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:
Feb. 24, 1987
Filed:
Aug. 17, 1984
Shinji Sonoda, Hitachi, JP;
Norihiko Ozaki, Mito, JP;
Seishi Watahiki, Katsuta, JP;
Yasuzi Sakuma, Hitachi, JP;
Masayoshi Yamaguchi, Hitachi, JP;
Hitachi, Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A moving apparatus for moving a moving member within a hollow curved pipe arrangement and method of performing operations within the pipe arrangement by using the apparatus, with the apparatus including a long moving member made of a material having an elasticity and a moderate degree of flexibility, a supporting device for continuously winding the moving member therearound and for supporting the same, and a prime mover connected to the supporting device, through a rotating shaft, so as to supply an electric power to the supporting device at the time of winding the moving member, whereby an elastic strain energy is stored in the moving member by rotating the supporting device by the prime mover and winding the moving member around the same, and, while the elastic strain energy thus stored is continuously released, the moving member is allowed continuously to move within the pipe arrangement. The operations performed include drawing a wire into the pipe arrangement, and inspecting the interior of the pipe arrangement by providing an inspection device on a tip end of the moving member of the moving apparatus and performing continuous inspecting operations within the pipe arrangement while the moving member is moved within the pipe arrangement.