Abstract:
An apparatus for the insertion of treatment devices and materials into an in-service main pipe, which includes four main features. These features include the following: a casing hermetically mounted on the main pipe; a structure to seal access and exit compartments of the casing from the inside; access and exit containers hermetically attached to the casing; and a structure to transfer treatment devices and materials into and within the main pipe. The access container is provided with the magazine for the supply of boxes with repair sleeves. Provided with the main pipe is a smooth covering for casing sealing ability.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]    This application is based upon U.S. patent application Ser. No. 60/312,072, filed Aug. 15, 2001, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 60/322,463, filed Sep. 17, 2001, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated-by-reference thereto in their entireties, and the priorities of which are hereby claimed under 35 U.S.C. §119. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    This invention relates to an apparatus and method for use in the treatment of a pressurized system, more specifically, for inserting treatment devices and materials into a pipeline without interrupting the fluid flow.  
           [0004]    2. Description of Background and Relevant Information  
           [0005]    The equipment used for inspection and repair of an in-service pipeline are self-propelled automated devices, as a rule. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,104,772.  
           [0006]    To insert such equipment without interrupting the fluid flow through the pipeline, it is necessary to mount the hermetical casing, such as a chamber, a branch line, or a simple saddle clamp, on the main pipe followed by cutting an opening between the casing and the main pipe. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 524,006; 555,079; 5,065,780; and 5,660,202. These patents represent a universally known principle of alternate (one at a time) opening of two gates for insertion/removing devices in order to prevent fluid from escaping through a pipeline cutout. An exception is the case of a single liquid seal, like a reservoir that is destined for systems under relatively low pressure. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,334,806.  
           [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,660,202 discloses an apparatus in the field of the present invention. The apparatus disclosed in this patent includes two gates, namely, one made as a movable device supported with sealing edges having long and intricate shapes, causing the unreliability in the service seal.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    It is a primary object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for use in the treatment of an in-service pipeline without interrupting fluid flow, which enables:  
           [0009]    insertion of fully automated and remotely controlled devices, as well as devices requiring direct control by the operator;  
           [0010]    permanent access into the in-service pipeline with a simple and reliable open/close position;  
           [0011]    build up of additional chambers, pipes, and/or connections as required.  
           [0012]    In accomplishing the above object, this invention includes an apparatus for the insertion of devices and materials into an operating service main pipe without interrupting the service. This includes the following: a casing hermetically mounted on the main pipe; a structure for sealing access and exit compartments of the casing from the inside; access and exit containers hermetically attached to the casing; and a structure for the transfer of treatment devices and materials into and within the main pipe.  
           [0013]    Provided with the casing are sealing arrangements which hermetically enclose the devices and materials contained therein.  
           [0014]    To allow the casing to be hermetically mounted, the main pipe provided with a smooth covering before the casing is installed.  
           [0015]    In accordance with one embodiment of this invention, the casing provided with fittings in order to adjust the casing to main pipes with different diameters.  
           [0016]    The casing access and exit compartments are correspondingly provided with access and exit containers for storage, transfer, and supply of equipment, materials, and cables for transport, manipulation, and communication into and within the main pipe.  
           [0017]    The access container is provided with a magazine for supply of boxes with repair sleeves. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       [0018]    Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, which follows, when considered in the light of the accompanying drawings of non-limiting examples of the present invention, in which:  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 1 is a sectional view illustrating the apparatus for the insertion of treatment devices and materials into an in-service pipeline according to the present invention;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line A-A in FIG. 1;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line B-B in FIG. 1;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the apparatus for the insertion of treatment devices and materials into an in-service pipeline which comprises the magazine for supply of boxes with repair sleeves;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIGS. 4 a - 4   c  are sectional views of the box with the repair sleeve and an installation plug with bellows in accordance with one of the embodiments of this invention;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIGS. 5 a - 5   c  arc sectional views of the apparatus for the insertion of treatment devices and materials into an in-service pipeline in the state for cutting out the segment from the in-service pipeline;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIGS. 6 a - 6   f  schematically illustrate the order of the steps in the inspection of the main pipe in accordance with this invention;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIGS. 7 a - 7   h  schematically illustrate the order of the steps in the repair of the main pipe in accordance with this invention;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIGS. 8 a - 8   d  illustrate the order of the steps in the repair of the main pipe in accordance with other embodiments of this invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0028]    Shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is one of the preferred embodiments in accordance with this invention. Apparatus for the insertion of treatment devices and materials into an in-service pipeline comprises a casing  2  hermetically mounted on the main pipe  1 , access damper  4  and exit damper  5  for sealing casing  2  from inside, access  13  and exit  14  containers, which are hermetically attached to the casing  2 , side tray  6  and access tray  10  for transferring treatment devices and materials into the main pipe  1 .  
