Branch Conduit Plug and Fitting Installation for CIPP Pipe Lining
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pipe rehabilitation methods face challenges in effectively sealing branch conduits during the lining of main pipes with cured-in-place pipe (CIPP) liners, particularly in preventing delamination and exfiltration under pressure, and in efficiently installing fittings to connect the liner to branch conduits.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a robot and tools that include a plug with a removable section for sealing branch conduits, a fitting installation tool, and a plug removal tool, which allows for precise alignment and installation of fittings within the main pipe, using locating elements and sensors to ensure accurate positioning and fluid-tight connections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a plug is installed in a branch conduit to seal it during main pipe lining, then fluid communication is blocked, but the plug must be removed later to restore fluid communication
Solution Approach 1:
The plug is divided into two distinct sections: a removable section that can be extracted after lining to restore fluid communication, and a durable section that remains installed to provide permanent sealing and support. This segmentation allows the plug to fulfill both temporary sealing and permanent restoration functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The removable section of the plug is designed to be discarded after serving its temporary sealing purpose during the lining process. The durable section is recovered and retained to provide ongoing sealing and structural support, eliminating the need for complete plug removal while restoring fluid communication.
2Manufacturing precision
If a robot is used to install fittings in branch conduits from inside the main pipe, then installation precision is improved, but the complexity of the system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The robot is designed with multi-functionality to perform multiple operations including locating branch conduits via sensors, installing plugs in branch conduits, and installing fittings to connect the liner to branch conduits. This universal design consolidates multiple specialized tools into one system, improving precision while managing complexity through integration.
Solution Approach 2:
Locating elements are installed in the plugs to serve as intermediaries that enable the robot's sensors to detect and locate branch conduits from inside the main pipe. These locating elements act as mediators between the physical branch conduit and the robot's detection system, enabling precise positioning without requiring complex direct sensing.
3Reliability
If locating elements are mounted on the durable section of the plug spaced apart from the removable section, then the locating elements remain connected to the lined pipe after removable section removal, but the plug structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The plug structure is segmented into distinct functional zones: the removable section for temporary sealing, the durable section for permanent retention, and locating elements positioned on the durable section. This spatial segmentation ensures locating elements remain with the durable section after removable section extraction, maintaining reliability while organizing complexity through functional separation.
Data Source
AI summary
A pipe rehabilitation system and/or robot can be used inside a pipe to measure characteristics of branch conduits, install plugs into branch conduits before the pipe is lined with a liner, remove portions of plugs and liners after lining to restore fluid communication between the pipe and branch conduits, and/or install fittings into the branch conduits to connect the liner to the branch conduits. A probe can measure characteristics of a branch conduit. A tool can install plugs and/or fittings into the branch conduits. A linkage can connect a tool to a robotic tractor so that the connected elements can navigate through a main pipe. A visualization system can aid in aligning a robot with a branch conduit. Height-adjustable braces can support robotic tools in a pipe. A plug can include integrated locating features and/or movable parts that enable expanding the plug to seal with the branch conduit.