A pipe plugging device and its application

Abstract

This invention discloses a pipe blocking device and its application in blocking pipes. The pipe blocking device includes: a fixing device, fixed inside the pipe and sealed to the inner wall of the pipe; an airbag disposed inside the pipe, one end of which is hinged to the fixing device via connector A, and the other end of which is connected to a traction rope via connector B; the other end of the traction rope is connected to a pulling device; a spring device, one end of which is connected to connector A and the other end of which is connected to the fixing device, used for lowering the airbag and pulling back the positioning airbag when it inflates; an air pump, including a valve, used for supplying air to inflate the airbag to block the pipe and for deflating the airbag by evacuating air; and a controller used for: controlling the pulling device to wind and unwind the traction rope, controlling the start and stop of the air pump, and controlling the opening and closing of the valve. In this invention, the airbag and other components can be pre-installed in the pipe, enabling rapid water blocking and resetting of the water blocking device when needed.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of pipeline plugging technology, specifically to a pipeline plugging device and its application. Background Technology

[0002] With the rapid development of industry and industrial parks, the demand for pipeline blocking measures is increasing in water conservancy, municipal administration, and environmental protection. In recent years, taking effective measures to block wastewater at pipeline outlets and prevent surface water pollution has received increasing attention. Currently, commonly used pipeline outlet blocking measures include: pre-installing gate valves on the pipeline and temporary blocking inside the pipeline.

[0003] The disadvantages of using gate valves to block water in pipelines include: relatively complex engineering implementation (often involving civil engineering and equipment installation), and higher cost.

[0004] The disadvantages of temporarily installing water-blocking airbags inside pipelines are: it requires manual transportation of temporary blocking materials and equipment from the material storage point to the site, and manual assembly of the materials and equipment on site; it is time-consuming and the blocking time cannot be guaranteed.

[0005] The patent specification with announcement number CN219796558U discloses a drain pipe inlet sealing device, including an annular band set on the outside of the drain pipe wall, a support plate on one side of the annular band and a fixing plate on the other side, the support plate being connected to a turning plate and the support plate being perpendicular to the turning plate, a cover plate being connected to the end of the turning plate on one side via a rotating shaft, and a connecting plate being provided on the side of the cover plate away from the turning plate, the connecting plate being connected to the fixing plate via a connecting mechanism.

[0006] Patent specification CN202327504U discloses a temporary pipe plug, mainly composed of an air bladder, a gas delivery pipe, a valve, and a support plate. The air bladder is connected to the gas delivery pipe, the gas delivery pipe is connected to the valve, and the support plate is placed between the gas delivery pipes. This patented technology achieves temporary pipe plugging: In use, the appropriate pipe plug model is selected according to the pipe diameter. The plug is inflated with an air gun or oxygen to make the air bladder fit tightly against the pipe wall. A wire is used to hang the pull ring on the air bladder on the side of the pipe to prevent the air bladder from sliding into the pipe. After use, the gas is released through the valve, and the plug is folded and placed in a toolbox. Summary of the Invention

[0007] This invention provides a pipe blocking device and its application, wherein components such as airbags can be pre-installed in the pipe to achieve rapid water blocking and resetting of the water blocking facilities when needed. The internal structure of the pipe is compact and has minimal impact on the pipe when water is flowing through it.

[0008] The specific technical solution is as follows:

[0009] In a first aspect, the present invention provides a pipe blocking device, comprising:

[0010] Fixtures are used to secure the pipe inside and seal it against the inner wall of the pipe.

[0011] An airbag is used to install in a pipeline. One end is hinged to a retainer via connector A, and the other end is connected to a traction rope via connector B. The other end of the traction rope is connected to a traction device.

[0012] The spring device, with one end connected to connector A and the other end connected to the retainer, is used to lower the airbag and pull back the positioning airbag when it inflates.

[0013] An air pump includes an air outlet #1, an air outlet #2, an air inlet #1, and an air inlet #2. The air outlet #1 is connected to an airbag via an air tube, which is equipped with valve A, a pressure sensor, and a tee B. The air inlet #2, air outlet #1, valve A, pressure sensor, tee B, and airbag are sequentially connected to form an air supply line, used to supply air to inflate the airbag and block the pipe. Tee B is also connected to the air inlet #1 via valve B. The airbag, tee B, valve B, air inlet #1, air outlet #2, and valve C are sequentially connected to form a suction line, used to suction air to deflate the airbag.

