WO2019211879A1 - Jante de maintien d'objet - Google Patents

Jante de maintien d'objet Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2019211879A1
WO2019211879A1 PCT/IS2019/050005 IS2019050005W WO2019211879A1 WO 2019211879 A1 WO2019211879 A1 WO 2019211879A1 IS 2019050005 W IS2019050005 W IS 2019050005W WO 2019211879 A1 WO2019211879 A1 WO 2019211879A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
rim
vehicle
pipe
rotatable member
diameter
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/IS2019/050005
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Jon Gudni KRISTINSSON
Original Assignee
Kristinsson Jon Gudni
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Kristinsson Jon Gudni filed Critical Kristinsson Jon Gudni
Publication of WO2019211879A1 publication Critical patent/WO2019211879A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16L—PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16L55/00—Devices or appurtenances for use in, or in connection with, pipes or pipe systems
    • F16L55/16—Devices for covering leaks in pipes or hoses, e.g. hose-menders
    • F16L55/162—Devices for covering leaks in pipes or hoses, e.g. hose-menders from inside the pipe
    • F16L55/163—Devices for covering leaks in pipes or hoses, e.g. hose-menders from inside the pipe a ring, a band or a sleeve being pressed against the inner surface of the pipe
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16L—PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16L55/00—Devices or appurtenances for use in, or in connection with, pipes or pipe systems
    • F16L55/26—Pigs or moles, i.e. devices movable in a pipe or conduit with or without self-contained propulsion means

