AU2008202696A1 - A System and Method for Servicing a Conduit - Google Patents

Description

xpcc 3O(ioS Australian Patents Act 1990 - Regulation 3.2 Original Complete Specification Standard Patent 10 Invention Title: A SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SERVICING A CONDUIT 20 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing known to me: A SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SERVICING A CONDUCT FIELD OF INVENTION The present invention relates to a system and method for maintaining and/or servicing 5 pipes in a pipeline, in particular, to a system and method for inspecting and applying a chemical treatment, to pipes within a pipeline to reduce the likelihood of blockages occurring therein. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The obstruction of municipal pipelines, such as sewer lines and stonn water lines, is a 10 wide spread problem in urban communities that is costly and requires considerable resources to address. A common cause of blockages and obstructions of sewer and storm water lines is the intrusion of roots into the pipes which grow therein to form a root mass. Grease and solid matter flowing in the pipes may then collect around the root mass to block the pipe 15 resulting in potential backup of waste water into homes and buildings. Such backups within the pipeline system are costly to repair and troublesome to the users of the system. For many municipalities and water authorities responsible for the correct functioning of the sewer and/or storm water system, the presence of a backup or overflow within the 20 sewer system is often the first and only indication that there is a problem with the pipeline. Unchecked root growth can, over time, cause the ongoing deterioration of pipes, pipe joints, pipe structures and connections. The underlying problem typically manifests itself in catastrophic failure of the pipeline system, resulting in the inability of the pipeline to perform its function. As such, for many municipalities and water 25 authorities, an effective root control program is essential to maintaining correct functioning sewer and storm water systems. Roots are the most common source of pipeline failure. Generally, roots serve a variety of functions for trees and other plants including anchorage of the tree in the soil, absorption and transfer of water and nutrients into the main core of the tree, as well as 30 the storage of nutrients for the tree. Plants having tap roots systems, such as trees and woody plants, are particularly problematic for sewer and storm water systems as their primary roots grow downward into the soil in search for water and other nutrients. Secondary roots grow laterally from the primary roots and include fine hair-I ike 2 projections on their surface. These hair-like projections are microscopic structures that enter the pipes of a Sewer or storm water system through small openings in the pipe such as joints between adjacent pipes, cracks and porous regions of pipes. Typically, once inside the pipes the hair-like roots continue to grow and mature, as the s environment is rich in nutrients resulting in the formation of a root mass within the pipe. As the tree or plant has a vast subterranean network of roots and root hairs,- only a small percentage of the overall root system of the plant may infiltrate the pipe and the root mass can often be removed from the pipe within causing damage to the overall tree structure. 1o In order to remove such root masses from the pipes of a sewer system, a variety of mechanical removal systems have been proposed. Such mechanical removal systems typically require cutting and the like to dislodge the root growth from the walls of the pipes for flushing from the pipeline system. 'fools such as rodding machines, letters and winches have been proposed to cut away the root mass from the walls of the pipes. 1s However, such cutting practices do not typically prevent regrowth of the root mass. It has been found that, after cutting, roots secrete a fluid that hardens and covers the cuts caused by the cutting process which hastens and thickens root regrowth. As such, root masses may grow back thicker each time they are cut. For this reason, chemical control methods have been proposed for use in conjunction 20 with, or in replacement of, mechanical root removal methods. When used in conjunction with mechanical root removal methods, chemical treatment is performed following cutting or surface roughening of the roots from the pipe and prior to the hardening of the fluids secreted from the cut roots. In either situation, chemical control methods typically comprise applying an appropriate herbicide to the roots to degrade the 25 root structure and eliminate future root growth in the pipe. Typically. degradation process may take weeks, depending upon the nature and size of the root system and whether the herbicide used is a contact or systemic herbicide. Chemical treatments alone are most effective if th cchemical remains in contact with the roots for an extended period of time. In general, extended contact of the chemical with 3o the organic matter can be achieved by placing a plug in the pipe and then filling the upstream portion of the pipe with the chemical in liquid form or as foam. When liquid is employed, it is often allowed time to soak into the pipe. Foam treatment typically involves the application of clinging foam that clings to the walls of the pipes to increase contact time between the roots and the chemical. Such treatment can be effective for 35 smaller diameter pipes; however, it is typically uneconomical to use this technique on larger diameter pipes because of the large volume of chemical or foam needed to fill the pipe. 3 Traditional root foaming requires blending of the chemical, water, air and foaming agent together to create foam. The foam, infused with the chemical, is then intended to fill the entire cavity of the conduit being treated. The effectiveness of such a technique is dependent on a number of components, including operator expertise in blending the S mixture, retraction speed of the jet hose that dispenses the mixture as lbamn, and the specific mixing ratios of the foam ingredients. If the root foaming procedure is incorrectly performed, the foam may not expand to fill the pipes and cling to the walls of the pipes. In such instances, the chemical may be ineffective in controlling root growth within the pipe, 10 Further, as traditional chemical treatment techniques require a significant amount of chemical to be introduced into the pipes of the pipeline system, there is a potential that the treatment may cause pollution to the environment and/or significantly damage any &good bacteria' present in a wastewater treatment plant. Ibis is a particular issue where wastewater is reclaimed for reuse. 