Patent Publication Number: US-7588054-B2

Title: Apparatus and method for lateral pipe identification

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 11/831,646 filed Jul. 31, 2007, which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 11/098,075 filed Apr. 4, 2005, herein incorporated by reference in their entirety. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for lateral pipe identification. 
   In the repair of pipe lines, a TV camera is moved through the main line pipe to the place to be repaired. Often these repairs are needed at junctions between the main line pipe and the lateral pipes coming from each house. 
   Identification from the inside of the main line pipe is very difficult. Many laterals have multiple bends, and it is difficult to identify which lateral junction relates to which house or lateral pipe. 
   Therefore, a primary object of the present invention is the provision of an improved apparatus and method for lateral pipe identification. 
   A further object of the present invention is the provision of an apparatus and method for lateral pipe identification which permits a camera within the main line pipe to photograph the identification indicia for each lateral pipe. 
   A further object of the present invention is the provision of an apparatus and method for lateral pipe identification which can be easily visible from the interior of the main line pipe. 
   A further object of the present invention is the provision of an apparatus and method for lateral pipe identification which is simple, economical, and easy to install. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The foregoing objects may be achieved by an apparatus and a method for identifying a plurality of lateral pipes, each of which form a junction with a main pipe. The method comprises taking a main and lateral liner assembly having an interior surface and an exterior surface and being comprised of material that can be impregnated with a liquid that is capable of curing and hardening. The interior surface of the liner assembly is marked with identifying indicia corresponding to one of the junctions of one of the lateral sewer pipes with the main sewer pipe. The liner assembly is then moved within the main sewer pipe with the exterior surface of the liner assembly facing the main sewer pipe. The liner assembly is positioned within the main sewer pipe so that the identifying indicia corresponding to the one junction of the lateral sewer pipe with the main sewer pipe is adjacent the one junction. 
   According to another feature of the present invention, a camera is moved within the main sewer pipe adjacent the identifying indicia and is used to view the identifying indicia and transmit the identifying indicia to a position above ground where the identifying indicia can be read. 
   According to another feature of the present invention, the interior surface of the line assembly is marked with a plurality of spaced apart indicia. Each of the plurality of indicia correspond to a different one of the plurality of junctions. The liner assembly is moved within the main sewer pipe to a position wherein each of the plurality of spaced apart indicia is positioned adjacent one of the plurality of junctions corresponding thereto. 
   According to another feature of the present invention, the liner assembly includes a main liner and the method comprises moving the main liner within the main sewer pipe to a position adjacent the junction of the lateral sewer pipe to the main sewer pipe. 
   According to another feature of the present invention, the method comprises inverting the main liner during the moving step or pulling the main liner in place. 
   According to another feature of the present invention, the liner assembly is T or Y shaped, and includes a main liner and a lateral liner. The method comprises moving the lateral liner within one of the later sewer pipes and moving the main liner within the main sewer pipe. 
   The apparatus of the present invention comprises a liner assembly within the main sewer pipe. The liner assembly includes an exterior surface that faces the main sewer pipe and an interior surface that faces in an inner radial direction. The liner assembly is impregnated with a cured hardened material that imparts rigidity to the liner assembly. The interior surface of the liner assembly forms a hollow bore within the main pipe line. Identifying indicia are on the interior surface of the liner assembly corresponding to the lateral sewer pipe. The identifying indicia are visible from inside the hollow bore of the liner assembly. 
   According to another feature of the present invention, the apparatus comprises a liner assembly having a lateral liner within the lateral sewer pipe and a main liner within the main sewer pipe. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a sectional view showing the liner assembly in place with the identifying indicia thereon. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the liner assembly utilized in  FIG. 1 , prior to installation. 
       FIG. 3  is a sectional view similar to  FIG. 1 , and showing the liner assembly during installation. 
       FIG. 4  is a sectional view similar to  FIG. 3 , and showing a further stage of the assembly. 
       FIG. 5  is a sectional view of a modified form of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , the completed identification system of the present invention is shown.  FIG. 1  shows a main pipe  10  and a lateral pipe  12  which are joined together at a junction  14 . The numeral  16  refers to damaged cracks in the lateral pipe  12  and the main pipe  10  adjacent junction  14 . This is a very common occurrence of failure and results in the damaged cracks  16  at the junction  14 . 
   The numeral  18  refers to a T-shaped or Y-shaped liner assembly comprising a main liner  20  and a lateral liner  22 . As can be seen in  FIG. 1 , the lateral liner  22  extends within the lateral pipe  12  and the main liner  20  remains within the main line pipe  10 . The liner assembly may be T-shaped as shown in  FIG. 1  or may be Y-shaped to accommodate a lateral line  12  which joins the main line  10  at an oblique angle. The main liner assembly  18  is made of a material which can be impregnated with a curable hardened fluid. Usually this fluid is a resiness material which impregnates the liner assembly  18 . Preferably the liner assembly  18  is made from felt, but other materials can be used which absorb the fluid before it cures and hardens. In  FIG. 1 , the fluid is shown in an already cured and hardened position so as to hold the liner assembly  18  in the position shown in  FIG. 1 . 
