Inspection system push-cable guide apparatus
Cable storage drum-reel and cable guide apparatus, methods, and systems are provided for deploying and retracting at least one push-cable with a distally mounted camera into and out of a pipe or cavity for applications such as plumbing and underground utility location. In an exemplary embodiment, a cable guide assembly may include a bracket, and one or more wear guides positioned with openings in the bracket. The one or more wear guides may include two spaced-apart wear guides each having an opening defining an inner diameter. In one embodiment, the spacing between the two wear guides may be a distance of three or more times the inner diameter of the wear guides.
1. A cable guide assembly for use in a video inspection system, comprising:
a bracket; and
one or more non-rotating wear guides positioned within openings in the bracket.
2. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the one or more wear guides comprise two spaced-apart wear guides.
3. The assembly of claim 2 , wherein the two spaced apart wear guides have an opening defining an inner diameter and are spaced-apart a distance of three or more times the inner diameter.
4. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the wear guides have an hourglass or hyperbolic shaped cross-section.
5. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the wear guides have an inward-tapering cross-section having a larger diameter at an entry side than at an exit side.
6. The assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a latching mechanism to lock or unlock a push-cable to one or more of the wear guides.
7. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the wear guide comprises a metal.
8. The assembly of claim 7 , wherein the metal is a coiled wire wound with an hourglass or hyperbolic cross sectional shape.
9. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the wear guide comprises a plastic or ceramic material.
10. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the one or more wear guides comprise two wear guides, the two wear guides comprise a wound metal wire having an hourglass or hyperbolic cross-sectional shape, the bracket comprises a plastic material, and further comprising a latching mechanism disposed on the bracket or wear guide to lock the bracket and/or wear guide to a push-cable or push-cable spring.
11. A video pipe inspection system, comprising:
a push-cable;
a push-cable reel or drum assembly;
a camera head operatively coupled to a distal end of the push-cable;
a push-cable spring positioned at or near the distal end of the push-cable;
a frame; and
cable guide assembly attached to the frame, including:
a bracket; and
one or more non-rotating wear guides positioned within openings in the bracket.
12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the one or more wear guides comprise two wear guides, the two wear guides comprise a wound metal wire having an hourglass or hyperbolic cross-sectional shape, and the bracket comprises a plastic material.
13. The system of claim 12 , further comprising a latching mechanism disposed on the bracket or wear guide to lock the bracket and/or wear guide to a push-cable or push-cable spring.
14. The system of claim 11 , wherein the one or more wear guides comprise two spaced-apart wear guides.
15. The system of claim 12 , wherein the two spaced apart wear guides have an opening defining an inner diameter and are spaced-apart a distance of three or more times the inner diameter.
16. The system of claim 11 , wherein the wear guides have an inward-tapering cross-section having a larger diameter at an entry side than at an exit side.
17. The system of claim 11 , further comprising a latching mechanism to lock or unlock a push-cable to one or more of the wear guides.
18. The system of claim 11 , wherein the wear guide comprises a metal.
19. The system of claim 11 , wherein the wear guide comprises a plastic or ceramic material.
20. The system of claim 11 , wherein the wear guides have an hourglass or hyperbolic shaped cross-section.