Definitions

  • the invention concerns a device, method and remotely controlled vehicle for remotely placing and holding an object such as a sensor within a pipe or tube such as within a sewage pipe.
  • the present invention provides a device for placing and holding in place an object inside a sewage pipe or similar location inside a pipe or tube of a pipe system.
  • the device is designed and constructed such that it can be remotely placed, such as in a location in a pipe far from a manhole and kept securely in place. At a later desired timepoint, the device can be retrieved.
  • a method is also provided for placing and keeping in place one or more object within a desired location inside a sewage pipe or similar system.
  • a pipe robot vehicle for transporting and positioning a device such as an object holding rim described herein.
  • the device of the invention comprises a rim which is referred to as an object holding rim, for placing and keeping in place inside a sewage pipe or other tube or pipe or similar hard-to-reach location one or more object.
  • the rim has an adjustable diameter such that the diameter can be reduced when the rim is being transported to a desired location so that the diameter is less than the diameter of the pipe into which it is being placed, and the diameter can be enlarged when the rim is in the desired location, such that it will fit snugly and securely at the location inside the pipe and remain securely fixed in place until such time when it is desired to retrieve the rim.
  • the rim comprises a first end and a second end, on the inside of the first end is attached a gear mechanism comprising a spur wheel mounted parallel to the rim, the second end of the rim or an extension thereof lies underneath the first end and has a series of parallel slots or ridges that engage with teeth of the spur wheel.
  • the spur wheel is fixedly and axially attached to a worm wheel that engages with a worm shaft which is fixedly joined to a connector that is configured to connect to a mating rotatable member such that when a mating rotatable member is connected to the connector and rotated, the diameter of the rim is thereby adjusted.
  • the rim is configured so that one or more object can be mounted and securely fixed on the inside of the rim.
  • the spur wheel and the worm wheel are preferably arranged coaxially on a joint axis that is rotatably held by two oppositely arranged members such as two plates, that are attached to the first end of the rim.
  • the gear mechanism is supported within a frame or box that is fixed to the inside of the first end of the rim, with an opening adjacent to the inside of the first end, to allow insertion of the second end or extension thereof.
  • the worm shaft and connector joined to it are arranged substantially radially with respect to the rim, such that the connector is directed substantially inwardly, towards the center of the rim.
  • the worm shaft can be at another angle to the worm wheel, for example, the connector joined to the worm shaft can be arranged substantially parallel to the part of the rim to which the gear mechanism is fixed.
  • the worm shaft can have another angle to the worm wheel. With such alternative configuration, the space occupied within the rim by the gear mechanism can be reduced or altered.
  • the connector is configured to connect to a mating rotatable member.
  • the connector comprises a receiving cavity shaped to mate with a mating rotatable member.
  • the mating rotatable member can comprise a shaped head, such as but not limited to a square profile head or hexagonal profile head, to mate with a corresponding receiving cavity in the connector.
  • the connector comprises a head piece shaped to fit a mating cavity on the rotatable member.
  • the gear mechanism is configured such that the diameter of the rim is not altered without actively rotating the connector, in other words ,the gear mechanism is essentially locked in any set position and the gear mechanism does not slip to alter the rim diameter without activation of the connector. This ensures that the rim remains securely in place when it has been positioned inside a pipe, and also that when it is tightened to sit securely on holders on a mounting vehicle it sits in place. This can be achieved for example by arranging and designing the gear components such they have a suitable desired friction and/or having a relatively tight thread on the worm shaft.
  • the connector is preferably designed so that it can be rotated also manually, with a handheld mating screwing tool or simply by hand. This is convenient for example if the rim is being mounted close to a manhole.
  • the rim is particularly suited to be transported and put in place by a remotely controlled vehicle configured to drive through sewage pipes and/or similar pipe systems.
  • Pipe robot vehicles designed to drive through seawage pipes and the like are known in general to the person skilled in this technical field, also referred to as pipe robots, robot crawlers, pipe crawlers or the like.
  • a pipe robot for use in the present invention comprises certain designated novel features necessary for the transporting and positioning of rims, which are further described herein below.
  • a pipe robot suited to transport a rim of the present invention should preferably be configured with one or more holders, such as for example two or more arms, rods or bars, for holding the rim while the robot drives to the desired location.
  • the holder or holders preferably extend from one end of the vehicle, preferably axially with respect to the length axis of the vehicle.
  • a suitable pipe robot is also configured with a remotely activated rotatable member that can mate with the connector of the rim.
  • the holders can be but are not limited to a set of parallel rods or bars that a rim can be hung on, that are in some embodiments symmetrically arranged with respect to the center of the vehicle.
