Tunnel inspection system

Abstract

Tunnel inspection system The present invention relates to an inspection system (1) for a tunnel (3) comprising a rail (5) extending in an extension direction (L), the inspection system (1) comprising an inspection member (7) and a wagon (10) intended to move on the rail (5) inside the tunnel (3) in the extension direction (L), the inspection member (7) comprising a body (15) defining a central space (16) for the passage of the rail (5) of the tunnel (3), the body (15) being fixed to the wagon (10) by means of at least one fixing element (17), the body (15) further comprising at least two inspection devices (25) located on either side of the central space (16) in a direction (T) perpendicular to the extension direction (L) of the rail (5), each inspection device (25) comprising at least one infrared camera (30). Figure for abstract: 1

Description

Title of the invention: Tunnel inspection system

[0001] The present invention relates to a tunnel inspection system comprising a rail extending in an extension direction.

[0002] Infrastructures found in a variety of industry sectors are sometimes subject to cyclic loads, fatigue stresses, or temperature stresses, resulting in damage to materials and / or equipment.

[0003] Damage to materials and / or equipment, for example, by stress corrosion can therefore impair the proper functioning of the installation.

[0004] To this end, regular inspections of industrial equipment are carried out and make it possible to optimize the lifespan of the installations.

[0005] These regular inspections can be difficult to set up, particularly when the infrastructure to be inspected is a tunnel, a pipeline, or an installation that is difficult to access.

[0006] For example, when the installation is an aircraft carrier, it may include a heel compensation system (lateral tilt of the boat under the effect of the wind for example) improving the seakeeping of the aircraft carrier. Such a compensation system includes a set of tunnels equipped with mobile masses moving inside the tunnels in order to stabilize the aircraft carrier.

[0007] In order to ensure the proper functioning of the compensation system, it is important to check the condition of the tunnels (condition of corrosion, of the supports for moving the moving masses, presence of any residue obstructing the tunnel, etc.) regularly.

[0008] Non-destructive inspection methods are known from the literature using, for example, an endoscope to examine pipes, cavities and other difficult-to-access places.

[0009] However, these inspection methods are restrictive because they need to be implemented by an operator present on the installation site.

[0010] Furthermore, these inspection methods are generally difficult to implement in installations with low accessibility and significant access and geometry constraints, such as the heel compensation system of an aircraft carrier.

[0011] One of the aims of the invention is then to propose an autonomous tunnel inspection system, not requiring human intervention on site, and non-destructive of the environment to be inspected, adapted in particular to the inspection of a compensation system of an aircraft carrier.

[0012] For this purpose, the invention relates to a system for inspecting a tunnel comprising a rail, the inspection system comprising an inspection member and a wagon intended to move on the rail inside the tunnel in the direction of extension, the inspection member comprising a body defining a central space for the passage of the tunnel rail, the body being fixed to the wagon by means of at least one fixing element, the body further comprising at least two inspection devices located on either side of the central space in a direction perpendicular to the direction of extension of the rail, each inspection device comprising at least one infrared camera.

[0013] The inspection member being directly installed on the wagon moving inside the tunnel, the inspection system benefits from the movement of the wagon in order to inspect the entire tunnel, without additional intervention from an operator.

[0014] The inspection system is then autonomous and the infrared cameras allow the tunnel to be inspected non-destructively.

[0015] The use of two inspection devices allows the tunnel and the rail to be inspected in their entirety. In other words, each inspection device being placed on one side of the rail, each side of the rail, potentially not accessible by the other inspection device, can be inspected by the corresponding inspection device. Thus there are no areas of the tunnel and / or the rail which do not benefit from the inspection.

[0016] According to other advantageous aspects of the invention, the inspection system comprises one or more of the following characteristics, taken individually or in all technically possible combinations:

[0017] - the infrared cameras are powered by a mobile battery on board the body of the inspection body;

[0018] - the inspection devices comprise an electronic system controlled by a remote operator, the electronic system being capable of transmitting information received from the infrared cameras to the remote operator;

[0019] - the inspection system comprises an operator-controlled control device remotely based on information received by the electronic system, the electronic system being controlled by the remote operator via the control device;

[0020] - the inspection devices comprise at least one light source illuminating inside the tunnel;

[0021] - the element for fixing the body of the inspection member to the wagon is a clamp tightening, the attachment of the body of the inspection organ to the wagon being reversible;

[0022] - the inspection devices are removably attached to the body of the organ inspection through the fastener;

[0023] - the inspection devices are fixed on the body on either side of the element of fixing, the central passage space of the tunnel rail extending between the inspection devices;

[0024] - the body of the inspection member is fixed on one end, according to the direction rail extension, wagon, the inspection system being capable of inspecting the interior of the tunnel while the wagon is moving on the rail inside the tunnel in the direction of extension.