15 Therefore, it is desirable to provide a system and method for maintaining and servicing pipes in the pipeline which reduces the amount of chemical introduced into the pipeline system, and which provides a means for recording and documenting the procedure. Any discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles or the like which has been included in the present specification is solely for the purpose of providing a 20 context for the present invention. It is not to be taken as admission that any or all of these matters fonr part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the present invention as it existed Ior the priority date of each claim of this application. SUMMARY OF THE INVEN'ION 25 According to a first aspect, the present invention provides an applicator unit for applying a chemical treatment to an inner wall of a conduit; including: a carriage remotely controllable to move within the conduit; at least one camera mountable to the carriage to facilitate remote viewing of the inner wall of the conduit: and so an applicator mountable to the carriage and controllable to deliver a chemical treatment to the iumer wall of the conduit. In one embodiment, the applicator is an elongate tubular member having an outlet orned at a distal end from which the chemical treatment is delivered for application to 4 the inner wall of the conduit. The elongate tubular member may be mounted to an underside of the carriage. The distal end of the elongate tubular member may project from the carriage such that the outlet is located in a position whereby it can be remotely viewed by the at least one camera. s The elongate tubular member may have a substantially straight portion to facilitate mounting to the underside of the carriage. The substantially straight portion may be provided at a proximal end of the elongate tubular member. The distal end of the elongate tubular member may be curved to facilitate positioning of the outlet in front of at least one of the cameras to facilitate remote viewing of the outlet. 10 The proximal end of the tubular member may include a connector to facilitate connection of the applicator to a fluid source containing the chemical for the chemical treatment. The connector may be a socket to facilitate attachment of the elongate tubular member to a fluid supply line, The fluid supply line may be a hose of flexible tube having a complementary connector to facilitate sealed interconnection between the 15 elongate tubular member and the fluid source. The fluid source may be pressurised such that the fluid is delivered from the outlet of the applicator under pressure. The outlet may be a nozzle that delivers the pressurised fluid in a controlled manner to the inner wall of the conduit. In one form, the pressurised fluid is delivered from the outlet as a spray having a substantially 3 6 0 ' arc. In another forn, the pressurised fluid 20 may he delivered in a stream to facilitate foaming of the fluid as it is released from the outlet. In another embodiment of this aspect of the present invention, the carriage may be a remote controlled vehicle having propulsion mechanism to facilitate movement of the vehicle along the conduit. The propulsion mechanism may include one or more wheels 25 remotely controllable to control the speed and direction of the carriage. The carriage may comprise a body to which the wheels arc mounted. The body may house a control ter for driving the propulsion mechanism in accordance with remotely received control signals. In one form, the control signals may he generated by a remote operator and transmitted to the controller of the carriage by a cable attached to a proximal end 30 thereof In another form, the body may include a transmitter/receiver for receiving and transmitting signals wirelessly between a remote operator. The at least one camera may be mounted to the body of the carriage. Each camera may be remotely controlled by a remote operator to pan and tilt as required, so as to facilitate remote viewing of the inner wall of the conduit. The controller may control the 35 operation of each camera in accordance with remotely received control signals. In one form, the control signals may be generated by a remote operator and transmitted to the 5 controller of the carriage by a cable attached to a proximal end thereof The cable may also facilitate transmission of vision from the camera to the remote operator. In another fwrm, the body may include a tran smitter/receiver for receiving and transmitting signals wirelessly between a remote operator. 5 According to a second aspect, the present invention provides a system for servicing and/or maintaining a pipeline including an applicator unit remotely controllable to move within one or more conduits of the pipeline, the applicator unit having at least one camera for inspecting an interior wall of the conduit and an applicator for selectively applying a chemical treatment to the inner 10 wallffthe conduit; a remote operator console for controlling the operation of the applicator unit; and a Iluid supply for supplying fluid to the applicator unit, the fluid containing a chemical for facilitating the chemical treatment of the inner wall of the conduits. In one embodiment of the second aspect of the present invention, the fluid supp ly is includes a pump for supplying pressurised fluid to the applicator. The remote operator console may include a control mechanism for controlling operation of the pump such that upon operation of the pump the pressurised fluid may be caused to be delivered from the applicator to the inner wall of the conduit. In another embodiment of this aspect of the present invention, the applicator unit may 20 be the applicator un it as described above in relation to the first aspect of the present invention. According to a third aspect. the present invention provides a method of applying a chemical treatment to an inner wall of a conduit including: connecting a remotely controllable applicator unit to a fluid supply; 25 inserting the applicator unit into the conduit; advancing the applicator unit through the conduit and monitoring the inner wall of the conduit for the presence of a predetennined condition; applying a chemical treatment to the region of the inner wall of the conduit having the predetermined condition; and 3o documenting the chemical treatment process upon completion. 6 In an embodiment of the third aspect of the present invention, the step of connecting the remotely controllable applicator unit to a fluid supply includes connecting the applicator unit and the fluid supply by way of a fluid supply fine and priming the fluid supply line and the applicator unit with a supply of pressurised fluid. s The step of connecting the remotely controllable applicator uinit to the fluid supply may further include a step of capturing data associated with the chemical treatment process. The captured data may include information pertaining to: the date of the treatment, information identifying the conduit being treated; information identifying the owner of the conduits being treated; and any other relevant information. 10 The step of inserting the applicator tin it into the conduit may include accessing said conduit by way of an access point and placing the applicator unit in a starting position adjacent the opening of the conduit. The starting position of the applicator unit may be calibrated as an initial starting or reference position from which distance travelled by the applicator unit along the conduit is measured. 15 The step of advancing the applicator unit through the conduit may include recording vision of the inner wall of the conduit received from one or more cameras mounted on the applicator unit. The step of advancing the applicator unit through the conduit may further include remotely applying motive force to the applicator unit to control the speed and direction of advancement of the applicator unit in accordance with the vision 20 received from the one or more cameras mounted on the applicator unit. Monitoring of the inner wall of the conduit may be performed by remotely viewing the vision of the inner wall received by the one or more cameras. The one or more cameras may be remotely controllable to facilitate detailed monitoring of specific regions of the inner wall of the conduit. 25 The predetermined condition being monitored may include a crack in the inner wall of the conduit, the presence of roots on the inner wall of the conduit, and/or the build-up of grease on the inner wall of the conduit. Upon detection of the predetermined condition, the distance of the predeternined condition from the starting or reference position may be recorded. 30 The step of applying a chemical treatment to the region of the inner wall of the conduit may comprise positioning the applicator unit adjacent the region of the inner wall of the conduit having the predetermined condition and delivering the fluid from the fluid supply to the region of the conduit having the predetermined condition. The fluid may be coloured to facilitate viewing of the distribution of the fluid in the region of the 35 conduit having the predetermined condition following application. 7 The step of documenting the chemical treatment process may include a step of generating a copy of the recorded vision received from the one or more cameras and supplying the copy to the owner of the conduit as evidence of the completion of the chemical treatment. The step of documenting the chemical treatment process may s further include a step of providing a written report of the condition of the conduit identifying any predetennined conditions of the pipe and the location of the predetermined condition from the starting or reference position in the pipe. Throughout the specification and claims the word "comprise" and its derivatives are intended to have an inclusive rather than exclusive meaning unless the contrary is io expressly stated or the context requires otherwise. That is. the word comprisee" and its derivatives will be taken to indicate the inclusion of not only the listed components, steps or features that it directly references, but also other components, steps or features not specifically listed, unless the contrary is expressly stated or the context requires otherwise. 15 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF TiE DRAWINGS By way of example only, the invention is now described with reference to the accompanying drawings; Figure 1 is a side view of an applicator unit in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 20 Figure 2 is a side view of a service and/or maintenance system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 is a view of a screen of the control station of the present invention showing the view from the camera of the remote applicator unit; and Figure 4 is a flow diagram showing the steps associated with performing the 25 maintenance procedure in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EXEMPLARY EMIODIMENT OF TFI1 INVENTION Whilst the present invention will be described below in relation to use in sewer lines, it so will be appreciated that the present invention could be applicable for use in a variety of pipeline systems that consist of contiguous sections of pipes/conduits separated by access regions (manholes). Such pipeline systems may carry a Variety of types of flow, such as sanitary sewage, groundwater, rainwater or. any other suitable fluid. 8 Referring to Figure 1, a remote applicator un it 10 in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention is shown. The applicator unit 10 comprises a carriage 12 that is controlled remotely to be driven within a conduit, such as a sewer pipe. The carriage 12 is in the form of a remotely controlled vehicle having a plurality of wheels 13 that are s controllable to enable the vehicle to be steered by a remote operator to move over obstacles and around bends within a pipe network. Whilst not shown, the vehicle may be configured to have one or more of the wheels 13 offset such that the vehicle is able to pass over obstacles present within the pipe without hanging LIP on the obstacle. Further, it will be appreciated that instead of wheels 13, the propulsion mechanism 10 employed by the carriage 12 may be a driven belt or similar arrangement that provides motive or propulsion Thrce to the vehicle. The carriage 12 comprises a body 14 to which the wheels 13 are mounted. The body 14 has a distal end 14a and a proximal end 14b. The distal end 14a of the body 14 has one or more cameras 16 mounted thereto. Camera 16 is controlled by a remotely positioned 15 operator to pan and tilt as required by the operator, so as to provide the operator with a view of the internal walls of the conduit as the carriage 12 passes therethrough. Lighting is also provided with the camera 16 to illuminate the region of the pipe in front of the camera 16 to provide a clear view to the remote operator. A controller (not shown) is provided within the body 14 to control movement of the 20 camera 16 and the wheels 13 as desired by the remote operator As will be discussed in iore detail below, the remote operator is able to send signals to the controller to manipulate the camera view, as well as to control the direction and speed of movement of the carriage 12 as it travels within the conduit. Vision from the camera 16 is sent from the controller of the unit 10 to a remote operator console by way of a cable 15 25 attached to the proximal end 14b of the body 14. In this regard, the cable 15 is a multi conductor cable and is able to facilitate multiple transmissions of signals between the unit 10 and the remote operator console, it is also envisaged that the carriage 12 may be provided with its own energy source to supply energy to the camera 16 and the wheels 13. Tn such an arrangement the carriage 12 may include a transmitter and receiver 30 device such that wireless transmission of signals between the remote operator console and the carriage 12 is possible. Tt would be appreciated that the carriage 12 may take a variety of forms, depending on the size and structure of the pipe network or sewer system being serviced. In one embodiment, the vehicle 12 may be a commercially available inspection vehicle such as 35 a ROVVER@, which is manufactured and distributed by TPEK SPEZIAL-TV GsmbH & Co0 KG.

An applicator 18 is mounted to an underside of the body 14 of the carriage 12 in the manner as shown in Figure 1. The applicator 1 8 is preferably mounted to the underside of the body 14 by one or more mounting brackets 19 to facilitate removal of the applicator 18 frorn the body 14, as desired. As is shown, when the applicator 18 is 6 secured in position, it extends along the underside of the body 14 between the opposing sets of wheels 13, such that it is located above the surface of the pipe being serviced. The applicator 18 is in the fonn of an elongate tubular arm member having an applicator outlet 20 formed at a distal cd and a connector 22 formed at a proximal end. The applicator 18 comprises a substantially straight portion 18a extending from the proximal ia end to facilitate connection to the underside of the body 14. A curved portion 18b then extends from the straight portion I 8a to the distal end of the applicator 18, at which the applicator outlet 20 is provided. In this arrangement, the curved portion 18b of the applicator elevates the applicator outlet 20 from the base of the body 14 such that it is positioned in front of the camera 16, in. the manner as shown. 15 As will be discussed in more detail below, the connector 22 is a socket that Iheilitates attachment of the applicator 18 to a fluid supply line 24, such as a hose or flexible tube lhe fluid supply line 24 is in fluid communication with a pressurised fluid supply to facilitate controlled delivery of pressurised fluid to the applicator outlet 20. In one embodiment,.the fluid supply line 24 may be combined with the cable 15 to provide a 20 single line extending from the rear of the carriage 12. The applicator outlet 20 is in the form of a nozzle that releases the pressurised fluid therefrom in a controlled manner. The applicator outlet 20 is preferably able to deliver a spray of pressurised fluid in a substantially 360" are, such that the fluid is evenly applied to the inner walls of the pipe in a controlled manner. It will be appreciated that 25 the applicator outlet 20 may be configured to deliver the fluid in a variety of forms, whilst still falling within the spirit of the present invention. In this regard, the applicator outlet 20 may be configured to flcilitate the release of the fluid as. foam into the pipe at dedicated areas along the length of the pipeline. The fluid delivered to and dispensed from the applicator outlet 20 is typically a 30 herbicide for controlling root growth within die pipe, The herbicide may be a non selective contact herbicide, capable of selectively degrading the root structure present within the sewer system and eliminating future root growth in the pipe. The herbicide may include the active ingredient diquat, paraquat, or any other active ingredient suitable for use within a pipeline. In another form, the fluid may be a degreasing agent 35 which can be applied to grease present on the walls of the pipes to reduce the build-up of such deposits. It will be appreciated that the actual fluid dispensed from the 10 ~applicator outlet 20 may vary depending upon the specific requirements of the user. Referring to Figure 2, a treatment system 30 employing the applicator unit 10 is shown mn use. The system 30 is configured to Iacilitate the servicing and maintenance of a sewer line 32. The sewer line 32 typically comprises a plurality of connecting pipes 34 s accessible by way of an access point or manhole 35. Typically, prior to use of the unit 10, the section of sewer line 32 to be treated is inspected for blockages and/or cleared from blockages. A mechanical cutting means such as a rodder or jetter may be employed to clear the pipes of any substantial blockages and to clear a path for the passage of the unit 10 therethrough. It will be 10 appreciated that the unit 10 of the present invention can be readily adapted to inspect the line 32 prior to spraying. This can be achieved by removing the applicator arm 18 from the underside of the body 14 to enable the carriage 12 to be employed as an inspecting unit. The removal of the applicator 18 reduces the size and length of the unit 10 thereby reducing the likelihood of die unit being caught on a blockage present within an 15 uncleared pipe. Alter the line 32 has been cleared of major blockages and obstructions, the system 30 is able to be employed. The system 30 comprises the applicator unit 10, a pressurised fluid supply 36, and a remote operator console 40. In the embodiment as shown the remote operator console 40 and the pressurised fluid supply 36 are shown separately. However, 20 it will be appreciated that the remote operator console 40 and the pressurised fluid supply may each be housed together as a single unit. Similarly, whilst the remote operator console 40 is shown as being housed within a van or vehicle, it will be appreciated that the remote operator console 40 may take he form of a manually portable unit. 25 The remote operator console 40 generally comprises a monitor 42 that displays real-time vision received from the camera(s) 16 of the unit 10. A computer or similar device is also provided to record the vision from the camera(s) and any data collected by the unit 10 during the process. By viewing the monitor, the operator 41 is able to remotely operate the un it 10 by way of a control pad 44 that provides speed and direction control 30 of the unit 10. The control pad 44 is also able to control the position of the camera(s) as well as the zoom and focus control of the camera(s) 16. The control pad 44 also provides control of the opening and closing of the applicator outlet 20 of the applicator 18 to facilitate fluid release therefrom to the walls of the conduit. A button is provided on the control pad 44 for this function. In this arrangement the operator 41 has full 35 control over the unit 10 as it progresses along the pipes of the sewer line 32. It will be appreciated that the remote operator console 40 may include a variety of other 11 accessories, Such as a video recording unit, GPS system and the like, to aid the operator 41 in performiing thle procedure. Prior to inserting the unit 10 into the pipe line 32, the unit is connected to the pressurised fluid supply 36 by connecting the fluid supply line 24 to the connector 22 of 5 the applicator is. 'The fluid supply 36 includes a pump unit 37 in communication with a supply of fluid, such as a tank or the like. The fluid is pressurized by the pump 37 such that the fluid supply line 24 and the applicator 18 is primed with pressurised fluid. in such an arrangement, when the operator 41 depresses the control button on the control pad, the fluid is caused to be released from the outlet 20 substantially simultaneously. la The fluid supply line 24 is in the form of a length of flexible tube wound onto a drum 36a. The supply line 24 is released from the drum 26a as the unit 10 progresses along the pipe 34, such that the supply line 24 trails behind the unit 10. The drum 26a is configured to retain the supply line 24 in tension as it is released, so as to avoid tangling of the line 24 within the pipe 34. is Similarly, unit 10 is in electrical communication with the remote operator console 40 by way of cable 15. Cable 15 is wound onto a cable reel 38 and is tensioned to remove slack in the cable 15 as the unit 10 travels along the pipeline 32. In this arrangement, as the unit 10 moves along the pipeline 32, the eabie 15 is released from, the reel 38 to trail behind the unit 10. As previously discussed, the cable 15 provides for the two-way 20 transfer of control signals and power between the remote operator console 40 and the unit 10 to control the movement of the unit 10 and the functioning of the camera 16 as well as transfer of vision from the camera 16. ITo provide for accurate distance measurement of the unit as it travels through the pipeline 32, a distance counter may be provided on the cable reel 38. The distance 25 counter may be i the forn of a friction loaded wheel of a known diameter attached to the reel 38. As the cable 15 moves over the friction loaded wheel, the wheel generates signals at predetermined distance increments, such as 10mm increments. The wheels known diameter equates to a known distance per revolution, and signals of the 10 mm increments are generated by electro-inechanical means and transmitted to receiving 30 equipment within the remote operator console 40 that displays the data as a distance location on the video display shown on the operator's monitor 42. It Will be appreciated that other means for measuring the distance of the unit 10 along the pipeline 32 are also envisaged, including GPS measurement systems mounted on the unit 10. Referring to Figure 4, the various steps associated with performing a procedure 50 of 35 the present invention are shown. 12 1n step 51, the various parts of the system 30 are assembled together in the manner as discussed above. In step 52, the unit 10 is initially inserted into the line 32 through the access point (manhole) 35. The unit 10 is typically placed such that the proximal end 14b of the unit 5 10 is substantially located at the opening of the pipe 34. The operator 41 then adjusts any slack in the cable 15 and/or the fluid supply line 32 and calibrates this position as a starting or reference position such that all distance travelled by the unit 10 along the line 32 is measured from this initial starting or reference position. In step 53, the operator 41 commences movement of the unit 10 into the sewer line 32 10 by way of the control pad 44 of the remote operator console 40. The operator 41 is able to control the speed of the unit 10 and the direction of the unit 10 by using vision from the camera 16 displayed on the monitor 42 as a guide. As previously discussed, the vision is also recorded by the operator 41 for documentation purposes, as will be described in more detail below. is in step 54, as the unit 10 progresses along the line 32 the operator 41 is able to manipulate the camera 16.to inspect the walls of the pipes 14 for indication of structural damage or other problems, such as root infiltration or grease build-up. Based upon the visual inspection, the operator is able to decide whether the detected state or condition of the inner walls of the pipe require chemical treatment. Such a decision may be based 20 upon a number of factors, such as the clear presence of roots within the pipe. the presence of cracks in the structure of the pipe suggesting a potential region of root filtration, or the presence of a build-up of grease on the surface of the pipe. As shown in Step 55, upon detection of the presence of roots or a potential source of root infiltration, the operator 41 is able to manoeuvre the unit 10 to position the 25 applicator outlet 20 of the applicator 18 to apply a desired amount of fluid to the inner surface of the pipe 34. This is achieved by the operator 41 depressing the applicator button provided on the remote control pad 44 to activate the pump 37 of the pressurised fluid supply 36. As the fluid supply line 24 and the applicator 18 are each primed with fluid, activation of the pump 37 causes the fluid to flow from the applicator outlet 20 30 under pressure. The fluid is then able to be directly applied to any roots or cracks present on the surface of the wall of the pipe 34. The operator 41 is able to apply fluid along an extended section of pipe 34 by progressing the unit 10 either forwards or backwards along the pipe whilst the pump 37 is activated. The unit 10 then applies the fluid to the walls of the pipe as the unit 10 is moving. Upon correctly applying the as fluid, the operator is able to deactivate the pump 37 and continue progressing the unit 10 along the line 32, continually inspecting the line 32 to determine whether any further 13 spraying or application is required (Step 56). Upon completion of the procedure (Step 57) the unit 10 is returned to the starting or reference position, to enable the operator 41 to commence documentation of the procedure. S To assist the operator 41 as they are performing the procedure, the fluid being applied from the applicator outlet 20 is coloured, or otherwise highlighted, by adding an appropriate dyeing agent to the fluid. The dyeing agent is selected to enhance detection of the applied fluid both during and afler the application step. By viewing the distribution of the coloured fluid upon the inner walls of the pipes, the operator is able 10 to clearly view how effective the fluid application step has been. Similarly, the operator can clearly identify regions of the pipes that have not been treated with the fluid but which should have been, and can visually confirm whether any roots present within the pipes have been treated with the applied fluid. The operator 41 is then able to determine whether additional application steps are required to treat the pipeline. By recording the 1s procedure, there is also tangible evidence that the procedure has been performed, which can be provided to the owners of the pipeline to confirm completion of the process. As is shown in FTG. 2,at step 55 of the procedure, the operator 41 can control the unit 10 to apply fluid treatment at each join 33 between the pipes 34 in the pipeline 32. This can be performed even in instances where no root infiltration is present at the join 33. 20 Such a procedure can be employed by a municipality or a water authority as a preventative measure to reduce the future likelihood of future root infiltration in the sewer line 32 in such prone regions, As described above, during step 53 - 56 of the procedure, the operator 41 is able to make specific note ol' the distance travelled by the unit 10 along the pipeline.32. Thbis 25 distance is measured from the initial starting or reference position. As such, the operator 41 is able to record the distance from the reference point of any detected points of interest/concern in the pipe, such as the presence of any crack(s) or other structural damage to the pipes, as well as any infiltration of roots into the pipe. Such observations may be treated with a chemical application at step 55 and may also be documented by so the operator 41 to advise the owners of the pipeline that further corrective action may be required in the future. Following the procedure 50, the operator 41 can prepare a report to the municipality or owner of the pipes that includes footage showing the internal state of the sewer line 32 and any problems noted. The owner of the pipeline can determine what further action may be required to take a pro-active approach in maintaining the 35 pipeline, thereby reducing the potential for future catastrophic failure of the pipeline. Referring to FlG. 3, a sample view of the real-time vision from the camera(s) 16 of the 14 unit is shown. As can be seen both the applicator 18 and the applicator outlet 20 are clearly visible on the monitor 42 by the operator 41. When the operator 41 activates the pump 37, fluid can be seen exiting from the applicator outlet 20 on to the walls of the pipe 34. Similarly, roots 39 infiltrating the join 33 between pipes 34 can also be readily s seen by the operator as the unit 10 is advanced into the pipeline. The monitor 42 contains a number of data displays 46, represented in FIG. 3 as boxes, to assist the operator 41 in performing and documenting the procedure. The data displays 46 are superimposed on the screen display of monitor 42 and are also captured on the recorded footage. The data displays 46 display such information as the date of 10 the procedure, the identity of the owner of the pipeline, the distance markings, GPS co ordinates, name of technician performing procedure, pipe material, as well as any other information considered relevant to the procedure. This information is typically obtained and captured within the documentation system at step 51 of the procedure 50. The monitor 42 may also be provided with. an alignment mechanism 47, such as a cross is or the like superimposed on the screen display. The alignment mechanism 47 aids the operator 41 in positioning the unit 10 within the pipe 34 to initiate'the application step 55. As is shown in FIG. 3, by positioning the unit 10 such that the alignment mechanism 47 is aligned with the join 33 between pipes 34, the operator is aware that the applicator outlet 20 is positioned adjacent the join 33 such that any fluid delivered from the outlet 20 will be applied to the join 33. It will be appreciated that the location of the alignment mechanism 47 on the display of the monitor 42 will vary depending upon the length of the applicator 18 and the position of the camera 16. In this regard, the operator 41 may need to calibrate the alignment mechanism 47 prior to commencing the procedure and adjust the position of the alignment mechanism 47 on the monitor accordingly. It will be 25 appreciated that, rather than a dedicated alignment mechanism 47 provided on the screen, the alignment mechanism may be one of the date displays 46. In an alternative embodiment, an alignment mechanism may be physically attached to the applicator. 18 to provide a physical indication of the position of the applicator outlet 20 within the pipe 34. The physical alignment mechanism may be in the form of a piece 3o of string or the like that hangs from the applicator outlet 20 to the surface of the pipe 34. At step 57 of the procedure 50, the video footage taken of the procedure is enhanced, compressed and modified by the operator 41 at the remote operator console 40. Any observations made by the operator 41 during the procedure are captured and a report is created providing a written appraisal of the pipeline together with video footage of the .35 pipeline and evidence of the procedure being performed. The report and/or video may be stored in a database and updated where necessary. Thbe owner of the pipeline is 15 supplied with a copy of the report, including the recorded video footage of the procedure which they can review and audit. In the event that the report identifies problems within the pipeline, the owner of the pipeline can determine a desirable pipeline maintenance regime to regularly monitor and service problematic pipelines, or s those pipelines particularly susceptible to blockages. Tt will be appreciated that the present invention offers significant improvements over conventional chemical treatment systems for pipelines, particularly those directed to root control- The present invention provides for controlled and targeted application of a chemical to roots within a pipeline, thereby significantly reducing the amount of io chemical used and the harm such chemicals can cause to the environment. The present invention offers a considerable advantage over conventional root foaming techniques. As previously discussed, conventional root foaming techniques require the speciahsed blending of a chemical together with air and a foaming agent to create foam that is able to fill the entire cavity of a pipeline. As there is no way in which to visually 15 inspect the foam application process as it is being conducted, due to the presence of the foam in the pipeline, it is possible that the procedure may be ineffectively performed without the knowledge of the operators. As such the owner of the pipeline may assume that a correct root control procedure has been performed on the pipeline, without knowing that the procedure was ineffective. 20 The present invention only applies the chemical treatment to regions of the pipeline where treatment is deemed necessary, such as regions of the pipeline having actual root growth or regions that are susceptible to future root infiltration. This significantly reduces the amount of chemical used by the present invention, as prior art systems typically apply treatment to entire sections of pipeline, irrespective of their condition, 25 Early tests by the present applicant have indicated that in treating an equivalent section of pipeline with an identical chemical herbicide, the present invention can use up to around 0.625% of the equivalent amount of herbicide that is used in conventional root foaming techniques. Further, as application of the chemical treatment can be visually confirmed during the procedure, an owner of a pipeline can be confident that the 3o chemical treatment has taken place and can perform their own audits of the process if desired. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that many modifications and variations may be made to the methods of the invention described herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 35 16

