Abstract:
An apparatus and method for determining the diameter of a pipe from a remote location is disclosed. A measuring assembly, including a reference device and an imaging device, is inserted into a pipe from a remote location. The reference device is inflatable to a predetermined and known diameter within the pipe. The imaging device acquires imaging data of the reference device within the pipe and the imaging data is used to determine the diameter of the pipe by comparing the predetermined diameter of the reference device with the diameter of the wall of the pipe. The diameter of the pipe is then used to properly choose a liner assembly of the same diameter to repair the wall of the pipe. The liner tube may include a bladder and liner tube, which is saturated with a curable resin, to repair the wall of the pipe.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to sewer line repair. More particularly, but not exclusively, the invention relates to an improved method and means for determining the diameter of a sewer pipe from a remote location prior to repairing the pipe. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Cured-in-place pipe repair (CIPP) has been used to repair damaged main sewer pipes or lateral sewer pipes as well as other types of conduits. Generally, a liner tube is impregnated with a resinous material, and is positioned in a pipe adjacent a damaged area of pipe. The liner tube is pressed against the wall of the damaged area of the pipe and the resin is allowed to cure in the bladder, thus leaving a renewed pipe wall. In addition, the liner tube is either pulled in place or inflated and inverted into the pipe to the damaged area in need of repair. 
     Liner tubes are generally formed from a flat piece of material, which is sized to be the correct length and width to fully cover the lateral pipe wall. The material is then rolled together, with the two ends of the width of the liner connected by stitching or welding, to form the tube. The diameter of the liner tube must be the same as the diameter of the lateral pipe. The same diameters are required so that there is a perfect fit of the liner tube in the lateral pipe. If the liner tube has a diameter less than the diameter of the lateral pipe, ripping or tearing of the liner could occur. If, on the other hand, the liner tube has a diameter greater than the diameter of the lateral pipe, the liner tube may fold over itself, or create bulges in the cured liner. These folds or bulges could cause blockages in the lateral pipe, and need to be cut or sanded out. The extra work is time consuming and expensive. 
     Methods of measuring lateral pipes do exist. For example, one method of measuring the diameter of a pipe involves inserting a rod directly into a lateral pipe to determine the diameter of the pipe. However, this method required direct access to the lateral pipe. The direct access may come from digging a large portion of the ground adjacent the lateral pipe and directly inserting the measuring device. However, digging to obtain direct access to a lateral pipe is time consuming and expensive. In addition, because a large excavation area must be dug to obtain direct access to the lateral pipe, the land around the pipe will remain unattractive until the landscaping of the site can be repaired. In other instances, such as where obstacles around the pipe exist, digging may not be possible to directly access the lateral pipe. 
     Accordingly, there is a need in the art for an improved method and means of determining the diameter of a lateral pipe without having to directly access the lateral pipe. There is also a need in the art for a method and means of determining the diameter of a lateral pipe to properly repair the wall of the pipe. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore a primary object, feature, and/or advantage of the present invention to provide an improved method and means of determining the diameter of a lateral pipe that improves or solves deficiencies in the art. 
     It is another object, feature, and/or advantage of the present invention to provide an improved method and means of determining the diameter of a lateral pipe when there is no direct access to the pipe. 
     It is another object, feature, and/or advantage of the present invention to provide an improved method and means of determining the diameter of a lateral pipe to repair defects in the lateral pipe by cured-in-place pipe lining. 
     It is another object, feature, and/or advantage of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for determining the diameter of a lateral pipe via access through a cleanout pipe. 
     It is another object, feature, and/or advantage of the present invention to provide a reference device that can determine at least three different diameters of lateral pipes. 
     It is another object, feature, and/or advantage of the present invention to provide an improved method and means for determining the diameter of a lateral pipe that can be done from a remote location. 
     It is another object, feature, and/or advantage of the present invention to provide an improved method and means of determining the diameter of a lateral pipe using a reference device having a predetermined diameter. 
     It is another object, feature, and/or advantage of the present invention to provide an improved method and means of determining the diameter of a lateral pipe using and imaging device to view within the pipe. 
     These and/or other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The present invention is not to be limited to or by these objects, features and advantages, and no single embodiment need exhibit every object, feature, and/or advantage. 
     According to one aspect of the present invention, a method of determining the diameter of a lateral pipe of a sewer pipe system from a remote location outside of the sewer to assist in repairing the wall of the pipe is provided. The method comprises providing a measuring assembly comprising an imaging device and a reference device operatively connected to the imaging device and positioned at least partially forward of the imaging device. The measuring assembly is inserted into the lateral pipe, and then moved through the lateral pipe. As the measuring assembly moves through the lateral pipe, imaging data of the reference device and the lateral pipe is acquired from the imaging device. The imaging data is used to determine the diameter of the lateral pipe. 