[0014] The controller is used to control the winding and unwinding of the traction rope by the traction equipment, and to control the start and stop of the air pump and the opening and closing of valves A, B and C based on data from the pressure sensor or by directly controlling them.

[0015] The pipe blocking device described in this invention should be interpreted broadly, that is: either the fixing device can be fixed inside the pipe and sealed to the inner wall of the pipe first, and then other component structures can be connected and installed on the fixing device installed inside the pipe; or other component structures can be pre-connected with the fixing device to form an integrated prefabricated product, and the size, model and other aspects of the product can be adaptively designed and adjusted according to the target pipe size and type.

[0016] In some preferred embodiments, the pipe shut-off device is an integrated, prefabricated product that can be adaptively designed and adjusted according to pipe size and type.

[0017] In some embodiments, the pipe blocking device may have a fixing patch or a cylindrical structure with open ends that can fit the inner wall of the pipe. Furthermore, components such as the airbag, connector A, and spring device may be pre-installed within the cylindrical structure.

[0018] In some embodiments, the traction rope of the pipe blocking device may specifically be a high-strength rope such as a steel wire rope.

[0019] In some embodiments, the pipe shut-off device, the airbag and the spring device may be located on both sides of the connector A, respectively.

[0020] The aforementioned pipe blocking device may also have a tee A on the air pipe, with the tee A located between valve A and tee B. The tee A is connected to a pressure relief pipe, which is equipped with a pressure relief valve for emergency pressure relief.

[0021] The aforementioned pipeline blocking device allows the controller to connect to the management platform via a data acquisition instrument. Based on the online water quality monitoring data fed back by the management platform, the controller can respond in real time whether to block the pipeline, thus enabling both remote and local control.

[0022] In some embodiments, the other end of the traction rope in the pipe-blocking device is connected to a pulling device via a tension gauge. Furthermore, the controller can be used to control the pulling device to wind and unwind the traction rope based on the tension gauge readings.

[0023] The pipe-blocking device may further include a power supply for powering the controller, air pump, and traction equipment. Optionally, the power supply is connected to the air pump via a time relay A. Furthermore, the controller can be used to control the start and stop of the air pump based on the value of time relay A. Optionally, the power supply is connected to the traction equipment via a time relay B. Furthermore, the controller can be used to control the traction equipment to wind and unwind the traction rope based on the value of time relay B.

[0024] The pipeline blocking device may have a guide tube at one end of the pipeline, through which the traction rope and air tube pass. A limit protection device is provided on the traction rope located between the guide tube and the air bladder. The size of the limit protection device is larger than the diameter of the guide tube, which is used to prevent the traction rope from being over-wound and to avoid damage to the overall structure due to excessive pulling force.

[0025] The aforementioned pipe-blocking device allows connectors A and B to be independently connected to the airbag via multiple connecting ropes, forming a mesh-like structure that supports the airbag and prevents it from overturning. This mesh-like structure not only improves the stability of the airbag and other overall structures but also moves up and down with the winding and unwinding of the traction ropes by the pulling equipment, coordinating with the airbag's contraction and expansion to achieve repositioning and pipe blockage. The connecting ropes can be made of high-strength and thin materials to ensure that water does not easily pass between the airbag and the pipe wall during pipe blockage, guaranteeing a tight seal between the airbag and the inner wall of the pipe.

[0026] In the aforementioned pipe blocking device, connectors A and B can both be made of rigid materials, which can prevent the mesh-like structure and the airbags it carries from overturning.

[0027] Secondly, the present invention provides the application of the pipe blocking device described in the first aspect in blocking pipes.

[0028] When the pipeline blocking device is used to block a pipeline, it includes:

[0029] Pipeline blocking: The controller controls the pulling equipment to unwind the traction rope and lower the airbag to the bottom of the pipeline. During this process, the spring device pulls back the positioning airbag. The controller controls valve A to open, valves B and C to close, and the air pump to start, inflating the airbag through the air pipe. During this process, the spring device pulls back the positioning airbag. The airbag inflates and blocks the pipeline. Then the controller controls valve A and the air pump to close.

