Patent Document

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/601,494, filed Feb. 21, 2012 and titled PIPELINE CLEANING SYSTEMS AND METHODS, the content of which is hereby fully incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The technical field of the disclosed technology generally pertains to systems and methods for the cleaning of pipelines. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    Embodiments of the disclosed technology generally include a mobile video display unit configured to be primarily used in connection with cleaning processes for wastewater and stormwater pipelines. The mobile video display unit may also be configured for use in connection with virtually any other process that requires or otherwise allows for remote video capabilities for visibility of a remote work area. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0004]    In the wastewater pipeline industry, pipeline cleaning is typically performed by way of a Sewer Cleaning Vehicle (SCV) operating in communication with a Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) van. The CCTV van operator may remotely operate an inspection tractor upon which a camera is mounted. The operator may control the inspection tractor as well as the camera mounted thereon to obtain visibility inside pipelines that are otherwise inaccessible or unsafe for a person to enter. While the CCTV van is usually situated over an access point (e.g., a manhole, inlet, etc.), the SCV may be situated remote from the CCTV van, e.g., at a distance up to—or greater than—1,000 feet from the CCTV van. 
         [0005]    The SCV is typically equipped with a high-pressure water hose fitted with fixed debris-cutting equipment or cleaning nozzles that perform the actual cleaning within the pipeline. The SCV operator usually runs the hose at a high pressure, e.g., 2,000 psi, to clean the pipe and cut away debris. However, the SCV operator must do this without any visibility inside the pipeline. Indeed, it is the CCTV operator&#39;s responsibility to try to determine and communicate appropriate feedback and commands (e.g., “faster,” “slower,” “come ahead two feet,” etc.) to the SCV operator by way of cellular phones, radios, hand signals, etc. Such systems are inefficient at best and completely ineffective at worst. 
         [0006]    In these current systems, the SCV operator is operating blind in that he or she has no visibility of the pipeline in which he or she is operating the cleaning equipment. In addition to general ineffectiveness, these systems also subject the camera and inspection tractor to considerable and potentially significant risk. For example, if the SCV operator misunderstands a command from the CCTV van operator or makes even a small maladjustment, he or she can run the jet nozzle or cutting equipment right into the inspection tractor and/or camera. Such an incident can cause extensive damage to both pieces of equipment in addition to possibly damaging the pipe itself, which would likely be a very expensive mistake. 
         [0007]    There remains a need for a way to address these and other problems associated with the prior art. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  illustrates an example of a pipeline cleaning system in accordance with certain embodiments of the disclosed technology. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  illustrates an example of a mobile video display unit in accordance with certain embodiments of the disclosed technology. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0010]      FIG. 1  illustrates an example of a pipeline cleaning system  100  in accordance with certain embodiments of the disclosed technology. In the example, the pipeline cleaning system  100  includes a Sewer Cleaning Apparatus (SCA), such as a Sewer Cleaning Vehicle (SCV)  110 , and a Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) van  120 . In the example, the SCV 110  controls cleaning equipment  112 , e.g., a high-pressure nozzle, by way of a connection  114  through an entry or access point  106 , e.g., a manhole or other opening, into a pipeline  104  in the ground  102 . The CCTV van  120  controls a mobile camera device  122  by way of a connection  124  through an entry or access point  108 , e.g., a manhole or other opening, into the pipeline  104 . 
         [0011]    A transmitter at the CCTV van  120  may transmit information, e.g., a video signal generated from the mobile camera device  122  within the pipeline  104 , over a communication path  130  that utilizes RF or digital technology to a receiving unit incorporated with or within a mobile video display unit at the SCV  110 , for example. Such a mobile video display unit may be positioned or even mounted at a convenient location, e.g., at the operator&#39;s control station of the SCV  110 . The mobile video display unit may be equipped with wireless audio/video communication capability, e.g., for communicating with the transmitter at the CCTV van  120  over the communication path  130 . 
         [0012]    While the mobile camera device  122  within the pipeline  104  may continue to be operated from the CCTV van  120 , the operator of the SCV  110  may use a mobile video display unit to view the interior of the pipeline  104  while concurrently operating the cleaning equipment  112  within the pipeline  104 . The video presented to the SCV  110  operator via the mobile video display unit may be at least substantially real-time. Users of the pipeline cleaning system  100  may experience substantial gains in productivity compared to current systems. 
         [0013]      FIG. 2  illustrates an example of a mobile video display unit  200  in accordance with embodiments of the disclosed technology. The mobile video display unit  200  may include an easily portable case  202 , e.g., housing. In certain embodiments, the case  202  may be designed for outside use. For example, the case  202  may be rugged and generally water and/or weather resistant. The case  202  may also incorporate anti-glare features. In certain embodiments, the case  202  of the mobile video display unit  200  is made of rugged plastic. 
         [0014]    In the example, the mobile video display unit  200  includes a monitor  204 , e.g., a 7″ or 10.4″ backlit LCD screen, that may be housed by the case  202 . The mobile video display unit  200  generally includes a power source, e.g., a 12-Volt power supply, that may be integrated with or otherwise stored within the case  202 . The power source for the mobile video display unit  200  may be removable, rechargeable, or both. In certain embodiments, the mobile video display unit  200  may include overcharge protection circuitry configured to verify voltage before charging of the power supply, after charging thereof, or both. 
         [0015]    The mobile video display unit  200  generally includes a transmitter unit and a receiver unit. Either or both of the transmitter and receiver units may be positioned, housed, or otherwise stored in a compartment  206 , for example. Other items that may be stored in the compartment  206  include an AC adapter for either or both of the transmitter and receiver units, a video cable splitter, a video cable, and a battery charger. In the example, the mobile video display unit  200  also includes an antenna  216 , e.g., a telescoping antenna, configured to receive signals from another device, e.g., at a CCTV van. 
         [0016]    In the example, the mobile video display unit  200  includes a voltage meter  208 , a power switch  201  for turning the mobile video display unit  200  on or off, a 12V power receptacle  210 , a fuse  212 , e.g., 3-Amp fuse, and an AC battery charge jack  214 . In certain embodiments, the mobile video display unit  200  also includes a tripod mounting panel (not shown), e.g., to allow for the mobile video display unit  200  to be mounted on a tripod. The tripod mounting panel may be located at the bottom of the case  202 , for example. Alternatively or in addition thereto the mobile video display unit  200  may have a handle (not shown), e.g., for easy carrying of the unit  200  by a user. 
         [0017]    The mobile video display unit  200  may include an RCA video input  220  to receive one or more video signals from one or more external video sources. A video source selection switch  218  on the mobile video display unit  200  may be used by a user to switch between the internal video feed of the mobile video display unit  200  and the one or more video signals received from the one or more external video sources connected to the mobile video display unit  200  by way of the RCA video input  222 . Alternatively or in addition thereto, the mobile video display unit  200  may include an RCA video output  222  to transmit a video signal to an external device. For example, a user may attach an external video monitor to the mobile video display unit  200  by way of the RCA video output  222 . 
         [0018]    One or more menu buttons  224  may be provided to offer a user a number of options with regard to operation of the monitor  204 . For example, a Power On/Off button may allow a user to turn the monitor  204  on or off. A Menu button may cause the monitor  204  to present the user with a number of different menu options. A Select button and one or more scrolling buttons may be used in connection with the presented menu to enable the user to make his or her selections in the menu. Any or all of the menu buttons  224  may be used in connection with one or both of Viewing and Menu modes of the mobile video display unit  200 . 
         [0019]    In certain embodiments, an operator may view the monitor  204  of the mobile video display unit  200  from outside the case  202  by opening an optional cover that may also serve as further anti-glare protection to improve viewing of the monitor  204 . The case  202  may be designed to allow for multiple viewing angles of the monitor  204 . In certain embodiments, the transmitter unit may be built into its own easily-accessible compartment within the case  202  and may also be readily removable from the case  202 , e.g., to be set up at a CCTV van for operation at the CCTV van. In certain embodiments, all of the components of the mobile video display unit  200  other than the transmitter unit may be contained permanently within the case. 
         [0020]    Additional accessories may be utilized for specific needs. Such accessories may include, but are not limited to, a tripod, wired or wireless glasses or video helmet, additional monitors, a backpack, a wired or wireless microphone, wired or wireless headphones or speakers, and a 12-Volt power cord for use with certain receptacle such as automotive receptacles. 
         [0021]    Having described and illustrated the principles of the invention with reference to illustrated embodiments, it will be recognized that the illustrated embodiments may be modified in arrangement and detail without departing from such principles, and may be combined in any desired manner. And although the foregoing discussion has focused on particular embodiments, other configurations are contemplated. In particular, even though expressions such as “according to an embodiment of the invention” or the like are used herein, these phrases are meant to generally reference embodiment possibilities, and are not intended to limit the invention to particular embodiment configurations. As used herein, these terms may reference the same or different embodiments that are combinable into other embodiments. 
         [0022]    Consequently, in view of the wide variety of permutations to the embodiments described herein, this detailed description and accompanying material is intended to be illustrative only, and should not be taken as limiting the scope of the invention. What is claimed as the invention, therefore, is all such modifications as may come within the scope and spirit of the following claims and equivalents thereto.

Technology Category: h