Patent ID: 7715701
Filing Date: 2010-05-11
Classification: G03B

Abstract:
1. A remote camera system normally being deployable in field use for examining the interior of pipe systems carrying liquid and gaseous fluids or a mixture of such fluids, semi-solids and solids that may be mixed with such fluids as are usually found in sewer systems, said camera system comprising: a carrier having a reel rotatably mounted thereon; a push rod assembly having first and second ends and further comprising″ electrical wires capable of sending electrical power and operational signals therethrough, a laterally flexible push rod forming a hard core and extending therethrough; an impervious cover for said push rod assembly; a control system mounted on said carrier and operatively attached to said push rod assembly first end, and a source of electrical power for and selectively connected to and disconnected from said control system; and a special video camera assembly having a camera body operatively attached to said push rod second end and to said electrical wires of said push rod assembly; said push rod assembly first end also being operatively physically connected to said reel so that, when said reel is rotated in one direction, said push rod assembly is selectively pulled toward a wound-up position on said reel; and when said reel is rotated in the opposite direction said push rod assembly is pushed toward a selected unwound position off of said reel from its said wound-on position on said reel as said camera examines the internal condition of the pipe system then containing said camera, said push rod assembly being thereafter selectively wound onto said reel to a desired extent for storage or just shortening the unwound length of said push rod assembly, positioning said reel and thus said push rod assembly to the extent needed for deployment in said field use or for repair to one or more parts of said remote camera system; and first and second disconnectable and reconnectable connections respectively operatively joining said push rod assembly first end to said control system and operatively joining said push rod assembly second end to said video camera assembly, each of said connections being independently disconnected as needed for deployment in field use as well as for repair of one or more parts of said remote camera system; at times a part of said push rod assembly having at least one damaged area intermediate said push rod assembly first and second ends which has been removed, leaving separated temporary ends of said push rod hard core and said electrical wires, and at least one splice installed that is substituted for said removed at least one damaged area of said push rod assembly, each splice of said at least one splice properly connecting said push rod hard core and said electrical wires; said at least one splice including a splice fitting having a length through which a center hole extends through which said separated parts of said push rod hard core have ends extending therein and epoxied to said splice fitting, and arcuately separated and lengthwise-extending push rod splice fitting recesses through which said temporarily separated electrical wires are rejoined and extend, said splice being completed by epoxying said rejoined electrical wires, said epoxied electrical wires aid said push rod hard core, after which said splice fitting is covered by a suitable material that bonds with said push rod assembly cover and seals said splice against any contamination.