[0025] The invention will appear more clearly on reading the description which follows, given solely by way of non-limiting example, and made with reference to the drawings in which:

[0026] [Fig-1] [Fig.l] is a schematic representation of an inspection system,

[0027] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] is a zoomed view of the organ fixation system inspection of the wagon, and

[0028] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] is a front view of the inspection system of [Fig.l], po located on a tunnel rail.

[0029] [Fig.l] shows an inspection system 1 intended to detect possible defects and / or anomalies in an infrastructure comprising at least one tunnel.

[0030] According to one aspect of the invention, the infrastructure is an aircraft carrier allowing the launching and reception of aircraft from a deck. Such an infrastructure requires robust seaworthiness. For this purpose, an aircraft carrier comprises, for example, a system for compensating for the lateral inclination of the deck, also called heel, allowing it to maintain a substantially horizontal orientation. Such a compensation system comprises, for example, a plurality of internal tunnels, in which mobile masses move on rails to ensure the balancing of the platform.

[0031] According to one aspect of the invention, the inspection system 1 is intended to inspect a tunnel 3 forming part of a system for compensating for the heeling of an aircraft carrier.

[0032] Alternatively, the tunnel 3 is part of any other type of installation and / or industrial work.

[0033] The inspection system 1 is for example inserted inside the tunnel 3 in order to detect the presence and / or the nature of certain defects or anomalies on a wall or a rail or inside the tunnel, such as for example cracks, a certain state of corrosion, an obstruction of the tunnel, or others.

[0034] The tunnel 3 comprises a rail 5 extending in an extension direction L, visible in [Fig.2].

[0035] The rail 5 authorizes and guides, for example, the movement in the direction of extension L of the moving masses in the case of a system for compensating for the heeling of an aircraft carrier.

[0036] The movement of the moving masses along the rail 5 is crucial for the proper functioning operation of the heel compensation system. Thus, rail 5 must be regularly inspected to ensure that the moving masses move smoothly along rail 5.

[0037] The tunnel 3 has a transverse width, measured in a plane perpendicular to the direction of extension L, for example between ... cm and ... cm and extends over a length, measured along the direction of extension L, for example between 50 m and 70 m.

[0038] The rail has a transverse width for example between 2 cm and 4 cm and extends substantially over the entire length of the tunnel 3.

[0039] The inspection system 1 comprises an inspection member 7 and a wagon 10 intended to move on the rail 5 inside the tunnel 3 in the direction of extension L.

[0040] The wagon 10 is for example part of one of the aforementioned moving masses used to balance the aircraft carrier. For this purpose, the wagon 10 is for example towed by a traction system, not shown, arranged to set the wagon 10 in motion on the rail 5. The traction system comprises for example traction cables, pulleys, or any other element making it possible to tow the wagon 10 inside the tunnel 3. The traction system is for example autonomous, or else controlled remotely by a remote operator, or by a remote control center.

[0041] Like rail 5, the traction system is crucial for the proper functioning of the heel compensation system, because it causes the movement of the moving masses and therefore the balancing of the aircraft carrier.

[0042] The inspection member 7 comprises a body 15 defining a central space 16 for the passage of the rail 5. In other words, when the wagon 10 is mounted movably on the rail 5, the rail 5 extends into the central space 16 of the body 15.

[0043] The body 15 is formed from a rigid material, for example from a rigid plastic material of the PVC type.

[0044] The central space 16 is a space provided within the body 15, allowing the passage of the rail 5 of the tunnel 3. For example, the central space 16 has a transverse width slightly greater than the transverse width of the rail 5 so as to accommodate the rail 5.

[0045] The body 15 of the inspection member 7 is fixed to the wagon 10 by means of at least one fixing element 17.

[0046] Thus, when the wagon 10 moves on the rail 5 in the direction of extension L of the rail 5, the inspection member 7, thanks to the central space 16 for the passage of the rail 5, moves with the wagon 10 along the rail 5 and does not block the movement of the wagon 10.

[0047] In one embodiment, shown in detail in [Fig.2], the fixing element 17 of the body 15 of the inspection member 7 to the wagon 10 is a clamp tightening.

[0048] The body 15 of the inspection member 7 is for example fixed on one end, in the direction of extension L of the rail 5, of the wagon 10. The inspection system 1 thus extends in front of the rest of the wagon 10 in the direction of movement of the wagon 10 on the rail 5.

[0049] The inspection system 1 is thus able to inspect the interior of the tunnel 3 during the movement of the wagon 10 on the rail 5 inside the tunnel 3 in the direction of extension L. Furthermore, thanks to the movement of the wagon 10 and positioning of the inspection system 1 in front of the rest of the wagon 10, the inspection system 1 can also inspect the rail 5, and the traction system of the wagon 10.

[0050] For example, the wagon 10 comprises an attachment portion 19 on which the fixing element 17 is held. The attachment portion 19 is for example a protrusion extending projecting from one of the ends of the wagon 10, extending in the direction of extension L of the rail 5.

[0051] In a particular embodiment, the fixing element 17 comprises two branches fixed around the attachment portion 19 and maintaining the attachment portion 19 in compression by means of a holding element 21. The holding element 21 is for example a clamping screw.

[0052] Alternatively, the fixing element 17 is a screwing, snap-fastening system or any other means of fixing the body 15 to the wagon 10.

[0053] The attachment of the body 15 of the inspection member 7 to the wagon 10 is preferably configured to be reversible. Thus, the installation of the inspection system 1 in the tunnel 3 is facilitated. The inspection member 7 can further be detached from the wagon 10, and reused on another wagon 10 in order to inspect another tunnel 3.

[0054] The body 15 further comprises at least two inspection devices 25 located on either side of the central space 16 in a direction T perpendicular to the direction of extension L of the rail 5.

[0055] The inspection devices 25 are for example removably fixed to the body 15 of the inspection member 7.

[0056] In one embodiment, the inspection devices 25 are fixed to the body 15 of the inspection member 7 via the fixing element 17.

[0057] For example, as visible in [Fig.2], the inspection devices 25 are fixed on the fixing element 17, by projecting protrusions 26 in the shape of an L. These protrusions 26 form notches capable of receiving the inspection devices 25 by geometric cooperation with a fixing region of the inspection devices 25, not shown. For example, the inspection devices 25 are fixed by snap-fastening on the fixing element 17 by means of the protrusions 26, and possibly secured by means of screws.

[0058] In the example shown in [Fig. 3], the inspection devices 25 are fixed to the body 15 of the inspection member 7 on either side of the fixing element 17, the central space 16 for passage of the rail 5 of the tunnel 3 extending between the inspection devices 25.

[0059] Thus, each inspection device 25 is capable of inspecting a respective side of the rail 5 and of the tunnel 3, as will be described in more detail below.

[0060] The inspection devices 25 have, for example, a parallelepiped shape defining a hollow internal volume 27.

[0061] Each inspection device 25 comprises at least one infrared camera 30. In the example shown in [Fig. 3], each inspection device 25 comprises an infrared camera 30 inspecting at least a portion of the rail 5 and / or the tunnel 3.

[0062] The infrared cameras 30 are for example fixed on an external wall of the inspection devices 25, facing the tunnel 3.

[0063] By “facing the tunnel”, it is meant that the infrared cameras 30 are advantageously fixed on one end of the inspection member 7, facing the tunnel 3 and not towards the wagon 10.

[0064] The infrared cameras 30 record videos and / or photos of the tunnel 3, the rail 5, the traction system of the wagon 10.

[0065] For example, a first inspection device 25A is located on a first side of the fixing element 17, and comprises a first infrared camera 30A intended to inspect a first side 5A of the rail 5 and a first side 3A of the tunnel 3.

[0066] Similarly, a second inspection device 25B is located on a second side of the fixing element 17, and comprises a second infrared camera 30B intended to inspect a second side 5B of the rail 5 and a second side 3B of the tunnel 3.

[0067] Thus, thanks to this configuration, the tunnel 3 and the rail 5 can be inspected entirely, without any area not visually accessible by the infrared cameras 30. Furthermore, the infrared cameras 30 can be remotely oriented by a remote operator, and offer the remote operator the possibility of enlarging the image captured during the shooting (possibility of zooming in on a particular inspection area).

