Pipe Lining Preparation Assembly for Main-to-Lateral Sewer Access
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The confined and inaccessible environment of sewer pipes complicates cleaning, measuring, and video inspection, especially for service lateral pipes, which are difficult to access and often require undesirable and costly installations.
Innovation Solution
A Preparation From Main (PFM) device that allows for the insertion and control of individual tools, including a clean out tool and camera, through support lines from a support vehicle, enabling inspection and preparation of lateral sewer pipes from the main sewer pipe, with hydraulic, water, and electrical conduits for tool operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If access is gained through the main sewer pipe or home to reach service lateral pipes, then inspection and cleaning can be performed, but it requires costly and invasive installation of clean outs or difficult access procedures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary device - a camera system with extendable arm that can reach through the main sewer pipe to inspect and assess service lateral pipes without requiring physical access through homes or invasive clean out installations. The camera acts as a mediator between the operator and the difficult-to-reach lateral pipes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical access methods (physical entry through homes or excavation for clean outs) with an optical/electronic system. The camera system with extendable arm substitutes for human physical access, allowing inspection and assessment without invasive mechanical intervention.
2Productivity
If traditional access methods are used for sewer pipe inspection and cleaning, then the work can be performed, but it requires excavation and additional cost and time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces time-consuming mechanical excavation and clean out installation with an electronic camera inspection system. The extendable arm with camera provides rapid visual assessment of lateral pipes, eliminating the need for slow, labor-intensive excavation work.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a visual copy (video/image) of the interior of service lateral pipes through the camera system. This optical copy allows operators to assess pipe condition, locate blockages, and plan repairs without physically entering or excavating to the lateral pipes, saving significant time.
3Ease of operation
If service lateral pipes are accessed through homes, then direct access is obtained, but it is undesirable and requires digging in home owner's front yard
Solution Approach 1:
The camera system with extendable arm serves as an intermediary that reaches laterals through the main pipe, eliminating the need to dig in homeowners' yards. The system mediates between the operator and the laterals without requiring physical intrusion into private property.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes mechanical excavation (digging in yards) with an electronic inspection system that accesses laterals through the existing main pipe infrastructure, avoiding damage to property and eliminating the need for disruptive yard work.
Data Source
AI summary
An example sewer preparation from the main (PFM) device provides for the inspection and preparation of the sewer pipe from the main sewer pipe. The PFM device provides for the insertion of one or more individual and separately controllable tools into the sewer pipe. The tools include a clean out tool and a camera.