Apparatus and method for inspecting sewer lines using small mobile vehicles

Abstract

A light weight vehicle adapted to conduct and assist cleaning and video inspections of sewer lines. The vehicle is configured to be light and maneuverable. The vehicle is equipped with inspection cameras and support equipment that are positioned such that the operator can conduct the inspection from inside the vehicle. The vehicle may also include a telescoping camera boom that enables an operator to inspect the inside of manholes. The vehicles includes sides and a roof that provides protection for the operators, equipment, and paperwork.

1 . A mobile service vehicle comprising,
 a compact body having an interior and an exterior;   two wheels rotationally engaged to the compact body;   a power source connect to the compact body and operationally associated with at least one of said wheels;   a steering control operationally associated with at least one of said wheels; and   a sewer cleaning line reel mounted to the compact body.   
   
   
       2 . The mobile service vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the compact body is less than 40 inches wide and is tall enough to allow a person to sit comfortably in the interior. 
   
   
       3 . The mobile service vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the power source is a plurality of batteries. 
   
   
       4 . The mobile service vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein, the sewer cleaning line reel is mounted on the exterior of the compact body. 
   
   
       5 . The mobile service vehicle of  claim 4  further comprising a reel control for controlling said sewer cleaning line reel, wherein said reel control is mounted to the compact body. 
   
   
       6 . The mobile service vehicle of  claim 5 , wherein said sewer cleaning line reel is powered by said power source. 
   
   
       7 . The mobile service vehicle of  claim 6 , wherein said reel control is mounted to the exterior of said compact body and is positioned adjacent to the sewer line cleaning reel. 
   
   
       8 . The mobile service vehicle of  claim 7 , wherein the wheels are sized and treaded to support the mobile service vehicle on soft ground. 
   
   
       9 . The mobile service vehicle of  claim 8 , wherein the sewer cleaning line reel is sized to hold 300 ft. of 1¼″ lay flat hose. 
   
   
       10 . The mobile service vehicle of  claim 9 , further comprising 1¼″ lay flat hose stored on said sewer cleaning line reel. 
   
   
       11 - 27 . (canceled) 
   
   
       28 . A method of cleaning and inspecting sewer lines comprising the steps of positioning a cleaning truck in proximity to a manhole;
 running a hose from the cleaning truck to a water source using a support vehicle;   connecting a hose to a water source;   running the hose from the water source to the manhole;   attaching a jet water cleaning nozzle to the water hose; and   feeding the jet water cleaning nozzle into the sewer line to be cleaned.   
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising the step of positioning a mobile inspection vehicle at a downstream manhole to monitor the progress of the jet water cleaning nozzle. 
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising the step of communicating to the cleaning truck when the jet water cleaning nozzle completes a section of sewer line. 
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising the step of running a debris hose from the cleaning truck to the manhole and applying a suction to remove debris from the manhole. 
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising the step of monitoring the progress of the hose remotely from the cleaning truck. 
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising the step of feeding a camera into the cleaned sewer line from the inspection vehicle. 
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 33 , further comprising the step of inspecting the sewer line immediately behind the cleaning nozzle. 
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 34 , further comprising the step of viewing and commenting on the inspection footage from inside the mobile inspection vehicle. 
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 35 , further comprising the step of recording the sewer pipe image. 
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 36 , further comprising the step of controlling the movement of the inspection camera from inside the mobile inspection vehicle. 
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 37 , further comprising the step of using a hose puller to pull the hose from the cleaning truck to the manhole. 
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 38 , further comprising the step of using tracking the amount of hose required to run the cleaning nozzle from the downstream manhole to the upstream manhole. 
   
   
       40 . A method of inspecting manholes comprising the steps of
 positioning a inspection vehicle next to a manhole;   lowering a camera attached to a telescoping camera boom into the manhole;   controlling the camera direction and depth from the interior of said inspection vehicle; and   recording the images captured by the camera.   
   
   
       41 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the camera is a pan and tilt camera. 
   
   
       42 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the camera is configured with a laser. 
   
   
       43 . The method of  claim 42 , further comprising the step of taking measurements using the laser. 
   
   
       44 . The method of  claim 43 , further comprising the step of tracking the amount of transmission line used in order to determine the depth of the manhole. 
   
   
       45 . The method of  claim 44 , further comprising the step of recording comments and relevant inspection data on the images captured by the camera.