US 11,598,474 B2Granted

Systems and methods for maintaining pipes

AssigneeGeneral Electric Company

InventorsAlexander Kyle Duncan, Todd William Danko, Justin Foehner, Yakov Polishchuk, Douglas R. Forman

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Abstract

A motorized apparatus for use in maintaining a pipe includes at least one drive portion including a body assembly, a plurality of leg assemblies coupled circumferentially around the body assembly, a plurality of drive mechanisms coupled to the plurality of leg assemblies, and a drive portion coupling mechanism. The motorized apparatus also includes at least one maintenance portion including a body, at least one maintenance device coupled to the body, and a maintenance portion coupling mechanism configured to engage the drive portion coupling mechanism. The at least one drive portion is releasably coupled to the at least one maintenance portion by engaging the drive portion coupling mechanism with the maintenance portion coupling mechanism. The drive portion coupling mechanism and the maintenance portion coupling mechanism are each configured to engage another coupling mechanism when the drive portion coupling mechanism and the maintenance portion coupling mechanism are uncoupled from each other.

Claims16

Dependent claims

A motorized apparatus for use in maintaining a pipe having a sidewall defining an interior cavity, said motorized apparatus comprising:

at least one drive portion comprising:
a body assembly;
a plurality of leg assemblies coupled circumferentially around said body assembly;
a plurality of drive mechanisms coupled to said plurality of leg assemblies, wherein said plurality of drive mechanisms are configured to interact with the sidewall;
and
a drive portion coupling mechanism coupled to said body assembly;
and
at least one maintenance portion comprising:
a body comprising a first end, a second end, and an axial track extending between said first end and said second end of said body;
at least one maintenance device coupled to said body;
a maintenance portion coupling mechanism coupled to one of said first end and said second end of said body, wherein said maintenance portion coupling mechanism is configured to engage said drive portion coupling mechanism;
and
an actuator assembly configured to move said at least one maintenance device along said axial track and to rotate said at least one maintenance device around said axial track:
wherein said at least one drive portion is releasably coupled to said at least one maintenance portion by engaging said drive portion coupling mechanism with said maintenance portion coupling mechanism, and wherein said drive portion coupling mechanism and said maintenance portion coupling mechanism are each configured to engage another coupling mechanism when said drive portion coupling mechanism and said maintenance portion coupling mechanism are uncoupled from each other.

11 more elements

A system for use in maintaining a pipe having a sidewall defining an interior cavity, said system comprising:

a motorized apparatus sized to fit within the interior cavity and configured to travel along the pipe through the interior cavity, said motorized apparatus comprising:
at least one drive portion comprising:
a body assembly;
a plurality of leg assemblies coupled circumferentially around said body assembly;
a plurality of drive mechanisms coupled to said plurality of leg assemblies and configured to interact with the sidewall when said motorized apparatus travels along the pipe;
and
a drive portion coupling mechanism;
and
at least one maintenance portion comprising:
an axial track;
at least one maintenance device coupled to said axial track;
a maintenance portion coupling mechanism configured to engage said drive portion coupling mechanism;
and
a maintenance actuator assembly;
wherein said at least one drive portion is releasably coupled to said at least one maintenance portion by engaging said drive portion coupling mechanism with said maintenance portion coupling mechanism, and wherein said drive portion coupling mechanism and said maintenance portion coupling mechanism are each configured to engage another coupling mechanism when said drive portion coupling mechanism and said maintenance portion coupling mechanism are uncoupled from each other;
and
a controller communicatively coupled to said motorized apparatus, said controller configured to send instructions to said motorized apparatus to operate said at least one drive portion and said at least one maintenance portion, wherein said maintenance actuator assembly is configured to receive instructions from said controller and, based on the instructions, move said at least one maintenance device along said axial track, and rotate said at least one maintenance device around said axial track.

14 more elements

A method for maintaining a pipe having a sidewall defining an interior cavity, said method comprising:

positioning a motorized apparatus within the interior cavity, the motorized apparatus including a drive portion and a maintenance portion, the drive portion including:
a body assembly extending along a longitudinal axis;
a plurality of leg assemblies spaced circumferentially around the body assembly;
and
a drive portion coupling mechanism,
the maintenance portion including:
an axial track;
at least one maintenance device coupled to the axial track;
a maintenance portion coupling mechanism configured to releasably couple to the drive portion coupling mechanism;
and
an actuator assembly configured to move the at least one maintenance device along the axial track and to rotate the at least one maintenance device around the axial track;
coupling the drive portion to the maintenance portion by engaging the drive portion coupling mechanism with the maintenance portion coupling mechanism, wherein the drive portion coupling mechanism and the maintenance portion coupling mechanism are each configured to engage another coupling mechanism when the drive portion coupling mechanism and the maintenance portion coupling mechanism are uncoupled from each other;
and
moving the motorized apparatus through the interior cavity using the drive portion.

11 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 16/751,722Filed 24 Jan 2020 · us provisional application
Priority: 23 Jul 2019
Published: US 2021/0025534 A128 Jan 2021
Granted: 7 Mar 2023
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification14 codes

F16L 55/44
Of the body: expandable
B08B 7/0042
By radiant energy, e.g. UV, laser, light beam or the like: by laser
B08B 9/049
Using cleaning devices introduced into and moved along the pipes: having self-contained propelling means for moving the cleaning devices along the…
B08B 9/051
Having self-contained propelling means for moving the cleaning devices along the pipes , i.e. self-propelled: the cleaning devices having internal…