Patent Document ID: 4429329
Application ID: 06319529
Patent Status: 1

Claim One:
1. A system for the remote visual inspection of a structure including an upwardly extending primary vessel surrounded externally by an upwardly extending guard vessel, said vessels being spaced apart and defining an annulus therebetween, said system comprising; guide means located about an upper periphery of one of said vessels; a pair of motor-driven, diametrically opposed trolleys located on said guide means; means for driving said trolleys during operation of the system and maintaining said trolleys in diametrically opposed positions; an elongated flexible track member extending downwardly through said annulus from one of said trolleys and back up the annulus to the other of said trolleys, said track member having one end attached to one of said trolleys and another end attached to the other of said trolleys, said track member further including an elongated engagement means extending from one of said ends to the other of said ends; at least one carriage located on said track member, said carriage including a drive motor and means for connecting said drive motor to said engagement means for driving said carriage up and down said track member; a camera located on said carriage and directed towards a portion of at least one of said vessels; means for illuminating the portion of the vessel at which the camera is directed; means for providing power to the drive motor and camera and for transmitting signals from the camera; and display means for receiving signals transmitted from the camera to permit viewing of the portion of the vessel at which the camera is directed.