Flexible pipe repair method

Abstract

To provide a repairing tool that can repair a damaged part of a pipe with a minimum amount of repairing liquid.SOLUTION: A repairing tool 10 includes: a tube 12 for retaining a repairing liquid therein; a pig 14 disposed inside the tube 12; and a tip guide member 20 which is provided in a tip of the tube 12 and in which a hole for discharging the repairing liquid therefrom is formed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention provides Flexible pipe repair method Regarding. [Background technology]

[0002] BACKGROUND ART A repair method for repairing a damaged portion of a flexible pipe with a liquid resin is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 2732022 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the repair method of Patent Document 1, liquid resin is discharged from the tip of a tube inserted into a flexible pipe to just before the damaged area. The tube is filled with repair liquid at least over the length from the base end to the damaged area, and liquid resin that is not actually used for repair remains in the tube, resulting in waste of liquid resin, leaving room for improvement. In particular, if the distance from the base end of the flexible pipe to the damaged area is long, a large amount of liquid resin is wasted and not actually used.

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide a repair tool and a method for repairing flexible pipes that can repair damaged portions of pipes with a minimum amount of repair liquid. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] First aspect The repair tool described in the above includes a tube that retains repair liquid inside, a pig that is placed inside the tube, and a tip guide member that is provided at the tip of the tube and has a hole formed therein through which the repair liquid is discharged.

[0007] First aspect The repair tool described in can repair a damaged pipe as follows.

[0008] First, the tube between the tip guide member and the pig is filled with a predetermined amount of repair fluid, the predetermined amount being the amount needed to repair the damaged portion of the tube.

[0009] Next, the tube filled with repair liquid is inserted into the pipe so that the tip guide member is positioned just before the damaged portion of the pipe.

[0010] Next, gas pressure is applied to the tube to press against the pig, and the repair fluid is expelled through the hole in the tip guide member, causing the repair fluid to accumulate inside the pipe just before the damaged area, blocking the interior.

[0011] Next, after the tube is pulled out, air is blown into the pipe to flow the repair liquid toward the damaged area, and the repair liquid can be applied to the inner surface of the damaged area so as to seal the damaged area from the inside of the pipe.

[0012] First aspect In the repair tool described in the above, the tube is filled with the amount of repair liquid required to repair the damaged area, and after inserting the tube into the pipe, all of the repair liquid in the tube is drained, so that the amount of repair liquid required to repair the damaged area can be applied to the inside of the pipe. Damaged areas can be repaired without consuming repair fluid.

[0013] Second aspect The invention described in First aspect In the repair tool described in the above, a coil-shaped member is provided between the tube and the tip guide member, in which a wire is wound so as to be in close contact with the tube and through which the repair liquid passes.

[0014] The coil-shaped member, in which the wire is wound tightly, is more easily bent than the tube body. Second aspectThe repair tool described in the above has a coil-shaped member provided between the tube and the tip guide member, so that when the tube is inserted into the pipe with the tip guide member first, the coil-shaped member bends in accordance with the bend of the pipe at the bent part of the pipe, and acts as a guide for the tube that follows, allowing the tip guide member and the tube to pass smoothly through the bent part of the pipe.

[0015] Third aspect The invention described in First or second aspect In the repair tool described in , the tube is transparent.

[0016] By making the tube transparent, it is possible to visually check how far into the tube the repair liquid has filled. If the inner diameter of the tube is known, the length of the part filled with repair liquid can be measured, and the amount of repair liquid filled in the tube can be easily determined from the inner diameter of the tube and the length of the part filled with repair liquid.

[0017] The invention described in the fourth aspect is any one of the first to third aspects. and a repair liquid discharging step of applying air pressure to the tube so as to press the pig and discharging the repair liquid from the hole in the tip guide member. The repair liquid discharging step of the ...

[0018] Fourth aspect In the flexible pipe repair method described in the above, in the repair liquid filling step, a preset amount of repair liquid is filled into the tube between the tip guide member and the pig.

[0019] In the tube insertion step, a tube filled with repair liquid is inserted into the flexible pipe so that the tip guide member is positioned just before the damaged portion of the flexible pipe.