   Identifying indicia  24  are printed on the interior surface of the main liner  20 . While it is preferably that these identifying indicia  24  be placed in the main liner, it is also possible that they could be placed within the interior surface of the lateral liner  22 , but preferably they should be visible from the main line  10 . The identifying indicia  24  may be the address of the house from which the lateral line  12  extends, or could be other identifying indicia. 
   The numeral  26  refers to a mobile camera  26  having wheels  28  which engage the interior walls of main pipe line  10 . Camera  26  includes a lens  30  which may be rotated so as to view the identifying indicia  24 . A cable  32  is connected to the camera  26 . Robotic cameras  26  are commonly used in the repair of pipe lines. Thus it is possible to by virtue of the lens  30  to view the identifying indicia  24  and determine which lateral liner  12  is being repaired. This is an important ability in the repair of lateral pipe lines because it is difficult from the interior of the main pipe  10  to ascertain which particular lateral liner  12  is joined with the main liner  10 . Use of the identifying indicia  24  facilitates this identification. 
     FIG. 2  shows the liner assembly  18  during the assembling process. The lateral liner  22  is joined to the main liner  20 , and the main liner  20  is wrapped into a cylindrical configuration similar to that shown in  FIG. 3 . The identifying indicia  24  are provided on the interior surface of the main liner  20 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 3 , a carrier canister  38  is shown. This carrier canister includes a closed end  40  and a cap  42  at the other end. A cable  44  extends through the cap  42  and is connected to a loop  48  which is connected to a bladder tube plug  46  closing the end of a lateral bladder  36 . The lateral bladder  36  is connected to a main bladder  34  which extends outwardly through an opening  49  and which is attached to the outer surface of canister  38  at  50  and  52  and which is sealed to the outer surface of canister  38  at  50  and  52 . The lateral liner  22  is within the canister  38  and is also within the lateral bladder  36 . The main bladder  34  is outside the canister  38 . The main liner  20  is outside the main bladder  34 . Air is introduced to the interior of canister  38 , and this air causes the lateral bladder  36  to invert outwardly from the position shown in  FIG. 3  to the position shown in  FIG. 4  into the lateral pipe  12 . Similarly, the lateral liner  22  is inverted outwardly into the lateral line  12  and the exterior surface of the lateral liner  22  faces the lateral pipe  12 . The air pressure within canister  38  also urges the main bladder  34  and the lateral bladder  36  outward in a radial direction so as to press the lateral liner  22  against the lateral pipe  12  and the main liner  20  against the main pipe  10 . 
   After the resin or other fluid material cures and hardens, the bladders  34 ,  36  are removed and the canister  38  is also removed to leave the liner assembly  18  in the position shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     FIG. 5  shows a sectional view of an alternative form of the present invention. This alternative modified form is indicated by the numeral  54 . Shown in  FIG. 5  is a first manhole  56  and a second manhole  58  which are joined by a main sewer pipe  60 . A first lateral sewer pipe  62  joins the main sewer pipe  60  and a second lateral sewer pipe  64  also joins the main sewer pipe  60 . A liner assembly  65  includes a first liner assembly  66  and a second liner assembly  68 . A container  70  includes an outlet  71  to which is connected the first end  66  of the liner assembly  65 . The container  70  also includes an air hose  72  which is adapted to inject air into the interior of container  70 . A cable axle  74  is provided in the center of container  70  and includes a cable  76  wound there around and extending downwardly to be connected to plug  78  which closes the second end  68  of liner assembly  65 . By the injection of air into container  70  through air hose  72 , it is possible to cause the liner assembly  65  to invert outwardly into the main sewer pipe  60 . The inversion face  80  represents the forward end of the inverting liner assembly  65 . 
   Shown schematically on the interior surface of the liner assembly  65  are a first identifying indicia  82  and a second identifying indicia  84 . These identifying indicia  82 ,  84  invert outwardly so as to be on the interior surface of the liner assembly  65  after they are inverted. Identifying indicia are positioned so as to be aligned with and correspond to the first lateral sewer pipe  62  and the second lateral sewer pipe  64  respectively. 
   It is usually necessary to cut openings in the main liner assembly  65  adjacent the entry points of first lateral liner  62  and second lateral liner  64 . However, the identifying indicia  82 ,  84  are positioned so as to continue to identify the locations of the first lateral liner  62  and the second lateral liner  64  respectively. Thus it is possibly by means of a camera such as shown in  FIG. 1  to identify the particular lateral pipe which is being encountered. 
   The present invention contemplates numerous variations, options, and alternatives. For example, a main liner with markings can be installed and then a lateral liner can later be installed. Alternatively, there need not be a main liner, but only a lateral liner with markings where the markings in the lateral liner can be viewed from the main or from the lateral. The present invention provides for either inverting a main liner or pulling-in-place. The present invention provides for using a deformed plastic pipe and reforming it, using a stainless steel pipe, or using another alternative to a liner assembly being impregnated with a cured hardened material to impart rigidity. These and other variations, options, and alternatives are well within the spirit and scope of the invention.