Device and method for pipeline rehabilitation

• US 20050092382A1
• Filed: 09/22/2004
• Published: 05/05/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trelleborg Pipe Seals Duisburg GmbH (Trelleborg AB)
• Original Assignee: epros GmbH (Trelleborg AB)
• Inventors: Muhlin, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 7,631,665 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 138/98
• CPC Class Codes: E03F 3/06 Methods of, or installations for, laying sewer pipes making pipes in situ F16L1/038 ; laying conduits in association with the digging of a trench E02F5/10; laying pipes in general F16L1/00
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 55/179 specially adapted for bends, branch units, branching pipes or the like
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 55/265 specially adapted for work at or near a junction between a main and a lateral pipe

Abstract

The invention pertaining to a device and method for pipe rehabilitation, more specifically to a device and method for rehabilitating the junction of a building connection from a main pipeline into the building service line. With positioning means, a curable pipe lining is positioned at the junction of a building service line from a main line and with transport means the positioning means and the pipe lining are transported to the mentioned junction. The problem of the invention is to provide a device and a method for rehabilitating pipe connections, which simplify the reliable transportation and positioning of the pipe lining relative to the junction region of the building service line to be lined. This problem is solved by an alignment body, which is arranged so that it can move on the transport means and which can be moved into the junction of the building service line, and also by a drive for moving the alignment body into the junction of the building service line.

Claims

1. A device for rehabilitating pipe connections, comprising:

positioning means (3,8) for positioning a curable pipe lining (4) at a junction of a building service line (12) and a main line (11);

transport means for transporting the positioning means (3,8) and the pipe lining (4) to the mentioned junction;

an alignment body (15), which is arranged so it can move on the transport means and which can be moved into the opening of the building service line (12); and

a drive (16) for moving the alignment body (15) into the opening of the building service line (12).

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said alignment body comprises a ring (15).

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein said pipe lining (4) comprises a flexible support material provided with curable resin.

4. A device according to claim 3, wherein said pipe lining (4) comprises a cylindrical section (10), which can be inserted into the junction of the building service line (12).

5. A device according to claim 3, wherein said cylindrical section (10) surrounds the ring (15) when it is inserted into the junction of the building service line (12).

6. A device according to claim 4, wherein said positioning means is an inflatable sleeve (3), which comprises a connecting hose (8) for pressing said cylindrical section (10) against the interior surface of said building service line (12) in the inflated state.

7. A device according to claim 6, wherein said alignment body is formed by the connecting hose (8) of the sleeve.

8. A device according to claim 1, further comprising spring means (23) for pressing the alignment body (15) elastically into the junction of the building service line (12).

9. A device according to claim 8, wherein said transport means comprises at least one chassis (20), further comprising spring means (23) and wheels (21), wherein said wheels are elastically connected to the transport means by said spring means.

10. A device according to claim 6, wherein said inflatable sleeve is a reversible and expandable packer hose (3) having approximately the size and shape of the pipe section to be rehabilitated, said packer hose comprising an attached connecting hose (8);

said device further comprising a lifting mechanism (16) wherein said lifting mechanism cooperates with the alignment body (15) to push the union of the packer hose (3) and the connecting hose (8) into the junction of the building service line (12) and main line;

wherein said pipe lining (4) comprises a support material (LCR liner) provided with curable resin; and

wherein said pipe lining (4) is positioned by the pushing of the lifting mechanism and alignment body; and

wherein said pipe lining (4) is pressed against the pipe section to be rehabilitated by inflating the packer hose (3).

11. A device according to claim 10, wherein said packer hose (3) consists of a textile fabric coated with silicon.

12. A device according to claim 10, wherein said packer hose (3) is underdimensioned relative to the pipe section to be rehabilitated.

13. A device according to claim 10, wherein the connecting hose (8) of the packer hose (3) is attached to the section (9) of the packer hose (3) filling the main line (11), at an angle of 45°

to 90°

.

14. A device according to claim 10, wherein said connecting hose (8) is a section attached to the packer hose (3).

15. A device according to claim 10, wherein said connecting hose (8) is a part connected firmly to the packer hose (3).

32. A device according to claim 1, wherein said positioning means (8) is connected to a detecting means (14) for detecting the extended position of the positioning means (8).

33. A device according to claim 32, wherein said positioning means (8) comprises a connecting hose (8) and said detecting means is a winding box (14), that comprises a switch and is connected to the connecting hose (8) by a cord (13).

34. A device according to claim 33, wherein said switch is operatively connected to a signaling means.

16. A device for rehabilitating pipe connections, comprising:

positioning means (3,8) for positioning a curable pipe lining (4) at a junction of a building service line (12) and a main line (11); and

transport means for transporting the positioning means (3,8) and the pipe lining (4) to said junction, said transport means comprising a drive motor (25);

wherein said drive motor (25) is a pneumatic motor.

17. A device according to claim 16, wherein said positioning means (3,8) is an inflatable sleeve and comprises a pressure line (7) for supplying compressed air for inflating the inflatable sleeve (3,8), and wherein the pressure line supplies compressed air for operating the pneumatic motor (25).

18. A device according to claim 17, further comprising a heating device (29) for heating the curable pipe lining (4).

19. A device according to claim 18, wherein said heating device (29) comprises an electric heating coil.

20. A method for rehabilitating pipe connections, comprising the steps of:

transporting a curable pipe lining (4) to a junction of a building service line (12) and a main line (11);

inserting an alignment body (15) into said junction;

positioning said curable pipe lining (4) at said junction; and

curing said pipe lining (4).

21. A method according to claim 20, wherein the step of inserting an alignment body (15) further comprises the step of elastically pressing said alignment body in the direction of the junction to the building service line (12).

22. A method according to claim 20, wherein said alignment body comprises a ring.

23. A method according to claim 20, wherein the step of positioning said curable pipe lining is accomplished using an inflatable sleeve (3), which presses a pipe lining (4) consisting of a flexible support material provided with curable resin, against a pipe section to be rehabilitated, and wherein a cylindrical section (10) of the pipe lining (4) is pressed by said connecting hose (8) of the inflatable sleeve (3) into the junction of the building service line (12).

24. A method according to claim 23, comprising the step of pulling said connecting hose (8) of the inflatable sleeve (3) together with the cylindrical section (10) of the pipe lining (4) into the interior of the inflatable sleeve (3) before inserting the annular alignment body (15) through these components.

25. A method according to claim 23, wherein the step of transporting a curably pipe lining to said pipe junction further comprises the step of generating a low pressure in the inflatable sleeve (3).

26. A method according to claim 23, wherein the cylindrical section (10), in the region of its connection to the main section (9) of the pipe lining (4) contacting the main line (11), is pressed against the junction of the building service line (12).

27. A method according to claim 20, wherein said alignment body (15) is moved away from said junction after the curing of the pipe lining (4) and air is bled out from the inflatable sleeve (3).

28. A method according to claim 20, wherein said positioning means (3,8) is shifted and rotated by means of connected rods (2) for positioning in the main line (11).

29. A method according to claim 28, wherein the positioning means (3, 8) is guided by means of a chassis (20) with telescope-like wheel systems.

30. A method according to claim 24, further comprising the step of providing a cord (13), in the interior of the connecting hose (8) and attached at the end of the connecting hose (8), for pulling back the connecting hose (8) together with the cylindrical section (10) of the pipe lining (4).

31. A method according to claim 30, further comprising the step of generating an excess pressure in the connecting hose (8) for pulling back the end of the cylindrical section (10) and wherein the end of the cylindrical section (10) is stopped in the reversal region of the connecting hose (8) and is entrained for further pulling back.