Methods and apparatuses for automatically selecting a pipe in a CAD drawing

• US 8,150,660 B2
• Filed: 05/01/2008
• Issued: 04/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: M.E.P. Cad, Incorporated
• Original Assignee: M.E.P. Cad, Incorporated
• Inventors: Reghetti, Joseph P., Hoeft, Shane
• Primary Examiner(s): Silver, David
• Application Number:
  US12/150,868
• Publication Number:
  US 20080275674A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,433 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 703/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2113/14 Pipes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/13 Architectural design, e.g. computer-aided architectural design [CAAD] related to design of buildings, bridges, landscapes, production plants or roads

Abstract

The present invention is directed to methods, systems, and apparatuses for automatically determining an object type in a computer automated design application, and more particularly to automatically determining and drawing the pipe type of a pipe in a sprinkler system CAD drawing. The present invention allows a user to make various pipe parameter choices and decisions up front, and to then draw each individual pipe without having to each time make the numerous selections and decisions required to determine that pipe'"'"'s proper type. The present invention may also be used to determine other component types in non-piping related CAD designs, such as electrical wiring, for example.

Claims

1. A method for determining and drawing a pipe type for use within a section of piping within a CAD drawing, comprising the steps of:

receiving from a user one or more parameters used by a drawing tool for determining one or more pipe types to use for one or more sections of piping within the CAD drawing;

receiving from the user a location for the section of piping within the CAD drawing;

receiving from the user a pipe diameter for the section of piping within the CAD drawing;

allowing the user to draw the section of piping within the CAD drawing using the location and the pipe diameter, and without specifying a current pipe type for the section of piping within the CAD drawing;

identifying through the drawing tool one or more additional parameters based on the location of the section of piping within the CAD drawing;

determining through the drawing tool the pipe type among the one or more pipe types appropriate to apply to the section of piping within the CAD drawing, the determining of the pipe type based on the location for the section of piping within the CAD drawing, the pipe diameter, the one or more parameters, the one or more additional parameters, and a set of predetermined pipe-interaction rules between the section of piping within the CAD drawing and another section of piping connecting to the section of piping within the CAD drawing; and

applying through the drawing tool the pipe type to the section of piping within the CAD drawing.

2. The method as in claim 1, further comprising the step of receiving from the user one or more override parameters for determining the pipe type, and wherein the step of determining the pipe type further includes the step of determining the pipe type based upon the one or more override parameters.

3. The method as in claim 1, wherein the one or more parameters include a branch line cutoff diameter, and wherein the set of predetermined pipe-interaction rules includes a rule establishing that if the pipe diameter is smaller than or equal to the branch line cutoff diameter then the pipe type will be a branch line.

4. The method as in claim 1, wherein the one or more additional parameters include an orientation of the section of piping within the CAD drawing, wherein the one or more parameters include a branch line cutoff diameter, and wherein the set of predetermined pipe-interaction rules includes a rule establishing that if the pipe diameter is larger than the branch line cutoff diameter and the orientation of the section of piping within the CAD drawing is vertical then the pipe type will be a feed riser.

5. The method as in claim 1, wherein the one or more additional parameters include an orientation of the section of piping within the CAD drawing, wherein the one or more parameters include a branch line cutoff diameter, and wherein the set of predetermined pipe-interaction rules includes a rule establishing that if the pipe diameter is larger than the branch line cutoff diameter and the orientation of the section of piping within the CAD drawing is horizontal then the pipe type will be a cross main.

6. The method as in claim 1, wherein the set of predetermined pipe-interaction rules includes a rule establishing that if the section of piping within the CAD drawing connects a cross main type pipe to a branch line type pipe then the pipe type will be a riser nipple.

7. The method as in claim 1, wherein the set of predetermined pipe-interaction rules includes a rule establishing that if the section of piping within the CAD drawing connects a feed main type pipe to a branch line type pipe then the pipe type will be a riser nipple.

8. The method as in claim 1, wherein the one or more additional parameters include an orientation of the section of piping within the CAD drawing, and wherein the set of predetermined pipe-interaction rules includes a rule establishing that if the section of piping within the CAD drawing connects a feed riser type pipe to a cross branch type pipe and the orientation of the section of piping within the CAD drawing is horizontal then the pipe type will be a feed main.

