Removable Cable Storage Drum for Pipe Inspection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional pipe inspection systems are heavy, unwieldy, and difficult to portably store due to large, semi-rigid push-cables and proprietary designs, limiting their ability to navigate tight turns and small-bore passages, and require complex and cumbersome storage drums.
Innovation Solution
A pipe inspection system featuring a removable and replaceable cable storage drum with a flexible push-cable and a separable slip-ring assembly, allowing for easy swapping of cables and cameras, and compatibility with various hand-held display devices, enhancing portability and adaptability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a conventional semi-rigid push-cable is used to force the camera head down the pipe, then the system can maintain structural integrity and electrical connections, but the system becomes heavy and unwieldy, limiting portability and the ability to navigate tight turns
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the cable into two distinct components: a flexible push-cable for navigating tight turns and a separate pull-cable for structural support and electrical connections. This segmentation allows each cable to be optimized for its specific function, with the push-cable being lightweight and flexible for portability while the pull-cable provides the necessary structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a reel assembly as an intermediary mechanism that manages both the push-cable and pull-cable. The reel assembly with its ratchet mechanism allows the push-cable to be paid out and retrieved independently, while the pull-cable remains taut to provide structural support. This intermediary structure enables the flexible push-cable to navigate tight turns without compromising overall system strength.
2Quantity of substance
If a large storage drum is used to store hundreds of feet of semi-rigid push-cable, then the cable can be stored adequately, but the system becomes difficult to portably store and the drum is difficult to remove and clean
Solution Approach 1:
The storage system is segmented into a removable reel assembly that can be detached from the housing. This allows the reel to be easily removed for cleaning or replacement without moving the entire housing, and the housing itself can be stored separately. The reel assembly is designed to be compact when not in use, improving overall portability while maintaining adequate cable storage capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The reel assembly incorporates a ratchet mechanism that allows dynamic adjustment of cable tension and payout. The reel can be rotated to pay out the push-cable during inspection, then rotated in reverse to rewind the cable for storage. This dynamic mechanism enables efficient use of storage space while maintaining cable functionality throughout the inspection process.
3Reliability
If a proprietary inspection camera and connection system are used, then the system can be optimized for specific applications, but the system becomes difficult to adapt to different pipe diameters and configurations
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs universal connectors and mounting mechanisms that allow different camera heads to be attached to the same push-cable assembly. The standardized connection interfaces enable interchangeability of camera units, allowing the system to adapt to various pipe diameters and inspection requirements without requiring proprietary dedicated equipment for each application.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows for changing key parameters such as camera head size, cable length, and reel capacity based on the specific inspection requirements. By making these parameters adjustable rather than fixed, the system can be optimized for different pipe configurations while maintaining a common platform, thus achieving both reliability for specific applications and versatility across different scenarios.
4Device complexity
If the storage drum is integrated into the housing, then the system structure is simplified, but the drum becomes difficult to remove for cleaning and maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The reel assembly is segmented as a separate, removable component from the housing rather than being permanently integrated. This segmentation is achieved through removable mounting features that allow the reel to be detached easily. The structural connection is simplified through standardized mounting points, maintaining structural simplicity while enabling easy removal for cleaning and maintenance purposes.
Data Source
AI summary
A pipe inspection system includes a cable storage drum and a housing configured to removably receive and rotatably support the cable storage drum. A push-cable with a plurality of conductors is stored in the cable storage drum. A camera head is connected to a distal end of the push-cable. A slip-ring assembly has first and second mating portions that when mated provide conductive paths between the plurality of conductors at a proximal end of the push-capable and a display device. The first portion of the slip-ring assembly is mounted on the housing and the second portion of the slip-ring assembly is mounted on the removable cable storage drum. The system connection cable joining the inspection system with a display unit is removable and may be replaced with cables compatible with various alternate image display systems.