Water distribution pipe leak repair system

Abstract

The invention relates to a leak repair system for a water distribution pipe, comprising: - a spherical transport element of selected density configured to be injected into the water distribution pipe by an injection device, and coated with a sealant capable of hardening in an aqueous environment and sealing a leak in the internal wall of said water distribution pipe; - an injection device configured to be mounted at a water inlet or water connection and comprising connector means for connecting the injection device to the water distribution pipe, means for measuring the pressure between the water inlet and the connector means, an injection end configured to allow the insertion of an injection rod into said transport element; and - an injection rod.

Description

Title of the invention: Water distribution pipe leak repair system

[0001] The present invention relates to a system for repairing leaks in a water distribution conduit, and more particularly to the installation and localized injection of a circular mobile element suitable for positioning itself at the level of a leak on the internal face of a water circulation conduit.

[0002] Much progress has been made in the field of leak repair

[0003] Leak repair systems for water distribution pipes are crucial for the effective management of water distribution networks. These systems are designed to detect, locate, and repair leaks that can compromise the structural integrity of the pipe and lead to significant water losses.

[0004] Over the decades, several technologies have emerged to address these complex challenges. Among them, traditional methods such as welding, manual sealing, and the application of sealing materials were the first to be implemented. However, these approaches often present drawbacks such as prolonged downtime, high costs, and major network disruption, and often require targeted leak detection and direct access to the leak location, which is not always guaranteed.

[0005] More sophisticated systems are known, including leak detection by acoustic, telemetry, and thermal imaging means, which have significantly improved the accuracy of leak location. These systems use high-precision sensors to monitor the condition of the pipes in real time, enabling rapid and targeted intervention.

[0006] These systems have the disadvantage of requiring two independent systems to repair leaks, comprising a detection system and a repair system; this separation does not guarantee a precise and rapid repair of said leaks.

[0007] Finally, trenchless water pipe repair systems have also gained popularity, offering less invasive methods for addressing leaks. Technologies such as pipe lining, polymer crosslinking, and epoxy resin injection make it possible to reinforce the internal pipe wall without the need for excavation.

[0008] These systems have the disadvantage of not guaranteeing that the repair will be precise or of sufficient quality to last over time, given the pressure exerted during the flow of water in said conduit.

[0009] The present invention remedies these drawbacks.

[0010] The invention relates to a leak repair system for a water distribution pipe.

[0011] According to a general definition of the invention, the system comprises: -a spherical transport element of chosen density configured to be injected into the water distribution conduit by an injection device, and coated with a sealing substance capable of hardening in an aqueous environment and sealing a leak at the level of the internal wall of said water distribution conduit; -an injection device configured to be mounted at a water inlet or water connection and comprising connector means for connecting the injection device to the water distribution conduit, means for measuring the pressure between the water inlet and the connector means, an injection end configured to allow the insertion of an injection rod of said transport element, means for regulating the water flow disposed respectively on the injection end of the transport element and on a connection end with the distribution conduit, each configured to move independently from an open position to a closed position and from an open position to a closed position; and -an injection rod configured to temporarily contain the transport element and allow the release of said spherical transport element at the leakage area of ​​the distribution conduit, and suitable for insertion into the injection end of the injection device.

[0012] Advantageously, a repair system according to the invention makes it possible to obtain equipment for securing the water distribution conduit, and furthermore allows the injection of an element enabling the repair of a leak in a precise manner and for which the environmental conditions of injection of the element are controlled in terms of flow rate, pressure, presence of water during and after injection, as well as the location of the injection in relation to the detected leak.

[0013] In practice, the injection rod further comprises a tubular chamber hermetically sealed at one of its ends, which are rigidly coupled with means for opening / closing said chamber, and which, in the open position, is capable of releasing the transport element at the leakage zone of the distribution conduit.

[0014] According to a preferred embodiment according to the invention, the injection rod further includes acoustic leak detector means.

[0015] By way of example, the means for opening / closing said chamber of the injection rod include a hermetic valve.

[0016] According to a particular embodiment according to the invention, the means The opening / closing mechanism of said chamber of the injection rod is of the magnetic opening / closing type.

[0017] By way of example, the injection rod is made of a flexible metallic material.

[0018] In practice, the spherical transport element is made of a polystyrene-type material.

[0019] Furthermore, the spherical transport element comprises a size chosen to be less than or equal to 20% of the diameter of the conduit in which it is used

[0020] In practice, the sealing substance suitable for hardening in an aqueous environment and sealing a leak at the level of the internal wall of said water distribution conduit is an epoxy paste.

[0021] According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the injection device further comprises a tracer gas supply valve, configured to accommodate and lock a tracer gas source and to move from a closed position where the tracer gas cannot be injected into the conduit to an open position where the tracer gas is released into the conduit and to move from an open position to a closed position.

[0022] Advantageously, the system according to the invention makes it possible to precisely inject a transport element to repair a leak in order to maximize the chances of repair in one injection, ensure the quality of the leak repair by controlling the injection environment of an internal repair element of a distribution conduit and to carry out the injection while knowing precisely the location of the leak.

[0023] Other advantages and features of the invention will become apparent upon examination of the description and drawings in which: - [Fig.l] schematically represents the system according to the invention; - [Fig.2] schematically represents the end of the injection rod in closed position according to the invention; - [Fig.3] schematically represents the end of the injection rod in open position according to the invention; - [Fig.4] schematically represents the repair sequences of a leak of the transport element according to the invention conforming to the invention;

[0024] With reference to figures 1 to 3, the leak repair system 8 of a water distribution conduit 100 according to the invention comprises a transport element 2 of chosen material configured to be injected into the water distribution conduit 100 by an injection device 3, circulate in said water distribution conduit 100 and allow by following the mechanical forces of water circulation at the level of the leak 8 to position itself so as to cover said leak 8.

[0025] In practice, the transport element 2 is coated with a sealing substance capable of hardening in an aqueous environment and sealing the leak 8 at the level of the inner wall of said water distribution pipe 100.

[0026] By way of non-limiting example, the transport element 2 is spherical.

[0027] According to one embodiment, the transport element 2 is made of a polystyrene-type material.

[0028] Advantageously, the use of such a material allows increased sensitivity to pressure differentials due to its reduced weight and thus allows better positioning accuracy at the level of a leak 8.

[0029] In addition, once the sealing substance has hardened, the polystyrene can degrade over time and thus at least partially restore the cylindrical shape of the distribution conduit without jeopardizing the structural integrity of the repair.

[0030] In addition, the transport element 2 comprises a size chosen less than or equal to 20% of the diameter of the water distribution conduit 100 in which said transport element 2 is used.

[0031] Advantageously, such a size allows easy circulation in the water distribution conduit 100 without disturbing the movement of the water once the position of said transport element 2 is locked at the leak 8.

[0032] In practice, the sealing substance suitable for hardening in an aqueous environment and sealing the leak 8 at the level of the internal wall of said water distribution conduit 100 is an epoxy paste.

[0033] The system according to the invention further includes an injection device 3 configured to be mounted at the level of a water inlet 100 or a water fitting and comprising connector means 34 suitable for connecting the injection device 3 to the water distribution conduit 100.

[0034] In practice, the injection device 3 includes connector means 34, configured to be connected, on the one hand, to the water distribution conduit 100, and on the other hand, to at least one water inlet 9 or any structure through which the water flows.

[0035] The injection device 3 further includes an injection end 31 configured to allow the introduction of an injection rod 4 of said transport element 2.

[0036] The injection device 3 then includes pressure measurement means 35 between the water inlet 9 configured to measure the pressure of the circulating water at the level of said injection device.

[0037] The injection device 3 further includes water circulation regulation means 33 disposed respectively on an injection end 31 of the transport element 2, and on a connection end 32 with the water distribution conduit 100 and each configured to independently switch from an open position to a closed position and from an open position to a closed position.

[0038] Advantageously, the regulatory means 33 allow for fine control of the flow rate in combination with pressure measurement means 35 and thus control pressure and flow rate in the water distribution conduit 100 during the injection of the transport element 2.

[0039] According to a particular embodiment of the invention, water circulation control means 33 are disposed at the water inlet 9 downstream of the pressure measuring means 35, thus creating a pressurization chamber in which the user can deposit the transport element coated with the sealant substance, then open the water circulation control means 33 disposed respectively at the connecting end 32 and the water inlet so as to inject the transport element 2 coated with the sealant substance directly into the water circulation conduit 100 without requiring the use of an injection rod 4.

[0040] According to one embodiment of the invention, the injection device 3 further comprises a tracer gas supply valve 36, configured to accommodate and lock a source of tracer gas and to move from a closed position where the tracer gas cannot be injected into the water distribution conduit 100 to an open position where the tracer gas is released into the water distribution conduit 100, and to move from an open position to a closed position.

[0041] The system according to the invention further comprises an injection rod 4, suitable for being inserted into the injection end 31 of the injection device 3 and configured to temporarily contain the transport element 2 and allow the release of said transport element 2 coated with the sealing substance at the leakage zone of the water distribution conduit 100.

[0042] In practice, the injection rod 4 further comprises a hermetically sealed tubular chamber 41 at one of its ends, which are permanently coupled with means for opening / closing said chamber, and which, in the open position, is capable of releasing the transport element 2 coated with the sealing substance at the leakage zone of the water distribution conduit 100.

[0043] According to one embodiment of the invention, the injection rod 4 further comprises means of an integrated acoustic detector type.

[0044] Advantageously, the detection of the leak position allows for precise injection of the transport element 2 coated with the sealing substance by the injection rod 4 so as to limit the risk that the transport element 2 passes at the level of the leak 8 without locking its position on said leak 8.

[0045] In addition, the integrated acoustic detector means make it possible to provide a combined tool allowing the user to inject the transport element 2 coated with the sealant substance while knowing where the leak is located, instead of having to alternate between the two tools as taught by prior art systems.

[0046] In practice, the means for opening / closing said chamber 41 of the rod injection 4 include a hermetic valve 42 allowing to limit the exposure to water of the sealing substance applied on the transport element 2 until injection.

[0047] According to one embodiment of the invention, the opening / closing means of said chamber 41 of the injection rod 4 are of the magnetic opening / closing type, and configured to be opened by the passage of an electric current whose supply means are disposed in the heart of the injection rod 4.

[0048] In addition, the injection rod 4 is made of a flexible metallic material and the outer face of which is insulated by a flexible material in the form of a sheath.

[0049] According to one embodiment of the invention, the sheath is electrically insulating when the flexible metallic material is used to electrically supply at least one element belonging to the group formed by means of an integrated acoustic detector, magnetic opening / closing.

[0050] With reference to [Fig.4], a leak 8 is detected according to a step A, the transport element 2 is coated with the activated sealing substance and is injected by the injection rod 4 at the level of the leak area according to a step B.

[0051] According to a step C, the transport element 2 coated with the sealing substance is positioned at the leak 8 by transport thanks to the ejection of water through the leak 8 creating a siphon effect.

[0052] According to a step D, the hardened sealing substance with the transport element 2 locked in its position at the leak 8.

[0053] According to a step E, the sealing substance is hardened and the leak 8 is sealed.

Claims

Claims

1. System for repairing a leak (8) in a water distribution conduit (100) comprising: - a transport element (2) made of a selected material configured to be injected into the water distribution conduit (100) by an injection device (3), and covered with a sealing substance capable of hardening in an aqueous medium and sealing the leak (8) at the internal wall of said water distribution conduit (100);-an injection device (3) configured to be mounted at a water inlet (9) or a water connection and comprising connector means (34) capable of connecting the injection device (3) to the water distribution conduit (100), means for measuring the pressure (35) between the water inlet (9) and the connector means (34), an injection end (31) configured to allow the introduction of an injection rod (4) of said transport element (2), means for regulating (33) the circulation of water arranged respectively on an injection end (31) of the transport element (2), and on a connecting end (32) with the water distribution conduit (100) and each configured to pass independently from an open position to a closed position and from a closed position to an open position;and -an injection rod (4) configured to temporarily contain the transport element (2) and allow the release of said transport element (2) at the leakage zone of the water distribution conduit (100), and capable of being inserted into the injection end (31) of the injection device (3).;

2. System according to claim 1, characterized in that the injection rod (4) further comprises a hermetic tubular chamber (41) at one of its ends securely coupled to the opening / closing means of said chamber, and capable in the open position of releasing the transport element (2) at the leakage zone of the water distribution conduit (100).

3. System according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the injection rod (4) further comprises integrated acoustic detector type means.

4. System according to one of claims 2 or 3, characterized in that the means for opening / closing said chamber (41) of the rod injection (4) comprise a hermetic valve (42).

5. System according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the means for opening / closing said chamber (41) of the injection rod (4) are of the magnetic opening / closing type.

6. System according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the injection rod (4) is made of a flexible metallic material.

7. System according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the transport element (2) is spherical and made of a polystyrene-type material.

8. System according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the transport element (2) comprises a size chosen less than or equal to 20% of the diameter of the water distribution conduit (100) in which said transport element (2) is used.

9. System according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the sealing substance capable of hardening in an aqueous medium and sealing the leak (8) at the internal wall of said water distribution conduit (100) is an epoxy paste.

10. System according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the injection device (3) further comprises a tracer gas supply valve (36), configured to receive and lock a source of tracer gas and move from a closed position where the tracer gas cannot be injected into the water distribution conduit (100) to an open position where the tracer gas is released into the water distribution conduit (100), and move from an open position to a closed position.

Images