[0020] In the repair fluid discharge process, air pressure is applied to the tube to press against the pig, and the repair fluid is discharged through the hole in the tip guide member, causing the repair fluid to accumulate inside the flexible pipe just before the damaged area, blocking the interior.

[0021] In the air blowing process, after the tube is pulled out, air is blown into the flexible pipe, causing the repair liquid to flow toward the damaged area, and the repair liquid can be applied to the inner surface of the damaged area so as to seal the damaged area from the inside of the pipe.

[0022] Fourth aspect In the flexible pipe repair method described above, a predetermined amount of repair liquid required to repair the damaged area is filled into the tube, and then all of the repair liquid in the tube is drained out, thereby applying the amount of repair liquid required to repair the damaged area into the pipe, and the damaged area can be repaired without wasting repair liquid. [Effects of the Invention]

[0023] As described above, by using the repair tool of the present invention, damaged portions of pipes can be repaired without wasting repair liquid. Furthermore, according to the method for repairing a flexible pipe of the present invention, damaged portions of the flexible pipe can be repaired without wasting repair liquid. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0024] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a side view showing a repair tool according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] (A) is a cross-sectional view along the axis of the tip guide member, (B) is a front view of the tip guide member as seen from the tip side, and (C) is a front view of the tip guide member according to another embodiment as seen from the tip side. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing the state in which a repair material is injected into a tube. [Figure 4] 1 is a cross-sectional view of a flexible pipe showing a state in which a tube is inserted into the flexible pipe. [Figure 5] 10 is a cross-sectional view of the flexible tube showing a state in which a tip guide member is positioned at a bent portion. FIG. [Figure 6] 10 is a cross-sectional view of the flexible tube showing the distal guide member passing through the bent portion. FIG. [Figure 7] 1 is a cross-sectional view of a flexible pipe showing the state in which repair liquid is being filled into the flexible pipe. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the flexible pipe showing a state in which air is being blown into the flexible pipe. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0025] A repair tool 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention and a method for repairing a flexible pipe using the repair tool 10 will be described with reference to FIGS. (Configuration of repair tools) As shown in FIG. 1, the repair tool 10 of this embodiment includes a tube 12, a pig 14 placed inside the tube 12, a connecting joint 16, a coil-shaped member 18, and a tip guide member 20.

[0026] The tube 12 is flexible and made of a transparent or translucent synthetic resin material.

[0027] The coiled member 18 is, for example, a so-called tightly wound coil spring, in which stainless steel wire is wound into a coil shape, and the wire is tightly wound around the coil. The coiled member 18 has an inner diameter large enough for the pig 14 to pass through.

[0028] The connection joint 16 is a member that connects the tube 12 and the coil-shaped member 18, and is formed, for example, in a cylindrical shape from a synthetic resin material. The tube 12 and the coil-shaped member 18 are detachable from the connection joint 16.

[0029] As shown in Figures 1 and 2(A), the tip of the tip guide member 20 is formed in a hemispherical shape, and on the side opposite the tip, a female screw 20A is formed for screwing in the coil-shaped member 18. As shown in Figure 2(B), the tip guide member 20 has two discharge holes 20B formed in the hemispherical part of the tip for discharging the repair liquid L described below. Note that the number of discharge holes 20B may be three as shown in Figure 2(C), and the number can be increased or decreased as appropriate. Alternatively, the tip guide member 20, the coiled member 18, and the connecting joint 16 may be assembled in advance, and the assembled assembly may be attached to the tube 12.

[0030] The pig 14 in this embodiment is, for example, a sphere made of metal, synthetic resin, glass, or the like, and has an outer diameter equal to or smaller than the inner diameter of the tube 12 and the inner diameter of the coil-shaped member 18 so that it can move smoothly inside the tube 12. Note that the pig 14 is not limited to a spherical shape, and may also be cylindrical.

[0031] (Repair method) A method for repairing a flexible pipe 30 using the repair tool 10 of this embodiment will be described below. The flexible pipe 30 of this embodiment has an uneven pipe wall to make it easier to bend. The flexible pipe 30 to be repaired is, as an example, a pipe used for gas piping, but is not limited to gas applications and may also be a pipe used for water piping, for example.