  • the rim preferably comprises hooks to grip the holders when the diameter of the rim is reduced to fit it onto the holders. Other configurations for the interaction between the holders and rim are envisioned and also within the general scope of the invention.
  • the one or more holder are arranged on an axially angularly adjustable support, meaning that the support can be rotated at least partially, around an axis which is parallel with the main axis of the vehicle, such that when a rim is mounted on the one or more holder, the rim can be rotated and thus angularly adjusted by rotating of the rotatable support, for angular adjustment of the rim prior to expanding and fastening in a pipe.
  • the remotely activated rotatable member can preferably extend both axially (horizontally) with respect to the vehicle and vertically, so as to reach the connector on a rim mounted on the vehicle, or a rim that is being retrieved.
  • the vehicle comprises one or more camera that is/are adjusted to record and/transmit views of the rotatable member.
  • the one or more camera is configured to record and transmit a live recording to a monitor, where a user can thus observe the operation of the vehicle and the rotatable member in particular and remotely control the interaction between the rotatable member and connector on a rim.
  • the pipe robot vehicle is connected via a signal transmitting cable, such as an electric wire or a fiber optic cable, that is able to transmit a digital signal from the one or more camera on the vehicle to a monitor above ground, and to transmit control signals from a control unit being operated above ground by a user.
  • a signal transmitting cable such as an electric wire or a fiber optic cable
  • the vehicle is in some embodiments battery powered but in other embodiments the motor and electrical functions of the vehicle are powered from a remote power source via a power transmitting cable.
  • the power transmitting cable and signal transmitting cable can advantageously be combined in a cable such as a coaxial cable or twisted cable.
  • the rim of the invention is not limited to any particular dimensions, though advantageously, a suitably sized pipe robot should be provided to hold and mount the rim.
  • the rim has an outer diameter that can be adjusted to within the range from about 10 cm, or from about 15 cm or from about 20 cm, to about 80 cm or to about 70 cm or to about 60 cm or to about 50 cm or to about 40 cm, such as in the range from about 15 cm to about 35 cm.
  • specific systems with smaller diameter pipes such as but not limited to specific industrial systems it is within the scope of the invention to make even smaller rims for use with a miniaturized pipe robot.
  • the rim has an adjustable diameter, so that the diameter can be in a reduced mode when the rim is being transported by a robot vehicle, and expanded when being fastened in a desired location in a pipe and remain expanded when the rim sits in place to hold the resepctive object(s) in the desired location.
  • the diameter of the rim can be reduced so as to be, for example, in the range of 2-10 cm less than the diameter of the pipe into which it is being placed, such as a range from about 2 cm, or about 3, cm or about 4 cm to about 5 cm, to about 10 cm, or about 9 cm or about 8 cm or about 7 cm or about 6 cm or about 5 cm, such as about 2 cm, about 3 cm, about 4 cm or about 5 cm less than the diameter of the pipe.
  • the diameter can be adjusted from a minimum diameter to maximum diameter that is at least 20% larger than the minimum diameter, such as at least 25% larger, such as at least 30% larger, or up to about 30% larger.
  • the invention provides a method for placing and keeping in place one or more object within a desired location in a sewage pipe or other tube of a tubular system. The method comprises the steps of: providing a remotely controlled vehicle sized to drive within the sewage pipe or said other tube of a tubular system, wherein the vehicle is arranged with one or more holder to hold a rim, preferably coaxially with respect to the pipe or tube that the vehicle drives along, the vehicle further comprises a remotely controlled rotatable member;
  • the rim having said one or more object mounted and securely fixed on the inside of the rim, and the rim is further arranged with a gear mechanism for adjusting the diameter of the rim, wherein the gear mechanism comprises a connector that is configured to mate with said rotatable member of the remotely controlled vehicle;
  • the remotely controlled vehicle is preferably a suitably configured and sized pipe robot.
  • Pipe robot vehicles as such are known to the skilled person.
  • the necessary specfic configuration of a pipe robot to make it suited for the present invention is described above and indicated in the above listed method steps and include firstly the inclusion of a remotely controllable rotatable member, such as an extending arm with a screw bit or the like head piece that is shaped to mate with the connector of a rim to be mounted by the vehicle, and secondly one or more holder, such as for example but not limited to a pair of arms that hold the rim in such position that the vehicle can drive with it through a pipe in which the rim is to be mounted.
  • a remotely controllable rotatable member such as an extending arm with a screw bit or the like head piece that is shaped to mate with the connector of a rim to be mounted by the vehicle
  • one or more holder such as for example but not limited to a pair of arms that hold the rim in such position that the vehicle
  • the method in useful embodiments further comprises collecting said rim after a period time, by driving said vehicle or another functionally equivalent vehicle to the desired location, connecting its rotatable member with the connector of the rim gear mechanism, rotating the rotatable member so as to decrease the diameter of the rim, and driving back with the rim held by the one or more holder of the vehicle.
