APPARATUS FOR COATING THE INNER SIDE OF TUBING WITH PROTECTIVE MATERIAL

Abstract: The invention relates to a tool (8) for coating the inside of tubes with a protective material and designed to be arranged at one end of a supply line (6) having a discharge orifice for coating material as well as to be connected to a rotary movement generating means (7, 12). The tool comprises at least one rotatable means (17), provided adjacent to the discharge orifice and provided with, e.g., chains (18), to provide a distribution of the protective coating material fed out onto the tube wall as the rotatable means (17) rotates. It also has at least one rotatably arranged guiding means (9), which, depending on the direction of rotation, guides the tool (8) in a desired direction, as it is moved within a tube. The invention also relates to a rotatable brush for use as a guiding means with such a tool (8). Finally, the invention relates to an apparatus for coating the inside of a tube, comprising a pump (34) for pumping coating material from a container (14) and through a coating material supply line (6), a wire or flexible shaft (7) connected to a tool (8).

Description: APPARATUS FOR COATING THE INNER SIDE OF TUBING WITH PROTECTIVE MATERIAL. The present invention relates to a tool for use in internal coating of tubing systems, preferably sewage systems in dwelling- houses, with a protective material. The invention also relates to a guide brush intended for use together with the tool. The invention also relates to an apparatus for coating the inside of tubes, comprising a tool and a guide brush according to the invention. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The tubing systems of dwelling houses, single-family houses as well as apartment blocks, will normally need to be reconditioned after appr. 30 -years and possibly even earlier, whenever a damage has occurred in the tubing system. The cause may be e.g. deposits on the tube walls, corrosion, accumulation of various types of substances forming insoluble lumps, crack formations in the tubes giving rise to leaks, damp-related damages etc. Such a reconditioning normally involves replacing of the entire tubing system, or at least a major portion thereof. The walls and floors will partially have to be torn down and provisional arrangements made, turning the dwelling in question into a recon¬ ditioning object for a period of appr. 4 weeks and possibly even longer. The cost of such a reconditioning is substantial. SUBSTITUTE SHEET ISA/SE PRIOR ART Some methods for cleaning tubes (e.g. WO 89/12513 and GB-A-2028 459) as well as for coating tubes using special devices (e.g. US- 2,194,701 and 2,261,928) are known from the patent literature. These methods will be briefly discussed below. WO 89/12513 relates to an apparatus for cleaning tubes, which utilizes mechanical machining of the tube inside by means of propeller-like means driven by means of pressurized water. The water pressure also propels the device in a forward direction through the tubes. Although it is stated that the apparatus be provided with a flexible coupling to facilitate the manoeuvering at bends, the way this control should be carried out is not described, and it is likely to be very difficult to achieve manoeuvering in an easy manner by use of the device described. It is impossible to practice this invention for coating tubes, while satisfying the requirement for adapting the device to dimensional changes, branchings and bends. GB-2028459 relates to a machine for removing deposits from the interior of tubings. The machine consists of a carriage having a motor, which drives a rotor on which short chains are mounted. At the end of the chains, weights knocking off material accumulated on the tube wall are arranged. The carriage is pulled by means of a wire or the like. The design of this machine probably makes it very difficult, if not impossible, to take the machine around a tube bend, and it is definitely impossible to guide it. US-2,261,928 relates to an apparatus for coating primarily water and sewage lines with a protective coating, such as cement, and for its levelling. The apparatus consists of a carriage guided through the line, a coating material supply line and an discharge means at the end of the line. The carriage also supports a mixing container for mixing coating material. The container accommodates paddles effecting the mixing. The material is passed on to the discharge means by means of a screw feeder device. Further, a hub is arranged on a rotating shaft, which hub is provided with a number of long, spoke-like elements at the ends of which trowel¬ like means are arranged. These trowel-like means serve to level out the coating. The structure is very complicated, apparently being intended for large dimension tubings. It is further known to coat the inside of tubes with a protective layer of a high-viscous hardenable polymer pushed through the system, whereby the tube sides are coated. So called "re-lining" of public tubing systems is also known. The coating then is carried out by spraying a glass fibre reinforced plastic material onto the tube walls. OBJECT OF THE INVENTION The object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for coating the inside of tubes, particularily sewage tubes, which apparatus does not present any of the drawbacks associated with the devices mentioned above. Thus, the apparatus is required to i) permit short-time recon¬ ditioning of tubing systems resulting in a minimum of incon¬ venience to people living in the apartment being reconditioned, ii) be structurally simple, thus being inexpensive, iii) be guidable in a desired direction within a tubing network having a number of branch tubes and iv) adapt to changes in tube dimension without the need of any particular intervention in the device and its components. This is accomplished with a tool, a brush and a device according to the patent claims 1, 6 and 9 respectively. Preferred embodiments of the invention are defined in the dependent claims. The invention will now be described in detail with reference to the appended drawings, wherein Fig. 1A and IB schematically shows a tubing system in a building; Fig. 2 shows a cross-section of a floor drain; Fig. 3 schematically shows the device of the invention in use; Fig. 4 is a partly cut-away side view of the device ac¬ cording to the invention; Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the device at V-V of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 shows the coating means in detail; Fig. 7A-C respectively show a front view, a top view and a perspective view of the guiding brush in detail; and Fig. 8 is a diagram showing the performance required from the flexible shaft. DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention primarily has its application in sewage tubing systems of dwelling houses, single-family houses as well as apartment blocks, and will be described in connection there¬ with. Fig. 1A schematically shows the tubing in a bathroom, having a main line 1 and branchings to wash-basin 2, toilet 3 and a floor drain 4 for, e.g., a bath tub, as well as the changes in dimension that are present within the system. The dimensions in question are in the tube diameter range from 40 mm and up to, e.g., 225 mm. One of the problems present when working inside tubings is precisely associated with the capability of the equipment to accommodate said dimensional changes while prevent- ing the equipment from getting stuck or seizing as it is passed through the tubes. First of all, the method for coating tubes according to the invention will now be described with reference to Fig. 1A, IB, 2 and 3. The device 5 being used and to be described in detail below, substantially consists of a coating material supply line 6, a pump 34 for pumping material through the line, a flexible shaft 7 for driving (at least)one rotating tool 8 and a guide brush 9, which are arranged at the distal end of the device. The rotation is generated, e.g., by means of an electric motor, most conve¬ niently by coupling a portable drilling machine 12 of the conventional type to the flexible shaft 7 by means of a suitable coupling. The motor should have an continuously variable rotational speed, such as 100 - 2000 rpm, and should be provided with a torque selector and drivable in right-hand as well as left-hand rotation. Presently, there is no problem in reaching up to appr. 10 m into the tubing system by means of the device 5, this being completely adequate in order to manage to recondition a tubing system of one floor level in a normal apartment house. In particular applications, it is possible to reach substantially further. It is, for instance, possible to conceive a range of up to 30 m in vertical rain water lines. As the coating, a resin modified, two-component, high-viscous, curable polymer on an epoxy base is preferably used. An example of a preferred polymer is the ElastoCoat T 30 B (manufactured by Zel-Aaren Innovation AB, Sweden). The viscosity has to be sufficiently high in -order to permit the coating material to form a sufficiently thick coating. Being sufficiently thick is means ranging between 0.5 and 2 mm, preferably 1.5 mm. The viscosity must not be to high, nor to low, since, in the former case, it would be impossible to drive the device through the tubing system. In the latter case, it would be impossible to obtain the thickness required without repeating the method several times, which would be time-consuming and costly. Prior to the coating process itself, the tubing system needs to be cleaned out. This can be achieved mechanically, and may be carried out by means of the device according to the invention using, however, a tool, which is reinforced by hard metal or diamond ( this will be described more in detail below). High- pressure flushing may also be taken into consideration. Following the mechanical cleaning-out the tubes will be flushed. Then, the tubes are dried, e.g. by hot air, and finally, the tubes are inspected by means of filming with a video camera, such as a micro film camera, also by use of the device according to the invention. The micro film camera is arranged at the distal end of the device, and is connected to a video unit and a display by means of a coaxial cable. It is also possible to conceive a lens alone being provided, the picture then being transmitted by optical fibers to a conventional, externally located video equipment. When practicing the coating method, the side tubes (lOa-c i Fig. 1) will generally first be dealt with by coating them with polymer mass, after which the main line 1 will be coated. In order to have access internally in the tubing 10c in a floor drain 4 ( see Fig. 2), an access hole 11 will have to be made, which will