Service Line Locator Plug With Marking Magnet

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Solution Overview

Problem

Pipeline rehabilitation methods often require replacing or rehabilitating pipelines, which can involve significant costs and disruption, especially when dealing with service lines that branch off from the main pipeline, as existing technologies lack efficient solutions for locating and restoring these service lines during the rehabilitation process.

Innovation Solution

A system comprising a movable cart, a plug with a marking magnet, and an attachment part is deployed to locate and restore service lines by installing a plug at the intersection points, marking the location, and removing the plug to restore fluid connections, using a plug installer, locator, and remover components within the pipeline.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If pipeline rehabilitation is performed using traditional methods, then the pipeline can be restored, but extensive excavation and destruction of above-ground structures is required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepipeline restorationVSAvoidexcavation and structure destruction

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

A tubular liner is inserted inside the existing pipeline, creating a nested structure where the new pipeline is placed within the old one. This allows rehabilitation without excavation, as the liner is pulled through the existing pipe and then expanded to form a new inner diameter

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The pipeline rehabilitation process is divided into separate functional components: the tubular liner for structural restoration, plugs for service line isolation, and marking magnets for location identification. This segmentation allows each component to address specific aspects of the rehabilitation problem independently

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If service lines are isolated during pipeline rehabilitation, then the main pipeline can be restored, but locating and restoring service line connections becomes complex and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemain pipeline restorationVSAvoidservice line location and restoration time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Plugs are installed in service lines before the rehabilitation process begins, and marking magnets are attached to these plugs. This preliminary action ensures that service line locations are identified and marked before the liner is installed, eliminating time-consuming location efforts after rehabilitation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Marking magnets serve as intermediaries between the plugs (which isolate service lines) and the external environment (where they can be detected and marked). The magnets provide a detectable signal that allows precise location and marking of service line intersections without requiring complex detection equipment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Measurement precision

If plugs are installed in service lines with marking magnets, then service line locations can be precisely marked, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice line location markingVSAvoidplug and marking magnet system

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The plugs serve multiple functions: they isolate service lines from the rehabilitation process, provide mounting points for marking magnets, and act as location markers themselves. The marking magnets also serve dual purposes by both marking location and potentially guiding the liner installation process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The plug and marking magnet are combined into a single integrated system where the magnet is attached to the plug. This merging reduces the number of separate components that need to be installed and managed, simplifying the overall system while maintaining precise location marking capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This system allows for cost-effective pipeline rehabilitation by minimizing the need for excavation and maintaining fluid connections, reducing the need for extensive replacement and enabling efficient restoration of service lines during pipeline restoration.

Implementation Method 1

a plug locator which couples with the attachment part. In some embodiments, the plug locator is configured to mark the location of a plug by sensing a marking magnet within the plug

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMagnetic field detection: Magnetic Field

Data Source

PatentUS8567449B2Systems and methods for locating and restoring service lines in pipeline rehabilitation

Publication Date: 2013.10.29 SZARKOWSKI JERRY

AI summary

Embodiments of the present invention include a system for locating and restoring service lines during pipeline restoration. According to some embodiments of the present invention, the system includes a movable chart, a plug with a marking magnet, and an attachment part. In some embodiments of the present invention, the movable cart is deployed along the inside of a pipeline. In some embodiments, the attachment part is movably coupled to the movable cart. The attachment part is configured to install a plug into the service line at a location where the service line intersects the pipeline, according to some embodiments. In other embodiments, the attachment part is configured to mark the location of the plug in the service line and remove the plug from the service line to restore a fluid connection between the service line and the pipeline.