparent element being mounted at the opening of the body.

[0007] Such a control tool can be mounted on one end of an endoscope comprising an observation head, so that the opening of the body and the transparent element are located opposite the observation head.

[0008] The inspection tool and the corresponding end of the endoscope can then be introduced into a hollow part, so that the observation head is positioned opposite an indication to be measured on an internal surface of said hollow part, and so that the visual marker is located at or near said indication. Such an indication is, for example, a scratch or a cavity present at the internal surface to be inspected of the hollow part.

[0009] The dimension(s) of the indication can then be determined by comparison with the known dimensions of the visual cue(s).

[0010] The visual cue may be a solid or hollow geometric shape, for example a circle, a disc or a polygon.

[0011] The visual reference may be a graduated scale. The visual reference may be an indication of an angle, for example a protractor. The visual reference may be a curve with a calibrated profile, for example a sinusoidal or polynomial function curve, etc.

[0012] The body may be hollow, at least in part. The body may have an open end allowing the introduction of the corresponding end of the endoscope.

[0013] The control tool may comprise a locking member removably fixed to the body, at the level of said opening, said transparent element being fixed to the body by wedging between said locking member and the body.

[0014] Alternatively, the transparent element may be fixed by other fixing means, for example by screwing, gluing or welding.

[0015] Such fixing of the transparent element is easy and quick to implement.

[0016] The locking member can be fixed by snap-fastening onto the body.

[0017] The locking member may comprise an opening located opposite the opening of the body, the transparent element extending in front of the opening of the locking member.

[0018] The locking member may have a general U-shape comprising a middle part having said opening and two branches extending on either side of the middle part.

[0019] The branches can be fixed by snapping onto the body.

[0020] The transparent element may have two ends, each end may be wedged between a lateral branch of the locking member and the body.

[0021] Each lateral branch may comprise a zone forming a hook, that is to say with a projecting part, cooperating with a hollow zone of the body, or vice versa, so as to achieve the snap-fastening.

[0022] The middle portion or the side branches may be deformable to facilitate snap-on mounting. Alternatively or additionally, the corresponding portion of the body used for snap-on mounting may be deformable.

[0023] The body may extend along a longitudinal axis, the opening of the body being located on a lateral surface of the body.

[0024] Said longitudinal axis may correspond to the axis of introduction of the tooling.

[0025] The body may be cylindrical, at least in part, with the opening located at a cylindrical side surface of the body.

[0026] The transparent element may be a flexible sheet.

[0027] The use of a flexible sheet makes it possible to adapt its curvature so that once the tool is introduced into the part to be checked, this sheet can be applied against the surface to be checked, at a contact zone comprising the visual mark. During such application, the sheet can deform freely, by pressing, so as to conform to said surface to be checked.

[0028] The transparent element may include a contact area extending beyond the body.

[0029] In the case of a cylindrical body for example, the contact area of ​​the transparent element may extend beyond the cylindrical surface of the part comprising the opening, in the radial direction. The radial direction is defined as the direction perpendicular to the axis of the cylindrical body, also called the longitudinal axis.

[0030] This ensures that contact between the transparent element and the surface to be checked is possible.

[0031] Alternatively, the transparent element may not have a contact zone and may extend back from the external surface of the body. In other words, the support with the internal surface is then made on the body only and not on the transparent element.

[0032] In this case, it is necessary to control and know the distance between the surface to be checked and the visual marker present on the transparent element in order to be able to deduce the dimension of the indication on the surface to be checked.

[0033] For example, the transparent element may be inserted into a slot surrounding the opening of the body, so as to maintain the transparent element at a distance from the external surface of the body, for example at a distance from a radially external cylindrical surface of the body.

[0034] Said transparent element may comprise at least two markers of different dimensions.

[0035] Alternatively, said transparent element may comprise a single marker.

[0036] The two markers are for example two circles or discs, or two polygons of different sizes, for example a first circle or disc with dimensions of the order of 0.2 mm and a second circle or disc with dimensions of the order of 0.5 mm.

[0037] In this way it is for example possible to compare an indication with respect to each of these reference points, so as to determine whether said indication has a larger dimension. weaker than a first reference point, a larger dimension than a second reference point, or a dimension between those of the first and second reference points.

