Patent Application
20200182391
The invention relates generally to an apparatus and method for repairing or sealing an opening in a pipe such as a damaged pipe portion or the junction between two pipes. More particularly, but not exclusively, the invention relates to a kit, assembly, apparatus, and method for positioning a liner at an opening in a pipe which may be a damaged portion of pipe or the junction between two pipes.
As the infrastructure of major cities and towns in the developed world age, the sewer systems weaken. Pipe degradation, system blockage, water infiltration, and sewer leakage are major problems that aging sewer systems experience. As these problems persist, the sewer system may eventually experience total failure and entire sections of the sewer system may collapse. As a result, sinkholes may form and sewers may back up into homes and places of business. One method of addressing this critical infrastructure problem is the use of pipe lining techniques to rehabilitate existing sewer systems.
Cured-in-place pipelining is one such technique that includes rehabilitating an existing sewer system by creating a new pipe within an existing pipe. A liner, impregnated with a resinous material capable of curing and hardening, is inverted, pushed, or pulled into a damaged pipe. The liner is pressed toward the wall of the existing pipe, and the resinous material is allowed to cure and harden. The result is a replacement pipe having the older pipe or “host pipe” on the exterior. The cured-in-place pipe acts to alleviate the problems caused by structural defects and blockages in the existing sewer system. Some assemblies include fluid impervious bladders which are inflated to press the liner toward the wall of the existing pipe. Such bladders are typically made from polyurethane (PU) or polyvinyl chloride (PVC).
As mentioned, one existing method for repairing a damaged pipe section includes pushing a launcher or packer into a pipe until it reaches the damaged pipe section. An inflatable bladder is combined with the launcher then a resin impregnated liner is wrapped around or pulled over the bladder. The launcher is pushed into the pipe using a rod until the launcher reaches the desired location. Once positioned, the bladder is inflated to press the liner against the wall of the pipe as explained in the previous paragraph. One problem with existing push-in-place methods is that the rods are rigid which means the launcher is generally only able to travel laterally within a single pipe. In other words, the rod is unable to push the launcher around corners within the underground pipe system. Another problem is that many existing methods require at least two access points. One access point for launching the launcher, another access point to pull or rotate the launcher, and another access point to deploy a camera or other means for visually inspecting the launcher.
Therefore, a need in the art exists for a new apparatus and method for effectively repairing an opening in a pipe which may be a crack in a length of pipe or the junction between two buried pipes.
It is therefore an object, feature, and/or advantage of the present invention to provide an improved assembly and method for repairing or sealing underground structures, or the junction between two underground structures, which overcomes deficiencies in the prior art.
It is another object, feature, and/or advantage of the present invention to provide an improved assembly and method for repairing or sealing a pipe or the junction between two pipes by pushing a launcher from a single access point.
It is another object, feature, and/or advantage of the present invention to provide an improved assembly and method for repairing or sealing a pipe or the junction between two pipes by pushing the launcher around corners within the pipe system.
It is another object, feature, and/or advantage of the present invention to provide an improved assembly and method for repairing or sealing a pipe or the junction between two pipes by guiding or steering the launcher from a first pipe having an access point to a second pipe having a damaged section.
It is another object, feature, and/or advantage of the present invention to provide an assembly and method for repairing a pipe which is economical to manufacture, easy to install, and durable in use.
These and/or other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The present invention is not to be limited to or by these objects, features and advantages, and no single embodiment need exhibit every object, feature, and/or advantage.
According to one aspect of the invention, a repair assembly for repairing a pipe comprising a launcher assembly having a flexible positioning member combined with a first member and a second member, wherein the second member is slidable along a length of the positioning member to adjust a distance between the first member and the second member. The repair assembly further includes a bladder assembly having a first portion combined with the first member and a second portion combined with the second member and a liner assembly surrounding a portion of the bladder assembly.
According to another aspect of the invention, a method for repairing a damaged section of pipe, the method comprising taking a launcher assembly having a positioning member combined with a first member and a second member, a bladder assembly combined with the first member and the second member, and a liner assembly impregnated with a resinous material capable of curing and hardening and surrounding at least a portion of the bladder assembly, wherein the positioning member has a proximal end and a distal end and pushing the launcher assembly into a first pipe using the positioning member. Then, rotating the proximal end of the positioning member to cause the distal end of the positioning member to rotate in the same direction, introducing a fluid to expand the bladder assembly to press the pipe liner against a wall of the damaged section of pipe, and allowing the resinous material to cure and harden.