[0032] (1) Repair fluid filling process In the refilling process, as shown in Figure 3, an injection gun 34 equipped with a resin cartridge 32 filled with repair liquid is used to connect the tube 12 with the pig 14 placed at one end to a connector 36 attached to the tip of the resin cartridge 32, and repair liquid L is injected into the tube by pushing the pig 14 placed at one end toward the other end.

[0033] The repair liquid L may be, for example, a resin that hardens after a predetermined time has passed, such as a two-component mixed resin, a simple resin, a urethane resin, or an epoxy resin. Also, any repair liquid L that is initially liquid and hardens later by natural drying or other means may be used.

[0034] A predetermined amount of repair liquid L is poured into the tube 12, taking into consideration the inner diameter of the flexible pipe 30 (described later) and the application range (length) of the repair liquid L. Since the tube 12 is transparent or translucent, it is possible to visually determine how far the repair liquid L has been poured from the end of the tube 12.

[0035] Furthermore, if the inner diameter of the tube 12 and the inner diameter of the coil-shaped member 18 are known in advance, the amount of repair liquid L in the tube 12 can be determined from the inner diameter of the tube 12, the inner diameter of the coil-shaped member 18, and the length filled with repair liquid L. Therefore, if the amount of repair liquid L required to repair the flexible pipe 30 has been determined, a mark or the like can be placed on the tube 12 in advance, and the repair liquid L can be poured up to the mark while visually checking the tube 12, eliminating the need to measure the repair liquid L before pouring it into the tube 12, and the amount of repair liquid L required for repair can be filled into the tube 12.

[0036] (2) Tube insertion process As shown in FIG. 4, the connecting joint 16, the coiled member 18, and the distal guide member 20 are attached to the tube 12, and the tube 12 is pushed into the flexible pipe 30 with the distal guide member 20 leading.

[0037] The tube 12 is pushed in so that the tip guide member 20 is positioned a few centimeters before a previously identified damaged area 38, such as a hole or crack formed in the middle of the flexible tube 30 and through which gas leakage is expected.

[0038] The length from the end of the flexible pipe 30 into which the tube 12 is to be inserted to the damaged location 38 is measured in advance with a tape measure or the like before pushing the tube 12 in. Also, in order to allow the tip guide member 20 to reach a few centimeters in front of the damaged location 38, the total length of the repair tool 10 (length of the tube 12 + length of the connecting joint 16 + length of the coil-shaped member 18 + tip guide member 20) + α (an allowance necessary for operating the repair tool 10, etc.) is determined in advance. Also, the location of the damaged location 38 may be determined by a known method, such as inserting a detection tool such as a fiberscope into the pipe to view the inside of the pipe. It is preferable to measure the length from the end of the flexible pipe 30 to the damaged location 38 with a tape measure or the like, and then determine the overall length of the repair tool 10. Then, it is preferable to mark the tube 12 so that it is clear how far the tube 12 needs to be pushed in until the tip guide member 20 reaches a few centimeters before the damaged location 38. As an example, the mark is marked so that when the position of the mark coincides with the end of the flexible pipe 30, the tip guide member 20 will be positioned a few centimeters before the damaged location 38.

[0039] Incidentally, flexible tube 30 may be bent along the way, as shown in Figure 5. When tip guide member 20 is pushed into bent portion 30A of flexible tube 30 at an angle to the inner wall of the tube, tip guide member 20, which has a hemispherical tip, slides along the inner wall of the tube, and coiled member 18 bends as shown in Figure 6, allowing tube 12 to be pushed in smoothly.

[0040] Therefore, the distal end guide member 20 does not get caught on the bent portion 30A, and the tube 12 does not become difficult or impossible to push in.

[0041] (3) Repair fluid discharge process After the tip guide member 20 has reached a point just before the damaged area 38, as shown in Figure 7, compressed air from an air compressor 40 is injected from the end of the tube 12, and the repair liquid L is pressed by the pig 14, and all of the repair liquid L is discharged from the discharge hole 20B of the tip guide member 20. It is also possible to inject compressed air from an air cylinder and a regulator from the end of the tube 12.