9. The method as in claim 8, wherein the set of predetermined pipe-interaction rules further includes a rule establishing that if the feed main connects to an upright sprinkler, the pipe type will be changed from the feed main to a sprig.

10. The method as in claim 8, wherein the set of predetermined pipe-interaction rules further includes a rule establishing that if the feed main connects to a sidewall sprinkler, the pipe type for a portion of the section of piping within the CAD drawing touching the sidewall sprinkler will be changed from the feed main to a drop and the pipe type for a remainder of the section of piping within the CAD drawing will be changed from the feed main to a branch line.

11. The method as in claim 8, wherein the set of predetermined pipe-interaction rules further includes a rule establishing that if the feed main connects to a pendent sprinkler, the pipe type for a portion of the section of piping within the CAD drawing touching the pendent sprinkler will be changed from the feed main to a drop and the pipe type for a remainder of the section of piping within the CAD drawing will be changed from the feed main to a branch line.

12. The method as in claim 1, wherein the set of predetermined pipe-interaction rules includes a rule establishing that if the section of piping within the CAD drawing connects a first branch line type pipe to a second branch line type pipe then the pipe type will be a branch line.

13. The method as in claim 1, wherein the set of predetermined pipe-interaction rules includes a rule establishing that if the section of piping within the CAD drawing connects a first cross main type pipe to a second cross main type pipe then the pipe type will be a cross main.

14. The method as in claim 1, wherein the set of predetermined pipe-interaction rules includes a rule establishing that if the section of piping within the CAD drawing connects a first feed main type pipe to a second feed main type pipe then the pipe type will be a feed main.

15. The method as in claim 1, wherein the set of predetermined pipe-interaction rules includes a rule establishing that if the section of piping within the CAD drawing connects a first feed riser type pipe to a second feed riser type pipe then the pipe type will be a feed riser.

16. The method as in claim 1, wherein the set of predetermined pipe-interaction rules includes a rule establishing that if the section of piping within the CAD drawing connects a first riser nipple type pipe to a second riser nipple type pipe then the pipe type will be a branch line.

17. The method as in claim 1, wherein the set of predetermined pipe-interaction rules includes a rule establishing that if the section of piping within the CAD drawing connects a first sprig type pipe to a second sprig type pipe then the pipe type will be a sprig.

18. The method as in claim 1, wherein the set of predetermined pipe-interaction rules includes a rule establishing that if the section of piping within the CAD drawing connects a first drop type pipe to a second drop type pipe then the pipe type will be a branch line.

19. The method as in claim 1, wherein the one or more additional parameters include an orientation of the section of piping within the CAD drawing, and wherein the set of predetermined pipe-interaction rules includes a rule establishing that if the section of piping within the CAD drawing is a feed main and the orientation for the section of piping within the CAD drawing is collinear with a separate cross main type pipe then the pipe type will be a cross main.

20. The method as in claim 1, wherein the one or more additional parameters include whether the section of piping within the CAD drawing is below a zero elevation, and wherein the set of predetermined pipe-interaction rules includes a rule establishing that if the section of piping within the CAD drawing is below the zero elevation then the pipe type will be an underground pipe.

21. The method as in claim 20, wherein the one or more parameters include a relative position for the zero elevation.

22. The method as in claim 1, wherein section of piping within the CAD drawing has a first end and a second end, and wherein the set of predetermined pipe-interaction rules includes a rule establishing that if the section of piping within the CAD drawing touches a particular pipe type then the pipe type will be the particular pipe type unless the particular pipe type is a riser nipple at the first end and the second end.

23. The method as in claim 1, wherein the one or more parameters include multiple pipe groups, and wherein each pipe group from the multiple pipe groups has one or more pipe group parameters selected by the user.

24. The method as in claim 23, wherein the one or more pipe group parameters include a material type.

25. The method as in claim 23, wherein the one or more pipe group parameters include a material type for each of one or more available pipe diameters.

26. The method as in claim 23, wherein the one or more pipe group parameters include a layer type.

27. The method as in claim 23, wherein the one or more pipe group parameters include a layer type for each of one or more available pipe diameters.

28. The method as in claim 23, wherein the one or more pipe group parameters include a pipe width.

29. The method as in claim 23, wherein the one or more pipe group parameters include a pipe width for each of one or more available pipe diameters.

30. The method as in claim 23, wherein the one or more pipe group parameters include a set of diameter-based rules for setting the one or more pipe group parameters based upon the pipe diameter.

