Pipe Inspection Camera and Jetter Integration for Obstruction Removal
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current pipe inspection and cleaning systems are limited in their ability to deploy high-pressure fluid for obstruction removal and combine imaging with fluid jetting, lacking effective solutions for clearing obstructions and visualizing pipe interiors simultaneously.
Innovation Solution
A push-cable system equipped with a camera assembly, light sources, and a jetter nozzle that uses pressurized fluid to clear obstructions, featuring interchangeable nozzles, cutting elements, and automatic/manual control for imaging and fluid direction, allowing for visualization and obstruction removal within pipes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If current pipe clearing systems are used, then they can remove obstructions, but they are limited in their ability to deploy high pressure fluid and combine imaging with fluid jetting
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines a camera assembly with a jetter push-cable system into a single integrated device. The camera assembly includes a camera head, light sources, and a waterproof housing that can be deployed through the same push-cable mechanism used for fluid jetting. This merging allows simultaneous imaging and obstruction clearing operations, enabling operators to visualize pipe interiors while removing blockages, thereby resolving the limitation of current systems that cannot effectively combine these functions.
2Loss of information
If a camera assembly is mounted on a push-cable, then visualization of pipe interior is improved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The push-cable system is designed with universal multi-functionality, serving both as a deployment mechanism for the camera assembly and as a conduit for high-pressure fluid jetting. The camera assembly itself is a multi-functional unit that provides both imaging and illumination. This universal design reduces the need for separate specialized equipment, thereby improving visibility without proportionally increasing system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The camera assembly is nested within the push-cable system architecture. The camera head and associated components are housed within a compact waterproof enclosure that integrates with the push-cable mechanism. This nested configuration allows the camera system to be deployed through the same pathway as the jetting function, minimizing additional structural complexity while maximizing visualization capability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If interchangeable nozzles and cutting elements are added to the push-cable, then adaptability for varied applications is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The jetter nozzle is designed with dynamic adjustability, allowing operators to change nozzle orientation and fluid flow characteristics during operation. The nozzle can be rotated and repositioned to target obstructions from different angles, and the fluid flow rate and pressure can be adjusted to match different obstruction types. This dynamic capability provides application versatility without requiring multiple fixed-configuration nozzles, thereby managing device complexity while enhancing adaptability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables effective visualization and removal of pipe obstructions using pressurized fluid jetting while providing clear images of the pipe interior, improving the efficiency of pipe inspection and cleaning processes.
Implementation Method 1
a jetter nozzle coupled to a distal end of the push-cable structure, and configured to control a flow of the pressurized fluid from the distal end of the push-cable
Implementation Method 2
a camera assembly having one or more camera and/or light source elements may be mounted on a segment of a push-cable to observe a work area
Data Source
AI summary
Pipe inspection systems including a push-cable, jetter, and camera assembly are disclosed. A jetter nozzle may be configured to spin and/or propel the camera head within a pipe or other cavity. A cutter line may be attached to the camera head to clean obstructions. A sonde may be coupled to a camera head to generate magnetic field signals for use with a buried utility locator to locate a pipe or other cavity into which the camera head is deployed.