ePIPE Granted 10th U.S. Patent for Small-Diameter Pipe Cleaning Technology

Pipe Restoration Technologies, LLC, makers of the ePIPE pipe restoration product line, announced that it has been granted its 10th U.S. patent, Patent #8696823. The patent covers methods used for abrasive cleaning inside small-diameter pipes, including pipes with an interior diameter of 2 inches or smaller, such as water supply lines.

What Patent #8696823 Covers

This patent focuses on cleaning methods that use intermittent bursts of abrasive particles injected into a piping system. The process is designed to clean the interior walls of pipes while helping reduce burrs and interior lips that can contribute to unnecessary erosion inside the pipe.

Over time, this type of internal erosion can lead to early pipe wear and potential leaks, including leaks commonly known as slab leaks when they occur beneath a concrete slab. The patented ePIPE process gives operators greater control and efficiency compared to alternative pipe cleaning methods.

Advancing In-Place Pipe Restoration

ePIPE CEO Larry Gillanders commented: “We recently rolled out a 2 hour return to service “in-place” lining material certified by NSF in the US, Belgaqua in Belgium, SABS in South Africa and by the UK’s Secretary of State (Drinking Water Inspectorate) for use in England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland for use in protecting drinking water systems.”

This advancement supports ePIPE’s broader mission to provide in-place pipe restoration solutions that help protect drinking water systems, reduce leaks, and extend the service life of existing piping systems without traditional replacement methods.

Recognition for ePIPE Innovation

ePIPE technology has also received international recognition for innovation and sustainability. The technology was named winner in the “Best Innovation Adopted” category at the UK Energy Innovation Awards for developments in protecting natural gas lines.

In Spain, the ePIPE team was awarded 2nd place in the “Selected Products” category at the Construmat Fair for Innovation and Sustainability in Barcelona.

ePIPE has also been recognized by National Grid in the United Kingdom for its contribution to the circular economy, where intelligent product and supply design are used to reduce waste and retain resource value.

Continued Leadership in Pipe Restoration Technology

In Canada, Larry Gillanders was a qualified nominee for the 2014 Manning Awards for Innovation. The ACE DuraFlo®, ePIPE® team has also been nominated twice for the U.S. National Medal of Technology and Innovation.

With its 10th U.S. patent, Pipe Restoration Technologies continues to expand its intellectual property portfolio and strengthen ePIPE’s role as an innovative solution for in-place pipe cleaning, lining, and restoration.