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US 11,530,773 B2Granted
Pipe repair device
AssigneeMueller International, LLC
InventorsCody Badger, Clifton Braun, Adam Tank
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A pipe repair device includes a body defining a first body end, a second body end, and a middle body section therebetween; a pivotable arm attached to the body, wherein the pivotable arm is pivotable relative to the body to radially reposition the pivotable arm relative to the body; a locomotion subsystem configured to drive the pipe repair device through a pipe, the locomotion subsystem mounted to the pivotable arm and configured to engage an inner surface of the pipe; and a stent mounted to the body, the stent comprising a sealing layer and a spring.
Claims23
A pipe repair device comprising:
- a body defining a first body end, a second body end, and a middle body section therebetween;
- a pivotable arm attached to the body, wherein the pivotable arm is pivotable relative to the body to radially reposition the pivotable arm relative to the body;
- a locomotion subsystem configured to drive the pipe repair device through a pipe, the locomotion subsystem mounted to the pivotable arm and configured to engage an inner surface of the pipe;
- a stent mounted to the body, the stent comprising a sealing layer and a stent spring;
- and
- a spring, wherein the pivotable arm is biased radially outward from the body by the spring.
3 more elements
A method for repairing a pipe comprising:
- providing a pipe repair device comprising a body, a pivotable arm that is pivotably attached to the body, and a locomotion subsystem mounted to the pivotably arm;
- mounting a stent on the pipe repair device in a compressed configuration;
- pivoting the pivotable arm radially outward from the body to engage the locomotion subsystem with an inner surface of a pipe, wherein pivoting the pivotable arm radially outward from the body comprises biasing the pivotable arm radially outward from the body by a spring;
- transporting the stent through the pipe to a leak in the pipe;
- and
- expanding the stent to an expanded configuration within the pipe.
3 more elements
A pipe repair device comprising:
- a body defining a first body end, a second body end, and a middle body section therebetween;
- a pivotable arm attached to the body, wherein the pivotable arm is pivotable relative to the body to radially reposition the pivotable arm relative to the body;
- a locomotion subsystem configured to drive the pipe repair device through a pipe, the locomotion subsystem mounted to the pivotable arm and configured to engage an inner surface of the pipe;
- and
- a stent mounted to the body, the stent comprising a sealing layer and a stent spring;
- wherein:
- the pivotable arm comprises a first arm segment and a second arm segment;
- the first arm segment defines a first arm end and a second arm end;
- the first arm segment is pivotably attached to the body at the first arm end;
- the second arm segment is pivotably attached to the first arm segment at the second arm end;
- the pipe repair device further comprises a first spring and a second spring;
- the first spring engages the first arm segment to bias the second arm end of the first arm segment radially outward from the body;
- the second arm segment defines a proximal arm end pivotably attached to the first arm segment and a distal arm end opposite the proximal end;
- and
- the second spring engages the second arm segment to bias the distal arm end of the second arm segment radially outward from the body.
12 more elements
A pipe repair device comprising:
- a body defining a first body end, a second body end, and a middle body section therebetween;
- a pivotable arm attached to the body, wherein the pivotable arm is pivotable relative to the body to radially reposition the pivotable arm relative to the body;
- a locomotion subsystem configured to drive the pipe repair device through a pipe, the locomotion subsystem mounted to the pivotable arm and configured to engage an inner surface of the pipe;
- and
- a stent mounted to the body, the stent comprising a sealing layer and a stent spring;
- wherein:
- the pivotable arm comprises a first arm segment and a second arm segment;
- the first arm segment defines a first arm end and a second arm end;
- the first arm segment is pivotably attached to the body at the first arm end;
- the second arm segment is pivotably attached to the first arm segment at the second arm end;
- the first arm segment extends from the body proximate to the first body end;
- a third arm segment is pivotably attached to and extends from the body proximate to the second body end;
- and
- the second arm segment extends between and is pivotably attached to each of the first arm segment and the third arm segment.
11 more elements
A pipe repair device comprising:
- a body defining a first body end, a second body end, and a middle body section therebetween;
- a pivotable arm attached to the body, wherein the pivotable arm is pivotable relative to the body to radially reposition the pivotable arm relative to the body;
- a locomotion subsystem configured to drive the pipe repair device through a pipe, the locomotion subsystem mounted to the pivotable arm and configured to engage an inner surface of the pipe;
- and
- a stent mounted to the body, the stent comprising a sealing layer and a stent spring;
- wherein:
- the pivotable arm comprises a first arm segment and a second arm segment;
- the first arm segment defines a first arm end and a second arm end;
- the first arm segment is pivotably attached to the body at the first arm end;
- the second arm segment is pivotably attached to the first arm segment at the second arm end;
- the locomotion subsystem comprises a wheel mounted to the second arm segment and configured to engage the inner surface of the pipe;
- the first arm segment defines a pair of parallel first arm members;
- the second arm segment defines a pair of parallel second arm members;
- and
- the wheel is disposed between the pair of parallel second arm members.
12 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.