Devices and methods for repairing pipes
Example aspects of a pipe repair stent, a pipe repair device, and a method for repairing a pipe are disclosed. The pipe repair stent can comprise a sealing layer comprising a flexible and compressible repair material; and a spring, wherein the sealing layer is wrapped around a circumference of the spring; wherein the stent is configurable in an expanded configuration and a compressed configuration, the spring biasing the stent to the expanded configuration.
1. A pipe repair stent comprising:
a sealing layer comprising a flexible and compressible repair material, the sealing layer defining a continuous cylinder; and
a spring extending substantially along a length of the sealing layer, wherein the sealing layer is wrapped around a circumference of the spring;
wherein the pipe repair stent is configurable in an expanded configuration and a compressed configuration, the spring biasing the stent to the expanded configuration, and wherein a length of the spring is the same in the expanded configuration and the compressed configuration.
2. The pipe repair stent of claim 1 , wherein the pipe repair stent defines a cylindrical structure, a void extending through a center of the cylindrical structure.
3. The pipe repair stent of claim 1 , wherein the spring comprises a metal wire.
4. The pipe repair stent of claim 3 , wherein the metal wire defines a wave pattern undulating in an axial direction.
5. The pipe repair stent of claim 1 , wherein the sealing layer engages an outer surface of the spring.
6. The pipe repair stent of claim 1 , wherein the repair material comprises at least one of neoprene, rubber, foam, epoxy, and silicone.
7. The pipe repair stent of claim 1 , wherein the repair material is a NSF/ANSI 61 certified material.
8. A pipe repair device comprising:
a body defining a first end, a second end, and a middle section therebetween;
a stent attached to the body, the stent comprising a sealing layer and a spring, the sealing layer defining a continuous cylinder, the stent configurable in a compressed configuration and an expanded configuration, wherein the sealing layer is wrapped around a circumference of the spring and the spring biases the stent to the expanded configuration;
a locomotion subsystem comprising at least one wheel, the locomotion subsystem configured to drive the pipe repair device through a pipe; and
a power subsystem configured to supply electrical power and carry the electrical power to the locomotion subsystem.
9. The pipe repair device of claim 8 , wherein the at least one wheel is attached to one of the first end and second end.
10. The pipe repair device of claim 8 , wherein:
the locomotion subsystem further comprises a motor; and
the power subsystem carries the electrical power to the motor.
11. The pipe repair device of claim 10 , wherein the power subsystem further comprises a tether carrying the electrical power to the motor.
12. The pipe repair device of claim 8 , wherein the stent defines a cylindrical structure, a void extending through a center of the cylindrical structure, the void configured to allow fluid to flow therethrough.
13. A method for repairing a pipe comprising:
providing a stent, the stent comprising a spring and a sealing layer, the sealing layer defining a continuous cylinder, the stent configurable in an expanded configuration and a compressed configuration, wherein the sealing layer is wrapped around a circumference of the spring and the spring biases the stent to the expanded configuration;
transporting the stent in the compressed configuration to a leak in a pipe;
expanding the stent to the expanded configuration within the pipe; and
engaging the sealing layer with an inner surface of the pipe at the leak to repair the leak.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein expanding the stent to the expanded configuration within the pipe comprising biasing the sealing layer outward with the spring.
15. The method of claim 13 , wherein transporting the stent in the compressed configuration to a leak in a pipe comprises attaching the stent to a pipe repair device and driving the pipe repair device through the pipe to the leak.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein driving the pipe repair device through the pipe to the leak comprises supplying power to a motor of the pipe repair device and operating a locomotion subsystem of the pipe repair device with the motor.
17. The method of claim 13 , further comprising detecting a location of the leak in the pipe.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the steps of detecting a location of the leak in the pipe and transporting the stent in the compressed configuration to a leak in the pipe are performed concurrently.
19. The method of claim 13 , further comprising the step of evaluating the leak after the step of engaging the sealing layer with an inner surface of the pipe at the leak to repair the leak.