Pipeline Endoscope Probe With Upright Image Orientation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing pipeline endoscope probes rotate within pipelines, causing flipped images that make it difficult to determine specific locations of welds, corrosion, blockages, and foreign objects, hindering intuitive understanding of the pipeline environment.

Innovation Solution

A pipeline endoscope probe with an angle detecting or adjusting element, such as an eccentric member, ensures the image capturing device maintains an upright angle, using sensors or gravity to stabilize the image orientation and enhance visibility.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the pipeline endoscope probe rotates along with guide wires during insertion, then the probe can be inserted into the pipeline, but the images captured become flipped and difficult to interpret

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimage interpretabilityVSAvoidprobe structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the lens assembly rotatable relative to the probe body through an eccentric mechanism. The lens can dynamically adjust its orientation to maintain an upright capturing angle even when the probe rotates during insertion, thereby keeping images interpretable without overcomplicating the overall probe structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses an eccentric member as an intermediary between the probe body and the lens assembly. This intermediary component enables the lens to rotate independently from the probe body, allowing image orientation adjustment without requiring complex mechanisms in the main probe structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If an angle detecting or adjusting element is added to maintain upright image capture, then image orientation is stabilized, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimage capturing angle accuracyVSAvoidprobe structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex mechanical angle detection and adjustment systems with a simpler eccentric rotation mechanism. The eccentric member naturally provides angular adjustment through its offset geometry, eliminating the need for sophisticated mechanical sensors and actuators while maintaining accurate image capturing angles.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the rotational parameter of the lens assembly relative to the probe body. By allowing the lens to rotate independently through the eccentric mechanism, the system adjusts the capturing angle parameter to maintain upright images without requiring complex control systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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

The solution allows for stable, upright image capture, facilitating better understanding of the pipeline interior conditions, improving user judgment and convenience in maintenance and troubleshooting.

Implementation Method 1

the angle detecting sensor is disposed on the image capturing device and configured to detect the image capturing angle of the image capturing device and obtain an angle detecting signal

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Implementation Method 2

the image capturing device is coaxial with the eccentric member and rotates around an axis of the image capturing device under action of the eccentric member

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentEP4592714A1Pipeline endoscope probe and pipeline endoscope assembly
Publication Date: 2025.07.30 SHENZHEN ANDELIAN TECH CO LTD
  • EP4592714A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4592714A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4592714A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A pipeline endoscope probe includes a housing, an image capturing device and a lighting device. The pipeline endoscope assembly includes a display and a pipeline endoscope probe. The pipeline endoscope probe includes: a housing (10), defining an accommodating chamber (11) and an image capturing window (12) communicated with the accommodating chamber (11); an image capturing device (30), wherein the image capturing device (30) is arranged in the accommodating chamber (11) and the image capturing device (30) is oriented towards the image capturing window (12); and an angle detecting or adjusting element, configured to detect or adjust an image capturing angle of the image capturing device (30), so as to control images displayed by the display (15) communicated with the image capturing device (30) maintain an upright angle.