# US 8,873,806 B2 · Method and means for determining change in pipe diameter

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- Number: US 8,873,806 B2
- Document ID: US8873806B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/644,546
- Filed: 2012-10-04
- Published: 2014-04-10
- Granted: 2014-10-28
- Earliest claimed: 2012-10-04
- Assignees: LMK Technologies, LLC
- Applicants: LMK Technologies, LLC
- Inventors: Larry W. Kiest, Jr.
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8873806B2

## CPC

- G01B 11/12: internal diameters
- G01N 21/954: Inspecting the inner surface of hollow bodies, e.g. bores
- G01N 2021/9542: {using a probe}
- G01B: MEASURING LENGTH, THICKNESS OR SIMILAR LINEAR DIMENSIONS; MEASURING ANGLES; MEASURING AREAS; MEASURING IRREGULARITIES OF SURFACES OR CONTOURS
- G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q)

## Abstract

A diameter sensing assembly is provided for determining the location of a change in diameter in a pipe from a remote location outside of the pipe. The assembly includes an imaging device operatively connected to an imaging cable and a diameter sensing device operatively connected to a sensing cable. The sensing device is positioned generally forward of the imaging device, and includes a plurality of flexible arms that are rigid enough to stay horizontal, but flexible enough to bend or depress easily. The two cables are connected to one another such that the entire assembly is able to be moved through a pipe at a constant speed. Marks are placed on one of the cables to determine the length to the change in diameter, and the length of portions of pipes having different diameters.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of determining the location of a change in diameter of a pipe, comprising:
providing a diameter sensing assembly including an imaging device and a sensing device operatively connected to the imaging device and positioned at least partially forward of the imaging device, the sensing device comprising a plurality of flexible arms extending radially outwardly;
inserting the diameter sensing assembly into the pipe;
moving the diameter sensing assembly through the length of the pipe;
acquiring imaging data of the plurality of arms of the sensing device in relation to a wall of the pipe as the assembly moves through the pipe; and
using the imaging data to determine the location of a change in diameter of the pipe.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the flexible arms comprise spring steel.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 further comprising determining the diameter of the pipe at a location to size the flexible arms to a predetermined diameter.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3 wherein the flexible arms are sized to be in contact with the wall of the pipe for the predetermined diameter of the pipe.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4 wherein the plurality of flexible arms are the same length.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the imaging device is a camera.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6 wherein the imaging data is a picture of the plurality of flexible arms moving through the pipe.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 further comprising viewing the imaging data at a remote location.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8 wherein the imaging data is viewed at an imaging viewer.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein a change in diameter of the pipe occurs when the plurality of flexible arms bend.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the sensing assembly further comprises an imaging cable operatively connected to the imaging device and used to move the sensing assembly through the pipe.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11 further comprising marking the imaging cable at an opening of the pipe when a change in diameter of the pipe is determined.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12 wherein the marking is used to measure the distance from the imaging device to the marking that is equal to the distance between the opening of the pipe and the location of the change in diameter in the pipe.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 further comprising inserting the sensing assembly through a cleanout pipe before the assembly is inserted into the pipe.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the flexible arms are radially mounted about a same central axis.

### Claim 16

A sensing assembly for determining the location of a change in diameter of a lateral pipe along the length of the lateral pipe used in connection with a sewer system from a remote location, comprising:
an imaging device for acquiring imaging data inside the lateral pipe;
an imaging cable operatively connected to the imaging device and configured to transport imaging data to the remote location;
a sensing device operatively connected to the imaging device and at least partially forward of the imaging device, the sensing device comprising a plurality of flexible arms extending radially outwardly;
wherein the diameter of the sensing device is equal to a predetermined diameter at a beginning of the lateral pipe and the imaging device acquires imaging data of the sensing device in and along the lateral pipe.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The assembly of claim 16 wherein the plurality of flexible arms comprise steel spring.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The assembly of claim 17 wherein the plurality of flexible arms is spring shaped to allow the arms to bend.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The assembly of claim 18 wherein a bend in the plurality of springs signals a change in the diameter of the lateral pipe.

### Claim 20 (depends on 16)

The assembly of claim 16 further comprising an imaging viewer to view the imaging data acquired by the imaging device.

### Claim 21 (depends on 20)

The assembly of claim 20 wherein the imaging viewer is a screen.

### Claim 22 (depends on 16)

The assembly of claim 16 wherein the imaging device is a camera.

### Claim 23 (depends on 22)

The assembly of claim 22 wherein the imaging data is a picture.

### Claim 24 (depends on 22)

The assembly of claim 22 wherein the imaging data is a video.

### Claim 25 (depends on 16)

The assembly of claim 16 wherein the imaging cable is further adapted to move the assembly through the lateral pipe.

### Claim 26 (depends on 16)

The assembly of claim 16 wherein the imaging data comprises images of the plurality of flexible arms in relation to the wall of the lateral pipe as the assembly moves through the lateral pipe.

### Claim 27 (depends on 16)

The assembly of claim 16 wherein the flexible arms are radially mounted on a same centralized axis.

### Claim 28

A method of repairing a section of a wall of a lateral pipe, comprising:
determining the location of a change in diameter of the lateral pipe by providing a diameter sensing assembly comprising an imaging device and a sensing device positioned at least partially forward of the imaging device, the sensing device comprising a plurality of flexible arms extending radially outwardly, and acquiring imaging data of the sensing device in relation to the wall of the lateral pipe as the assembly moves through the pipe;
assembling a liner assembly, comprising a bladder tube and a liner tube impregnated with a resinous material capable of curing and hardening, based on the number and location of changes in diameter along the length of the section of lateral pipe;
inserting the liner assembly into the lateral pipe, wherein the diameter of the liner assembly matches the diameter of the lateral pipe along the length of the section of lateral pipe being repaired;
pressing the liner tube against a wall of the lateral pipe;
allowing the resinous material to cure and harden; and
removing the bladder tube from the lateral pipe to leave the liner tube cured in place in the lateral tube along a length of the section of the wall of the lateral pipe.

### Claim 29 (depends on 28)

The method of claim 28 wherein the liner assembly is inverted into the lateral pipe.

### Claim 30 (depends on 29)

The method of claim 29 further comprising inflating the bladder tube within the lateral pipe.

### Claim 31 (depends on 28)

The method of claim 28 wherein the liner assembly changes diameter at the same location that the lateral pipe changes diameter.

### Claim 32 (depends on 28)

The method of claim 28 wherein the step of determining the location of a change in diameter of the lateral pipe further comprises inserting the diameter sensing assembly and moving the assembly through the lateral pipe.

### Claim 33 (depends on 28)

The method of claim 28 wherein the sensing device is of a predetermined diameter.

### Claim 34 (depends on 28)

The method of claim 28 wherein the step of determining the location of a change in diameter of the lateral pipe further comprises using the imaging data to determine the location of a change in diameter of the lateral pipe.

### Claim 35 (depends on 34)

The method of claim 34 further comprising marking the diameter sensing assembly at the location of a change in diameter of the lateral pipe.