[0030] Airbag reset: The controller controls valves B and C to open, and the airbag deflates. During this process, the controller controls the air pump to start and draw air from the airbag through the air tube. After the airbag deflates, the controller controls valves B and C and the air pump to close. The controller controls the pulling device to wind up the traction rope and lift the airbag to the top of the pipe. At this time, the spring device is in a stretched state.

[0031] As a general inventive concept, in a third aspect, the present invention provides a pipe blocking method, employing the pipe blocking device described in the first aspect, comprising:

[0032] Pipeline blocking: The controller controls the pulling equipment to unwind the traction rope and lower the airbag to the bottom of the pipeline. During this process, the spring device pulls back the positioning airbag. The controller controls valve A to open, valves B and C to close, and the air pump to start, inflating the airbag through the air pipe. During this process, the spring device pulls back the positioning airbag. The airbag inflates and blocks the pipeline. Then the controller controls valve A and the air pump to close.

[0033] Airbag reset: The controller controls valves B and C to open, and the airbag deflates. During this process, the controller controls the air pump to start and draw air from the airbag through the air tube. After the airbag deflates, the controller controls valves B and C and the air pump to close. The controller controls the pulling device to wind up the traction rope and lift the airbag to the top of the pipe. At this time, the spring device is in a stretched state.

[0034] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of this invention are as follows:

[0035] When there is no need to block the pipeline, the airbag is positioned at the top of the pipeline, minimizing the impact on the pipeline's flow capacity. When it is necessary to block the pipeline, the position of the airbag is adjusted with the help of a spring device to ensure that the airbag does not tilt when inflated, thus achieving effective blocking of the pipeline after the airbag is inflated.

[0036] The controller can control the start and stop of the air pump and the opening and closing of valves A, B, and C based on the start signal, data feedback from the pressure sensor, and time relay A; at the same time, it can control the start and stop of the traction equipment based on the start signal, data feedback from the tension gauge, and time relay B.

[0037] The air pump draws air, making the airbag smaller in its deflated state. The traction device provides appropriate tension, allowing the airbag to fit tightly against the inner wall of the pipe, minimizing the impact of a deflated airbag on water flow in daily situations.

[0038] This invention achieves rapid pipeline blockage through pre-embedded airbags and information-based control, while significantly reducing the cost of sealing facilities. Compared with pre-installed gate valves, it avoids or significantly reduces civil engineering work, greatly reduces construction difficulty and overall cost; compared with temporary leak sealing, it ensures timely blockage. Attached Figure Description

[0039] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the pipeline blocking device in a specific implementation embodiment;

[0040] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the control cabinet in a specific implementation method;

[0041] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the airbag and mesh-like structure in a specific implementation. Detailed Implementation

[0042] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments. It should be understood that these embodiments are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

