Pipeline rehabilitation systems
First Claim
1. A method for performing untethered work in at least one of a plurality of lateral pipes connected to a main pipe, comprising the steps of:
- loading a lateral device into at least one lateral pipe from the main pipe;
anchoring said lateral device to the at least one lateral pipe;
utilizing said lateral device to perform untethered work on or within the at least one lateral pipe, the power necessary to perform said work being supplied from onboard said lateral device anchored within said lateral; and
unloading said lateral device from the at least one lateral pipe to the main pipe.
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Devices and methods for streamlining the completion of work functions within a lateral pipe connected to a main pipe. A variety of different lateral devices may be used to aid in the process of relining the main or lateral pipe. A lateral location device is inserted into the lateral pipe prior to relining of the main pipe and is subsequently used to aid in the conventional cutting of the main-lateral interface. A lateral cutting device actually performs the main-lateral cutting process from within the lateral or from within the main. A lateral inspection device crawls up the lateral for inspection via camera. A lateral relining device aids in the placement of a liner used to reline the lateral pipe. Each of these interchangeable work functions may be optional performed by one or more lateral devices, often carried and inserted by a delivery device.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method for performing untethered work in at least one of a plurality of lateral pipes connected to a main pipe, comprising the steps of:
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loading a lateral device into at least one lateral pipe from the main pipe; anchoring said lateral device to the at least one lateral pipe; utilizing said lateral device to perform untethered work on or within the at least one lateral pipe, the power necessary to perform said work being supplied from onboard said lateral device anchored within said lateral; and unloading said lateral device from the at least one lateral pipe to the main pipe.
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2. An untethered lateral device, comprising:
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an untethered lateral device housing; an anchor device to secure said housing to an inner wall of a lateral pipe which intersects with a main pipe; a work tool; and a local power supply and local control circuitry onboard said lateral device to provide untethered power to said work tool and untethered control of said work tool. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A lateral device for performing untethered work within at least one of a plurality of lateral pipes that intersect with a main pipe in a pipeline network, comprising:
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an untethered lateral device housing; an anchor device to secure said housing to an inner wall of said one of a plurality of lateral pipes; and a work tool that is powered and controlled from onboard said lateral device by a local untethered power supply and local untethered control circuitry, respectively. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification