Methods and systems for locating an underground sewer using a buoy
First Claim
1. A system for monitoring a sewer, the system comprising:
- a buoy;
a camera associated with the buoy to provide at least one image within the sewer; and
a hydrogen sulfide sensor associated with the buoy to detect a source of hydrogen sulfide within the sewer.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A first system for locating a portion of an underground sewer includes a buoy which is released into the sewer. The buoy is carried to the portion of the sewer by a flow of fluid therein. An electronic tracking system tracks the buoy during its travel through the portion of the sewer to thereby locate the portion of the sewer. A second system includes a plurality of buoys distributed along a tethered line which are released into the sewer. The plurality of buoys are carried to the portion of the sewer by a flow of fluid therein. A location of each of the plurality of buoys within the portion of the sewer is sensed to thereby locate the portion of the sewer. The plurality of buoys are then removed from the sewer by retracting the tethered line.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A system for monitoring a sewer, the system comprising:
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a buoy; a camera associated with the buoy to provide at least one image within the sewer; and a hydrogen sulfide sensor associated with the buoy to detect a source of hydrogen sulfide within the sewer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of monitoring a sewer, the method comprising the steps of:
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releasing a buoy into the sewer; capturing at least one image within the sewer using a camera associated with the buoy; and detecting a source of hydrogen sulfide within the sewer using a hydrogen sulfide sensor associated with the buoy. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A system for monitoring a sewer, the system comprising:
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a buoy; a hydrogen sulfide sensor associated with the buoy to detect a source of hydrogen sulfide within the sewer; and a buoy locating system to locate the buoy and thereby locate the source of the hydrogen sulfide detected within the sewer. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of monitoring a sewer, the method comprising the steps of:
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releasing a buoy into the sewer; detecting a source of hydrogen sulfide within the sewer using a hydrogen sulfide sensor associated with the buoy; and electronically locating the buoy to locate the source of the hydrogen sulfide within the sewer. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A system for monitoring a sewer, the system comprising:
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a buoy; a video camera associated with the buoy to provide at least one image within the sewer while the buoy is traveling through the sewer by a flow of fluid within the sewer; a transmitter associated with the buoy and the video camera to transmit the at least one image while the buoy is within the sewer; a hydrogen sulfide sensor associated with the buoy to detect a source of hydrogen sulfide within the sewer while the buoy is carried by a flow of fluid within the sewer; and a buoy locating system to locate the source of hydrogen sulfide detected within the sewer.
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29. A method of monitoring a sewer, the method comprising the steps of:
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releasing a buoy into the sewer; capturing at least one image within the sewer using a video camera associated with the buoy, the at least one image captured while the buoy is traveling through the sewer by a flow of fluid within the sewer; transmitting the at least one image while the buoy is within the sewer; detecting a source of hydrogen sulfide within the sewer using a hydrogen sulfide sensor associated with the buoy, the source of hydrogen sulfide detected while the buoy is carried by a flow of fluid within the sewer; and electronically locating the buoy to locate the source of hydrogen sulfide within the sewer.
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Specification