[0043] See Figure 1 , Figure 2A pipe-blocking device includes a fixing device 21, an airbag 23, a spring device 30, and a control cabinet 1 installed outside the pipe. The control cabinet 1 houses a controller 2, an air pump 3, a power supply 4, and a pulling device 14. The controller 2 can specifically be a PLC controller. The power supply 4 is connected to the controller 2, air pump 3, and pulling device 14 via a power line 12, providing power to these components. The power supply 4 is connected to the air pump 3 via a time relay A32 and to the pulling device 14 via a time relay B33. The power supply 4 is preferably connected to a nearby power grid, with alternative options including batteries and solar power. The air pump 3 includes an air outlet 17, an air outlet 18, an air inlet 19, and an air inlet 20. The air outlet 17 is connected to the inflation / deflation interface 22 of the airbag 23 via an air pipe 16. The air pipe 16 is equipped with a valve A5, a pressure sensor 8, a tee A10, and a tee B11. T-joint A10 is located between valve A5 and t-joint B11. T-joint A10 connects to a pressure relief pipe, which is equipped with a pressure relief valve 9. The pressure relief valve 9 can be a manual / automatic pressure relief valve, which can be used for emergency pressure relief in case of overpressure. Air inlet 20 (2#), air outlet 17 (1#), valve A5, pressure sensor 8, t-joint A10, t-joint B11, and the inflation / deflation interface 22 of the airbag 23 are sequentially connected to form an air supply pipeline, used to supply air to inflate the airbag 23 and block the pipeline. T-joint B11 is also connected to air inlet 19 (1#) via valve B6. The air inlet 22 (1#), t-joint B11, valve B6, air inlet 19 (1#), air outlet 18 (2#), and valve C7 are sequentially connected to form a suction pipeline, used to suction air to deflate the airbag 23. Controller 2 connects to the management platform via data acquisition unit 27. Based on the online water quality monitoring data fed back by the management platform, it responds in real time to determine whether to block the pipeline, simultaneously enabling remote and local control. Controller 2 connects to air pump 3, valves A5, B6, and C7, pressure sensor 8, traction device 14, force gauge 31, time relay A32, and time relay B33 via signal line 13. Controller 2 can be used to: automatically or manually, directly or indirectly, control the start and stop of air pump 3 and the opening and closing of valves A5, B6, and C7 based on start signals, the value of time relay A32, and data from pressure sensor 8; and automatically or manually, directly or indirectly, control the traction device 14 to wind and unwind the traction rope 15 based on start signals, the value of time relay B33, and the value of force gauge 31.

[0044] like Figure 1As shown, the retainer 21 can be pre-fixed inside the pipe and sealed to the inner wall of the pipe. Specifically, the retainer 21 can be a metal fixing patch or a cylindrical structure with open ends that fits the inner wall of the pipe. The airbag 23 is located inside the pipe, with one end hinged to the retainer 21 via connector A28, and the other end connected to the traction rope 15 via connector B29. The hinge between connector A28 and retainer 21 can be achieved through a hinge device or the like. The other end of the traction rope 15 is connected to the pulling device 14 via a tension gauge 31. The traction rope 15 can specifically be a high-strength rope such as a steel wire rope. One end of the spring device 30 is connected to connector A28, and the other end is connected to retainer 21, used for lowering the airbag 23 and pulling back and positioning the airbag 23 when it inflates. Furthermore, the airbag 23 and the spring device 30 are located on opposite sides of connector A28. One end of the pipeline is provided with a guide tube 35, through which the traction rope 15 and the air tube 16 pass. A limit protection device 34 is provided on the traction rope 15 located between the guide tube 35 and the air bag 23. The size of the limit protection device 34 is larger than the diameter of the guide tube 35, which is used to prevent the traction rope 15 from being over-wound and to avoid damage to the overall structure due to excessive pulling force.

[0045] As another feasible implementation, the pipe blocking device of the present invention can be an integrated, prefabricated product that can be customized for pipes of various sizes and types. That is, the fixing device 21 can be pre-connected with the spring device 30 and the airbag 23 and other components via the connector A28, and then transferred as a whole component into the target pipe. In this case, the fixing device 21 can be a metal fixing patch for sealing tightly against the inner wall of the pipe, or it can be a cylindrical structure with open ends that is adapted to seal against the inner wall of the pipe. Furthermore, the airbag 23, connector A28, spring device 30 and other components can be pre-set inside the cylindrical structure.

[0046] like Figure 3 As shown, connectors A28 and B29 are each independently connected to multiple connecting ropes 26 at their connecting rope fixing points 25. The other end of the connecting rope 26 is connected to the airbag 23 via a fixing patch 24, forming a mesh-like structure to support the airbag 23 and prevent it from overturning. This mesh-like structure not only improves the stability of the airbag 23 and other overall structures, but also moves up and down with the winding and unwinding action of the traction device 14 on the traction rope 15, cooperating with the contraction and expansion of the airbag 23 to achieve repositioning and pipe blockage. The connecting ropes 26 can be made of high-strength and thin materials to ensure that water does not easily pass between the airbag 23 and the pipe wall during pipe blockage, ensuring the seal between the airbag 23 and the inner wall of the pipe during pipe blockage. Both connectors A28 and B29 can be made of rigid materials to prevent the mesh-like structure and the airbag 23 it supports from overturning.