     According to another aspect of the present invention, a measuring assembly for determining the diameter of a pipe from a remote location to assist in the repair of the pipe is provided. The measuring assembly includes an imaging device and a reference device. The imaging device is for acquiring imaging data inside the pipe. The reference device is operatively connected to the imaging device and positioned at least partially forward of the imaging device, and is adapted to be of a known and predetermined diameter to compare to the diameter of the pipe to determine the pipe diameter. 
     According to another aspect of the present invention, a method of determining the diameter of a lateral pipe of a sewer pipe system from a remote location outside of the sewer to assist in repairing a wall of the pipe is provided. The method includes providing a measuring assembly including an imaging device, an imaging cable operatively connected to the imaging device, an inflatable plug operatively connected to the imaging device and positioned at least partially forward of the imaging device, and an air hose. The measuring assembly is inserted into the lateral pipe. The plug is inflated to a predetermined diameter within the lateral pipe. The measuring assembly is moved through the lateral pipe. Imaging data is acquired from the imaging device, including the predetermined diameter of the inflatable plug relative to the diameter of the lateral pipe as the measuring assembly moves through the length of the lateral pipe. The imaging data is used to determine the diameter of the lateral pipe along the length of the lateral pipe. 
     According to another aspect of the present invention, a measuring assembly for determining the diameter of a lateral pipe of a sewer pipe system from a remote location outside of the sewer to aid in repairing the lateral pipe is provided. The assembly includes an imaging device, an imaging cable, an inflatable plug, and an air hose. The imaging device is used to collect imaging data in a lateral pipe. The imaging cable is operatively connected to the imaging device and configured to transmit the imaging data to the remote location. The inflatable plug is operatively connected to the imaging device and positioned at least partially forward of the imaging device, the plug having a predetermined diameter when fully inflated. The air hose is operatively connected to the plug and configured to inflate the plug after the assembly is inserted into the lateral pipe. The imaging data is used to compare the predetermined diameter of the inflated plug with the lateral pipe to determine the diameter of the lateral pipe. 
     According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a method of repairing at least a portion of a lateral pipe of a sewer system is provided. The method includes determining the diameter of the lateral pipe along the length of the pipe by providing a measuring device comprising an imaging device and a reference plug having a predetermined diameter and being at least partially forward the imaging device, and acquiring imaging data of a difference between the diameter of the plug and the diameter of the lateral pipe. A liner assembly, including a bladder tube and a liner tube impregnated with a resinous material capable of curing and hardening, based on the measured diameter of the lateral pipe, is chosen. The liner assembly is inserted into the lateral pipe, and the liner tube is pressed against a wall of the pipe. The resinous material is allowed to cure, and then the bladder tube is removed from the lateral pipe to leave the liner tube cured in place in the lateral tube along the length of the pipe. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of a sewer pipe system showing a house, cleanout pipe, lateral pipe, and main pipe. 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of the lateral pipe of  FIG. 1  along the line  2 - 2 . 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a measuring assembly of the present invention with the reference device having a predetermined diameter. 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the reference device used in the measuring assembly of  FIG. 3  according to line  4 - 4 . 
         FIG. 5  is a sectional view of the measuring assembly in an insert position being inserted through a cleanout pipe. 