  • the vehicle preferably comprises one or more camera that records and/or transmits a live view of the operation of the vehicle, and accordingly the method in preferred embodiments comprises recording and/or transmitting such live view to a monitor that a user can watch to enable her/him to accurately control the vehicle including in particular the interaction between the vehicle and a rim of the invention.
  • the method of the invention preferably comprises transmitting via one or more camera a view comprising at least the rotatable member of the vehicle to a monitor, to aid a user who is remotely controlling the vehicle and the transporting and positioning of an object holding rim.
  • any objects which is desired to place in a pipe can in principle be mounted on the rim, provided they can be sized in a suitable size and arranged to be fixed to the rime with suitable fixing means, such as screws, clips, by welding, or other suitable fixing means.
  • the rim can be used but is not limited to positioning a chemical sensor, flow meter, thermometer, a camera, or other physical sensor. In some emobdiments the rim holds more than one object, of similar or different type and/or function.
  • any data collecting objects can be configured either such that the data is collected and retrieved from the object when the object and rim has been retrieved, and/or arranged with a transmitter to transmit information about the collected data.
  • Figure 1 Panoramic view of rim.
  • Figure 2 Front view of rim showing two different diameter settings.
  • Figure 3 Different panoramic view of rim.
  • Figure 4 Blow-up view of gear mechanism.
  • Figure 5 Gear mechanism (rim not shown), (a) top view, (b) cross-sectional side view, (c) front view
  • Figure 6 Pipe robot vehicle with two mounted rims, panoramic view.
  • Figure 7 Pipe robot vehicle with mounted rim, front view.
  • Figure 1 shows a panoramic view of a rim 1 of the invention, the rim having a first end 2 and a second end 3 with an extension 4.
  • the extension has a series of parallel slots 5 that engage with the spur wheel 6.
  • the spur wheel 6 and a worm wheel 7 are held by the same axis 10 held in place by side plates 11 and 12.
  • the worm wheel 7 cooperates with worm shaft 8 which is held in place by top plate 14 and bottom plate 15 that together with side plates 11 and 12 form a frame supporting the gear mechanism.
  • the side plates 11 and 12 are fixed to the second end 2 of the rim.
  • Top plate 14 is fastened to the side plates leaving an opening 13 adjacent to the first end, to allow insertion of the extension 4 therethrough.
  • the worm shaft extends through the bottom plate 15 and is connected to connector 9 that is shaped to mate with a suitable rotatable head piece, or can alternatively be rotated by hand.
  • the thread of the worm shaft 8 is designed to be relatively tight (with tight pitch/small pitch) such that the gear will not slip but remain locked in position as adjusted by the connector 9.
  • Four objects 16 are shown fastened to the rim.
  • Flooks 17 are arranged on the rim to interact with holders of a mounting vehicle as further described below.
  • Figure 2 shows a front view of the rim 1.
  • the rim is shown adjusted to its smallest diameter, whereas the dotted line shows the rim adjusted to maximum diameter.
  • Flooks 17 ensure that when the rim is placed on suitable holders on a rim transporting vehicle, the hooks grab onto the holders as the diameter of the rim is reduced to fit the rim onto the vehicle.
  • the angular position of objects on the rim may be altered if the angular position of the gear mechanism is the same, depending on their respective position on the rim. Therefore it is advantageous that the rim can be angularly adjusted while on the pipe robot vehicle.
  • a certain object be in a position on the rim so it sits on the bottom of the pipe and is immersed in eventual liquid flowing in the pipe, and likewise it may be preferred that another object be positioned higher on the circumference in the pipe.
  • Figure 3 shows a panoramic view of the embodiment in figure 2.
  • Figure 4 shows a blow-up view of the gear mechanism of the rim indicating all main components of a particular embodiment of the gear mechanism.
  • Figure 5 shows different views of the gear mechanism without the rim being shown; (a) is a top view, (b) is a cross-section view across the cross-section B-B, (c) is a front view.
  • FIG. 6 shows a pipe robot vehicle according to the invention.
  • the vehicle comprises a main body 20 with wheels 21 and holders 22 for holding and transporting rims 1. With the particular depicted objects mounted on the rims as shown, the vehicle can carry two rims simultaneously. Five objects 16 are shown mounted on each rim.
  • a rotatable member 24 (not shown) extends from the body and can be guided to mate with a mating connector 9 on a rim. In this embodiment the rotatable member extends adjustably radially from a horizontally axially adjustable centerpiece extending from the main body 20.
  • a front camera is placed behind glass cover 23 and further cameras are mounted in the vicinity of the rotatable member to record a view of the member and its interaction with a rim.
  • a connector 25 is on the rear end of the vehicle, to connect with a power and signal transmission cable.
  • holders 22 are arranged on a angularly adjustable support 26 that enables angular adjustment of the rim(s) prior to placing and fixing in a pipe.
  • Figure 7 shows a front-view if the pipe robot vehicle with a mounted rim.
  • the rotatable member 24 is seen interacting with the connector 9 of the rim 1.
  • Hooks 17 interact with the holders 22 to hold the rim more securely on the vehicle.
  • the holders 22 are arranged on the angularly adjustable suuport 26.
  • the wheels 21 are shown and the inner surface 27 of a pipe inside which the vehicle is driving.
  • the present invention also covers the exact terms, features, values and ranges etc. in case these terms, features, values and ranges etc. are used in conjunction with terms such as about, around, generally, substantially, essentially, at least etc. (i.e., "about 3" shall also cover exactly 3 or “substantially constant” shall also cover exactly constant).