[0042] Since the tube 12 is transparent or semi-transparent, it is easy to visually determine whether or not the entire amount of repair liquid L has been discharged.

[0043] This allows a predetermined amount of repair liquid L to be retained in the form of a plug inside the flexible pipe 30 before the damaged portion 38 so as to block the inside. After the entire amount of repair liquid L has been drained, the tube 12 is pulled out from the flexible pipe 30.

[0044] (4) Air blowing process After the flexible pipe 30 tube 12 is pulled out, air is blown into the end of the flexible pipe 30 using a blower 42, causing the repair liquid L that has been retained in the pipe to flow toward the damaged area 38, so that the repair liquid L spreads over the entire inner surface of the pipe near the damaged area 38, i.e., the repair liquid L forms a film on the inner surface of the damaged area 38 so as to cover the damaged area 38 from the inside of the pipe. Thereafter, the repair liquid L is solidified, and the repair work is completed.

[0045] In this way, in the method of repairing a flexible pipe 30 using the repair tool 10, a predetermined amount of repair liquid L required to repair the damaged area 38 is filled into the tube 12, and by draining all of the repair liquid L from the tube 12, the amount of repair liquid L required to repair the damaged area 38 can be applied to the inside of the pipe, and the damaged area 38 can be repaired without wasting repair liquid L.

[0046] [Other embodiments] The above describes one embodiment of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to the above, and it goes without saying that the present invention can be implemented in various modified forms within the scope of the gist of the present invention.

[0047] Although the tube 12 in the above embodiment is transparent or translucent, it may be opaque as long as the amount of fluid injected into the flexible tube 30 can be monitored. If the synthetic resin tube 12 is long (for example, if the distance from the end of the flexible pipe 30 to the damaged portion 38 is long, or if there are many bends), the friction between the tube 12 and the flexible pipe 30 increases, making it difficult to push the tube 12 in. In such cases, the outer periphery of the tube 12 may be coated with a metal such as stainless steel, or, as an example, a tightly-fitted coil spring similar to the coil-shaped member 18 may be fitted around the tube 12. By fitting a tightly-fitted coil spring around the outer periphery of the tube 12, the friction with the flexible pipe 30 can be reduced, and the tube 12 can be pushed in smoothly even if the tube 12 is long or has many bends.

[0048] In the above embodiment, an example of using the repair tool 10 to repair a damaged area of ​​a flexible pipe 30 has been described, but the repair tool 10 can also be used to repair damaged areas of ordinary piping other than the flexible pipe 30, which does not have any irregularities on the inner surface.

[0049] A flexible tube may be inserted inside the coil member 18 . [Explanation of symbols]

[0050] 10 Repair tools 12 tubes 14 Pig 18 Coiled member 20 Tip guide member 20B Discharge hole (hole)

Claims

1. A method for repairing a flexible pipe using a repair tool having a tube for retaining a repair liquid therein, a pig disposed inside the tube, and a tip guide member provided at the tip of the tube and having a hole formed therein through which the repair liquid is discharged, a repair liquid filling step of filling a predetermined amount of the repair liquid into the tube between the tip guide member and the pig; a tube insertion step of inserting the tube into the flexible pipe so that the tip guide member is positioned just before a damaged portion of the flexible pipe; a repair liquid discharge step of applying air pressure to the tube so as to press the pig, and discharging the repair liquid from the hole of the tip guide member; an air blowing step of blowing air into the flexible pipe after the tube is pulled out to apply the repair liquid to the inner surface of the damaged area; A method for repairing a flexible pipe, comprising:

2. In the method for repairing the flexible pipe, the repair tool is used, in which a wire is wound between the tube and the tip guide member so that the wire is in close contact with the tube, and a coil-shaped member is provided to allow the repair liquid to pass through.

2. The method for repairing a flexible pipe according to claim 1.

3. In the flexible pipe repair method, the repair tool having the transparent tube is used.

3. The method for repairing a flexible pipe according to claim 1 or 2.

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