SEWER PIPE REPAIR LINER WITH RADIO-FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION TRANSPONDER AND METHOD OF USING SAME

• US 20120007714A1
• Filed: 07/07/2010
• Published: 01/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Trelleborg Pipe Seals Duisburg GmbH (Trelleborg AB)
• Original Assignee: Trelleborg Pipe Seals Duisburg GmbH (Trelleborg AB)
• Inventors: Mühlin, Michael
• Application Number:
  US12/831,654
• Publication Number:
  US 20120007714A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/10.1
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 55/1653 and being pressed into contact with the pipe by a tool which moves inside along the pipe
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 55/179 specially adapted for bends, branch units, branching pipes or the like

Abstract

A repair liner for repairing a lateral/main pipe junction and method of using the same to identify a lateral sewer pipe are disclosed. The repair liner includes a radio-frequency identification transponder capable of transmitting an identification signal that is unique to the repair liner. The method comprises the steps of: Providing a repair liner for repairing a lateral/main pipe junction, the repair liner including a radio-frequency identification transponder capable of transmitting a identification signal that is unique to the repair liner; bonding the repair liner to one or both of lateral and main sewer pipes at a lateral/main pipe junction, whereby the radio-frequency identification transponder is positioned proximate the lateral/main pipe junction; providing a mobile device for moving in the main sewer pipe, the mobile device including a radio-frequency identification reader capable of detecting the identification signal transmitted by the radio-frequency identification transponder when the mobile device is positioned proximate the radio-frequency identification transponder; and moving the mobile device in the main sewer pipe so that the mobile device is positioned proximate the radio-frequency identification transponder so as to detect the identification signal transmitted by the RFID transponder.

Claims

1. A method for identifying a lateral sewer pipe that forms a pipe junction with a main sewer pipe, comprising the steps of:

providing a repair liner for repairing a lateral/main pipe junction, the repair liner including a radio-frequency identification transponder capable of transmitting an identification signal that is unique to the repair liner;

bonding the repair liner to one or both of lateral and main sewer pipes at a lateral/main pipe junction, whereby the radio-frequency identification transponder is positioned proximate the lateral/main pipe junction;

providing a mobile device for moving in the main sewer pipe, the mobile device including a radio-frequency identification reader capable of detecting the identification signal transmitted by the radio-frequency identification transponder when the mobile device is positioned proximate the radio-frequency identification transponder; and

moving the mobile device in the main sewer pipe so that the mobile device is positioned proximate the radio-frequency identification transponder so as to detect the identification signal transmitted by the RFID transponder.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile device is a packer for applying a repair liner to a lateral/main pipe junction.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the repair liner is made of a flexible material impregnated with an uncured resinous material capable of curing and hardening to thereby bond the repair liner to one or both of lateral and main sewer pipes.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the repair liner comprises a cylindrical sleeve for lining a circumferential portion of the lateral sewer pipe, and an annular collar projecting radially outwardly from the sleeve for lining a portion of the main pipe proximate the main/lateral junction.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the radio-frequency identification transponder is disposed on the annular collar of the repair liner.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the radio-frequency identification transponder is secured to a surface of the repair liner.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the radio-frequency identification transponder is embedded within the flexible material of the repair liner.

8. The method of claim 3, wherein the repair liner comprises a cylindrical sleeve for lining a circumferential portion of the lateral sewer pipe, and a cylindrical sleeve for lining a circumferential portion of the main pipe proximate the main/lateral junction.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the radio-frequency identification transponder is disposed on the cylindrical sleeve for lining a circumferential portion of the main pipe.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the radio-frequency identification transponder is secured to a surface of the repair liner.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the radio-frequency identification transponder is embedded within the flexible material of the repair liner.

12. A repair liner for repairing a lateral/main pipe junction, the repair liner including a radio-frequency identification transponder capable of transmitting an identification signal that is unique to the repair liner.

13. The repair liner of claim 12, wherein the repair liner is made of a flexible material impregnable with an uncured resinous material capable of curing and hardening to thereby bond the repair liner to one or both of lateral and main sewer pipes.

14. The repair liner of claim 13, wherein the repair liner comprises a cylindrical sleeve for lining a circumferential portion of the lateral sewer pipe, and an annular collar projecting radially outwardly from the sleeve for lining a portion of the main pipe proximate the main/lateral junction.

15. The repair liner of claim 14, wherein the radio-frequency identification transponder is disposed on the annular collar of the repair liner.

16. The repair liner of claim 14, wherein the radio-frequency identification transponder is secured to a surface of the repair liner.

17. The repair liner of claim 16, wherein the radio-frequency identification transponder is embedded within the flexible material of the repair liner.

18. The repair liner of claim 13, wherein the repair liner comprises a cylindrical sleeve for lining a circumferential portion of the lateral sewer pipe, and a cylindrical sleeve for lining a circumferential portion of the main pipe proximate the main/lateral junction.

19. The repair liner of claim 18, wherein the radio-frequency identification transponder is disposed on the cylindrical sleeve for lining the circumferential portion of the main pipe.

20. The repair liner of claim 19, wherein the radio-frequency identification transponder is secured to a surface of the repair liner.

21. The repair liner of claim 19, wherein the radio-frequency identification transponder is embedded within the flexible material of the repair liner.