# US 2023/0296200 A1 · Pipe repair device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2023/0296200 A1 - Document ID: US20230296200A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 18/202,065 - Filed: 2023-05-25 - Published: 2023-09-21 - Earliest claimed: 2017-09-26 - Assignees: Mueller International, LLC - Applicants: Mueller International, LLC - Inventors: Cody Badger; Clifton Braun; Adam Tank - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20230296200A1 ## CPC - F16L 55/16455: {a part of the tool defining, together with the inner wall of the pipe, an enclosed space into which sealing material is injected} - F16L 55/1645: a sealing material being introduced inside the pipe by means of a tool moving in the pipe - F16L 55/18: Appliances for use in repairing pipes (F16L55/10 takes precedence) - F16L 55/32: being self-contained - F16L 55/44: expandable - G01M 3/005: {using pigs or moles (G01M3/246, G01M3/2823 take precedence)} - G01M 3/243: {for pipes} - G01M 3/246: {using pigs or probes travelling in the pipe} - F16L 55/162: from inside the pipe ({F16L55/1612 takes precedence;} specially adapted for bends, branch units, branching pipes, or the like F16L55/179) - F16L 55/163: a ring, a band or a sleeve being pressed against the inner surface of the pipe - F16L 2101/20: Expelling gases or fluids - F16L 2101/60: Stopping leaks - F16L: PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL - G01M: TESTING STATIC OR DYNAMIC BALANCE OF MACHINES OR STRUCTURES; TESTING OF STRUCTURES OR APPARATUS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract A pipe repair device includes a body defining a first body end, a second body end, and a middle body section therebetween; a foldable arm pivotably attached to the body to radially reposition the foldable arm relative to the body, the foldable arm comprising a first segment and a second segment, the first segment extending between the body and the second segment, wherein the second segment is substantially parallel to the body; and a locomotion subsystem configured to drive the pipe repair device through a pipe, the locomotion subsystem mounted to the second segment of the foldable arm and configured to engage an inner surface of the pipe. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A pipe repair device comprising: a body defining a first body end, a second body end, and a middle body section therebetween; a foldable arm pivotably attached to the body to radially reposition the foldable arm relative to the body, the foldable arm comprising a first segment and a second segment, the first segment extending between the body and the second segment, wherein the second segment is substantially parallel to the body; and a locomotion subsystem configured to drive the pipe repair device through a pipe, the locomotion subsystem mounted to the second segment of the foldable arm and configured to engage an inner surface of the pipe. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The pipe repair device of claim 1, wherein the second segment of the foldable arm defines a first segment end pivotably coupled to the first segment of the foldable arm. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The pipe repair device of claim 2, wherein the second segment further defines a second segment end distal to the first segment end, and wherein the second segment end is a free end. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The pipe repair device of claim 3, wherein a first spring extends between the first segment and the second segment, and wherein the first spring biases the second segment radially outward from the first segment. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The pipe repair device of claim 4, wherein a second spring extends between the body and the first segment, and wherein the second spring biases the first segment radially outward from the body. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The pipe repair device of claim 2, wherein the locomotion subsystem comprises a wheel pivotably mounted to the second segment of the foldable arm and configured to engage the inner surface of the pipe. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The pipe repair device of claim 6, wherein the wheel is a first wheel of a plurality of wheels spaced laterally along the second segment of the foldable arm. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The pipe repair device of claim 6, wherein the first segment of the foldable arm comprises a first elongated arm element and a second elongated arm element parallel to the first elongated arm element, and wherein the wheel is configured to nest between the first elongated arm element and the second elongated arm element. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The pipe repair device of claim 6, wherein: the pipe repair device further comprises a power subsystem configured to supply and carry electrical power to the locomotion subsystem; the locomotion subsystem comprises a motor; and the power subsystem carries the electrical power to the motor. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The pipe repair device of claim 9, wherein the motor drives rotation of the wheel. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The pipe repair device of claim 1, further comprising a stent configurable in a compressed configuration and an expanded configuration, wherein the stent is mounted to the body in the compressed configuration. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The pipe repair device of claim 11, wherein the stent comprises a spring and a sealing layer wrapped around a circumference of the spring, the sealing layer comprising a flexible and compressible repair material, wherein the spring biases the stent to the expanded configuration. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The pipe repair device of claim 12, wherein the stent defines a cylindrical structure, a void extending through a center of the cylindrical structure, the void configured to allow fluid to flow therethrough. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The pipe repair device of claim 13, wherein the body defines a middle section disposed between the first body end and the second body end, and wherein the middle section is received through the void of the stent. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The pipe repair device of claim 11, further comprising a leak detection subsystem comprising a leak detection sensor, and wherein: the leak detection sensor is configured to identify a position of a leak in a pipeline; the pipe repair device is transportable through the pipeline to the leak via the locomotion subsystem; and the stent is expandable to the expanded configuration to seal the leak. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The pipe repair device of claim 15, wherein: the leak detection sensor comprises an image sensor for visually identifying the leak; the image sensor comprises a camera; and the pipe repair device streams data collected from the camera to a remote user to allow the remote user to visually identify of the leak. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The pipe repair device of claim 16, wherein the pipe repair device further comprises a light configured to illuminate an interior of the pipeline. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The pipe repair device of claim 15, wherein the leak detection sensor comprises an acoustic microphone for aurally identifying the leak. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The pipe repair device of claim 18, wherein the acoustic microphone comprises a hydrophone configured to identify an axial position and an azimuthal position of the leak based on triangulation of hydrophone-derived audio signatures corresponding to the leak. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The pipe repair device of claim 15, wherein the leak detection sensor comprises an image sensor for visually identifying the leak, and wherein the pipe repair device further comprises an acoustic microphone for aurally identifying the leak.