         FIG. 6  is a sectional view of the assembly of  FIG. 5  in the lateral pipe and being in a measuring position. 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of the measuring assembly in the lateral pipe along the line  7 - 7  showing an example of the imaging data at a location in the pipe. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 1  is a sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of a sewer pipe system  10  showing a house  18 , a cleanout pipe  16 , a lateral pipe  12 , and a main pipe  14 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the cleanout pipe  16  generally extends from the house  18  and connects with a lateral pipe  12 . The cleanout pipe  16  has an opening  68  at the house  18  and ends terminate at an opening  24  of the lateral pipe  12 . The cleanout pipe  16  also has a diameter  28 , generally shown as D 2  in  FIG. 1 . The lateral pipe  12  is connected in  FIG. 1  at the junction between the lateral pipe  12  and cleanout pipe  16  at a wye configuration. Although it is shown in  FIG. 1  as a wye shape, it can also be a tee shape, where the lateral pipe  12  and the cleanout pipe  16  are generally perpendicular to one another. The lateral pipe  12  is generally circular shaped and includes a diameter  26 , which is shown as D 1  in  FIG. 1 . In this instance, the diameter  26  of the lateral pipe  12  is generally constant along the length of said lateral pipe  12 . However, the lateral pipe may also vary in diameter size along its length. The lateral pipe  12  ends at a juncture with the main pipe  14 . In this instance, the main pipe  14  is shown to be perpendicular to the lateral pipe  12 , however, the main pipe  14  may also intersect with the lateral pipe  12  in a wye-shaped orientation. Therefore, it should be noted that all juncture shapes are within the scope of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of the lateral pipe  12  of  FIG. 1  taken along the line  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 2  shows the diameter  26 , shown as D 1 , as being the inner diameter of the wall  22  of the lateral pipe  12 . Also shown in  FIG. 2 , the lateral pipe wall  22  has a thickness, however, the thickness of the lateral wall  22  does not affect the present invention. 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the measuring assembly  30  of the present invention with the reference device  34  having a predetermined diameter  38 . The measuring device  30  of the present invention includes an imaging device  32 , a reference device  34 , an imaging cable  54 , and an hose  58 . The reference device  34  may be an inflatable plug, which has a reinforcing scrim surrounding the plug to limit the inflation of the plug to a predetermined diameter  38 , which will be known. In  FIG. 3 , the reference device  34  is an inflated plug  40  having an outer wall  48  inflated to the predetermined diameter  38 . The imaging device  32  may be a camera connected to a photo cable  54  that is able to acquire imaging data within a pipe. The camera shown in  FIG. 3  includes a lens  56  for acquiring the imaging data. While the imaging device  32  of  FIG. 3  is shown to be a camera, it should be appreciated that other types of imaging acquiring devices may be utilized for the present invention, such as sensors or the like. The reference device is operably connected to the imaging device  32  and is positioned at least partially forward of the imaging device  32 . Having the reference device forward of the imaging device  32  allows the imaging device  32  to acquire imaging data of the reference device  34  while in the cleanout pipe  16  or lateral pipe  12 . The reference device  34  is further connected to an hose  58 , which may be an air hose to expand and deflate the reference device  34  or inflatable plug within the pipe. It should be noted that the measuring assembly  30 , comprising the reference device  34  and the imaging device  32 , is constructed to move as a single unit through the cleanout pipe  16  and lateral pipe  12 , respectively. Therefore, the reference device and the imaging device may be connected to move as one unit through the pipe. 
       FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the reference device  34  used in the measuring assembly  30  of  FIG. 3 , according to line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3 . The reference device  34  is an inflated plug  40  which has been inflated to a predetermined diameter  38 , generally shown as D 3  in  FIG. 4 . It should be noted that the diameter  38  is the outer diameter of the outer wall  48 , or reinforcing scrim, of the reference device  34 . This predetermined diameter  38  is fixed and known. The diameter  38  can be predetermined by the inclusion of a reinforcing scrim  36  placed around the outer wall  48  of the reference device  34 . The reinforcing scrim  36  limits the amount of inflation of the reference device  34  to the predetermined diameter  38 . While  FIG. 4  shows the outer wall  48  and scrim  36  to have a thickness, it should be appreciated that reinforcing scrim  36  will generally be a negligible thickness and will not affect the predetermined diameter  38  of the reference device  34 . 
       FIG. 5  is a sectional view of the measuring assembly  30  in an insert configuration  44  being inserted through a cleanout pipe  16 . The measuring assembly  30  may be connected to a reel  70 , which holds the imaging cable  54  and the hose  58 . In this embodiment, the hose is an air hose. The reel  70  is located at a remote location  20  outside of the pipe system  10  and includes a center roller  72  and a plurality of supports  74 . In addition, an imaging viewer  52  may be operably connected to the reel  70 . The reel  70  moves the measuring assembly  30  through the cleanout pipe  16 , with the reference device  34  being deflated. The deflated plug  42  has a diameter less than the predetermined diameter  38  so as to move through pipes having diameter less than the predetermined diameter. As shown in  FIG. 5 , the reference device  34  is generally positioned forward of the imaging device  32  as the measuring assembly  30  is inserted through the opening  68  of the cleanout pipe  16  and moved towards the lateral pipe  12 . It should also be noted that an operator views imaging data acquired by the imaging device  32  at the imaging viewer  52  at the remote location  20 . The imaging viewer  52  may be a monitor or other type of screen capable of displaying the imaging data acquired by the imaging device  32 . For instance, when the imaging device  32  is a camera taking video of the inside of the pipe, the imaging viewer  52  will display the video of the imaging data. It should also be appreciated that the reel  70  includes air or another fluid supply for inflating the reference device  34  once in position within the pipe to have the diameter determined. 
