Abstract: Inspection assemblies that include one or more sideview cameras for capturing images of an interior surface of a pipe or conduit include an elongate housing, a sideview camera within the housing and arranged to capture an image of a region within a field of view external to the housing, and a viewport element mounted in the housing and located such that light is transmitted through the viewport element and into said sideview camera, wherein the viewport element has a concave internal surface, closer to the camera, and a convex external surface, further from the camera, and wherein the centre of the radius of curvature of the internal surface is closer to the viewport element than the centre of the radius of curvature of the external surface.

Abstract: The field of inspection assemblies and in particular to inspection assemblies that include light sources for illuminating a field of view of a camera including an elongate housing having a longitudinal axis, a camera mounted in the housing and arranged to capture an image of a region within a field of view external to the housing, a light source mounted in the housing and arranged to illuminate the field of view, and a window element mounted in the housing, the window element comprising a light transmitting material and being located such that light emitted by the light source passes through the window element before illuminating the field of view. The window element has an internal surface, closer to the light source, and an external surface, further from the light source, and the external surface comprises a concave region.

Abstract: Inspection assemblies that include one or more sideview cameras for capturing images of an interior surface of a pipe or conduit include an elongate housing, a sideview camera within the housing and arranged to capture an image of a region within a field of view external to the housing, and a viewport element mounted in the housing and located such that light is transmitted through the viewport element and into said sideview camera, wherein the viewport element is diffusion bonded to a metal support.

Abstract: An optical cap that protects a camera lens of the inspection assembly is disclosed herein. The disclosed optical cap for an inspection assembly may include an optically clear dome-shaped window element and a metal collar attached to the window element, the collar including means for securing the optical cap to said inspection assembly, wherein the collar is bonded to the window element by means of brazing or welding.

Abstract: This invention relates to an inspection assembly comprising a light source and a lens. In particular this invention relates to the provision of a reflection surface for improving the illumination of a field of view of a wide angle camera. An inspection assembly comprises a main body having a longitudinal axis and a distal end; a lens located at the distal end; a light source positioned to illuminate an area beyond the distal end of the main body; and a reflection surface, an angle between the reflection surface and the longitudinal axis of the main body being between 10° and 70°, wherein the reflection surface is positioned such that, in use, a first fraction of the light emitted by the light source is reflected by the reflection surface and a second fraction of the light emitted by the light source travels to an area beyond the distal end of the main body without being reflected by said surface.

Abstract: The field of inspection assemblies and in particular to inspection assemblies that include light sources for illuminating a field of view of a camera including an elongate housing having a longitudinal axis, a camera mounted in the housing and arranged to capture an image of a region within a field of view external to the housing, a light source mounted in the housing and arranged to illuminate the field of view, and a window element mounted in the housing, the window element comprising a light transmitting material and being located such that light emitted by the light source passes through the window element before illuminating the field of view. The window element has an internal surface, closer to the light source, and an external surface, further from the light source, and the external surface comprises a concave region.

Abstract: Inspection assemblies that include one or more sideview cameras for capturing images of an interior surface of a pipe or conduit include an elongate housing, a sideview camera within the housing and arranged to capture an image of a region within a field of view external to the housing, and a viewport element mounted in the housing and located such that light is transmitted through the viewport element and into said sideview camera, wherein the viewport element has a concave internal surface, closer to the camera, and a convex external surface, further from the camera, and wherein the centre of the radius of curvature of the internal surface is closer to the viewport element than the centre of the radius of curvature of the external surface.

Abstract: Inspection assemblies that include one or more sideview cameras for capturing images of an interior surface of a pipe or conduit include an elongate housing, a sideview camera within the housing and arranged to capture an image of a region within a field of view external to the housing, and a viewport element mounted in the housing and located such that light is transmitted through the viewport element and into said sideview camera, wherein the viewport element is diffusion bonded to a metal support.

Abstract: An optical cap that protects a camera lens of the inspection assembly is disclosed herein. The disclosed optical cap for an inspection assembly may include an optically clear dome-shaped window element and a metal collar attached to the window element, the collar including means for securing the optical cap to said inspection assembly, wherein the collar is bonded to the window element by means of brazing or welding.

Abstract: This invention relates to an inspection assembly comprising a light source and a lens. In particular this invention relates to the provision of a reflection surface for improving the illumination of a field of view of a wide angle camera. An inspection assembly comprises a main body having a longitudinal axis and a distal end; a lens located at the distal end; a light source positioned to illuminate an area beyond the distal end of the main body; and a reflection surface, an angle between the reflection surface and the longitudinal axis of the main body being between 10° and 70°, wherein the reflection surface is positioned such that, in use, a first fraction of the light emitted by the light source is reflected by the reflection surface and a second fraction of the light emitted by the light source travels to an area beyond the distal end of the main body without being reflected by said surface.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical element for use in a camera system for the inspection of passageways, a camera system for the inspection of passageways and a method of illuminating a passageway during inspection with a camera. An optical element for use in a camera system for the inspection of passageways comprises a first optical portion arranged to transmit light into a camera, a second optical portion arranged to transmit light emitted from a light source, the second optical portion located adjacent the first optical portion, and barrier means arranged to prevent light being transmitted from the second optical portion into the first optical portion.