[0068] In one embodiment, the infrared cameras 30 are powered by a mobile battery, not shown, mounted on the body 15 of the inspection member 7.

[0069] In the example shown in Figures 1 to 3, the inspection devices 25 comprise an electronic system 35 controlled by a remote operator. The electronic system 35 receives information, such as videos and photos, from inside the tunnel 3 from the infrared cameras 30 and transmits said information to the remote operator, who can view the images acquired by the infrared cameras 30 in real time and / or in delayed mode.

[0070] The electronic system 35 is for example a computer on board the dis inspection positives 25. The electronic system 35 is for example housed in one of the internal volumes 27 defined by the inspection devices 25.

[0071] In order to remotely control the electronic system 35, the inspection system 1 comprises for example a control device, not shown, controlled by the remote operator as a function of the information received by the electronic system 35.

[0072] The electronic system 35 is then controlled by the remote operator via the control device.

[0073] Thus, the remote operator can, via the control device, view the interior of the tunnel 3 during the inspection carried out by the inspection system 1, without needing to be present on the installation site.

[0074] In an exemplary embodiment, the inspection devices 25 comprise at least one light source illuminating the interior of the tunnel 3. For example, each inspection device comprises one or a plurality of on-board bulbs 40 allowing the tunnel 3 to be illuminated and the infrared cameras 30 to operate correctly.

[0075] The inspection member 7 as described above is for example intended to equip one or more wagons moving inside the tunnels of a system for compensating for the heeling of an aircraft carrier.

[0076] Such an inspection system 1 has many advantages.

[0077] Thanks to the attachment of the inspection member 7 on the wagon 10, the inspection system 1 benefits from the movements of the wagon 10 in order to travel the entirety of the tunnel 3 and the rail 5 and allows an efficient and complete inspection of the tunnel 3.

[0078] Furthermore, the infrared cameras 30 operate using a battery on board the inspection system 1, and transmit the images from inside the tunnel 3 to the remote operator, the inspection system 1 is autonomous and does not require the presence of an operator on site.

[0079] Finally, the removability of the inspection member 7 on the wagon 10 allows the inspection system to be adaptable to different wagons 10, to inspect different tunnels 3.

[0080] The inspection system thus designed is autonomous, non-destructive, and ergonomic.

Claims

Claims

1. Inspection system (1) of a tunnel (3) comprising a rail (5) extending in a direction of extension (L), the inspection system (1) comprising an inspection member (7) and a wagon (10) intended to move on the rail (5) inside the tunnel (3) in the direction of extension (L), the inspection member (7) comprising a body (15) defining a central space (16) for the passage of the rail (5) of the tunnel (3), the body (15) being fixed to the wagon (10) by means of at least one fixing element (17), the body (15) further comprising at least two inspection devices (25) located on either side of the central space (16) in a direction (T) perpendicular to the direction of extension (L) of the rail (5), each inspection device (25) comprising at least one infrared camera (30).

2. Inspection system (1) according to claim 1, wherein the infrared cameras (30) are powered by a mobile battery on board the body (15) of the inspection member (7).

3. An inspection system (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the inspection devices (25) comprise an electronic system (25) controlled by a remote operator, the electronic system (25) being capable of transmitting information received from the infrared cameras (30) to the remote operator.

4. An inspection system (1) according to claim 3, comprising a control device driven by the remote operator based on information received by the electronic system (35), the electronic system (35) being controlled by the remote operator via the control device.

5. Inspection system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the inspection devices (25) comprise at least one light source (40) illuminating the interior of the tunnel (3).

6. Inspection system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the fixing element (17) of the body (15) of the inspection member (7) to the wagon (10) is a clamp, the fixing of the body (15) of the inspection member (7) to the wagon (10) being reversible.

7. An inspection system (1) according to any preceding claim, wherein the inspection devices (25) are removably attached to the body (15) of the inspection member (7) by through the fixing element (17).

8. Inspection system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the inspection devices (25) are fixed to the body (15) on either side of the fixing element (17), the central space (16) for passage of the rail (5) of the tunnel (3) extending between the inspection devices (25).

9. Inspection system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the body (15) of the inspection member (7) is fixed on one end, in the direction of extension (L) of the rail (5), of the wagon (10), the inspection system (1) being able to inspect the interior of the tunnel (3) during the movement of the wagon (10) on the rail (5) inside the tunnel (3) in the direction of extension (L).

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