Claims (46)

1. An applicator unit for applying a chemical treatment to an inner wall of a conduit; including: 5 a carriage remotely controllable to move within the conduit; at least one camera mountable to the carriage to facilitate remote viewing of the inner wall of the conduit; and an applicator mountable to the carriage and controllable to apply a chemical treatment to the inner wall of the conduit. io

2. An applicator unit according to claim 1, wherein the applicator includes an elongate tubular member having an outlet formed at a distal end from which the chemical treatment is delivered for application to the inner wall of the conduit.

3. An applicator unit according to claim 2, wherein the elongate tubular member is mounted to an underside of the carriage. 1s

4. An applicator unit according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the distal end of the elongate tubular member projects from the carriage such that the outlet is located in a position whereby it can be remotely viewed by the at least one camera.

5. An applicator unit according to claim 4, wherein a proximal end of the elongate tubular member has a substantially straight portion to facilitate mounting to the 20 underside of the carriage.

6. An applicator unit according to claim 5, wherein the distal end of the elongate tubular member is curved to facilitate positioning of the outlet in front of at least one of the cameras to facilitate remote viewing of the outlet.

7. An applicator unit according to claim 6, wherein the proximal end of the tubular 2s member includes a connector to facilitate connection of the applicator to a fluid source containing the chemical for the chemical treatment.

8. An applicator unit according to claim 7, wherein the connector includes a socket to facilitate attachment of the elongate tubular member to a fluid supply line in fluid communication with the fluid source. 3o

9. An applicator unit according to claim 8, wherein the fluid supply line is a hose or 17 flexible tube having a complementary connector to facilitate a sealed fluid connection between the elongate tubular member and the fluid source;

10. An applicator unit according to claim 9, wherein the fluid source is pressurised such that the fluid is delivered from the outlet of the applicator under pressure. 5

1 1. An applicator unit according to claim 10, wherein the outlet includes a nozzle that delivers the pressurised fluid to the inner wall of the conduit.

12. An applicator unit according to claim 11, wherein the pressurised fluid is delivered from the outlet as a spray having a substantially 360' arc.

13. An applicator unit according to claim i1, wherein the pressurised fluid is delivered io from the outlet in a stream to facilitate foaming of the fluid as it is released from the outlet.

14. An applicator unit according to claim 1, wherein the carriage is a remote controlled vehicle having propulsion mechanism to facilitate movement of the vehicle along the conduit.

15 15. An applicator unit according to claim 14, wherein the propulsion mechanism includes one or more wheels, at least one of the wheels being remotely controllable to control the speed and direction of movement of the carriage.

16. An applicator unit according to claim 15, wherein the carriage includes a body to which the wheels are mounted. 20

17. An applicator unit according to claim 16, wherein the body houses a controller for controlling the propulsion mechanism in accordance with remotely received control signals.

18. An applicator unit according to claim 17, wherein the remotely received control signals are generated by a remote operator and transmitted to the controller of the 25 carriage by a cable attached to a proximal end of the body.