be closed again by means of, for instance, a rubber seal having a plug upon completion of the reconditioning. The device 5 is introduced in the tube line 10b (Fig. 3; e.g. the sewage from a floor drain 4 underneath a bath tub) and the motor (the drilling machine) is actuated. Thanks to the particular design of the guide brush 9 (to be described below), the intro¬ duction will be facilitated, since the tool 8 will partially be pulled into the line by the screwing brush. A manual feeding will still have to be made. Once the lower end of the tube to be coated has been reached, the feeding-out of polymer mass 13 will be initiated. The mass will be fed out through the opening of the supply line 6, the mass 13 accumulating in front of the tool 8 (as seen in the direction pointing back towards the beginning of the tubing 10). There will be no need for a special nozzle. As soon as a sufficient amount of mass has been fed out, the device 5 will be retracted over a distance, the tool 8, provided with distributor means 18, working the mass and achieving a distribution of the mass across the inside wall of the tube. During the coating operation, the rotational speed will suitably be 800 - 1000 rpm. Sometimes, "bulges" are formed during the coating operation. In order to level out these "bulges", the device will be moved back over a distance at a decreased rotational speed, appr. 300-500 rpm. During this stage of levelling-out, the supply of polymer mass will be shut off. Upon having been confirmed that the coating is sufficient through the inspection of the coating by video camera, the coating of a following section will follow. A detailed description of the device according to the invention will now be given here below in connection with Fig. 3 - 7. The apparatus, which as a whole is referred to by the number 5, comprises a coating material supply line 6, a flexible shaft 7 for driving (at least) one rotating tool 8 and a guide brush 9, which are arranged at the distal end of the device. A container 14 for polymer mass, a video unit 15 and the motor 12 are mounted on a support or frame 16, which may be provided with wheels. A flexible shaft is connected to the motor, and the tool 8 of the invention is located at the end of the shaft 7. The tool 8 substantially comprises a cylindrical core 17', which is mounted on the flexible shaft 7 by means of a locking screw and on which flexible elements 18 are attached in such a way as to be substantially free-moving, These elements 18 may consist of articulated elements, such as short chains 18a, or bristle 18b made of nylon and/or steel. An essential feature of these elements is that they have an extension exceeding the interior tube diameter by appr. 10%, as they follow the round core 17' in rotation. At the same time, they are required to adapt to dimen¬ sions, which are appr. 45% smaller, without interfering with the forward drive of the device within the tube. The function of the flexible elements 18, 18a, 18b is to force polymer mass fed out in the tube out towards the tube wall and to distribute it evenly onto the wall to form a uniform coating having a thickness of appr. 1.5 mm. It is presently preferred to use chains 18a as articulated or flexible elements during the coating operation itself, since the torque of the chains will be low enough to permit that the coating operation be accomplished without any hindrance. Further, the chains easily adapt to changes in dimensions of, e.g., the tubing system. It is however possible to use a brush having a structure similar to that of the guide brush 9 (to be described), as an alternative to the chain structure described above, but the torque will then be to high in certain situations, and the passing of the apparatus through the tubes will become sluggish. According to one embodiment, which will preferably be used in connection with small tube dimensions, "only two brushes 9, and thus no chains, are provided. According to a preferred embodiment of the tool, two sets of chains are provided. In connection herewith, the additional set is provided between the outer brush and the first rotating chains, within the preferred distance indicated below in connection with the description of the guide brush. By arranging a planetary gear between two identical sets of chains, it is possible to achieve, that these sets rotate in different directions and even at different rotational speeds. This may be advantageous in order to provide a coating to certain portions, which end up in the "shade" during a coating operation effected by means of a single set of chains. This "shade" may be found, for instance, in tube wall cavities caused by corrosion, or minor bulges or obstacles caused by deposits, which were not eliminated in the initial cleaning operation. When using a single set of chains only, this "shade" will be levelled-out through passing the tool back and through coating from the opposite direction. The tool may also be used in the initial cleaning step to remove hard deposits from the tubes, the chains 18a being replaced by hard-metal reinforced or diamond reinforced chains 18c. The reinforcements may adopt the form of small hard-metal tips 18d. Spaced apart from said tool 8 by a distance, which is greater than the greatest opening formed at a branching, by which the brushes may pass, along the shaft 7 in the distal direction, at least one guide brush 9 provided with nylon and/or steel bristle 18b is provided. Since the bristles 18b have a certain rigidity, this guide brush 9 serves to center the assembly of shaft/supply line within the tube. The brush 9 further contributes in driving the entire assembly in a forward (or backward) direction within the tube as well as in providing a guiding in a desired direc¬ tion. Driving, and guiding, which is an important feature of the invention, is provided through the bristles 18b being arranged along an "oblique" line 19 in an axial direction on the pe¬ ripheral envelope surface 20 of the cylindrical core 17", so that reversing the rotational speed will lead to the guide brush 9 screwing in an opposite direction. The brush 9 will further tend to turn right and left, respectively, depending on the rotational direction, and the entire assembly may thus be turned around a branch tube. A problem, that may occur, is that the bristle 18b break very easily or at least will be bent during the rotation. In order to eliminate this problem, support elements 21 are provided axially on the core 17". These elements lie axially somewhat obliquely, and are arranged spaced apart by a small spacing 22, the bristle 18b being anchored in slits 23 in the core 17" in the spacings 22. The core 17" as well as the support elements 21 may be manufactured in, e.g., nylon. The envelope surfaces 24 of the support elements are designed substantially as ellipsoids, the tangent of the envelope surfaces 24 of the support elements 21 at the point of contact with the core 17" forming a substantially right angle. The radial extension of the support elements 21 is such, that the diameter of the circle capable of circumscribing the entire brush core (core 17" plus support elements 21) will be appr. 10% smaller than the smallest tube dimension, through which the brush is to be passed. The characteristics of the flexible shaft are of major importance to the function of the apparatus. Namely, the shaft will have to be capable of transmitting a torque, which is sufficient for turning the tool 8, without being deformed itself, while not being too rigid so as to prevent it from being sufficiently bent in a branch tube. Thus, the shaft will have to permit flexing to a radius of curvature of appr. 50 mm without being deformed. Else, there is a risk of the shaft tending to "take a shortcut" in the branch tube, which may cause an uneven coating of the tube walls in the area around the branching. It has been found that the shaft 7 should have the character¬ istics indicated in the diagram of Fig. 8, i.e. being able to transmit a torque V of up to 4.9 Nm (with respect to the larger tube dimensions) when effecting coating (at which the shaft will be rotating at 800 - 1000 rpm) without being deformed. Further, the shaft must be able to flex to a radius of 50 mm without being deformed. With respect to the smaller tube dimensions, a torque of 0.8 Nm will be sufficient. Since it is impossible for a flexible shaft 7 to have charac¬ teristics, that cover the entire range of transmittable torques, in combination with the desired radius of curvature, it may be necessary to replace the shafts at different tube dimensions. Fig. 8 shows a diagram of different shafts which may be used in the apparatus according to the invention and their characteristics ( dimension, transmittable torque at different rotational speeds). A coating mass supply line 6 is extending parallel to the flexible shaft 7. The shaft 7, which is housed in a sleeve 7' , and the supply line 6, which also is housed in a sleeve 6', are kept together by means of, for instance, tape, straps or any other attachment or clamping means. The supply line 6 has a telescoping outer sleeve 25 at the discharge end. This may be necessary due to the fact, that the supply line and the shaft may adopt different radii in a tube bend, whereby, given that the line 6 was unable to adapt to the curvature, the discharge orifice thus would be displaced with respect to the shaft. This sleeve 25 is secured on the casing of the flexible shaft, so that the discharge orifice will remain in a fixed position with respect to the shaft. A coaxial cable 26 connected at its end to a miniaturized video camera (a micro film camera) 27 extends between the supply line 6 and the shaft 7 in parallel therewith. The coaxial cable is connected to a video unit 15 having a display. A (fibre optical) light guide also extends in parallel therewith and is connected to a light source in order to provide lighting to the tube inside and intended for the inspection by means of the video camera. The four components, supply line 6, shaft 7, coaxial cable 26 and light guide 28, are kept together by means of a holder 29. This holder may consist of an aluminum block 29 having a central through hole 30, in which the coaxial cable 26 and the light guide 28 extend and in which the micro film camera 27 is positioned. The holder is provided with exterior bowl-shaped recesses or notches 31 located on opposing sides of the holder 29, in which recesses or notches the supply line and the shaft 7 respectively rest. The latter is fixed by means of a clamping means 32. Centering springs 33 are attached within the holder 29. These springs may be shaped as clamps of, e.g., metal wire having a fix point of attachment at one end and being able to slide along the cabling at the other end. They will thereby ensure that the holder assembly 29, 6, 7, 26, 28 will lie centered within the tube. Since the clamps are resilient, they may accommodate dimensional changes without any problem. In a way corresponding to the situation at the discharge end, a telescoping sleeve 25' is provided before the holder assembly 26 - 29 in order to adapt the cabling to bending. A reel for winding the cabling may also be provided on the frame or support 16, which support in practice consists of a small carriage.