[0038] The transparent element may comprise several marks offset from each other. Such a characteristic makes it possible to compensate for the possible erasure by friction of one or more marks during use of the tool. Thus, in the event of total or even partial erasure of one of the marks, it is possible to use another.

[0039] In this case, at least two markers offset from each other may be identical or of the same dimension.

[0040] The fixing part may comprise removable fixing means capable of allowing fixing to the endoscope.

[0041] The removable fastening means may comprise a set screw or pinch fastening means, for example.

[0042] The clamping fixing means may comprise at least one elastically deformable tab, capable of bearing on a surface of the endoscope and a nut capable of acting on said tab so as to deform it. The nut may cooperate with a thread of the body. Tightening the nut thus generates the deformation of the tab so that it generates friction ensuring the fixing of the body on the endoscope. Conversely, loosening the nut makes it possible to release the tab which returns to its original position so as to be able to release the endoscope inspection tool.

[0043] The opening of the body may be formed by a window of generally rectangular shape.

[0044] The opening of the locking member may be formed by a window of generally rectangular shape.

[0045] The invention also relates to an assembly comprising an endoscope comprising an end comprising an observation head, characterized in that said assembly comprises a tool of the aforementioned type, mounted on said end so that the observation head is located opposite the opening of the body.

[0046] The endoscope may comprise lighting means and image-taking means, as is known per se. The image-taking means may comprise a lens. Said lens may comprise a fixed focal length. Even in the case of a lens with adjustable focal length, the invention makes it possible to fix such a focal length. It is then said, by extension, that the lens has a fixed focal length.

[0047] The invention relates to a method for inspecting a hollow part using an assembly of the aforementioned type, comprising the following steps: - insert the observation head and the control tool into the hollow part, - position the observation head opposite an indication to be measured on a internal surface of said hollow part, so that the visual marker is located at or near said indication, - determine at least one characterization of the indication using the visual cue.

[0048] The characterization can be a dimension.

[0049] The observation head can be positioned so that the transparent element is in contact with the internal surface.

[0050] The inner surface of said hollow part may be covered, at least in part, with a coating. Alternatively, the part may not be covered with a coating.

[0051] Such a coating can be obtained by chromium plating of the internal surface. Alternatively, such a coating can be obtained by a process such as chromic anodic oxidation, sulfuric anodic oxidation, cadmium plating, nickel plating, supersonic flame thermal spraying or HVOF (for High Velocity Oxy / Fuel, in English), etc.

[0052] If the indication, for example a scratch or a cavity, has dimensions that are too large, then the coating can be removed, in whole or in part, and then a new coating can be deposited on said internal surface. Alternatively, the part can be scrapped in the event of non-conformity, that is to say if the dimensions of the indication are too large.

[0053] Alternatively, the surface may be locally repaired.

[0054] Conversely, if the dimensions of the indication are less than determined specifications, then the part and the coating can be kept as is.

[0055] Removal of the coating may be carried out by stripping, for example by chemical stripping. Brief description of the figures

[0056] [Fig. 1] is a sectional and perspective view of a hollow part to be checked,

[0057] [Fig.2] is a perspective view of a body of a control tool according to a first form of embodiment,

[0058] [Fig.3] is a perspective view of a locking member of the control tool,

[0059] [Fig.4] is a perspective view of the control tooling,

[0060] [Fig.5] is a sectional and perspective view of the control tool, the plan of section being radial and passing in particular through the branches of the blocking member,

[0061] [Fig.6] is a front view of a transparent sheet comprising visual markers,

[0062] [Fig.7] is a perspective view of a control tool according to a second form of embodiment,

[0063] [Fig.8] is a longitudinal sectional view of the control tooling of [Fig.7]. Detailed description of the invention

[0064] [Fig.l] illustrates a hollow part 1 extending along an axis A and of generally cylindrical shape. Said part 1 comprises a cylindrical internal surface 2 covered in all or part by a coating resulting from a chrome plating process. Part 1 is for example a jack intended to equip a landing gear. Of course, the invention is not limited to this type of part.