31. The method as in claim 23, wherein the one or more pipe group parameters include a set of override parameters.

32. The method as in claim 23, wherein the one or more pipe group parameters include using or not using outlets.

33. The method as in claim 23, wherein the one or more pipe group parameters include using or not using outlets for each pipe type.

34. The method as in claim 23, wherein the one or more pipe group parameters include using or not using fittings.

35. The method as in claim 34, wherein the one or more pipe group parameters further include a type of fitting to use if fittings are to be used.

36. The method as in claim 23, wherein the one or more pipe group parameters include using or not using fittings for each pipe type.

37. The method as in claim 36, wherein the one or more pipe group parameters further include a type of fitting to use for each pipe type if fittings are to be used.

38. The method as in claim 23, wherein the one or more pipe group parameters include a color.

39. The method as in claim 23, wherein the one or more pipe group parameters include a color for each pipe type.

40. The method as in claim 1, wherein the one or more parameters include using or not using outlets.

41. The method as in claim 1, wherein the one or more parameters include using or not using fittings.

42. The method as in claim 1, wherein the one or more parameters include a color.

43. The method as in claim 1, wherein the one or more parameters include a color for each pipe type.

44. The method as in claim 1, wherein the one or more parameters include a forced fitting.

45. A method for determining and drawing a pipe type for use within a section of piping within a CAD drawing, comprising the steps of:

receiving from a user one or more parameters used by a drawing tool for determining one or more pipe types to use for one or more sections of piping within the CAD drawing;

receiving from the user one or more override parameters for overriding through the drawing tool one or more properties associated with the pipe type;

receiving from the user a location for the section of piping within the CAD drawing;

receiving from the user a pipe diameter for the section of piping within the CAD drawing;

allowing the user to draw the section of piping within the CAD drawing using the location and the pipe diameter, and without specifying a current pipe type for the section of piping within the CAD drawing;

identifying through the drawing tool one or more additional parameters based on the location of the section of piping within the CAD drawing;

determining through the drawing tool the pipe type among the one or more pipe types appropriate to apply to the section of piping within the CAD drawing, the determining of the diameter, the one or more parameters, the one or more additional parameters, and a set of predetermined pipe-interaction rules between the section of piping within the CAD drawing and another section of piping connecting to the section of piping within the CAD drawing;

determining through the drawing tool if the one or more override parameters apply;

altering through the drawing tool the one or more pipe properties associated with the pipe type based upon the one or more override parameters; and

applying through the drawing tool the pipe type to the section of piping within the CAD drawing.

46. The method as in claim 45, wherein the one or more parameters include a branch line cutoff diameter, and wherein the set of predetermined pipe-interaction rules includes a rule establishing that if the pipe diameter is smaller than or equal to the branch line cutoff diameter then the pipe type will be a branch line.

47. The method as in claim 45, wherein the one or more additional parameters include an orientation of the section of piping within the CAD drawing, wherein the one or more parameters include a branch line cutoff diameter, and wherein the set of predetermined pipe-interaction rules includes a rule establishing that if the pipe diameter is larger than the branch line cutoff diameter and the orientation of the section of piping within the CAD drawing is vertical then the pipe type will be a feed riser.

48. The method as in claim 45, wherein the one or more additional parameters include an orientation of the section of piping within the CAD drawing, wherein the one or more parameters include a branch line cutoff diameter, and wherein the set of predetermined pipe-interaction rules includes a rule establishing that if the pipe diameter is larger than the branch line cutoff diameter and the orientation of the section of piping within the CAD drawing is horizontal then the pipe type will be a cross main.

49. The method as in claim 45, wherein the set of predetermined pipe-interaction rules includes a rule establishing that if the section of piping within the CAD drawing connects a cross main type pipe to a branch line type pipe then the pipe type will be a riser nipple.

50. The method as in claim 45, wherein the set of predetermined pipe-interaction rules includes a rule establishing that if the section of piping within the CAD drawing connects a feed main type pipe to a branch line type pipe then the pipe type will be a riser nipple.

51. The method as in claim 45, wherein the one or more additional parameters include an orientation of the section of piping within the CAD drawing, and wherein the set of predetermined pipe-interaction rules includes a rule establishing that if the section of piping within the CAD drawing connects a feed riser type pipe to a cross branch type pipe and the orientation of the section of piping within the CAD drawing is horizontal then the pipe type will be a feed main.

