Synchronization of retrieval system and oscillator for sled-based application of a coating material
AssigneeInland Pipe Rehabilitation, LLC
InventorAllan Ray Jedneak
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A planetary gear retrieval system for pulling a sled at a constant velocity along an interior of a pipe, and a sled for applying a coating material to the interior of the large-diameter pipe. The planetary gear retrieval system is connected to the sled via a chain, and has a network of gears controlled by a first variable speed microcontroller. A spinner on a linear oscillating plate provided on the sled is controlled by a second variable speed microcontroller. The first and second microcontrollers are programmable to be synchronized with one another so as to pull the sled at a desired constant rate and achieve a desired number of passes of the spinner along a given length of pipe while the sled is pulled at the desired rate.
Claims8
A system for applying a coating material to an interior of a pipe, comprising:
- a planetary gear retrieval system including a network of gears including a first gear, a second gear, and a third gear, the first gear being powered by a gear motor;
- a first variable speed microcontroller provided on the planetary gear retrieval system, the first variable speed microcontroller in operable communication with the gear motor;
- a sled including a pair of skis, a linear oscillating plate, and a spinner supported by the linear oscillating plate, the spinner configured to spray a coating material onto an interior of a pipe;
- a second variable speed microcontroller provided on the sled, the second variable speed microcontroller in operable communication with the linear oscillating plate;
- and
- a chain threaded through the first, second, and third gears, the chain having an end attached to the sled.
A method for applying a coating material to an interior of a pipe, comprising:
- providing a planetary gear retrieval system including a network of gears including a first gear, a second gear, and a third gear, the first gear being powered by a gear motor;
- fixing the planetary gear retrieval system to a floor of the pipe;
- providing a first variable speed microcontroller on the planetary gear retrieval system, the first variable speed microcontroller in operable communication with the gear motor;
- providing a sled spaced away from the planetary gear retrieval system, the sled including a pair of skis, a linear oscillating plate, and a spinner supported by the linear oscillating plate, the spinner spraying a coating material onto an interior of the pipe;
- providing a second variable speed microcontroller on the sled, the second variable speed microcontroller in operable communication with the linear oscillating plate;
- and
- threading a chain through the first, second, and third gears;
- attaching an end of the chain to the sled;
- programming the first variable speed microcontroller to control the gear motor to rotate the first gear at a constant angular velocity, thereby pulling the chain and the sled at a constant rate in a direction toward the planetary gear retrieval system;
- programming the second variable speed microcontroller to control the linear oscillating plate to oscillate at a rate that achieves a desired number of passes along a length of travel of the sled.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.