Patent Publication Number: US-2005133105-A1

Title: Device and a process for non-destructive repair of a side inlet pipe of a main sewer of a draining pipe

Description:
DESCRIPTION  
      The present invention refers to a device and a process for non-destructive repair of a side inlet pipe of a main sewer of a sewer system or of a draining pipe in general.  
      For some time systems for non-destructive repair of a side inlet pipe of a main sewer of a sewer system or of a draining pipe have been present on the market, in which the coating element for repairing the side pipe, housed bent back upon itself in a suitable container and suitably impregnated with a thermosetting resin, is transported onto the location to be repaired by a robitized machine, once the location has been reached it is subjected to a pressurised air jet that everts it so as to fit onto the side pipe, and finally it is rigidified by triggering the polymerisation of the resin.  
      It is known that such systems for non-destructive repair of a side inlet pipe of a main sewer of a sewer system or of a draining pipe in general are extremely complex and expensive since they cannot do without the use of a robotized machine for positioning the coating element, whereas the everting device does not always ensure the desired performance and end result.  
      The technical task proposed of the present invention is, therefore, that of making a device and a process for non-destructive repair of a side inlet pipe of a main sewer of a sewer system or of a draining pipe in general that allow the aforementioned technical drawbacks of the prior art to be eliminated.  
      In this technical task a purpose of the invention is that of making a device and a process for non-destructive repair of a side inlet pipe of a main sewer of a sewer system or of a draining pipe in general that capable of always ensuring the desired performance and end result in a cost-effective, simple and quick manner, without the help of robotized machines.  
      The technical task, as well as these and other purposes, according to the present invention, are accomplished by making a device for non-destructive repair of a side inlet pipe of a main sewer of a sewer system or of a draining pipe in general, characterised in that it comprises a coating element for repairing said side pipe, impregnated with thermosetting resin and slotted onto an inflatable positioning balloon rigidly connected to a longitudinal moving element that can be actuated manually along said side pipe, said coating element having a first tubular portion that can be shaped to the inner wall of said side pipe for its repair and a second portion that can be shaped to the inner wall of said main sewer about the outlet hole of said side pipe to ensure the correct positioning of said first tubular portion and to avoid it slipping off after positioning.  
      The present invention also refers to a process for non-destructive repair of a side inlet pipe of a main sewer of a sewer system or of a draining pipe in general, characterised in that it foresees an inflatable positioning balloon connected to a moving element, slotting a coating element for repairing said side pipe impregnated with thermosetting resin onto said balloon, making said moving element rise from said main sewer to said side pipe, pulling it manually until a first tubular portion of said balloon is positioned in said side pipe and a second tubular portion of said balloon is positioned in said main sewer, inflating said balloon so as to shape said first tubular portion to the inner wall of said side pipe for its repair and said second tubular portion to the inner wall of said main sewer about the outlet hole of said side pipe to ensure the correct positioning of said first tubular portion and to avoid it slipping off after positioning, polymerising said resin with which said coating element is impregnated and deflating and removing said balloon from said coating element.  
      The present invention also discloses a process for non-destructive repair of a side inlet pipe of a main sewer of a sewer system or of a draining pipe in general, characterised in that it foresees an inflatable positioning balloon connected to a longitudinal moving element, slotting a coating element for repairing said side pipe impregnated with thermosetting resin onto said balloon, making said moving element descend from said side tube to said main sewer, pushing it manually until a first tubular portion of said coating element is positioned in said side pipe and a second portion of said coating element is positioned in said main sewer, inflating said balloon so as to shape said first tubular portion to the inner wall of said side pipe for its repair and said second portion to the inner wall of said main sewer about the outlet hole of said side pipe to ensure the correct positioning of said first tubular portion and to avoid it slipping off after positioning, polymerising said resin with which said coating element is impregnated and deflating and removing said balloon from said coating element.  
      Other characteristics of the present invention are, moreover, defined in the subsequent claims. 
    
    
      Further characteristics and advantages of the invention shall become clearer from the description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of the device and a process for non-destructive repair of a side inlet pipe of a main sewer of a sewer system or of a draining pipe in general according to the finding, illustrated for indicating and not limiting purposes in the attached drawings, in which:  
       FIG. 1  shows a view of a first embodiment of the device for non-destructive repair of a side inlet pipe of a main sewer of a sewer system or of a draining pipe in general, before positioning and inflation of the balloon, in which the system for positioning the balloon is by traction and the repair intervention requires the flow of refluent through the main pipe to be momentarily shut off;  
       FIG. 2  shows the device of  FIG. 1  after the positioning and inflation of the balloon;  
       FIG. 3  shows a side elevated view of the coating element for repairing the side pipe;  
       FIG. 4  shows a view of a second embodiment of the device for non-destructive repair of a side inlet pipe of a main sewer of a sewer system or of a draining pipe in general, before inflation of the balloon, in which the system for positioning the balloon is by thrust and the repair intervention does not require the flow of refluent through the main pipe to be shut off;  
       FIG. 5  shows the device of  FIG. 4  after inflation of the balloon;  
       FIG. 6  shows a view of a third embodiment of the device for non-destructive repair of a side inlet pipe of a main sewer of a sewer system or of a draining pipe in general, in which the system for positioning the balloon is by traction and the repair intervention does not require the flow of refluent through the main pipe to be shut off. 
    
    
      In the description elements that are equivalent in the different embodiments shall be indicated with the same reference numeral.  
      With reference to the quoted figures, a device for non-destructive repair of a side inlet pipe of a main sewer of a sewer system or of a draining pipe in general is shown, wholly indicated with reference numeral  1 .  
      The device  1  comprises a coating element  2  for repairing the side pipe  3 , impregnated with a thermosetting resin and slotted onto an inflatable positioning balloon  4  connected to a longitudinal moving element  5  that can be actuated manually along the side pipe  3 .  
      The repair element  2  has a first tubular portion  6  that can be shaped to the inner wall of the side pipe  3  and a second portion  7  that can be shaped to the inner wall of the main sewer  8  about the outlet hole  9  of the side pipe  3  both to ensure the correct positioning of the first tubular portion  6  and to avoid it slipping off after positioning.  
      The repair element  2  can consist of non-woven fabric, felt or another material and advantageously it has a layer of anti-friction, anti-wear and impermeable material, e.g. nylon, on the outside, in other words on the opposite side to the one facing towards the balloon  4 .  
      The second portion  7  of the repair element  2  preferably consists of a substantially annular skirt from the inner edge of which extends a tubular fitting  13  with the first tubular portion  6  of the repair element  2 .  
      In particular, the fitting  13  is joined on one side to the first portion  6  and on the other side to the second portion  7  of the repair element  2 .  
      The first portion  6  of the repair element  2  is made from flexible material, whereas the second portion  7  and the fitting  13  are made from rigid or semi-rigid material.  
      The balloon  4  has a first tubular chamber  10  that can be shaped to the first tubular portion  6  of the repair element  2  and to the fitting  13  and a second tubular chamber  11  that can be shaped to the second portion  7 .  
      The outer layer of the repair element  2 , as well as easing the sliding of the repair element  2  along the inner walls of the pipe  3  and/or  8 , thus avoids the resin being able to disperse by contact along the inner walls of the pipe  3  and/or  8 .  
      The longitudinal moving element  5  extends at least along the entire longitudinal extension of the first chamber  10  of the balloon  4 , and has an axial recess for the circulation of a hot fluid, for example air or water, suitable for promoting the polymerisation of the resin after the inflation of the balloon  4 .  
      Structurally, the longitudinal moving element  5  has longitudinal flexibility, resistance to compression and to traction, and resistance to torsion given by suitable torsional rigidifying means.  
      Indeed, in a preferred embodiment the moving element  5  is a pipe made from thermoplastic material, strengthened by a metal torsional rigidifying mesh (not shown).  
      The moving element  5  is rigidly fixed to the balloon  4  so as to avoid the latter being able to undergo a torsional displacement that could hinder the functionality of the device  1  and in particular the correct expansion of the balloon  4 .  
      In the traction positioning system of the balloon  4  illustrated in  FIGS. 1, 2  and  6 , the end of the first chamber  10  opposite the second chamber  11  of the balloon  4  carries a rounded cap  14 , suitable for easing the introduction of the first chamber  10  of the balloon  4  into the side pipe  3 , through the wall thickness of which the moving element  5  is advantageously rigidly fixed.  
      In the thrust positioning system of the balloon  4  illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , on the other hand, the end of the first chamber  10  adjacent to the second chamber  11  has an openable capsule  15  in which, before the balloon  4  is inflated, the second chamber  11  of the balloon  4  and the second portion  7  of the repair element  2  are collected.  
      The capsule  15  is suitable for containing the second chamber  11  of the balloon  4  and the second portion  7  of the repair element  2  substantially inside the generatrices of the first chamber  10  of the balloon  4  so as to allow the sliding of the balloon  4  inside the side pipe  3 .  
      With reference to  FIGS. 1, 2  and  6 , the device  1  has a support trolley  16  for the balloon  4 , able to slide in the main sewer  8 . The trolley  16  has a first and a second guide  22  and  23  arranged at the axial ends of the second chamber  11  of the balloon  4  and rigidly connected through at least one rod  19  that extends parallel to the axis of the second chamber  11  of the balloon  4 .  
      Respective balls  20  and  21 , which allow the self-positioning of the trolley  16  in the main sewer  8 , are rotatably associated with each guide  22  and  23  respectively.  
      In  FIGS. 1 and 2  the guide  22  and  23 , respectively, comprises a set of three feet  17  and  18 , respectively, which carry the respective balls  20  and  21  at their free ends.  
      In  FIG. 6 , on the other hand, the guide  22  and  23 , respectively, comprises a circumferential band  24  and  25 , respectively, which carries the respective balls  20  and  21 .  
      Between the first and second guide  22  and  23  a space is defined adjacent to the second chamber  11  along which the first chamber  10  is arranged before the balloon  4  is inflated.  
      Now with reference to  FIGS. 4-6 , the device  1  foresees a spacer arranged between the second chamber  11  of the balloon  4  and the inner wall of the main sewer  8 , suitable for creating a continuous fluid passage along the main sewer  8  even when the balloon  4  is inflated.  
      Advantageously, the spacer consists of a pipe  26  that, being positioned longitudinally between the second chamber  11  of the balloon  4  and the inner wall of the main sewer  8  when the balloon  4  is inflated, allows a fluid passage through its section to be maintained.  
      The spacer can be mounted on the trolley  16 , as shown in  FIG. 6 , or else it can constitute an independent element, as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 .  
      Finally, the device  1  has a television camera  26 , carried by the spacer, as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , or by the trolley  16  inside the balloon, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 .  
      The process for non-destructive repair of the side pipe  3  is briefly the following.  
      The preliminary operations of course consist of inspecting the side pipe  3 , washing and/or cleaning and detecting the point to be repaired.  
      In the system of  FIGS. 1, 2  and  6 , the operator, from a manhole for accessing the side pipe  3 , pulls the moving element  5  that drags the device along the main sewer  8  until the junction with the side pipe  3 .  
      The sliding of the device  1  terminates at the position where the second portion  7  of the repair element  2  and the inner wall of the main sewer  8  meet around the hole  9 .  
      In such apposition the balloon  4  is inflated, so that the first tubular portion  6  of the repair element  2  and the tubular fitting  13  shape to the inner wall of the side pipe  3 , whereas the second portion  7  shapes to the inner wall of the main sewer  8  around the outlet hole  9  of the side pipe  3 .  
      After the balloon  4  has been inflated the configuration of the repair element  2  is consolidated by circulating a hot fluid inside the moving element  5  that activates the polymerisation of the resin with which the repair element  2  itself is impregnated.  
      At the end of polymerisation of the resin the balloon  4  is deflated and removed from the repair element  2 .  
      The television camera  26  monitors that the procedure has been carried out correctly from inside the balloon, verifying the complete inflation of the balloon  4 .  
      In  FIGS. 1 and 2  the inflated balloon  4  completely blocks the section of the main sewer  8  and momentarily interrupts the drainage of refluent, whereas in  FIG. 6  the spacer against which the inflated balloon  4  adapts itself allows continuous disposal of refluent through the main sewer  8 .  
      In the system of  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the preliminary operation consists of detecting the position of the junction between the main sewer  8  and the side pipe through the insertion of the spacer incorporating the television camera  26 .  
      The spacer is reinserted into the position previously detected by the television camera  26 , and the operator pushes the moving element  5 , from a manhole for accessing the side pipe  3 , which in turn pushes the device  1  along the side pipe up the junction with the main sewer  8  previously detected by the television camera  26 .  
      In such a position the opening of the capsule  15  is commanded to carry out the release of the second chamber  11  of the balloon  4  and of the second portion  7  of the repair element  2  inside the main sewer  8 .  
      At this point the balloon  4  is inflated, so that the first tubular portion  6  and the tubular fitting  13  of the repair element  2  are shaped to the inner wall of the side pipe  3 , whereas the second portion  7  shapes to the inner wall of the main sewer  8  around the outlet hole  9  of the side pipe  3 .  
      After the balloon  4  has been inflated the configuration of the repair element  2  is consolidated by circulating a hot fluid inside the moving element  5  that activates the polymerisation of the resin with which the repair element  2  itself is impregnated. At the end of the polymerisation of the resin the balloon  4  is deflated and removed from the repair element  2  itself.  
      In this case the balloon  4  inflates adapting itself to the spacer that allows the continuous drainage of refluent through the main sewer  8 .  
      The device and a process for non-destructive repair of a side inlet pipe of a main sewer of a sewer system or of a draining pipe in general thus conceived can undergo numerous modifications and variants, all of which are covered by the inventive concept; moreover, all of the details can be replaced with technically equivalent elements.  
      In practice, the materials used, as well as the sizes, can be whatever according to the requirements and the state of the art.