# US 2014/0191845 A1 · Duct system and method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0191845 A1 - Document ID: US20140191845A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/146,874 - Filed: 2014-01-03 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-08 - Assignees: Dura-Line Corporation - Applicants: Dura-Line Corporation - Inventors: Timothy A Grimsley; Thomas McCall - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140191845A1 ## CPC - G01S 1/047: {Displays or indicators (G01S1/06 takes precedence)} - B29C 65/66: by liberation of internal stresses, e.g. shrinking of one of the parts to be joined - F16L 1/036: the pipes being composed of sections of short length (F16L1/038 takes precedence) - F16L 1/11: for the detection or protection of pipes in the ground - F16L 7/02: and sealing the pipes or cables inside the other pipes, cables or sleeves - F16L 9/19: Multi-channel pipes or pipe assemblies - F16L 55/02: Energy absorbers; Noise absorbers - F24F 13/02: Ducting arrangements - B29C 63/42: using tubular layers or sheathings - B29C 65/56: using mechanical means {or mechanical connections, e.g. form-fits} - B29C 66/73715: {heat-shrinkable} - B32B 37/06: characterised by the heating method - B32B 2597/00: Tubular articles, e.g. hoses, pipes - F24F 2221/00: Details or features not otherwise provided for - G01S: RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) - F16L: PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL - F24F: AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING (removing dirt or fumes from areas where they are produced B08B15/00; vertical ducts for carrying away waste gases from buildings E04F17/02; tops for chimneys or ventilating shafts, terminals for flues F23L17/02) - B32B: LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM ## Abstract The present inventive concept includes a duct system and method for using same to map and locate ducts. A preferred embodiment of the duct system includes a duct, a plurality of electronic information modules and an oversheath at least partially covering the plurality of information modules and fixing the information modules to the duct. The plurality of information modules are configured to emit a positional signal to enable location of the information modules and associated duct(s) and/or mapping of the duct system. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A duct system comprising: a duct; at least one information module configured to emit a positional signal; and an oversheath at least partially covering the at least one information module and fixing the at least one information module to the duct. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one information module is configured to emit a duct properties signal relating to at least one of i) the condition of the duct, and ii) the contents of the duct. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one information module includes five information modules arranged in a network and a first information module of the five information modules is within positional signal range of the other of the five information modules. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The system of claim 3, wherein the five information modules are configured to bypass a malfunctioning information module to pass signal information. ### Claim 5 A method of mapping a duct system, the steps of the method comprising: providing at least one information module fixed to a duct and configured to emit a positional signal; receiving a positional signal from the at least one information module; and plotting the positional signal on at least two axes. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein the at least one information module is configured to emit a duct properties signal relating to at least one of i) the condition of the duct, and ii) the contents of the duct, and further comprising the step of receiving, via the receiver, the duct properties signal. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein the at least one information module is configured to include a receiver and the step of receiving a positional signal is performed by the receiver. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, further comprising the steps of: passing the positional signal from a first information module to a second information module of the at least one information module, and emitting from the second information module the positional signal of the first information module and the second information module. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of associating the duct properties signal information with the positional signal information. ### Claim 10 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein the at least one information module is fixed to the duct using an oversheath.