Importance

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Abstract

A remote visual inspection system having a video endoscope, a mounting post and a mount. The mount, to which a video monitor is attached, can also accommodate, at any one time, either the video endoscope or the mounting post. The video endoscope has an insertion tube and a scope body. The mount includes a sleeve which defines a central opening into which the scope body and mounting post may extend and has a slot, extending from a first end of the sleeve to a second end of the sleeve, through which the insertion tube may pass. The scope body is provided with a first part (e.g., a pin hole) of a locking mechanism and a first part (e.g., an alignment projection) of an alignment mechanism. The mounting post also has a first part (e.g., a pin hole) of the locking mechanism and a first part (e.g., an alignment projection) of the alignment mechanism. Complementary portions of the locking and alignment mechanisms are located on the sleeve. When the scope body is properly inserted and positioned in the sleeve, the corresponding portions of the locking and alignment mechanisms engage to align and lock the axial and rotational position of the scope body with respect to the mount. The locking and alignment mechanisms between the post and the sleeve similarly engage when the post is properly inserted and positioned in the sleeve to align and lock the position of the post with respect to the mount.

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First Claim