Abstract: A pipeline inspection apparatus includes a main body. A sealing structure attached to the main body seals against an internal surface of the pipeline. An imaging module includes a camera and a light source. The light source is arranged to emit light in a direction towards the internal surface of the pipeline. The camera is arranged such that, in use, the camera captures image data of the internal surface of the pipeline. Control circuitry includes a power supply and memory for storing data captured by said camera, wherein the sealing structure forms a seal against the internal surface of the pipeline such that, in use, a fluid flowing along the pipeline applies a driving force to the pipeline inspection apparatus to propel the apparatus along the pipeline.

Abstract: A camera assembly (10) for the inspection of passageways, particularly wellbores, and designed to operate in high temperature environments. A camera assembly for the inspection of wellbores comprises an elongate housing (12) having a first end (30) and a second end (42) and, extending between the ends, a side wall comprising an inner wall (22) and an outer wall (24), with a vacuum formed between the inner and outer walls; an elongate relay lens (52) having a first end (56) and a second end (62), the relay lens being located within the housing; an optically transparent window (46) located at the first end of the relay lens; an image sensor (48) located at the second end of the relay lens for capturing an image of an object viewable through the relay lens and window; and a light source (16) arranged to emit light from the housing, for illuminating the viewable object.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical element for use in a camera system for the inspection of passageways, a camera system for the inspection of passageways and a method of illuminating a passageway during inspection with a camera. An optical element for use in a camera system for the inspection of passageways comprises a first optical portion arranged to transmit light into a camera, a second optical portion arranged to transmit light emitted from a light source, the second optical portion located adjacent the first optical portion, and barrier means arranged to prevent light being transmitted from the second optical portion into the first optical portion.

Abstract: A pipeline inspection apparatus includes a main body. A sealing structure attached to the main body seals against an internal surface of the pipeline. An imaging module includes a camera and a light source. The light source is arranged to emit light in a direction towards the internal surface of the pipeline. The camera is arranged such that, in use, the camera captures image data of the internal surface of the pipeline. Control circuitry includes a power supply and memory for storing data captured by said camera, wherein the sealing structure forms a seal against the internal surface of the pipeline such that, in use, a fluid flowing along the pipeline applies a driving force to the pipeline inspection apparatus to propel the apparatus along the pipeline.

Abstract: This invention relates to a pipeline inspection apparatus and to a method of inspecting the internal surfaces of a pipeline using a pipeline inspection apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical element for use in a camera system for the inspection of passageways, a camera system for the inspection of passageways and a method of illuminating a passageway during inspection with a camera. An optical element for use in a camera system for the inspection of passageways comprises a first optical portion arranged to transmit light into a camera, a second optical portion arranged to transmit light emitted from a light source, the second optical portion located adjacent the first optical portion, and barrier means arranged to prevent light being transmitted from the second optical portion into the first optical portion.

Abstract: A camera assembly (10) for the inspection of passageways, particularly wellbores, and designed to operate in high temperature environments. A camera assembly for the inspection of wellbores comprises an elongate housing (12) having a first end (30) and a second end (42) and, extending between the ends, a side wall comprising an inner wall (22) and an outer wall (24), with a vacuum formed between the inner and outer walls; an elongate relay lens (52) having a first end (56) and a second end (62), the relay lens being located within the housing; an optically transparent window (46) located at the first end of the relay lens; an image sensor (48) located at the second end of the relay lens for capturing an image of an object viewable through the relay lens and window; and a light source (16) arranged to emit light from the housing, for illuminating the viewable object.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical element for use in a camera system for the inspection of passageways, a camera system for the inspection of passageways and a method of illuminating a passageway during inspection with a camera. An optical element for use in a camera system for the inspection of passageways comprises a first optical portion arranged to transmit light into a camera, a second optical portion arranged to transmit light emitted from a light source, the second optical portion located adjacent the first optical portion, and barrier means arranged to prevent light being transmitted from the second optical portion into the first optical portion.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical element for use in a camera system for the inspection of passageways, a camera system for the inspection of passageways and a method of illuminating a passageway during inspection with a camera. An optical element for use in a camera system for the inspection of passageways comprises a first optical portion arranged to transmit light into a camera, a second optical portion arranged to transmit light emitted from a light source, the second optical portion located adjacent the first optical portion, and barrier means arranged to prevent light being transmitted from the second optical portion into the first optical portion.