       FIG. 6  is a sectional view of the assembly of  FIG. 5  in lateral pipe  12  and being in the measuring configuration  46 . The measuring assembly  30  is further inserted through the opening  24  of the lateral pipe  12  to determine the diameter  26  of the lateral pipe  12 . Once the measuring assembly  30  has been fully inserted into a lateral pipe  12 , air or another fluid is provided to the reference device  34  to inflate the reference device  34  to the predetermined diameter  38 . As the predetermined diameter is known, the diameter  26  of the lateral pipe  12  may be determined by viewing imaging data  50  acquired from the imaging device  32  of the measuring assembly  30 . The reference device  34  is an inflated plug  40  expanded to its fullest position in  FIG. 6 . As also seen in  FIG. 6 , the inflated plug  40  is forward of the imaging device  32  such that the imaging device  32  is able to view both the reference device  34  and the surrounding lateral pipe  12 . In the instance that the imaging device  32  is a camera, a lens  56  connected to a photo cable  54  is positioned such that the lens  56  is able to acquire imaging data  50  of the inflated plug  40  relative to the wall  22  of the lateral pipe  12 . It should also be noted that the reel  70  will continue to move the measuring assembly  30  through the lateral pipe  12  to continue to obtain imaging data  50  at various locations through the length of the lateral pipe  12  and also top determine if the diameter of the pipe changes, and if so, the location of the change in diameter of the pipe. 
       FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of the measuring assembly  30  in the lateral pipe  12  along line  7 - 7  of  FIG. 6  showing an example of the imaging data  50  acquired at one location in the pipe. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 7 , the imaging device is a camera and the acquired imaging data is a picture of video of inside the pipe. As shown in  FIG. 7 , the imaging data  50  includes an end of the inflated reference device  34  showing the outer wall  48  of the reference device  34  when the reference device  34  has been inflated to the predetermined diameter  38 . The imaging data  50  also includes a view of the inside of the wall  22  of the lateral pipe  12 . The wall  22  of the lateral pipe  12  has a diameter  26 . The imaging data  50  is used to determine the diameter  26  of the lateral pipe  12 . As the predetermined diameter  38  of the inflated reference device  34  is known, the predetermined diameter  38  can be used to determine a difference, if any, between the diameter of the lateral pipe  12  and the predetermined diameter. The example in  FIG. 7  shows that the inflated reference device  34  has a predetermined diameter  38  which is less than the diameter  26  of the lateral pipe  12 . This is shown by the gap  76  between the outer edge of the reference device and the inner portion of the wall of the lateral pipe. As most lateral pipes have general diameters of 4, 5, or 6 inches, having a predetermined diameter of one of these values allows an operator at a remote location  20  to determine the exact diameter of the lateral pipe  12 . In  FIG. 7 , a gap  76  between the outer wall  48  of the inflated plug  40  and the wall  22  of the lateral pipe  12  is shown. Therefore, if the predetermined diameter  38  was 5 inches, it would be determined that the diameter of the lateral pipe  12  would be 6 inches. However, if the predetermined diameter  38  was the exact size of the lateral pipe  12  when the device is inflated, the diameters would match. On the other hand, if the reference device  34  was not able to inflate to its full predetermined diameter, it would be known that the diameter of the lateral pipe  12  is smaller than the predetermined diameter  38 , which would also give you the exact diameter of the lateral pipe  12 . As is the case, it is essential that the reinforcing scrim  36  holds the reference device  34  to the exact predetermined diameter  38  to get a correct diameter  26  for the lateral pipe  12 . 
     Once the diameter  26  of the lateral pipe  12  has been determined, the reference device  34  is deflated and the measuring assembly  30  is retracted from the lateral and cleanout pipes  12 ,  16 . The measuring device  30  may be retracted by rolling the reel  70 , which pulls the assembly out of the pipes. The determined diameter  26  of the lateral pipe  12  is then used to choose a correct liner assembly for repairing the lateral pipe via cured-in-place pipe lining processes. The liner assembly generally includes a liner tube and a bladder tube that is inverted through the cleanout pipe  16  and into the lateral pipe  12  to repair a fractured wall of the lateral pipe  12 . It is important to know the diameter of the lateral pipe  12  so as to choose a bladder and liner tube of the same size, so that the liner tube is able to cure against the wall  22  of the lateral pipe  12  without any tears or folds. Methods and apparatuses of repairing a lateral pipe with a bladder tube and liner tube are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,765,597; 6,695,013; and 7,343,937, which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties. Once the diameter of the lateral pipe is known, the method of repair described in the incorporated reference is able to repair the pipes properly. 
     The invention has been shown and described above with reference to preferred embodiments, and it is understood that modifications, substitutions, and additions may be made which are within the intended spirit and scope of the invention. The invention is only to be limited by claims appended hereto.