52. The method as in claim 51, wherein the one or more override parameters include a rule establishing that if the feed main connects to an upright sprinkler, the pipe type will be a sprig, and wherein the altering step involves altering the section of piping within the CAD drawing from a feed main to the sprig.

53. The method as in claim 51, wherein the one or more override parameters include a rule establishing that if the feed main connects to a sidewall sprinkler, a portion of the section of piping within the CAD drawing touching the sidewall sprinkler will be a drop and a remainder of the section of piping within the CAD drawing will be a branch line, and wherein the altering step involves altering the pipe type for the portion of the section of piping within the CAD drawing touching the sidewall sprinkler from the feed main to the drop and altering the pipe type for the remainder of the section of piping within the CAD drawing from the feed main to the branch line.

54. The method as in claim 51, wherein the one or more override parameters include a rule establishing that if the feed main connects to a pendent sprinkler, the pipe type for a portion of the section of piping within the CAD drawing touching the pendent sprinkler will be a drop and the pipe type for a remainder of the section of piping within the CAD drawing will be a branch line, and wherein the altering step involves altering the pipe type for the portion of the section of piping within the CAD drawing touching the pendent sprinkler from the feed main to the drop and altering the pipe type for the remainder of the section of piping within the CAD drawing from the feed main to the branch line.

55. The method as in claim 45, wherein the set of predetermined pipe-interaction rules includes a rule establishing that if the section of piping within the CAD drawing connects a first branch line type pipe to a second branch line type pipe then the pipe type will be a branch line.

56. The method as in claim 45, wherein the set of predetermined pipe-interaction rules includes a rule establishing that if the section of piping within the CAD drawing connects a first cross main type pipe to a second cross main type pipe then the pipe type will be a cross main.

57. The method as in claim 45, wherein the set of predetermined pipe-interaction rules includes a rule establishing that if the section of piping within the CAD drawing connects a first feed main type pipe to a second feed main type pipe then the pipe type will be a feed main.

58. The method as in claim 45, wherein the set of predetermined pipe-interaction rules includes a rule establishing that if the section of piping within the CAD drawing connects a first feed riser type pipe to a second feed riser type pipe then the pipe type will be a feed riser.

59. The method as in claim 45, wherein the set of predetermined pipe-interaction rules includes a rule establishing that if the section of piping within the CAD drawing connects a first riser nipple type pipe to a second riser nipple type pipe then the pipe type will be a branch line.

60. The method as in claim 45, wherein the set of predetermined pipe-interaction rules includes a rule establishing that if the section of piping within the CAD drawing connects a first sprig type pipe to a second sprig type pipe then the pipe type will be a sprig.

61. The method as in claim 45, wherein the set of predetermined pipe-interaction rules includes a rule establishing that if the section of piping within the CAD drawing connects a first drop type pipe to a second drop type pipe then the pipe type will be a branch line.

62. The method as in claim 45, wherein the one or more additional parameters include an orientation of the section of piping within the CAD drawing, wherein the set of predetermined pipe-interaction rules includes a rule establishing that if the section of piping within the CAD drawing is a feed main and the orientation for the section of piping within the CAD drawing is collinear with a separate cross main type pipe then the pipe type will be a cross main.

63. The method as in claim 45, wherein the one or more additional parameters include whether the section of piping within the CAD drawing is below a zero elevation, and wherein the set of predetermined pipe-interaction rules includes a rule establishing that if the section of piping within the CAD drawing is below the zero elevation then the pipe type will be an underground pipe.

64. The method as in claim 63, wherein the one or more parameters include a relative position for the zero elevation.

65. The method as in claim 45, wherein the section of piping within the CAD drawing has a first end and a second end, and wherein the set of predetermined pipe-interaction rules includes a rule establishing that if the section of piping within the CAD drawing touches a particular pipe type then the pipe type will be the particular pipe type unless the particular pipe type is a riser nipple at the first end and the second end.

66. The method as in claim 45, wherein the one or more parameters include multiple pipe groups, and wherein each pipe group from the multiple pipe groups has one or more pipe group parameters selected by the user.

67. The method as in claim 66, wherein the one or more pipe group parameters include a material type.

68. The method as in claim 67, wherein the one or more override parameters includes a rule establishing that if the section of piping within the CAD drawing is a particular pipe type then the section of piping within the CAD drawing is a particular material type.