         [0029]    Further, casing  2  includes access compartment  15  and exit compartment  16 . In accordance with this embodiment, the casing  2  is provided with fittings  3  in order to adjust the casing to main pipes with different diameters. Access damper  4  and exit damper  5  are each provided to have axial movements which can be provided, for example, by a rack and pinion mechanism  8 . In turn, side tray  6  can be provided with a side movement mechanism  7 . Access tray  10  is mounted on the access damper  4  and may be replaced with other trays with different shapes and dimensions, if required. For instance, such access tray may be a cutter platform (see FIG. 5 a ), or an access tray  19  for a CCTV camera (FIG. 6 a ), or an access tray  19  for a repair kit  31  (FIG. 7 c ). The similar exit tray  18  (see FIG. 5 c ) is mounted on the exit damper  5 .  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of this invention, where access container  13  is provided with a magazine  25  for the supply of boxes  26  with repair sleeves for use in internal repair of the pipe.  
         [0031]    [0031]FIGS. 4 a - 4   c  show one of the embodiments of this invention with a repair sleeve  27  and an inflatable part  28 , which permanently belongs to this particular box  26 . FIG. 4 b  illustrates the part  28  separately with protective cone  34 . Inflatable part  28  comprises bellows  29  and installation plug  30 . FIG. 4 c  illustrates box  26  separately.  
         [0032]    [0032]FIGS. 5 a - 5   c  show one of the embodiments of this invention for cutting out segment  17  from the in-service main pipe  1  by the use of cutter  9  with two diamond wires  11 . Cutter  9  is mounted on cutter platform  10 .  
         [0033]    [0033]FIGS. 6 a - 6   f  illustrate inspection action within the in-service main pipe  1 . Access tray  19  is mounted on the access damper  4 , access container  13  is attached to access compartment  15  of casing  2 , and CCTV drum  21  is attached to the access container  13 . Remote control device  24  is connected to CCTV drum  21 . CCTV crawler camera  20  is placed on access tray  19 .  
         [0034]    [0034]FIGS. 7 a - 7   h  illustrate a repair process within the in-service main pipe  1 . Access tray  19  is mounted on the access damper  4 , access container  13  is attached to access compartment  15  of casing  2 , and the repair drum  29  is attached to access container  13 . Remote control with power supply  24  is connected to repair drum  29 . Access container  13  is provided with magazine  25 . Self-moving installation plug  27  with CCTV camera  20  and electric pump  28  are placed on access tray  19 . Exit container  14  is attached to exit compartment  16  (shown in FIG. 1).  
         [0035]    [0035]FIGS. 8 a - 8   d  illustrate a repair process within the in-service main pipe  1  in accordance with another embodiment of this invention. Hose  32 , which supply plug-bellows  28  with pressurized gas, is connected to the plug-bellows by quick connect set  33 .  
         [0036]    The above-described apparatus operates in the following manner. First, the apparatus for the insertion of treatment devices and materials into an in-service pipeline is hermetically mounted on the main pipe  1 , as shown in FIGS.  1 - 3 . Cutter  9  is mounted on cutter platform  10  (see FIG. 5 a ). The cutting process can be performed with two diamond wires  11  simultaneously. It is apparent that, before cutting, air in the apparatus should be exchanged for inert gas.  