[0065] In order to be able to visually check and characterize possible defects or indications of the coating of the internal surface 2, such as for example scratches or cavities in said coating, the invention proposes to equip an endoscope with a control tool 3, a first embodiment of which is illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 6.

[0066] This control tool 3 comprises a body 4, visible in particular in [Fig.2].

[0067] The body 4 has a generally cylindrical shape and extends along a longitudinal axis X. The terms axial, radial and circumferential are defined relative to this longitudinal axis X.

[0068] The body 4 is hollow and has a first end 4a and a second end 4b. The proximal part 5 of the body 4 is the part of the body 4 located on the side of the first end 4a and the distal part 4d of the body 4 is the part of the body 4 located on the side of the second end 4b.

[0069] The proximal part 4c comprises a cylindrical hole 5 intended for the insertion of the end of the endoscope, this end of the endoscope being equipped with an observation head as is known per se. The observation head is oriented radially, that is to say in the direction perpendicular to the general direction of extension of the endoscope. The hole 5 is delimited by a radially internal cylindrical wall 6, connected to a radially external cylindrical wall 7, by means of radial partitions 8.

[0070] In this embodiment, the tool 3 is fixed to the corresponding end of the endoscope by means of a pressure screw not shown, engaged in a thread 9 of the body 4 passing through a radial partition 8. As a variant, the walls 6 and 8 can be merged.

[0071] The proximal part 4c of the body 4 further comprises two external annular grooves 10, axially offset from one another, so as to limit the contact surface between the tool 3 and the surface to be inspected, and so as to lighten the tool 3.

[0072] The distal part 4d of the body 4 further comprises an opening or window 11, at the level of its radially external wall 12. Said opening 11 has a generally rectangular shape and is intended to be located axially and circumferentially opposite the observation head of the endoscope.

[0073] The second end 4b of the body 4 further comprises a slot 13 in the shape of an arc of a circle opening into the internal volume of the distal part 4d of the body 4 and allowing any light outside the tool 3 to pass through and facilitating the disassembly of the locking member 14 and the sheet 16.

[0074] The internal diameter of the hole 5 of the proximal part 4c is less than the internal diameter of the external wall 12 of the distal part 4d.

[0075] The tool 3 further comprises a locking member 14 intended to be removably mounted by snap-fastening, at the opening 11 of the distal part 4d of the body 4. The locking member 14 has a generally U-shaped section, comprising a middle part 14a in the form of a cylindrical portion and two branches 14b, extending on either side of the middle part 14a. Each branch 14 is rectilinear and comprises a hook 14c at its free end. Each hook 14c is formed by a projecting part engaged by snap-fastening in a hollow part formed in the body 4. The middle part 14a comprises an opening or window 15, of generally rectangular shape, located axially and circumferentially opposite the opening or window 11 of the distal part 4d of the body 4.

[0076] The branches 14b and / or the middle part 14a of the locking member 14 are elastically deformable so as to allow snap-fastening onto the body 4.

[0077] A transparent sheet 16 (visible only in [Fig.6]) covers the locking member 14, in particular the opening 15 of said locking member 14. The sheet 16 has two ends 16a, 16b, wedged and held fixedly between the branches 14b of the locking member 14 and the body 4, when the locking member 14 is snapped onto the body 4. It will be noted that the sheet 16 can go beyond the branches 14b so that its free ends protrude into the internal volume of the distal part 4d of the body 4.

[0078] Once mounted on the body 4 by means of the locking member 14, the sheet 16 is curved and it extends at least partly radially outside the distal part 4d and the middle part 14a.

[0079] The sheet 16 further comprises a middle portion 16c comprising at least one visual marker 17, as illustrated in [Fig. 6]. In the embodiment illustrated in [Fig. 6], the sheet 16 has a generally rectangular shape and the middle portion of the sheet 16 comprises several visual markers 17, in particular a graduated ruler 17a extending in a first direction, a graduated ruler 17b extending in a second direction, perpendicular to the first direction, and several pairs of discs 17c, 17d, circumferentially offset from each other. Each pair of discs comprises a first disc 17c and a second disc 17d axially offset from each other. The diameter of the first disc 17c is less than the diameter of the second disc 17d.

