Apparatus and method for inspecting the inner surface of a tubular structure for contamination

1. An apparatus for inspecting the inner surface of a tubular structure for contamination, comprising:

an emitter disposed proximate a first end of the tubular structure and configured to emit a light beam directed onto the inner surface of the tubular structure at a predetermined glancing angle such that the light beam repeatedly reflects off of the inner surface of the tubular structure along the length thereof;

a receiver disposed proximate a second end of the tubular structure opposite said first end, and configured to receive the reflected light beam;

an evaluation unit electrically connected to said receiver; and

an indicator electrically connected to said evaluation unit;

wherein said evaluation unit is configured to:

measure a value of the reflectance of the reflected light beam received by said receiver;

define a parameter value using said measured value;

compare said parameter value with a predetermined threshold value;

determine, based on said comparison, the extent to which the inner surface of the tubular structure is contaminated; and

control said indicator to display an indication representative of the contamination of the inner surface of the tubular structure based on said determination.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said parameter value comprises one of said measured value, and a scaled value of said measured value based on a predetermined scale.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said evaluation unit is configured to control said indicator to display said indication if the inner surface of the tubular structure is determined to be unacceptably contaminated.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said evaluation unit comprises a sensor electrically connected to said receiver and configured to:

measure said value of the reflectance of the reflected light beam received by said receiver;

define said parameter value using said measured value;

compare said parameter and predetermined threshold values;

determine, based on said comparison, the extent to which the inner surface of the tubular structure is contaminated; and

control said indicator to display said indication.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said evaluation unit comprises a sensor electrically connected to said receiver, and a control unit electrically connected to said receiver and said indicator.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein:

said sensor is configured to:

measure said value of the reflectance of the reflected light beam received by said receiver;

define said parameter value using said measured value;

compare said parameter and predetermined threshold values;

determine, based on said comparison, the extent to which the inner surface of the tubular structure is contaminated; and

generate an electrical signal representative of said determination and transmit said electrical signal to said control unit; and

said control unit is configured to:

receive said electrical signal generated by said sensor; and

control said indicator to display said indication in response to said electrical signal.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein:

said sensor is configured to:

measure said value of the reflectance of the reflected light beam received by said receiver; and

generate an electrical signal representative of said measured value and transmit said electrical signal to said control unit; and

said control unit is configured to:

receive said electrical signal generated by said sensor;

define said parameter value using said measured value;

compare said parameter and predetermined threshold values;

determine, based on said comparison, the extent to which the inner surface of the tubular structure is contaminated; and

control said indicator to display said indication based on said determination.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said receiver is integrated with said evaluation unit.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said emitter is electrically connected to said evaluation unit, and said evaluation unit is configured to exercise a measure of control over said emitter.

10. An apparatus for inspecting the inner surface of a tubular structure for contamination, comprising:

an emitter disposed proximate a first end of the tubular structure and configured to emit a light beam directed onto the inner surface of the tubular structure at a predetermined glancing angle such that the light beam repeatedly reflects off of the inner surface of the tubular structure along the length thereof;

a receiver disposed proximate a second end of the tubular structure opposite said first end and configured to receive the reflected light beam;

a sensor electrically connected to said receiver and configured to measure a value of the reflectance of the reflected light beam received by said receiver;

a control unit electrically connected to said sensor; and

an indicator electrically connected to said control unit;

wherein one of said sensor and said control unit is configured to:

define a parameter value using said measured value;

compare said parameter value with a predetermined threshold value; and

determine, based on said comparison, the extent to which the inner surface of the tubular structure is contaminated; and

said control unit is configured to control said indicator to display an indication representative of the contamination of the inner surface of the tubular structure based on said determination.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein said parameter value comprises one of said measured value, and a scaled value of said measured value based on a predetermined scale, and said threshold value is a scaled threshold value based on said predetermined scale.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein:

said sensor is configured to compare said parameter and threshold values and to determine the extent to which the inner surface of the tubular structure is contaminated based on said comparison, said sensor further configured to generate an electrical signal representative of said determination; and

said control unit is configured to receive said electrical signal generated by said sensor and to control said indicator to display said indication in response thereto.

13. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein said sensor is configured to generate an electrical signal representative of said measured value, and further wherein said control unit is configured to:

receive said electrical signal generated by said sensor;

define said parameter value using said measured value;

compare said parameter and predetermined threshold values; and

determine, based on said comparison, the extent to which the inner surface of the tubular structure is contaminated.

14. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said control unit is configured to control said indicator to display said indication if the inner surface of the tubular structure is determined to be unacceptably contaminated.

15. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein said sensor is integrated with said receiver.

16. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein said emitter is electrically connected to one of said sensor and said control unit, and said one of said sensor and said control unit is configured to exercise a measure of control said emitter.

17. A method of inspecting the inner surface of a tubular structure, comprising the steps of:

emitting a light beam directed onto the inner surface of the tubular structure at a first end thereof, wherein the light beam is directed at a predetermined glancing angle such that said light beam repeatedly reflects off of the inner surface of the tubular structure along the length thereof;

receiving the reflected light beam at a second end of the tubular structure opposite the first end thereof;

measuring a value of the reflectance of the received reflected light beam;

defining a parameter value using said measured value;

comparing, using an evaluation unit, said parameter value with a predetermined threshold value;

determining, using the evaluation unit, based on said comparison, the extent to which the inner surface of the tubular structure is contaminated; and

displaying, using an indicator, an indication representative of the contamination of the inner surface of the tubular structure based on said determination.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein said parameter value comprises one of said measured value, and a scaled value of said measured value based on a predetermined scale.

19. The method of claim 17 , wherein said displaying step comprises displaying the indication if the inner surface of the tubular structure is determined to be unacceptably contaminated.

20. The method of claim 17 further comprising the step of generating an electrical signal representative of said determination, and said displaying step comprises displaying said indication in response to said electrical signal.