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US 11,686,417 B2Granted
Apparatus for autonomous pipeline assessment
OwnerTimothy Healyinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method is provided for the autonomous assessment of pipelines. The apparatus combines commercially available mechanisms for pipeline assessment in a unique untethered pipeline assessment device that is propelled through the pipeline by the flow of liquid in the pipeline, thus allowing for the assessment of pipelines much cheaper, faster, safer and less disruptive to the community than the current assessment methods.
Claims19
A system for inspecting multiple segments of below grade sewer pipeline, comprising:
- a below grade sewer pipeline having an inner diameter and containing a flow of liquid only partially filling the inner diameter so as to define a headspace above the level of the liquid flowing in the sewer pipeline;
- an upstream access point to the sewer pipeline;
- a plurality of downstream access points to the sewer pipeline;
- an untethered floating pipeline assessment device having a size that is substantially smaller than the inner diameter of the sewer pipeline, the assessment device being operable to be lowered into the sewer pipeline at the upstream access point and configured to float and capable of rotation on a surface of the liquid in the pipeline through one or more of the downstream access points and then be retrieved from the sewer pipeline at a selected one of the downstream access points;
- and a
- retrieval device operable to be lowered into the sewer pipeline at the selected downstream access point to capture the pipeline assessment device without the need for manned entry into the sewer pipeline.
3 more elements
A system for inspecting below grade sewer pipeline, comprising:
- a below grade sewer pipeline having an inner diameter and containing a flow of liquid only partially filling the inner diameter so as to define a headspace above the level of the liquid flowing in the sewer pipeline:
- an upstream access point to the sewer pipeline:
- a downstream access point to the sewer pipeline:
- an untethered floating pipeline assessment device having a size that is substantially smaller than the inner diameter of the sewer pipeline, the assessment device being operable to be lowered into the sewer pipeline at the upstream access point and to float in the liquid in the pipeline and then be retrieved from the sewer pipeline at the downstream access point:
- and
- a retrieval device operable to be lowered into the sewer pipeline at the downstream access point to capture the pipeline assessment device without the need for manned entry into the sewer pipeline, wherein the retrieval device comprises an adjustable width magnetic rake and an adjustable length pole.
3 more elements
A method for inspecting multiple segments of a below grade sewer pipeline, comprising:
- providing a below grade sewer pipeline having an inner diameter and containing a flow of liquid only partially filling the inner diameter so as to define a headspace above the level of the liquid flowing in the sewer pipeline;
- lowering an untethered pipeline assessment device into the sewer pipeline from an upstream at grade access point, wherein the pipeline assessment device is configured to float freely on a surface of the liquid and is capable of rotating on the surface of the liquid, and wherein the pipeline assessment device has a size that is substantially smaller than the inner diameter of the sewer pipeline;
- allowing the pipeline assessment device to float downstream with the liquid flowing in the sewer pipeline through one or more downstream access points;
- and
- lowering a retrieval device into the sewer pipeline from a selected downstream at grade access point to capture the pipeline assessment device without the need for manned entry into the sewer pipeline.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.