         [0037]    After cutting out segment  17  from the main pipe  1 , this detached segment  17  is moved into exit compartment  16  by sliding onto side tray  6  (FIG. 5 b ). At the same time, access damper  4  is moved (with cutter  9  and cutter platform  10 ) to close the access opening.  
         [0038]    After sealing the access damper  4  against access container  13 , the gas in the container  13  must be replaced by air. Then, as shown in FIG. 5 c,  cutter  9  with cutter platform  10  can be removed from access container  13 , and detached segment  17  can be moved into exit container  14  with simultaneous closing the exit opening by exit damper  5 . Then, the removal of segment  17  from exit container  14  is similar to the removal of cutter  9  from access container  13 .  
         [0039]    For the main pipe  1  inspection, CCTV crawler camera  20  is placed on access tray  19  (see FIG. 6 a ), CCTV drum  21  with remote control  24  are attached to access container  13 , exit container  14  is sealed by end plate  22 , side tray  6  is placed in the middle position, and air in access  13  and exit  14  containers is exchanged for inert gas. Then, CCTV crawler camera  20  is moved into access compartment by opening access damper  4  and is gripped by side tray  6  (see FIG. 6 b ). Next, camera  20  is aligned by side tray  6  with main pipe  1 . Next, CCTV camera  20  is manipulated inside pipe  1  as needed by operating from remote control device  24  (see FIG. 6 c ). CCTV removal is in inverse order. So, CCTV camera  20  is moved from pipe  1  onto side tray  6  (see FIG. 6 d ). Then, camera  20  is moved onto access tray  19  by moving side tray  6  (see FIG. 6 e ). Next, access tray  19  with camera  20  are moved into access container  13 , with simultaneous closing access opening by access damper  4 . Finally, gas in access container  13  is changed for air.  
         [0040]    For the main pipe  1  repair, self-moving installation plug  27  with CCTV camera  20  and electric pump  28  are placed on access tray  19  (see FIG. 7 a ). Then, box  30  with repair sleeve inside is dropped onto access tray  19 , and air in access container  13  is changed for inert gas (see FIG. 7 b ). Then, plug  27  with CCTV camera  20  and electric pump  28  are moved into box  30  (i.e., repair kit  31 ). Then, repair kit  31  is transferred by access tray  19  into access compartment  15  by opening access damper  4  (see FIG. 7 c ) and gripped by side tray  6  (see FIG. 7 d ). Then, repair kit  31  is aligned by side tray  6  with pipe  1  (see FIG. 7 e ). Next, repair kit  31  is manipulated inside pipe  1  as needed by operating from remote control device  24 , side tray  6  is moved in the middle position, exit damper  5  is moved to open exit container  14  (see FIG. 7 f ). After repair, repair kit  31  without installed sleeve is pulled back and removed from box  30 . Empty box  30  is moved into exit compartment  16  by sliding onto side tray  6  (see FIG. 7 g ). Then, repair kit  31  is moved onto access tray  19  and is ready to move into access container  13  and take the next box with repair sleeve. In turn, empty box  30  is pushed by exit damper  5  into exit container  14  (see FIG. 7 h ).  
         [0041]    In the case of another embodiment, where repair kit  31  is provided by plug-bellows  28  (see FIGS. 4 a,    4   b,  and  8   a - 8   d ), the repair kit  31  is pulled into the main pipe  1  by semi-rigged hose  32  (see FIG. 8 a ). The plug-bellows  28  is in the deflated mode. Then repair kit  31  has reached the repair position, and repair sleeve  27  is extended from box  26  by inflating plug-bellows  28  (see FIG. 8 b ). Next, bellows  29  is fully extended (see FIG. 8 c ), and plug  30  (as part of the plug-bellows  28 ) starts expansion in the radial direction because of continued growing of installation pressure inside plug-bellows  28 . After repair, plug-bellows  28  is deflated (see FIG. 8 d ) and, without installed sleeve  27 , is pulled back and removed from main pipe  1  into the universal access chamber.  
         [0042]    Although the present invention has been described herein with reference to particular means, materials and embodiments, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the particulars disclosed herein; rather, the present invention extends to all functionally equivalent structures, methods and uses, such as are within the scope of the appended claims.