Patent ID: 6512536
Filing Date: 2003-01-28
Classification: G01B,G01N,H04N

Abstract:
An apparatus for systematically inspecting an outer circumferential surface of a generally linear extending cable or line during movement of the apparatus in a direction parallel to the generally linear cable or line to be inspected, comprising:a) a frame enclosing at least a portion of the cable or line to be inspected; b) a video camera mounted on said frame for generating a video image of the cable or line to be inspected, said camera including a lens: c) a mirror assembly mounted on said frame and including at least first and second mirrors, jointly positioned for projecting a plurality of side-by-side images of the cable or line to be inspected on said camera lens, with each of said images being of a different portion of the outer circumference of the cable or line to be inspected, thereby providing said camera lens with views of the entire outer circumference of the cable or line to be inspected including those portions of the circumference facing away from said camera lens; and d) a drive system for systematically driving said frame along a length of the outer circumference of the cable or line to be inspected as said video camera generates images thereof, said drive system including means for releasably mounting said frame on the cable or line to be inspected.