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:
May. 08, 2001
Filed:
Jul. 14, 1998
Dale R. Miller, II, Middleburg Heights, OH (US);
Robert D. Chambers, Richfield, OH (US);
Fosbel International Limited, , GB;
Abstract
A monitoring system for a furnace, such as one in which ceramic welding is practiced, where the temperature often exceeds 2000° F., allows substantially distortion-free, real time, monitoring. In order to monitor the furnace, a fluid cooled lance designed to be held by an operator outside the furnace has a camera (e.g. microcamera, endoscope or boroscope) mounted at the free end of the lance. An electrical connection is provided between the camera and a portable control unit mounted exteriorly of the furnace. A stationary video monitor and recorder may be mounted in the control unit, and a portable real time video monitor is mounted on the operator's headgear so that it may be seen by the operator when manipulating the lance. The lance is cooled by a water jacket having an inlet and outlet at the end of the lance exterior of the furnace, and the water jacket substantially surrounds the camera. The camera is mounted in a waterproof metal casing and the cord is covered by an aramid reinforced covering adjacent the camera. A second, sapphire, lens protects the camera lens from radiant heat, and air under pressure also helps cool the camera.