The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 31, 1984
Filed:
Nov. 09, 1981
Donald D Clemens, Thousand Oaks, CA (US);
Elmer M Larson, Jr, Woodland Hills, CA (US);
William T Morgan, Chatsworth, CA (US);
Oliver P Steele, III, Canoga Park, CA (US);
Fred R Wright, Simi, CA (US);
Electric Power Research Institute, Inc., Palo Alto, CA (US);
Abstract
A system for the remote visual inspection of a structure including two vessels, one disposed within the otherand defining an annulus therebetween. A guide member is provided circumferentially about an upper periphery of the two vessels. Mounted on the guide member are two motor-driven, diametrically opposed trolleys which support a flexible track member which extends downwardly through the annulus from one of the trolleys and back up the other side of the annulus to the other trolley. At least one motor-driven carrige is mounted on the track member and carries a camera and light source. By appropriate positioning of the trolleys and the carriage, all the surfaces of the vessels defining the annulus are accessible for visual inspection by the camera. In accordance with a particular preferred embodiment, markers are placed at preselected points in the annulus on one of the vessels to permit verification of the location of the camera and carriage. Advantageously, the markers are in the form of a preselected pattern to provide verification of the clarity of the image being transmitted by the camera. In accordance with another preferred embodiment, the system further includes means for recording signals received from the camera and simultaneously recording the position of the camera.