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Manipulator (AREA)

Abstract

La présente invention concerne une jante de maintien d'objet pour placer et maintenir en place un ou plusieurs objets à l'intérieur d'un tuyau d'égout ou d'un autre tuyau ou d'un autre tube, la jante ayant un diamètre réglable, un mécanisme d'engrenage est fixé sur l'intérieur d'une première extrémité de la jante comprenant une roue droite montée parallèlement à la jante, la seconde extrémité de la jante ou une extension de celle-ci se trouve au-dessous de la première extrémité et comporte une série de fentes parallèles qui viennent en prise avec les dents de la roue droite. La roue droite est fixée axialement à une roue à vis sans fin qui vient en prise avec un arbre à vis sans fin qui s'étend jusqu'à un connecteur qui est configuré pour se raccorder à un élément rotatif correspondant, de telle sorte que, lorsqu'un élément rotatif correspondant est relié au connecteur et mis en rotation, le diamètre de la jante est ajusté. La jante est configurée de telle sorte qu'un ou plusieurs objets peuvent être montés et fixés solidement sur l'intérieur de la jante. L'invention concerne également un procédé pour placer un objet à l'intérieur d'un tuyau d'égout ou d'un autre tuyau ou tube, et un véhicule robotisé de tuyau approprié pour transporter et placer une jante de maintien d'objet à l'intérieur d'un tuyau d'égout ou d'un environnement restreint similaire.
PCT/IS2019/050005 2018-04-30 2019-04-30 Jante de maintien d'objet WO2019211879A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
ISIS050223 2018-04-30
IS50223 2018-04-30

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2019211879A1 true WO2019211879A1 (fr) 2019-11-07

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ID=68386383

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/IS2019/050005 WO2019211879A1 (fr) 2018-04-30 2019-04-30 Jante de maintien d'objet

Country Status (1)

Country Link
WO (1) WO2019211879A1 (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US11655927B2 (en) 2021-06-14 2023-05-23 Hydratech Engineered Products, Llc Apparatus and methods for internal sealing of pipe systems

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5465758A (en) * 1993-12-03 1995-11-14 Uhrig Kanaltechnik Gmbh Apparatus for sealing leakage points in pipes from the inside of the pipe, and a method of sealing the leakage points
US5769459A (en) * 1995-12-01 1998-06-23 Uhrig Kanaltechnik Gmbh Inside sealing device sleeve for insertion of pipes
US20090051125A1 (en) * 2007-08-13 2009-02-26 Press-Seal Gasket Corporation Internal pipe seal
EP2754936A2 (fr) * 2013-01-10 2014-07-16 Press-Seal Gasket Corporation Mécanisme d'étanchéité expansible

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5465758A (en) * 1993-12-03 1995-11-14 Uhrig Kanaltechnik Gmbh Apparatus for sealing leakage points in pipes from the inside of the pipe, and a method of sealing the leakage points
US5769459A (en) * 1995-12-01 1998-06-23 Uhrig Kanaltechnik Gmbh Inside sealing device sleeve for insertion of pipes
US20090051125A1 (en) * 2007-08-13 2009-02-26 Press-Seal Gasket Corporation Internal pipe seal
EP2754936A2 (fr) * 2013-01-10 2014-07-16 Press-Seal Gasket Corporation Mécanisme d'étanchéité expansible

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US11655927B2 (en) 2021-06-14 2023-05-23 Hydratech Engineered Products, Llc Apparatus and methods for internal sealing of pipe systems

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