[0047] The aforementioned pipe-blocking device can be used to block pipes. Time relay A32 is used to set time parameters to control the start and stop of air pump 3, providing dual protection for the operation of air pump 3, which is controlled by feedback from pressure sensing device 8. Time relay B33 is used to set time parameters to control the winding and unwinding of traction rope 15 by traction device 14, providing dual protection for the operation of traction device 14, which is controlled by data from tension gauge 31.

[0048] The method of pipe blocking using the above-mentioned pipe blocking device includes:

[0049] Pipeline blocking: Controller 2 controls the pulling device 14 to unwind the traction rope 15, lowering the airbag 23 to the bottom of the pipeline. During this process, the spring device 30 pulls back the positioning airbag 23. Controller 2 controls valve A5 to open, valves B6 and C7 to close, and the air pump 3 to start, inflating the airbag 23 through the air pipe 16. During this process, the spring device 30 pulls back the positioning airbag 23. The airbag 23 inflates and blocks the pipeline. Then, controller 2 controls valve A5 and the air pump 3 to close.

[0050] Airbag 23 Reset: Controller 2 controls valves B6 and C7 to open, deflating airbag 23. During this process, controller 2 controls air pump 3 to start, drawing air from airbag 23 through air tube 16. After airbag 23 deflates, controller 2 controls valves B6 and C7 and air pump 3 to close. Controller 2 then controls pulling device 14 to wind up traction rope 15, lifting airbag 23 to the top of the pipe. At this time, spring device 30 is in a stretched state, ready for the next rebound. In this way, airbag 23 can remain close to the top of the pipe wall when not in use, ready for the next use.

[0051] The pipe blocking device of the present invention has the following features:

[0052] 1. Pre-embedded

[0053] The airbags used in this invention are pre-embedded in the pipeline, eliminating the need to temporarily transport materials and equipment from the material storage point to the site for assembly.

[0054] 2. Automatic response

[0055] This invention is a complete set of automatic response water-blocking airbags, which can quickly respond to pipeline blockages based on abnormal online water quality monitoring data fed back from the information management and control platform. It can completely replace pipeline gate valves and significantly reduce costs.

[0056] This invention embeds an airbag inside the pipeline and uses an air pump and traction device to realize the process of airbag inflation, deflation and repositioning. It can realize on-site control and remote operation. Compared with temporary blocking measures, its advantage is that it can respond instantly and effectively improve the success rate of pipeline water blocking. Compared with gate valve construction, its advantage is that it is low cost and not difficult to construct.

[0057] Furthermore, it should be understood that after reading the above description of the present invention, those skilled in the art can make various alterations or modifications to the present invention, and these equivalent forms also fall within the scope defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A pipe blocking device, characterized in that, include: Fixture (21) is used to fix it inside the pipe and to seal it to the inner wall of the pipe; The airbag (23) used to be installed in the pipeline has one end hinged to the fixing device (21) through connector A (28), and the other end connected to the traction rope (15) through connector B (29); the other end of the traction rope (15) is connected to the pulling device (14); connector A (28) is made of rigid material; connector A (28) and connector B (29) are independently connected to the airbag (23) through multiple connecting ropes (26) to form a mesh-like structure for supporting the airbag (23) and preventing the airbag (23) from overturning; A spring device (30) is connected at one end to a connector A (28) and at the other end to a retainer (21). It is used to lower the airbag (23) and pull back the positioning airbag (23) when the airbag (23) inflates. The spring device (30) helps to adjust the position of the airbag (23) to ensure that the airbag (23) does not tilt when it is inflated. The airbag (23) and the spring device (30) are located on both sides of the connector A (28). The air pump (3) includes an air outlet (17), an air outlet (18), an air inlet (19), and an air inlet (20). The 1# outlet (17) is connected to the airbag (23) through the air pipe (16). The air pipe (16) is equipped with valve A (5), pressure sensing device (8) and tee B (11). The 2# inlet (20), 1# outlet (17), valve A (5), pressure sensing device (8), tee B (11) and airbag (23) are connected in sequence to form an air supply pipeline, which is used to supply air to make the airbag (23) expand and block the pipeline. The tee B (11) is also connected to the 1# inlet (19) through valve B (6). The airbag (23), tee B (11), valve B (6), 1# inlet (19), 2# outlet (18) and valve C (7) are connected in sequence to form an air extraction pipeline, which is used to extract air to make the airbag (23) collapse. The controller (2) is used to: control the traction device (14) to wind and unwind the traction rope (15), and to control the start and stop of the air pump (3) and the opening and closing of valves A (5), B (6) and C (7) based on the data from the pressure sensor device (8) or directly. An inflation / deflation port (22) is provided on the side of the airbag (23) near the connector B (29); When the pipeline is blocked, the controller (2) controls the pulling device (14) to unwind the traction rope (15) and lower the airbag (23) to the bottom of the pipeline. During this process, the spring device (30) pulls back the positioning airbag (23).