[0080] Figures 7 and 8 illustrate a control tool 3 according to another embodiment, which differs from that described previously with reference to Figures 2 to 6 in that the proximal part 4c of the body 4 is a tubular part of smaller diameter than the distal part 4d, said proximal part 4c comprising tabs formable 18 axially extending and capable of being deformed between a fixing position and a release position.

[0081] In the fixing position, the free end 18a of each tab 18 extends radially inside the proximal portion 4c so as to engage with the corresponding end of the endoscope. Conversely, in the release position, the tabs 18 are not engaged with the endoscope.

[0082] A nut 19 is mounted on an external thread 20 of the proximal part 4c of the body 4, the nut 19 being able to constrain the tabs 18 towards their fixing position. The tightening and loosening of the nut 19 therefore makes it possible to move the nut 19 axially by deforming or actuating the tabs 18.

[0083] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the distal part 4d comprises a cylindrical internal part 20, which may be of the same diameter as the proximal part 4c and which extends in its extension, said internal part 20 having a slot 21 extending axially and situated circumferentially opposite the window 11 of the distal part 4d and the window 15 of the locking member 14.

[0084] Thus, when using such a control tool 3, the sheet 16 is mounted on the body 4 by means of the locking member 14 so that it extends radially outside the cylindrical external surface 12 of the distal part 4d and of the middle part 14a.

[0085] Furthermore, the end of the endoscope is introduced into the body 4 so that the observation head is located and oriented opposite the windows 11, 15 of the body 4 and the locking member 14, then the body 4 is fixed on the endoscope by means of the pressure screw or by actuation of the nut 19.

[0086] The tool 3 and the end of the endoscope are then introduced axially into the part 1 to be checked and oriented circumferentially so as to place the windows 11, 15 and the observation head, opposite a possible indication to be characterized.

[0087] A finer adjustment then makes it possible to place one of the visual markers 17 opposite or close to the indication to be characterized so as to be able to determine its dimension.

[0088] Once in position, the flexible sheet 16 is in contact with the surface 2 to be checked.

[0089] In the case of sheet 16 illustrated in [Fig.6], it is for example possible to consider that if the dimension of the indication is less than the diameter of the second disc 17d or diameter of the first disc 17c, then part 1 is considered to be compliant.

[0090] Conversely, if the indication presents dimensions that are too large, then part 1 can be considered non-compliant.

Claims

Claims

1. Assembly comprising an endoscope comprising an end comprising an observation head, characterized in that said assembly comprises a control tool (3) equipping said endoscope, said tool (3) comprising a body (4) comprising a fixing part (4c) fixed on said end of the endoscope and an opening (11), and a transparent element (16) comprising at least one visual marker (17) of calibrated dimension, said transparent element (16) being mounted at the opening (11) of the body (4), the observation head of the endoscope being located opposite the opening (11) of the body (4) of the tool (3).

2. Assembly according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the tool (3) comprises a locking member (14) removably fixed to the body (4), at the level of said opening (11), said transparent element (16) being fixed to the body (4) by wedging between said locking member (14) and the body (4).

3. Assembly according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the body (4) extends along a longitudinal axis (X), the opening (11) of the body (4) being located on a lateral surface (12) of the body (4).

4. Assembly according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the transparent element (16) is a flexible sheet.

5. Assembly according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the transparent element (16) comprises a contact zone extending beyond the body (4).

6. Assembly according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said transparent element (16) comprises at least two marks (17) of different dimensions.

7. Method for inspecting a hollow part (1) using an assembly according to one of the preceding claims, comprising the following steps: - introducing the observation head and the inspection tool (3) into the hollow part (1), - positioning the observation head opposite an indication to be measured on an internal surface (2) of said hollow part (1), so that the visual mark (17) is located at the level of said indication or close to it, - determining at least one characterization of the indication using the visual mark (17).

8. Method according to claim 7, characterized in that the observation head is positioned so that the transparent element (16) is in contact with the internal surface (2).

9. Method according to one of claims 7 or 8, characterized in that the internal surface (2) of said hollow part (1) is covered, at least in part, with a coating.

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