Method and apparatus for well bore illumination and inspection
An assembly ( 100 ) for the illumination of a wellbore, pipeline, tank, vessel or other environment wherein light is diffused and transmitted through an optically transparent material and projected in and around a field of view of a camera lens ( 10 ). A light source is disposed within a cavity at the proximal end ( 102 ) of a cylindrical shaped, optically transparent material. Light from the source is received into the transparent material, diffused, and transmitted to the distal end of the light tube ( 30 ), where it is projected in front of and around a field of view of a camera. Control of light intensity may be variable, pre-set before operations, or fixed by component design.
1. An apparatus for acquiring visual images in a well or other confined environment comprising:
(a) a light source;
(b) a tube adapted to transmit light having a first end, a second end and a central bore;
(c) a camera having a field of view, wherein said camera is disposed in said central bore of said tube and said field of view is oriented toward said second end of said tube; and
(d) an optical barrier member disposed between said tube and said light source, wherein said optical barrier member is adapted to transmit light without deforming in response to increase in temperature or pressure.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a heat sink.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said optical barrier member is at least partially constructed of sapphire.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said light tube has a curved surface at said second end.
5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein said curved surface has a substantially convex shape.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said light tube has a substantially flat surface at said distal end.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said light source comprises at least one light emitting diode.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said camera is disposed within a fluid pressure sealed housing.
9. An apparatus for acquiring visual images in a well or other confined environment comprising:
(a) a housing having a proximate end, a distal end and an inner space between said proximate and said distal end;
(b) a light source disposed within said inner space of said housing;
(c) a tube at least partially constructed of polycarbonate material adapted to transmit light having a first end, a second end and a central bore, wherein said first end is disposed in said inner space of said housing, and said second end extends out of the distal end of said housing;
(d) a camera having a field of view, wherein said camera is disposed in said central bore of said tube and said field of view is oriented toward said second end of said tube; and
(e) an optical barrier member disposed within said inner space of said housing between said tube and said light source, wherein said optical barrier member is adapted to transmit light without deforming in response to increase in temperature or pressure.
10. The apparatus of claim 9 , further comprising a heat sink.
11. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein said optical barrier member is at least partially constructed of sapphire.
12. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein said light tube has a curved surface at said second end.
13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein said curved surface has a substantially convex shape.
14. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein said light source comprises at least one light emitting diode.
15. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein said camera is disposed within a fluid pressure sealed housing.
16. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein said light tube and pressure sealed housing are tapered, and said light tube and pressure sealed housing each have a greater outer diameter at their distal end than their proximate end.
17. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein said housing is tapered, having a smaller inner diameter at its distal end than its proximate end.