Viewing a single comment thread. View all comments

Silenthitm4n t1_j2iottf wrote

Reply to comment by edward414 in Water pipe robots could stop billions of litres leaking by Sariel007

The pipe shown in the video is soil pipe (waste water), which across the network has a mix of old (clay) and new (plastics). There are loads of cracks, deformations, connection ridges, sludge/scale/shit build ups that these wheels would find it easier to climb compared to regular wheels.

Though, I could be completely wrong. Just my initial thoughts.

207

some_edgy_shit- t1_j2it3lm wrote

I work for a water district and review footage of sewer mains. Without getting into much detail, as long as the camera isn’t violently shaky this kind of wheel would be great. Sometimes sewer pipes become offset at joints and because fixing it is expensive as long as shit can still flow it’s ignored. The standard little rover can get over most offsets but debris like a random brick that some how gets in stops it in its tracks. If this new thing can get around obstacles that along would be really good. Also I’ve never seen a gator in the sewer but I’ve seen rats and rat snakes. Coworker saw a raccoon.

122

MrWeirdoFace t1_j2jfwh5 wrote

Mutant sewer raccoons are the worst.

38

Generallyapathetic92 t1_j2jwl1w wrote

In the UK at least CCTV surveys often can’t be completed if there is a large amount of silt or ragging in the sewer. I’d assume in clean water pipes there would be similar issues due to tuberculation in older mains and this may be why they’ve avoided wheels

13

some_edgy_shit- t1_j2jxe4z wrote

I’ve never seen a cctv review of a water main, I’d imagine your right but I don’t know. Im the map guy though my review of this stuff is purely for documentation and whatnot so I don’t have details on a lot of the hands on parts of it.

I review footage for two districts one is old enough to have brick sewer lines and yeah a lot cant be complete mostly VCP vitrified clay pipe

2

uV_Kilo11 t1_j2knl7h wrote

So I actually work as a Sewer CCTV camera operator, what is demonstrated in the video isn't anything like what we have. The system in particular we use is made by a company called iBak. It has a camera that can pan & tilt with a +/- 120 degree panning range. The tractor it connects to can survey lines as small as 4 inches diameter.

We do have to deal with stuff like offsets and protruding taps, but we don't have wheels like the one on the video. Ours are typically either rubber or a tungsten composite and both are round like regular car tires, tracked systems do exist as well.

I do know for water there are options to be able to inspect lines from the inside but they can get expensive, mainly due to having to be ultra careful in making sure you aren't contaminating the line/system. That and with the pressures involved it has to be built like a literal tank, even more so than the ones used for sewer inspection. Heck the one I use is about 20lbs of nickel plated brass.

11