Granted Patent B2

US 12,523,332 · App. 17/712,914 · Granted Jan 13, 2026

Inventor: Aurelian Ioan Furcoiu (Chattanooga, TN)

Assignee: Mueller International, LLC

F16L55/163A61F2002/9505

Abstract

Claims (63)

1 . A pipe repair assembly comprising:

a stent comprising an engagement tab and moveable between a compressed configuration and an expanded configuration; and

a deployment probe comprising a release mechanism, the release mechanism configurable in an engaged position, wherein the release mechanism is engaged with the engagement tab of the stent and the stent is in the compressed configuration, and a disengaged position, wherein the release mechanism is disengaged from the engagement tab of the stent and the stent is in the expanded configuration,

wherein the engagement tab extends radially-inward toward a longitudinal center axis of the stent.

2 . The pipe repair assembly of claim 1 , wherein the stent comprises a stent spring and a seal, the seal disposed radially outward of the stent spring in the expanded configuration.

3 . The pipe repair assembly of claim 2 , wherein:

the release mechanism comprises a stent retainer; and

the stent retainer engages the engagement tab in the engaged position and is disengaged from the engagement tab in the disengaged position.

4 . The pipe repair assembly of claim 3 , wherein:

the deployment probe further comprises probe body defining a probe void therethrough and a slot in fluid communication with the probe void;

the stent retainer is disposed within the probe void; and

the engagement tab extends through the slot to engage the stent retainer in the engaged position.

5 . The pipe repair assembly of claim 4 , wherein:

the engagement tab defines a tab opening; and

the stent retainer is a retainer clip engaging the tab opening in the engaged position.

6 . The pipe repair assembly of claim 5 , wherein the retainer clip comprises a first spring leg and a second spring leg, the first spring leg and the second spring leg are biased towards one another, and at least one of the first spring leg and the second spring leg extends through the tab opening of the engagement tab.

7 . The pipe repair assembly of claim 6 , wherein:

the first spring leg and the second spring leg bent towards one another to define a pinched middle section of the retainer clip;

the pinched middle section engages a tab opening of the engagement tab in the engaged position to retain the stent in the compressed configuration; and

the pinched middle section disengages the tab opening in the disengaged position to permit the stent to expand to the expanded configuration of the stent.

8 . The pipe repair assembly of claim 4 , wherein:

the engagement tab defines a tab opening;

the release mechanism comprises a retainer body;

a retainer slot is formed at an outer side edge of the retainer body;

the stent retainer is a connector comprising a head extending into the slot; and

the head extends through the tab opening in the engaged position.

9 . The pipe repair assembly of claim 1 , wherein:

the deployment probe comprises a probe body, the probe body defining an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface defining a probe void;

the release mechanism comprises a retainer body received within the probe void and a stent retainer coupled to the retainer body; and

the stent is mounted to the outer surface of the probe body.

10 . The pipe repair assembly of claim 9 , wherein:

the probe body defines a slot extending from the inner surface to the outer surface;

the stent comprises an engagement tab extending through the slot and into the probe void; and

the stent retainer releasably engages the engagement tab in the engaged position.

11 . The pipe repair assembly of claim 10 , wherein:

the probe void defines a probe axis extending centrally therethrough;

the release mechanism is axially movable within the probe void between the engaged position and the disengaged position; and

the slot extends in an axial direction relative to the probe axis.

12 . The pipe repair assembly of claim 9 , wherein:

the probe body defines a front end, a rear end opposite the front end, and a middle portion therebetween;

the middle portion defines a recessed portion;

a front shoulder is defined proximate to the front end; and

a diameter of the deployment probe at the recessed portion is less than a diameter of the deployment probe at the front shoulder.

13 . The pipe repair assembly of claim 12 , wherein the stent is mounted within the recessed portion in the compressed configuration, and wherein an outer diameter of the stent in the compressed configuration is about equal to or less than the diameter of the deployment probe at the front shoulder.

14 . The pipe repair assembly of claim 13 , wherein a rear shoulder is defined proximate to the rear end of the probe body, the recessed portion extending substantially between the front shoulder and the rear shoulder, wherein a diameter of the deployment probe at the rear shoulder is greater than the diameter of the deployment probe at the recessed portion.

15 . A method for repairing a pipeline comprising:

providing a stent comprising a seal and a stent spring, the stent spring comprising an engagement tab extending radially-inward toward a longitudinal center axis of the stent;

engaging the engagement tab with a release mechanism of a deployment probe to orient the stent in a compressed configuration, wherein the deployment probe and stent together define a pipe repair assembly;

navigating the pipe repair assembly through the pipeline to a crack in the pipeline;

disengaging the engagement tab from the release mechanism; and

biasing the stent to an expanded configuration in the pipeline.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein further comprising engaging the seal with an inner wall of the pipeline at the crack.

17 . The method of claim 15 , wherein engaging the engagement tab with the release mechanism of the deployment probe comprises extending the engagement tab through a slot of the deployment probe and engaging a stent retainer of the release mechanism with a tab opening of the engagement tab.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein:

the stent retainer comprises a retainer clip comprising a first spring leg and a second spring leg;

the first spring leg and the second spring leg are biased towards each other; and

engaging the stent retainer of the release mechanism with the tab opening of the engagement tab comprises receiving at least one of the first spring leg and the second spring leg through the tab opening.

19 . The method of claim 15 , wherein:

the deployment probe comprises a front shoulder and a recessed portion;

a diameter of the deployment probe at the recessed portion is less than a diameter of the deployment probe at the front shoulder;

engaging the engagement tab with the release mechanism of the deployment probe to orient the stent in the compressed configuration comprises mounting the stent on the recessed portion; and

a diameter of the stent in the compressed configuration is about equal to or less than the diameter of the deployment probe at the front shoulder.

20 . The method of claim 15 , wherein disengaging the engagement tab from the release mechanism comprises moving the release mechanism axially within a probe void of the deployment probe of an engaged position to a disengaged position.

Continuity (3)

References Cited (236)

Cited By (2)

US 12,638,121 US 12,729,799