19. An applicator unit according to claim 17, wherein the controller includes a receiver and the remotely received control signals arc transmitted to the controller by a wireless connection;

20. An applicator unit according to claim 16, wherein the at least one camera is mounted 3o to the body of the carriage.

21. An applicator unit according to claim 20, wherein each camera is remotely 18 controlled by a remote operator to pan and tilt as required to fhcilitate remote viewing of the inner wall of the conduit.

22. An applicator unit according to clairn 21, wherein a controller controls the operation of each camera in accordance with remotely received control signals. s

23, An applicator unit according to claim 22, wherein the control signals are generated by a remote operator and transmitted to the controller by a cable attached to a proximal end of the carriage.

24. An applicator unit according to claim 23, wherein the cable also facilitates transmission of vision from the one or more cameras to the remote operator. 10

25. An applicator unit according to claim 22, wherein the controller includes a receiver and the remotely received control signals are received by the controller wirclessly from a remote operator.

26, An applicator unit according to claim 25, wherein the controller further includes a transmitter for transmitting vision from the one or more cameras to a remote operator. 15

27. A system for servicing and/or maintaining a pipeline including: an applicator unit remotely controllable to move within one or more conduits of the pipeline, the applicator unit having at least one camera for inspecting an interior wall of the conduit and an applicator for selectively applying a chemical treatment to the inner wall of the conduit; 20 a remote operator console for controlling the operation of the applicator unit; and a fluid supply for supplying fluid to the applicator unit, the fluid containing a chemical for facilitating the chemical treatment of the inner wall of the conduits,

28. A system according to claim 27, wherein the fluid supply includes a pump for supplying pressurised fluid to the applicator. 25

29. A system according to claim 28, wherein the remote operator console includes a control mechanism for controlling operation of the pump such that upon operation of the pump the pressurised fluid is caused to be delivered from the applicator to the inner wall of the conduit.

30. A system according to any one of claims 27 to 29, wherein the applicator unit is the 30 applicator unit as defined in any one of the claims I to 26. 19

31. A method of applying a chemical treatment to an inner wall of a conduit including: connecting a remotely controllable applicator unit to a fluid supply; inserting the applicator unit into the conduit; advancing the applicator unit through the conduit and monitoring the inner wall of the 5 conduit for the presence of a predetermined condition; applying a chemical treatment to the region of the inner wall of the conduit having the predctennined condition; and documenting the chemical treatment process upon completion.

32. A method according to claim 31, wherein the step of connecting the remotely 10. controllable applicator unit to a fluid supply includes connecting the applicator unit and the fluid supply by way of a fluid supply line and priming the fluid supply line and the applicator unit with a supply of pressurised fluid.

33. A method according to claim 31, wherein the step of connecting the remotely controllable applicator unit to the fluid supply further includes a step of capturing data 15 associated with the chemical treatment process.

34, A method according to claim 33, wherein the captured data includes information pertaining to: the date of the treatment, information identifying the conduit being treated; the owner of the conduits being treated and any other relevant information.

35. A method according to claim 31, wherein the step of inserting the applicator unit 20 into the conduit includes accessing said conduit by way of an access point and placing the applicator unit in a starting position adjacent the opening of the conduit.

36. A method according to claim 35, wherein the starting position of the applicator unit is calibrated as an initial starting or reference position from which distance travelled by the applicator unit along the conduit is measured. 2s

37. A method according to claim 36, wherein the step of advancing the applicator unit through the conduit includes recording vision of the inner wall of the conduit received from one or more cameras mounted on the applicator unit.

38. A method according to claim 37, wherein the step of advancing the applicator unit through the conduit further includes remotely applying motive force to the applicator 30 unit to control the speed and direction of advancement of the applicator unit in accordance with the vision received from the one or more cameras mounted on the 20 applicator unit.

39. A method according to claim 38, wherein monitoring of the inner wall of the conduit is perfonned by remotely viewing the vision of the inner wall received by the one or more cameras.

.40. A method according to claim 39, wherein the one or more cameras may be remotely controllable to facilitate detailed monitoring of specific regions of the inner wall of the conduit.

41. A method according to claim 40, wherein the predetermined condition may include a crack in the inner wall of the conduit, the presence of roots on the inner wall of the 10 conduit, and/or the build-up of grease on the inner wall of the conduit.

42. A method according to claim 41, wherein upon detection of said predetermined condition, the distance of the predetermined condition from the starting or reference position is recorded.

43. A method according to claim 41, wherein the step of applying a chemical treatment 1s to the region of the inner wall of the conduit includes positioning the applicator unit adjacent the region of the inner wall of the conduit having the predetermined condition and delivering the fluid from the fluid supply to the region of the conduit having the predetermined condition.

44. A method according to claim 43, wherein the fluid is coloured to facilitate viewing 20 of the distribution of the fluid in the region of the conduit having the predetermined condition.

45. A method according to claim 42, wherein the step of documenting the chemical treatment process includes generating a copy of the recorded vision received from the one or more cameras and supplying said copy to the owner of the conduit as evidence of 25 the completion of the chemical treatment.

46. A method according to claim 45, wherein the step of documenting the chemical treatment process further includes a step of providing a written report of the condition of the conduit identifying any predetermined conditions of the pipe and the location of the predetennined condition from the starting or reference position in the pipe. 30 21