Patent ID: 7073979
Filing Date: 2006-07-11
Classification: E03F,G01M

Abstract:
1. A method of performing maintenance on a sewer system that includes a main pipe and a plurality of lateral pipes communicating with the main pipe through lateral openings in the main pipe, the method comprising: covering the walls of the main pipe with a liner that cuts off communication between the main and lateral pipes by covering the lateral openings; detecting with a thermal sensor variations in the thermal conditions of the liner; interpreting the variations in the thermal conditions to identify the portions of the liner that cover lateral openings; and cutting through the portions of the liner that cover lateral openings to establish communication between the main and lateral pipes; wherein the main pipe includes an upstream end and a downstream end that is lower than the upstream end, such that water flowing out of the lateral pipes into the main pipe flows toward the downstream end of the main pipe; and wherein the cutting step includes establishing communication between the main and lateral pipes in an upstream progression.