GPS locating and mapping with distance overlay for drain cleaning and inspection equipment

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11090699-B2
Application number	US-201916276870-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 15, 2019
Priority date	Feb 20, 2018
Publication date	Aug 17, 2021
Grant date	Aug 17, 2021

Abstract

Drain cleaning and inspection machines, systems and methods are described. The systems and methods utilize a GPS-enabled drain cleaner to collect information during drain cleaning or inspection, forward that information to a host server at which various processing and imagery generation occurs, and providing a detailed map and/or report.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system ( 200 ) for providing information regarding drain cleaning or inspection, the system ( 200 ) comprising:
a registration and control component ( 100 ) including communication provisions, wherein the registration and control component ( 100 ) includes provisions for data entry and storage and/or data processing including cloud-based storage and/or processing; and
a drain cleaner ( 50 ) including a drain cleaning cable ( 55 ) extendable and retractable relative to the drain cleaner ( 50 ) and an electronics assembly ( 10 ) including communication provisions for enabling transfer of data involving extension or retraction of the cable ( 55 ) relative to the drain cleaner ( 50 ) in relation to cleaning or inspection of a drain, wherein said transfer of data is between the drain cleaner ( 50 ) and the registration and control component ( 100 ),
wherein the electronics assembly ( 10 ) is configured to provide to a user visual information based at least in part upon said data involving extension or retraction of the cable ( 55 ) relative to the drain cleaner ( 50 ), and
wherein the visual information includes at least one point of interest (POI).

2. The system ( 200 ) of claim 1 , wherein the at least one point of interest (POI) is selected from the group consisting of a location of the drain cleaner ( 50 ), piping of interest, a trap ( 58 ), a bend, tree roots or another obstruction, and combinations thereof.

3. The system ( 200 ) of claim 1 , wherein the communication provisions of the electronics assembly ( 10 ) include a chip ( 26 ).

4. The system ( 200 ) of claim 3 , wherein the chip ( 26 ) is configured to provide information regarding the drain cleaner ( 50 ) including
job location;
length of run;
cable length and diameter used;
additional points of interest (POIs); and/or
run time.

5. The system ( 200 ) of claim 1 , wherein the electronics assembly ( 10 ) includes at least one microprocessor ( 12 ).

6. The system ( 200 ) of claim 1 , wherein the electronics assembly ( 10 ) includes at least one microprocessor ( 12 ) configured to receive and/or process satellite-provided data for determining location of the drain cleaner ( 50 ).

7. The system ( 200 ) of claim 1 , wherein the electronics assembly ( 10 ) includes a GPS device configured to receive and process data from the drain cleaner ( 50 ) for providing information regarding the drain cleaner ( 50 ) including location and/or time-of-use of the drain cleaner ( 50 ) to a user.

8. The system ( 200 ) of claim 1 , wherein the electronics assembly ( 10 ) includes an antenna array ( 20 ).

9. The system ( 200 ) of claim 8 , wherein the antenna array ( 20 ) is configured to receive one or more signals selected from the group consisting of GPS signals, WiFi signals, Bluetooth signals, and combinations thereof.

10. The system ( 200 ) of claim 1 , including a monitor ( 80 ) for providing and presenting preselected information regarding the drain cleaner ( 50 ) to a user.

11. The system ( 200 ) of claim 10 , wherein the information provided by the monitor ( 80 ) is selected from the group consisting of graphic information, video information, textual information, and combinations thereof.

12. The system ( 200 ) of claim 1 , wherein the electronics assembly ( 10 ) includes additional provisions for collecting and storing data involving drain cleaning and/or drain inspection information selected from the group consisting of run time, location of one or more POIs, length-of-cable advanced and/or retracted, day-and-time information, and combinations thereof.

13. A method for providing visual information regarding drain cleaning and/or drain inspection to a user, wherein the method comprises:
providing a system ( 200 ) including
(i) a registration and control component ( 100 ) including communication provisions, wherein the registration and control component ( 100 ) is configured for data storage and/or data processing including cloud-based storage and/or cloud-based processing, and
(ii) a drain cleaner ( 50 ) including a drain cleaning cable ( 55 ) extendable and retractable relative to the drain cleaner ( 50 ) and an electronics assembly ( 10 ) including communication provisions for enabling transfer of data involving extension or retraction of the cable ( 55 ) relative to the drain cleaner ( 50 ) in relation to cleaning or inspection of a drain, wherein said transfer of data is between the drain cleaner ( 50 ) and the registration and control component ( 100 );

activating the drain cleaner ( 50 );
passing information between the drain cleaner ( 50 ) and the registration and control component ( 100 );
providing visual information viewable by the user, wherein the visual information is based at least in part on the information passed between the drain cleaner ( 50 ) and the registration and control component ( 100 ), and
determining at least one point of interest (POI) from the information passed between the drain cleaner ( 50 ) and the registration and control component ( 100 ).

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the information passed between the drain cleaner ( 50 ) and the registration and control component ( 100 ) includes location information involving the drain cleaner ( 50 ).

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the at least one point of interest (POI) is selected from the group consisting of a location of the drain cleaner ( 50 ), certain piping of interest, a trap ( 58 ), a bend, tree roots or another obstruction, and combinations thereof.

16. The method of claim 13 , including generating imagery based upon the information passed between the drain cleaner ( 50 ) and the registration and control component ( 100 ).

17. The method of claim 16 , including overlaying the generated imagery on the visual information.

Assignees

• Ridge Tool Co

Inventors

• Schmauder Christopher

Classifications

• B08B2209/04

  using cleaning devices introduced into and moved along the pipes · CPC title

• B08B13/00

  Accessories or details of general applicability for machines or apparatus for cleaning · CPC title

• B08B9/043 Primary

  moved by externally powered mechanical linkage, e.g. pushed or drawn through the pipes · CPC title

• G01S19/13

  Receivers · CPC title