Devices and methods for repairing pipes

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11320083-B2
Application number	US-202016818501-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 13, 2020
Priority date	Sep 26, 2017
Publication date	May 3, 2022
Grant date	May 3, 2022

Abstract

Example aspects of a pipe repair stent, a pipe repair device, and a method for repairing a pipe are disclosed. The pipe repair stent can comprise a sealing layer comprising a flexible and compressible repair material; and a spring, wherein the sealing layer is wrapped around a circumference of the spring; wherein the stent is configurable in an expanded configuration and a compressed configuration, the spring biasing the stent to the expanded configuration.

First claim

That which is claimed is:

1. A pipe repair stent comprising:
a sealing layer comprising a flexible and compressible repair material, the sealing layer defining a continuous cylinder; and
a spring extending substantially along a length of the sealing layer, wherein the sealing layer is wrapped around a circumference of the spring;
wherein the pipe repair stent is configurable in an expanded configuration and a compressed configuration, the spring biasing the stent to the expanded configuration, and wherein a length of the spring is the same in the expanded configuration and the compressed configuration.

2. The pipe repair stent of claim 1 , wherein the pipe repair stent defines a cylindrical structure, a void extending through a center of the cylindrical structure.

3. The pipe repair stent of claim 1 , wherein the spring comprises a metal wire.

4. The pipe repair stent of claim 3 , wherein the metal wire defines a wave pattern undulating in an axial direction.

5. The pipe repair stent of claim 1 , wherein the sealing layer engages an outer surface of the spring.

6. The pipe repair stent of claim 1 , wherein the repair material comprises at least one of neoprene, rubber, foam, epoxy, and silicone.

7. The pipe repair stent of claim 1 , wherein the repair material is a NSF/ANSI 61 certified material.

8. A pipe repair device comprising:
a body defining a first end, a second end, and a middle section therebetween;
a stent attached to the body, the stent comprising a sealing layer and a spring, the sealing layer defining a continuous cylinder, the stent configurable in a compressed configuration and an expanded configuration, wherein the sealing layer is wrapped around a circumference of the spring and the spring biases the stent to the expanded configuration;
a locomotion subsystem comprising at least one wheel, the locomotion subsystem configured to drive the pipe repair device through a pipe; and
a power subsystem configured to supply electrical power and carry the electrical power to the locomotion subsystem.

9. The pipe repair device of claim 8 , wherein the at least one wheel is attached to one of the first end and second end.

10. The pipe repair device of claim 8 , wherein:
the locomotion subsystem further comprises a motor; and
the power subsystem carries the electrical power to the motor.

11. The pipe repair device of claim 10 , wherein the power subsystem further comprises a tether carrying the electrical power to the motor.

12. The pipe repair device of claim 8 , wherein the stent defines a cylindrical structure, a void extending through a center of the cylindrical structure, the void configured to allow fluid to flow therethrough.

13. A method for repairing a pipe comprising:
providing a stent, the stent comprising a spring and a sealing layer, the sealing layer defining a continuous cylinder, the stent configurable in an expanded configuration and a compressed configuration, wherein the sealing layer is wrapped around a circumference of the spring and the spring biases the stent to the expanded configuration;
transporting the stent in the compressed configuration to a leak in a pipe;
expanding the stent to the expanded configuration within the pipe; and
engaging the sealing layer with an inner surface of the pipe at the leak to repair the leak.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein expanding the stent to the expanded configuration within the pipe comprising biasing the sealing layer outward with the spring.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein transporting the stent in the compressed configuration to a leak in a pipe comprises attaching the stent to a pipe repair device and driving the pipe repair device through the pipe to the leak.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein driving the pipe repair device through the pipe to the leak comprises supplying power to a motor of the pipe repair device and operating a locomotion subsystem of the pipe repair device with the motor.

17. The method of claim 13 , further comprising detecting a location of the leak in the pipe.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the steps of detecting a location of the leak in the pipe and transporting the stent in the compressed configuration to a leak in the pipe are performed concurrently.

19. The method of claim 13 , further comprising the step of evaluating the leak after the step of engaging the sealing layer with an inner surface of the pipe at the leak to repair the leak.

Assignees

• Mueller Int Llc

Inventors

• Badger Cody
• Braun Clifton
• Tank Adam

Classifications

• F16L55/163

  a ring, a band or a sleeve being pressed against the inner surface of the pipe · CPC title

• G01M3/243

  for pipes · CPC title

• F16L55/16455 Primary

  a part of the tool defining, together with the inner wall of the pipe, an enclosed space into which sealing material is injected · CPC title

• F16L2101/60

  Stopping leaks · CPC title

• F16L2101/20

  Expelling gases or fluids · CPC title