Wireless Borehole Inspection System with Self-Cleaning Sensors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current borehole inspection systems are inefficient and costly due to the need for manual cleaning of debris and require skilled operators to assess the quality, shape, and verticality of boreholes, which increases labor and time, especially when dealing with deep excavations filled with loose or disturbed soil.
Innovation Solution
A wireless borehole inspection system with a self-contained sensor arrangement that can be deployed quickly, featuring circumferentially spaced sensors and depth measurement systems, allowing for simultaneous data collection without the need for rotation or extensive wiring, and capable of operating independently or in conjunction with existing drilling equipment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual cleaning of debris is performed, then borehole inspection can be conducted, but labor costs and time increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The inspection device performs cleaning action while inspecting. The device includes a cleaning mechanism that removes debris from the borehole bottom and walls during the inspection process, eliminating the need for separate manual cleaning operations and reducing overall inspection time.
Solution Approach 2:
The inspection device is self-sufficient and performs both inspection and cleaning functions without requiring external manual intervention. The device autonomously navigates the borehole, captures images, and removes debris using its integrated cleaning mechanisms.
2Measurement precision
If skilled operators are used to assess borehole quality, then measurement precision is improved, but labor costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual skilled assessment with an automated inspection system. The device uses electronic sensors, cameras, and computer processing to objectively measure borehole characteristics such as verticality, shape, and debris presence, eliminating the need for skilled manual operators while maintaining or improving measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates digital copies of the borehole environment through cameras and sensors. These digital representations are then analyzed by computer systems to assess borehole quality, replacing the need for skilled human operators to physically interpret the borehole conditions.
3Loss of information
If extensive wiring is used for data collection, then data accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces physical wiring with wireless communication technology. The inspection device uses wireless transmitters and receivers to transmit data between the borehole and the surface, eliminating the need for extensive physical wiring while maintaining data accuracy and communication reliability.
Data Source
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AI summary
An inspection system to measure the condition of at least the wall of a ground opening, such as a borehole opening, an excavation, and a slurry wall, the inspection system comprising a head unit configured to be lowered into an associated borehole and having a lowering mount configured to be operably and selectively joined to an associated lowering unit to facilitate the lowering of the head unit into the associated borehole during a data collection phase, the data collection phase including at least one of a lowering phase wherein the head unit is lowered in the associated borehole toward an associated bottom extent of the borehole by the associated lowering unit and a raising phase wherein the head unit is raised in the associated borehole away from the associated bottom extent, at least one set of test data being collected concerning one or more physical characteristics of the associated borehole during the data collection phase, the head unit comprising an internal measurement system and a sensor arrangement having a plurality of sensors facing radially outwardly of a head axis that is generally parallel to at least a portion of the an associated borehole axis, the plurality of sensors allowing the head unit to be moved during the data collection phase without rotation about the head axis, the plurality of sensors at least partially producing the at least one set of test data collected during the data collection phase.