2. The pipe blocking device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The pipe blocking device is an integrated prefabricated product that can be adaptively designed and adjusted according to the pipe size and type; the fixing device (21) is a cylindrical structure with fixing patches or openings at both ends that can be adapted to the inner wall of the pipe; the airbag (23), connector A (28), and spring device (30) are all pre-installed in the cylindrical structure.

3. The pipe blocking device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The air pipe (16) is also equipped with a three-way A (10), which is located between valve A (5) and three-way B (11). The three-way A (10) is connected to a pressure relief pipe, which is equipped with a pressure relief valve (9) for emergency pressure relief.

4. The pipe blocking device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The controller (2) is connected to the management and control platform through the data acquisition instrument (27). Based on the online water quality monitoring data fed back by the management and control platform, it responds in real time whether to block the pipeline, and realizes both remote control and local control.

5. The pipe blocking device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The other end of the traction rope (15) is connected to the traction device (14) via a tension gauge (31); The controller (2) is used to control the traction device (14) to wind up and unwind the traction rope (15) according to the value of the tension gauge (31).

6. The pipe blocking device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The pipe blocking device also includes a power supply (4) for supplying power to the controller (2), the air pump (3) and the pulling device (14); The power supply (4) is connected to the air pump (3) through the time relay A (32), and the controller (2) is used to control the start and stop of the air pump (3) according to the value of the time relay A (32); The power supply (4) is connected to the traction device (14) via the time relay B (33). The controller (2) is used to control the traction device (14) to wind up and unwind the traction rope (15) according to the value of the time relay B (33).

7. The pipe blocking device according to claim 1, characterized in that, One end of the pipe is provided with a guide tube (35), through which the traction rope (15) and air tube (16) pass. A limit protection device (34) is provided on the traction rope (15) located between the guide tube (35) and the air bag (23). The size of the limit protection device (34) is larger than the diameter of the guide tube (35) to prevent the traction rope (15) from being over-wound.

8. The pipe blocking device according to claim 1, characterized in that, Connector B(29) is made of rigid material.

9. The application of the pipe shut-off device according to any one of claims 1 to 8 in shutting off pipes.

10. A method for blocking a pipeline, characterized in that, The pipe blocking device according to any one of claims 1 to 8 includes: blocking the pipe: the controller (2) controls the pulling device (14) to unwind the traction rope (15) and lower the airbag (23) to the bottom of the pipe, during which the spring device (30) pulls back the positioning airbag (23); the controller (2) controls the valve A (5) to open, the valve B (6) and the valve C (7) to close, and the air pump (3) to turn on, inflating the airbag (23) through the air pipe (16), during which the spring device (30) pulls back the positioning airbag (23); the airbag (23) expands to block the pipe, and then the controller (2) controls the valve A (5) and the air pump (3) to close; Airbag (23) reset: The controller (2) controls valves B (6) and C (7) to open, and the airbag (23) deflates. During this process, the controller (2) controls the air pump (3) to start and draw air from the airbag (23) through the air pipe (16). After the airbag (23) deflates, the controller (2) controls valves B (6), C (7) and the air pump (3) to close. The controller (2) controls the pulling device (14) to wind up the traction rope (15) and lift the airbag (23) to the top of the pipe. At this time, the spring device (30) is in a stretched state.

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