69. The method as in claim 66, wherein the one or more pipe group parameters include a material type for each of one or more available pipe diameters.

70. The method as in claim 69, wherein the one or more override parameters includes a rule establishing that if the section of piping within the CAD drawing is a particular pipe type then the section of piping within the CAD drawing is a particular material type, without regard to the pipe diameter.

71. The method as in claim 66, wherein the one or more pipe group parameters include a layer type.

72. The method as in claim 71, wherein the one or more override parameters includes a rule establishing that if the section of piping within the CAD drawing is a particular pipe type then the section of piping within the CAD drawing is a particular layer type.

73. The method as in claim 66, wherein the one or more pipe group parameters include a layer type for each of one or more available pipe diameters.

74. The method as in claim 73, wherein the one or more override parameters includes a rule establishing that if the section of piping within the CAD drawing is a particular pipe type then the section of piping within the CAD drawing is a particular layer type, without regard to the pipe diameter.

75. The method as in claim 66, wherein the one or more pipe group parameters include a pipe width.

76. The method as in claim 75, wherein the one or more override parameters includes a rule establishing that if the section of piping within the CAD drawing is a particular pipe type then the section of piping within the CAD drawing is a particular width.

77. The method as in claim 66, wherein the one or more pipe group parameters include a pipe width for each of one or more available pipe diameters.

78. The method as in claim 77, wherein the one or more override parameters includes a rule establishing that if the section of piping within the CAD drawing is a particular pipe type then the section of piping within the CAD drawing is a particular width, without regard to the pipe diameter.

79. The method as in claim 66, wherein the one or more pipe group parameters include a set of diameter-based rules for setting the one or more pipe group parameters based upon the pipe diameter.

80. The method as in claim 66, wherein the one or more pipe group parameters include a set of pipe group override parameters.

81. The method as in claim 66, wherein the one or more pipe group parameters include using or not using outlets.

82. The method as in claim 66, wherein the one or more pipe group parameters include using or not using outlets for each pipe type.

83. The method as in claim 66, wherein the one or more pipe group parameters include using or not using fittings.

84. The method as in claim 83, wherein the one or more pipe group parameters further include a type of fitting to use if fittings are to be used.

85. The method as in claim 66, wherein the one or more pipe group parameters include using or not using fittings for each pipe type.

86. The method as in claim 85, wherein the one or more pipe group parameters further include a type of fitting to use for each pipe type if fittings are to be used.

87. The method as in claim 66, wherein the one or more pipe group parameters include a color.

88. The method as in claim 66, wherein the one or more pipe group parameters include a color for each pipe type.

89. The method as in claim 45, wherein the one or more parameters include using or not using outlets.

90. The method as in claim 45, wherein the one or more parameters include using or not using fittings.

91. The method as in claim 45, wherein the one or more parameters include a color.

92. The method as in claim 45, wherein the one or more parameters include a color for each pipe type.

93. The method as in claim 45, wherein the one or more parameters include a forced fitting.

94. A system for determining a pipe type to apply to a section of piping within a CAD drawing drawn by a user without a particular pipe type, comprising:

an interface for accepting one or more user defined rules, the one or more user defined rules specifying one or more properties applied to one or more sections of piping within the CAD drawing based on a pipe diameter selected by the user for the section of piping within the CAD drawing; and

a drawing tool for determining a particular pipe type among a plurality of pipe types to apply to the section of piping within the CAD drawing, the drawing tool including a set of pipe-interaction rules defining a first pipe type to use based on one or more second pipe types connecting to the section of piping within the CAD drawing, the drawing tool determining one or more additional parameters based on a location of the section of piping within the CAD drawing, the drawing tool determining the particular pipe type based on the set of pipe-interaction rules and the one or more additional parameters, the drawing tool applying the one or more properties to the section of piping within the CAD drawing based on the one or more user defined rules.

95. The system as recited in claim 94, wherein the one or more properties include a pipe material, a pipe layer, a pipe end preparation, a pipe outlet, a pipe color, and a pipe width.

96. The system as recited in claim 94, wherein the one or more additional parameters include a size of the section of piping within the CAD drawing, an orientation of the section of piping within the CAD drawing, and an association between the section of piping within the CAD drawing and one or more adjacent sections of piping within the CAD drawing.