Patent Application
20190293225
The disclosed subject matter relates to the field of pipes, pipelines, sewers, water mains, conduit, and other passageway technology, and particularly to the repair of underground pipes using water infiltration.
A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. The following notice applies to the disclosure provided herein and to the drawings that form a part of this document: Copyright 2017-2018, Edward Thomas Richards, Jr., All Rights Reserved.
Conventional technologies provide numerous systems and methods to repair and maintain pipes, pipelines, sewers, conduits, and passageways from the inside in order to restore the integrity of these pipeline systems. However, it is often necessary to perform in situ repair or rehabilitation of underground pipeline systems from the outside or externally to the pipe; because, the internal pipeline system infrastructure may not permit a sufficient level of access or the repair is only possible from the outside of the pipe. Additionally, it may not be practical or cost-effective to dig down to a problem area of a pipe. Older underground pipeline systems can encounter a variety of problems over time. Cracks, breakage, leaks, joint separations, and the like can occur in conventional underground pipeline systems. Soil subsidence in the area around an underground pipe can weaken the support structure of the pipe and cause breakage or sagging of an underground pipe. Conventional techniques are unable to repair these problems with underground pipeline systems.
A system and method for repair of underground pipes using water infiltration are disclosed. An example embodiment includes: a probe with a hollow interior, the probe having a receiving end and a probe tip; a pressurized infiltration liquid provider to source infiltration liquid; a viscous sealant supply to provide viscous sealant; a manifold coupled to the receiving end of the probe, the manifold also being coupled to the pressurized infiltration liquid provider and the a viscous sealant supply; the pressurized infiltration liquid provider being configured to eject infiltration liquid through the manifold, into the hollow interior of the probe, and out of the probe tip; and the viscous sealant supply being configured to eject viscous sealant through the manifold, into the hollow interior of the probe, and out of the probe tip.
Another example embodiment includes a method comprising: providing a probe with a hollow interior, the probe having a receiving end and a probe tip; providing a pressurized infiltration liquid provider to source infiltration liquid; providing a viscous sealant supply to provide viscous sealant; coupling a manifold to the receiving end of the probe; coupling the manifold to the pressurized infiltration liquid provider and the viscous sealant supply; using the pressurized infiltration liquid provider to eject infiltration liquid through the manifold, into the hollow interior of the probe, and out of the probe tip; and using the viscous sealant supply to eject viscous sealant through the manifold, into the hollow interior of the probe, and out of the probe tip.
Embodiments are illustrated by way of example and not limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which:
In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which are shown, by way of illustration, specific embodiments in which the disclosed subject matter can be practiced. It is understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the disclosed subject matter.
According to various example embodiments of the disclosed subject matter as described herein, there is disclosed, illustrated, and claimed a system and method for the external repair of underground pipes using water infiltration. The example embodiments disclosed herein provide an apparatus, system, and method implemented as an external underground pipe repair system, which can be used in a variety of applications including servicing underground pipelines. In the various embodiments, the pipes or pipelines as denoted herein can include conventional pipes, piping, pipelines, sewer or sewage lines, water mains, drain lines, and other types of pipelines. These pipelines can be fabricated from a variety of materials including metal, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or other plastics, composite materials, ceramic, fiberglass, or concrete. In an example embodiment, the external underground pipe repair system as described herein can operate externally to pipes of a diameter from a few centimeters to several meters. The example embodiments provide a system and method for in situ maintenance and external repair of various types and sizes of pipes and pipeline networks. The example embodiments can be used with pipeline arrangements with bends, turns, angles, curves, or reduced diameter segments. The example embodiments are designed to provide access to particular pipe locations from the outside or externally to the pipe through concrete, asphalt, layers of dirt, and/or other intervening matter under which the particular pipe is located. A probe, as part of the external underground pipe repair system, enables the external underground pipe repair system to use mechanical drilling, coring, and liquid infiltration to move through the intervening matter and position the probe tip adjacent to an underground pipe portion to be repaired. A viscous sealant can be injected into a receiving end of the probe and ejected through the probe tip underground and adjacent to a leak, crack, or other problem area of the pipe being repaired or maintained. The sealant can adhere to the pipe and seal any leaks or cracks in the pipe. A catalyst in the viscous sealant can be configured to cause the sealant to harden into a rigid, semi-rigid, foam-like, or rubber-like material with water-resistant and corrosion-resistant properties. As a result, the leak, crack, or other problem area of the pipe is repaired externally to the pipe and without excavating or exposing the pipe from its underground location. A detailed description of various example embodiments of the system and method is provided below.
Referring now to
Referring again to
In a similar fashion, the pressurized air source 130 can pressurize environmental air to a configurable pressure level and eject the pressurized air into a second intake port on manifold 152. The manifold 152 enables the pressurized air sourced from the pressurized air source 130 to be forced into the hollow interior of the probe 150 and out through the probe tip. The action of the pressurized air expelled from the probe tip serves to further eject liquid and material from the intervening ground layers and to dry the underground area adjacent to the probe tip. Valves provided on the manifold 152 enable an operator to selectively enable or disable the flow of liquid or air into the hollow interior of the probe 150.
Using the hollow drill bit 310, the pressurized infiltration liquid provider 110, and/or the pressurized air source 130, an operator can use the probe 150 to penetrate into the intervening layers of material between ground level and a point below ground where a portion of underground pipe requires repair. For example, as shown in
Once the probe tip of probe 150 is positioned adjacent to an underground pipe requiring repair as described above, the viscous sealant supply 120 can be used to deliver viscous sealant to the portion of the pipe in need of repair. Referring again to
As a result, the sealant can be delivered in a liquid or viscous form through the probe 150 after which the sealant can dry, harden, expand, or otherwise cure after a pre-determined time period. As shown on
The illustrations of embodiments described herein are intended to provide a general understanding of the structure of various embodiments, and they are not intended to serve as a complete description of all the elements and features of components and systems that might make use of the structures described herein. Many other embodiments will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reviewing the description provided herein. Other embodiments may be utilized and derived, such that structural and logical substitutions and changes may be made without departing from the scope of this disclosure. The figures herein are merely representational and may not be drawn to scale. Certain proportions thereof may be exaggerated, while others may be minimized. Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.
The description herein may include terms, such as “up”, “down”, “upper”, “lower”, “first”, “second”, etc. that are used for descriptive purposes only and are not to be construed as limiting. The elements, materials, geometries, dimensions, and sequence of operations may all be varied to suit particular applications. Parts of some embodiments may be included in, or substituted for, those of other embodiments. While the foregoing examples of dimensions and ranges are considered typical, the various embodiments are not limited to such dimensions or ranges.
The Abstract is provided to allow the reader to quickly ascertain the nature and gist of the technical disclosure. The Abstract is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.
In the foregoing Detailed Description, various features are grouped together in a single embodiment for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed embodiments have more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment.
As described herein, a system and method for repair of underground pipes using water infiltration are disclosed. Although the disclosed subject matter has been described with reference to several example embodiments, it may be understood that the words that have been used are words of description and illustration, rather than words of limitation. Changes may be made within the purview of the appended claims, as presently stated and as amended, without departing from the scope and spirit of the disclosed subject matter in all its aspects. Although the disclosed subject matter has been described with reference to particular means, materials, and embodiments, the disclosed subject matter is not intended to be limited to the particulars disclosed; rather, the subject matter extends to all functionally equivalent structures, methods, and uses such as are within the scope of the appended claims.