According to another aspect of the invention, a repair assembly for repairing a damaged portion of a pipe is provided. The repair assembly includes a launcher for positioning a liner assembly within the pipe. The launcher includes a positioning member, such as a flexible rod or cable, having a first end and a second end. The launcher further includes a first member secured at or near the first end of the positioning member and a second member combined with the positioning member between its first end and its second end. A fluid impermeable barrier member such as a plastic sheath is placed on the positioning member between the first member and the second member. A bladder assembly and a liner assembly are secured to the launcher between the first member and the second member. In some embodiments the second member includes an opening adapted to receive the positioning member so that the second member is slidable along the length of the positioning member to adjust the distance between the first member and the second member and help accommodate different lengths of bladders and liners. Some embodiments include a camera combined with the launcher or positioning member to help remotely monitor, steer, and align the launcher in its proper position adjacent to the damaged pipe section. Further, in some embodiments the second member includes an inlet/outlet opening adapted to be connected to a hose for pressurizing or deflating the bladder with air or any other suitable fluid.
According to another aspect of the invention, a method for repairing a damaged portion of pipe is provided. The method includes providing a repair assembly including a launcher for positioning a liner assembly at a damaged portion of pipe. The launcher includes a positioning member, such as a flexible rod or cable, having a first end and a second end. The launcher further includes a first member secured at or near the first end of the positioning member and a second member combined with the positioning member between its first end and its second end. A bladder assembly is combined with the launcher between the first member and the second member. The liner assembly is impregnated with a material capable of curing and hardening then the liner assembly is secured to the launcher over at least a portion of the bladder. The launcher is pushed into a pipe from a single access point to the desired position within the pipe system adjacent to the damaged section of pipe. The single access point may be a pipe, a manhole, a cleanout, a riser, or any other suitable access point into the pipe system. The positioning member is flexible thereby allowing the launcher and positioning member to be pushed around corners and move from a first pipe into a second pipe at tee or wye intersections. Some embodiments include steering or guiding the launcher around corners or from a first pipe to a second pipe by twisting the proximal end of the positioning member at the access point. The twisting motion rotates the entire positioning member from the access point all the way to the launcher on the distal end. In this manner, the user can guide the launcher left, right, up, down or any other desired direction to help the launcher follow the correct pipe path to the damaged pipe section. Once the launcher is properly positioned with the pipe, a fluid such as air is forced into the launcher to inflate the bladder to help position liner assembly against the wall of the pipe as the resin in the liner cures and hardens. The bladder assembly may be deflated and removed from the pipe after the liner has cured and hardened.
The invention generally relates to methods and assemblies for more effectively sealing underground structures such as pipes, or the junction between underground structures. As shown in
The positioning member 10 may be any suitable elongated flexible member such as a rod or cable. The positioning member is flexible, however, it may have a plastic sheath over some or all of its length to add some rigidity and help protect it from corrosion or other damage. The sheath covering the length of the positioning member 10 may be similar to barrier member 11. The positioning member 10 may be able to rotate within the sheath so that rotation of the positioning member 10 (explained herein) does not rotate the sheath. In some embodiments the positioning member 10 is between about five and seventy-five feet long in order to reach the damaged section of pipe within the pipe system. Multiple segments of the positioning member 10 may be secured together using a coupler 54. As shown in
As shown in
In some embodiments the guide member 38 is the distal end of the positioning member 10. In this embodiment, the first member 12 includes an axial opening (not shown) through its entire length similar to opening 19 in the second member 14. The axial opening in the first member 12 allows the positioning member 10 to extend through the first member 12 a predetermined distance. In this embodiment the distal end of the positioning member 10 is angled relative to the longitudinal axis L of the positioning member 10 and may include the guide bead 40 as described in the previous paragraph.
Another feature shown in
As can be seen in
Securing members 30 such as rubber bands, frangible materials such as snaps or VELCRO, or sealing members may be used to help secure the liner/bladder assembly in place as the launcher assembly 13 is pushed into the pipe system.
Alternate sealing members may be used at the main/lateral junction. In one embodiment the sealing member is a doughnut-shaped member wherein the opening in the middle corresponds with the lateral pipe opening.
After the launcher 13 is properly positioned within the pipe system, air pressure is introduced in the cavity 50 through air hose 16, urging the liner assembly into contact with the interior walls of the main pipe line 36 and the lateral pipe line 34. Continued air pressure causes the lateral bladder tube 24 and the lateral liner tube 28 to invert outwardly through the opening 48 into the lateral pipe line 34 from the position shown in
Ground water can seep towards the hydrophilic sealing member 30, 31, 32. However, upon encountering the sealing member 30, 31, 32 the water causes the sealing member 30, 31, 32 to expand in both a radial inward direction and a radial outward direction. This causes the sealing member 30, 31, 32 to form a water tight seal between the T-shaped or Y-shaped liner assembly and the interior walls of the main pipe line 36 and/or the lateral pipe line 34.
