High-temperature inspection device and cooling apparatus therefor

An inspection system includes a cooling apparatus for conducting visual inspections within operating temperature environments, such as, for example, the interior of a combustion turbine shortly after shut down. The cooling apparatus provides cooling for an inspection probe such as a video borescope. The cooling apparatus includes an articulating guide tube having a control portion, an elongate flexible portion and an articulating section. The video borescope is inserted down through the articulating guide tube. A thermal protective sleeve surrounds and thermally insulates a portion of the articulating guide tube. Vortex coolers circulate cooled, compressed air within the cooling apparatus, thereby maintaining a cool video borescope operating temperature.