Snap-On Pipe Guide Assembly for Debris-Free Camera Inspection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pipe inspection systems face difficulties in navigating small diameter pipes with sharp turns and internal joints, and existing pipe guides are complex and difficult to assemble and attach, leading to increased time and cost for inspection.
Innovation Solution
A snap-on pipe guide system comprising cylindrical shells with radially extending vanes and a coil spring, featuring slide-locks and tab arms that facilitate easy assembly and locking onto the coil spring of a push-cable system, ensuring stable and secure positioning of the camera head.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing pipe guides are used to keep the camera head above the bottom of the pipe, then the camera head is protected from fouling with sludge, water, or debris, but the pipe guides require intricate assembly and are awkward or difficult to attach to the inspection system
Solution Approach 1:
The pipe guide is divided into two separate shell halves that can be assembled around the camera head and push-cable assembly. This segmentation allows the guide to be attached to the inspection system in a straightforward manner without requiring disassembly of the camera head or complex manipulation, directly addressing the ease of operation issue while maintaining the protective function
Solution Approach 2:
The two shell halves are designed to be pre-assembled around the camera head and push-cable before insertion into the pipe. This preliminary assembly action simplifies the field operation by eliminating the need for intricate on-site assembly, allowing inspectors to simply attach the pre-assembled guide to the inspection system
2Measurement precision
If a pipe inspection camera is jammed a significant distance down a pipe for inspection, then thorough inspection can be performed, but the camera head becomes difficult to un-lodge, adding time and cost to the inspection
Solution Approach 1:
The pipe guide incorporates a flexible coil spring that can dynamically adjust its compression and expansion. When the camera encounters resistance or becomes lodged, the spring can compress to allow the camera to advance further, then expand to provide a gentle pulling force that may help free the camera without requiring forceful retrieval operations that add time and risk damage
3Stability of the object's composition
If pipe guides with multiple parts are used to maintain camera head positioning, then the camera head remains elevated above debris, but the intricate assembly increases device complexity and inspection cost
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple functional elements are merged into an integrated pipe guide assembly: the two shell halves form the protective structure, the coil spring provides positioning and shock absorption, and the tab arms with slide-locks provide secure attachment to the push-cable. This merging reduces the number of separate components that need to be handled and assembled, directly reducing device complexity while maintaining stable camera head positioning
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 snap-on pipe guide system simplifies assembly and attachment, reduces inspection time, and maintains the camera head above debris, enhancing inspection efficiency and reducing the risk of fouling or breakage.
Implementation Method 1
a coil spring, featuring slide-locks and tab arms that facilitate easy assembly and locking onto the coil spring of a push-cable system
Data Source
AI summary
A video pipe inspection system may include a push-cable, camera head, and pipe guide having a pair of cylindrical shells, with each shell having a plurality of radially extending circumferentially spaced vanes and structure for holding the shells together when the shells are axially mated end-to-end. A pair of curved tab arms may extend circumferentially about corresponding ones of the cylindrical shells. A pair of slide-locks may be configured to slide over corresponding ones of the tab arms to move them into a locking position in which keys on the tab arms extend between adjacent coils of a coil spring surrounded by the shells.