The method of using the assemblies described above include providing a repair assembly including a launcher assembly 13 for positioning a liner assembly at a damaged portion of pipe. The launcher assembly 13 includes a positioning member 10, such as a flexible rod or cable, having a first end and a second end. The launcher assembly 13 further includes a first member 12 secured at or near the first end of the positioning member 10 and a second member 14 combined with the positioning member 10 between its first end and its second end. A user may inspect the damaged pipe section using a camera 56 or other suitable means to determine the size and extend of the repair. The second member 14 is then slid along the length of the positioning member 10 to create the proper distance between the first member 12 and the second member 14 for the repair. A bladder assembly is created to approximate the distance between the first member 12 and the second member 14 then the bladder assembly is combined with the launcher assembly 13 between the first member 12 and the second member 14. In one embodiment the bladder assembly includes a main bladder tube 22 which is combined to the launcher assembly 13 by securing a first end of the bladder tube 22 to the first member 12 and securing a second end of the bladder tube 22 to the second member 14 to create a fluid seal between the bladder tube 22 and the members 12, 14. The bladder tube 22 may be combined with the members 12, 14 by any suitable connecting means 20, including mechanically and/or adhesively. For example, tape may be used to seal the bladder tube 22 to the members 12, 14 and a hose clamp may be secured over the tape to help create a fluid tight seal between the bladder tube 22 and the members 12, 14. All of these connecting means are designated with reference number 20 in
One or more securing or sealing members 30, 31 may be secured around the main liner member 26 and/or the lateral liner tube 28. The sealing members 30, 31 help secure the components together as the launcher 13 travels through the pipe system. In addition, the sealing members 30, 31 help provide a water tight seal between the liner 26, 28 and the pipe 34, 36 as explained above in more detail.
The liner assembly is impregnated with a material capable of curing and hardening as is known in the art then the liner assembly is secured to the launcher 13 over the bladder assembly. The launcher 13 is pushed into a pipe from a single access point to the desired position adjacent to the damaged section of pipe by pushing on the positioning member 10. The single access point may be a pipe, a manhole, a cleanout 44, a riser, or any other suitable access point into the pipe system. In some embodiments the launcher 13 may be pushed into the pipe system using a robot. The positioning member 10 may be a flexible or semi-rigid cable wound around a spool or reel. The positioning member 10 is unwound from the reel as the launcher 13 is pushed into the pipe. In other embodiments the positioning member 10 is pushed into the pipe but not unwound from a spool.
As shown in
The main bladder 22 and/or main liner member 26 may contact the access pipe 44 and/or branch pipes 34 during instillation, especially as the components go around corners or are guided into other pipes. This contact may result in significant friction between the launcher 13 and the pipes 34, 36. In one embodiment, a vacuum is applied to remove air from the internal cavity 50 inside the bladder 22 through air hose 16 or vacuum hose 17 while the launcher 13 is moving through the pipe system. The reduced pressure within the bladder 22 helps reduce the diameter of the liner/bladder assembly which reduces friction between the liner/bladder assembly and the pipe. Further, the reduced pressure within the bladder 22 helps secure the components together as they travel within the pipe system. In one embodiment a lubricant such as soap may be applied to the external sides of the liner/bladder assembly to help reduce friction. In another embodiment the lubricant may be applied to the walls of the pipe to help reduce friction.
Once the launcher 13 is properly positioned with the pipe adjacent to the damaged section of pipe, a fluid such as air is forced through air hose 16 and into the launcher 13 through openings in the second member 14 to inflate the bladder assembly to help position liner assembly against the wall of the pipe as the resin in the liner cures and hardens. The bladder assembly may be deflated by removing air through the air hose 16 or, in some embodiments, through a separate vacuum hose 17 which is also in fluid communication with cavity 50 through an opening in the second member 14. The air hose 16 and/or vacuum hose 17 may be combined with openings/fittings in the second member 14 before the launcher is pushed into the pipe. The hoses 16, 17 may be stored on reels which unwind as the launcher is pushed into the pipe. Conversely, winding up the hoses 16, 17 and/or the positioning member 10 pulls the launcher 13 to the access point when it is time to remove the launcher 13 from the pipe. The bladder assembly may be removed from the pipe after the liner has cured and hardened.
Having thus described the invention in connection with the preferred embodiments thereof, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that various revisions can be made to the preferred embodiments described herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is my intention, however, that all such revisions and modifications that are evident to those skilled in the art will be included with in the scope of the following claims.
