# US 10,309,575 B2 · Underground pipe repair device with radial annular spacers and related systems and methods > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,309,575 B2 - Document ID: US10309575B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/943,837 - Filed: 2018-04-03 - Published: 2018-10-18 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2017-04-12 - Assignees: Inner Cure Technologies - Applicants: Innercure Technologies, LLC - Inventors: Jerold L Botts - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10309575B2 ## CPC - F16L 55/179: specially adapted for bends, branch units, branching pipes or the like - F16L 55/163: a ring, a band or a sleeve being pressed against the inner surface of the pipe - F16L 55/165: a pipe {or flexible liner} being inserted in the damaged section - F16L 55/1656: {materials for flexible liners} - F16L 55/18: Appliances for use in repairing pipes (F16L55/10 takes precedence) - F16L: PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL ## Abstract An underground pipe repair device is for a joint between a service pipe and a branch pipe. The underground pipe repair device may include a first T-shaped joint liner having a base portion extending laterally in the service pipe, and an arm portion extending vertically into the branch pipe. The underground pipe repair device may include a first annular spacer aligned with an opening in the branch pipe and being coupled to an underside of the first T-shaped joint liner, a second annular spacer aligned with the opening in the branch pipe and being coupled to the underside of the first T-shaped joint liner, the first annular spacer being radially within the second annular spacer, and a third annular spacer aligned with the opening in the branch pipe and being coupled to the underside of the first T-shaped joint liner. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An underground pipe repair device for a joint between a service pipe and a branch pipe, the underground pipe repair device comprising: a first T-shaped joint liner having a base portion extending laterally in the service pipe, and an arm portion extending vertically into the branch pipe; a first annular spacer aligned with an opening in the branch pipe and being coupled to an underside of said first T-shaped joint liner; a second annular spacer aligned with the opening in the branch pipe and being coupled to the underside of said first T-shaped joint liner, said first annular spacer being radially within said second annular spacer; and a third annular spacer aligned with the opening in the branch pipe and being coupled to the underside of said first T-shaped joint liner, said second annular spacer being radially within said third annular spacer; at least one of second annular spacer and said third annular spacer comprising a swellable seal. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The underground pipe repair device of claim 1 wherein at least one of second annular spacer and said third annular spacer comprises a color coded material for indicating a location of a cutting incision. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The underground pipe repair device of claim 1 further comprising: a second ring-shaped liner under said first T-shaped joint liner and aligned with the opening in the branch pipe; said second ring-shaped liner being coupled to said base portion of said first T-shaped joint liner to retain said first annular spacer, said second annular spacer, and said third annular spacer; and a ring-shaped release tab coupled to said second ring-shaped liner and configured to prevent a liner for the service pipe from bonding to adjacent portions of said second ring-shaped liner. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The underground pipe repair device of claim 3 further comprising a coating layer on said second ring-shaped liner and configured to prevent a liner for the service pipe from bonding to adjacent portions of said second ring-shaped liner. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The underground pipe repair device of claim 1 wherein said first annular spacer extends vertically into the service pipe so that a liner for the service pipe has a radial bump about the opening of the branch pipe. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The underground pipe repair device of claim 1 wherein said first annular spacer and said second annular spacer each has a greater height than said third annular spacer. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The underground pipe repair device of claim 1 wherein said first and second annular spacers each comprises a plastic material. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The underground pipe repair device of claim 1 wherein each of said first annular spacer and second annular spacer has a different color. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The underground pipe repair device of claim 1 wherein said first annular spacer comprises a frangible material. ### Claim 10 An underground pipe repair system for a joint between a service pipe and a branch pipe, the underground pipe repair system comprising: an underground pipe repair device comprising a first T-shaped joint liner having a base portion extending laterally in the service pipe, and an arm portion extending vertically into the branch pipe, a first annular spacer aligned with an opening in the branch pipe and being coupled to an underside of said first T-shaped joint liner, a second annular spacer aligned with the opening in the branch pipe and being coupled to the underside of said first T-shaped joint liner, said first annular spacer being radially within said second annular spacer, and a third annular spacer aligned with the opening in the branch pipe and being coupled to the underside of said first T-shaped joint liner, said second annular spacer being radially within said third annular spacer, at least one of second annular spacer and said third annular spacer comprising a swellable seal, said first annular spacer extending vertically into the service pipe so that a liner for the service pipe has a radial bump about the opening of the branch pipe; and a robot device comprising a transceiver, a cutting tool, and a processor coupled to said transceiver and said cutting tool and configured to move through the service pipe and determine a position of the radial bump, and operate said cutting tool to cut an opening in a liner of the service pipe aligned with said first annular spacer so that a portion the liner of the service pipe adjacent the opening of the branch pipe is removed. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The underground pipe repair system of claim 10 wherein at least one of second annular spacer and said third annular spacer comprises a color coded material for indicating a location of a cutting incision. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The underground pipe repair system of claim 10 wherein said underground pipe repair device further comprises: a second ring-shaped liner under said first T-shaped joint liner and aligned with the opening in the branch pipe; said second ring-shaped liner being coupled to said base portion of said first T-shaped joint liner to retain said first annular spacer, said second annular spacer, and said third annular spacer; and a ring-shaped release tab coupled to said second ring-shaped liner and configured to prevent a liner for the service pipe from bonding to adjacent portions of said second ring-shaped liner. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The underground pipe repair system of claim 12 wherein said underground pipe repair device further comprises a coating layer on said second ring-shaped liner and configured to prevent a liner for the service pipe from bonding to adjacent portions of said second ring-shaped liner. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The underground pipe repair system of claim 10 wherein said first annular spacer and said second annular spacer each has a greater height than said third annular spacer. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The underground pipe repair system of claim 10 wherein said first and second annular spacers each comprises a plastic material. ### Claim 16 A method for operating an underground pipe repair system for repairing a joint between a service pipe and a branch pipe, the method comprising: positioning an underground pipe repair device at the joint, the underground pipe repair device comprising a first T-shaped joint liner having a base portion extending laterally in the service pipe, and an arm portion extending vertically into the branch pipe, a first annular spacer aligned with an opening in the branch pipe and being coupled to an underside of the first T-shaped joint liner, a second annular spacer aligned with the opening in the branch pipe and being coupled to the underside of the first T-shaped joint liner, the first annular spacer being radially within the second annular spacer, and a third annular spacer aligned with the opening in the branch pipe and being coupled to the underside of the first T-shaped joint liner, the second annular spacer being radially within the third annular spacer, at least one of second annular spacer and the third annular spacer comprising a swellable seal, the first annular spacer extending vertically into the service pipe so that a liner for the service pipe has a radial bump about the opening of the branch pipe; curing the underground pipe repair device to the joint; applying and curing a liner for the service pipe; and cutting an opening in the liner of the service pipe aligned with the first annular spacer so that a portion the liner of the service pipe adjacent the opening of the branch pipe is removed. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16 wherein at least one of second annular spacer and the third annular spacer comprises a color coded material for indicating a location of a cutting incision. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16 wherein the underground pipe repair device further comprises: a second ring-shaped liner under the first T-shaped joint liner and aligned with the opening in the branch pipe; the second ring-shaped liner being coupled to the base portion of the first T-shaped joint liner to retain the first annular spacer, the second annular spacer, and the third annular spacer; and a ring-shaped release tab coupled to the second ring-shaped liner and configured to prevent a liner for the service pipe from bonding to adjacent portions of the second ring-shaped liner. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18 wherein the underground pipe repair device further comprises a coating layer on the second ring-shaped liner and configured to prevent a liner for the service pipe from bonding to adjacent portions of the second ring-shaped liner. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16 wherein the first annular spacer and the second annular spacer each has a greater height than the third annular spacer.