Stent springs and stents for repairing pipes

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11353154-B2
Application number	US-202016792984-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 18, 2020
Priority date	Feb 19, 2019
Publication date	Jun 7, 2022
Grant date	Jun 7, 2022

Abstract

Example aspects of a stent spring for repairing a pipe and a method for retaining a stent in a compressed configuration is disclosed. The stent spring for repairing a pipe can comprise a substantially tubular mesh structure defining a void, the void defining a central axis, the mesh structure comprising one or more strands, the one or more strands defining a plurality of openings, wherein the stent spring is configurable in an expanded stent spring configuration and a compressed stent spring configuration; and a tab extending radially inward from the mesh structure into the void, the tab defining a tab opening.

First claim

That which is claimed is:

1. A stent spring for repairing a pipe comprising:
a substantially tubular mesh structure defining a void, the void defining a central axis, the mesh structure comprising one or more strands, the one or more strands defining and encircling a plurality of openings, wherein the stent spring is configurable in an expanded stent spring configuration and a compressed stent spring configuration;
a tab extending radially inward from the mesh structure into the void, the tab defining a tab opening; and
a compression mechanism configured to engage the tab to bias the stent spring to the compressed stent spring configuration, wherein the compression mechanism comprises:
a compression disc, the compression disc defining a disc slot formed in an outer side edge of the compression disc; and
a connector comprising a head, the head extending into the disc slot.

2. The stent spring of claim 1 , wherein the tab extends into the disc slot, and the head extends through the tab opening.

3. The stent spring of claim 1 , further comprising one or more elastic wires connected to the one or more strands, the one or more elastic wires configured to increase a flexibility of the stent spring.

4. The stent spring of claim 1 , further comprising a coil spring extending through the tab opening, the coil spring configured to assist in biasing the stent spring to the expanded stent spring configuration.

5. The stent spring of claim 1 , further comprising a flexible coating on the one or more strands, the flexible coating comprising a synthetic rubber material.

6. The stent spring of claim 1 , wherein:
the stent spring comprises an inner stent spring connected to an outer stent spring;
the inner stent spring comprises the mesh structure and the tab; and
the outer stent spring is configured to increase a stiffness of the inner stent spring.

7. A method for retaining a stent in a compressed configuration comprising:
providing a stent, the stent comprising a stent spring, a seal, and a tab extending radially inward from the stent spring;
biasing the stent to a compressed configuration; and
engaging the tab with a compression mechanism to retain the stent in the compressed configuration, which comprises:
inserting the tab into a disc slot of the compression mechanism; and
engaging a tab opening of the tab with a connector of the compression mechanism.

8. A stent spring for repairing a pipe comprising:
a substantially tubular mesh structure defining a void, the void defining a central axis, the mesh structure comprising one or more strands, the one or more strands defining a plurality of openings, wherein the stent spring is configurable in an expanded stent spring configuration and a compressed stent spring configuration;
a tab extending radially inward from the mesh structure into the void, the tab defining a tab opening; and
one or more elastic wires connected to the one or more strands, the one or more elastic wires configured to increase a flexibility of the stent spring.

9. A stent spring for repairing a pipe comprising:
a substantially tubular mesh structure defining a void, the void defining a central axis, the mesh structure comprising one or more strands, the one or more strands defining a plurality of openings, wherein the stent spring is configurable in an expanded stent spring configuration and a compressed stent spring configuration;
a tab extending radially inward from the mesh structure into the void, the tab defining a tab opening; and
a coil spring extending through the tab opening, the coil spring configured to assist in biasing the stent spring to the expanded stent spring configuration.

10. A stent spring for repairing a pipe comprising:
a substantially tubular mesh structure defining a void, the void defining a central axis, the mesh structure comprising one or more strands, the one or more strands defining a plurality of openings, wherein the stent spring is configurable in an expanded stent spring configuration and a compressed stent spring configuration;
a tab extending radially inward from the mesh structure into the void, the tab defining a tab opening; and
a flexible coating on the one or more strands, the flexible coating comprising a synthetic rubber material.

11. A stent spring for repairing a pipe comprising:
a substantially tubular mesh structure defining a void, the void defining a central axis, the mesh structure comprising one or more strands, the one or more strands defining a plurality of openings, wherein the stent spring is configurable in an expanded stent spring configuration and a compressed stent spring configuration; and
a tab extending radially inward from the mesh structure into the void, the tab defining a tab opening;
wherein:
the stent spring comprises an inner stent spring connected to an outer stent spring;
the inner stent spring comprises the mesh structure and the tab; and
the outer stent spring is configured to increase a stiffness of the inner stent spring.

Assignees

• Mueller Int Llc

Inventors

• Furcoiu Aurelian Ioan

Classifications

• F16L55/17

  by means of rings, bands or sleeves pressed against the outside surface of the pipe or hose · CPC title

• F16L55/163 Primary

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

• F16L55/18 Primary

  Appliances for use in repairing pipes (F16L55/10 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A61F2/915

  with bands having a meander structure, adjacent bands being connected to each other · CPC title

• F16L57/02

  against cracking or buckling · CPC title