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. 14, 1997
Filed:
Jun. 05, 1995
Hiroaki Kobayashi, Hitachinaka, JP;
Hiroshi Igarashi, Hitachinaka, JP;
Junichi Adachi, Kashiwa, JP;
Shinichi Usui, Tokyo-To, JP;
Shunji Yoshizawa, Yokohama, JP;
Hirotaka Uehara, Noda, JP;
Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Hyogo-Ken, JP;
Doryokuro Kakunenryo Kaihatsu Jigyodan, Tokyo-To, JP;
Abstract
A machine for inspecting the surface conditions of structural members within a furnace, particularly within a furnace operating at a high temperature or with a highly radioactive environment, such as a melting furnace for processing radioactive wastes. The machine comprises a laser-transmission optical fiber incorporated with a laser projector at one end thereof inserted into the furnace and being connected to a laser beam source outside the furnace; a fiberscope incorporated with the objective portion at one end thereof inserted into the furnace and being connected to an image sensor located outside the furnace; means for calculating the distance to a structural wall surface on which the laser beam from a tip portion of the inspection machine has fallen, by subjecting an image from the image sensor to image processing; a double-walled tube of a structure such that the laser-transmission optical fiber is incorporated through an inner tube thereof, and a coolant introduced into a passageway within the inner tube returns in the vicinity of the laser projector at the tip portion; and a double-walled tube of a structure such that the fiberscope is incorporated through an inner tube thereof, and a coolant introduced into a passageway within the inner tube returns in the vicinity of the objective portion at the tip portion.