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A tool (8) for coating the inside of tubes with protective materials and designed to be arranged at one end of a supply line (6) having an discharge orifice for coating material, as well as to be connected to a rotary movement generating means (7, 12), comprising at least one rotatable means (17), arranged adjacent to the discharge orifice and provided with distributor means (18), to provide a distribution of the protective coating material fed out onto the tube wall, as the ro¬ tatable means (17) rotates; and at least one rotatably arranged guiding means (9), which, dependent of the direction of rotation, guides the tool (8) in a desired direction, as it is moved within a tube. 2. The tool according to claim 1, wherein the distribution means (18) consist of elongated, articulated elements (18a) arranged along the periphery of the rotatable means and propelled outwardly towards the tube walls attaining contact therewith as the rotatable means rotates. 3. The tool according to claim 2, wherein the distribution means are chains (18a) having at least 2, preferably 2 - 15, most preferably 2-10 links. 4. The tool according to claim 1, wherein the distribution means (18) is bristle (18b) of nylon and/or steel. 5. The tool according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the guiding means is a rotating brush (9) , to be connected to a rotary movement generating means (7, 12), and arranged so as to screw itself in a forward or reverse direction in the tube when rotating, dependent of the direction of rotation. 6. A rotatable brush for use as a guiding means with a tool according to any of claims 1 - 5, comprising a cylindrical core (17) for connection to the rotary movement generating means (7, 12); a set of bristle (18b) projecting, substantially radially, from the envelope surface of the core (17), and support elements (21) arranged around the periphery of the core (17), and designed to prevent the bristle (18b) from breaking or being deformed, when flexing in use. 7. The brush according to claim 6, wherein the bristles (18b) are arranged in a row, so that a horizontal projection of their points of attachment across the envelope surface corresponds to a straight line having, however, its initial point and final point displaced to one another, so that a pitch corresponding to 0.5 - 2 revolutions per 250 mm, and preferably 1 revolution per 250 mm, is obtained. 8. The brush according to claim 6 or 7 provided with 3 - 5, preferably 3 sets of bristle (18b). 9. An apparatus for coating the inside of a tube, comprising a pump (34) for pumping coating material from a container (14) and through a coating material supply line (6); an elongated, flexible means (7), e.g. a wire or a flexible shaft, connected to a tool (8) according to any of claims 1 - 4, the flexible means being designed to transmit a rotary movement from a motor (12) to the tool (8) and being capable of being flexed to a radius of curva¬ ture R of 50 mm without being deformed. 10. The apparatus according to claim 9 modified so that the shaft (7) has a thicker dimension providing the ability to flex to a radius of curvature of 75 mm. 11. A method for coating the inside of a tube, such as in a sewage tubing system in residential buildings, with a protective material, comprising the following steps: " a) pumping a curable polymer mass having a high viscosity in a tube to a discharge location; b) forcing the polymer mass by means of a rotating tool to form a homogenous coating having a thickness of 0.5 - 2.0 mm, preferably 1.5 mm, on the inside wall of the tube; c) displacing the mass discharge location to a point at which no coating has been applied; and d) repeating the steps a) - c) until the entire tube has been covered by a homogenous coating. 12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the passage through branchings and discharge tubes is achieved without hindrance through use of an apparatus according to claim 9. 13. A tool for cleaning the inside of tubes from deposits, such as, e.g., lime etc., and designed in part to be arranged at one end of a flexible shaft (7), which in turn is connected to a rotary movement generating means (7, 12), comprising a sub¬ stantially cylindrical core (17' ) mounted on the flexible shaft (7) by means of a locking screw, and on which flexible elements (18) are attached in such a manner, so as to be essentially freely moveable, which elements (18) are provided at the ends with hard metal reinforcements (18d). 14. The tool according to claim 12, wherein the flexible elements are chains (18) and the reinforcements adopt the shape of small, tip-like elements (18d), provided on the chain segments.

Inventors: EKLUND BROR, EKLUND, BROR
Applicants: EKLUND BROR, EKLUND, BROR
Application year: 1993
Main classification: B05C7
IPC codes: B05C7, F16L55, F16L58