Branch Conduit Fitting With Radial Fasteners for Liner Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for connecting a liner to a corporation stop in a rehabilitated main pipe under pressure face challenges in maintaining a fluid seal and preventing delamination, as they rely on threaded fittings that may not provide a secure mechanical connection and can be prone to exfiltration.
Innovation Solution
A fitting with a shaft section and flange section is inserted into the corporation stop without rotating, using an annular compressible gasket and radially outward fasteners to establish a mechanical connection and fluid seal, ensuring the liner is securely attached to the main pipe.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a threaded fitting is used to connect the liner to the corporation stop, then the fitting can be installed by a robot that rotates the fitting to threadably connect it, but the connection may not be secure enough to prevent delamination and exfiltration under pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The fitting is divided into distinct functional segments: a shaft section for insertion, a flange section for sealing, and multiple radially outward fasteners for mechanical anchoring. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function optimally - the shaft inserts without rotation, the flange creates a seal against the liner, and the fasteners provide secure mechanical connection to the corporation stop, resolving the contradiction between ease of installation and connection security.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection mechanism transitions from rotational threading (one-dimensional rotation) to radial expansion (two-dimensional dimensional change). The fasteners expand radially outward from the shaft as the fitting is inserted, creating mechanical interlocking with the corporation stop wall. This dimensional change provides more secure anchoring without requiring rotation, simultaneously improving installation ease and connection reliability.
2Reliability
If a threaded fitting is rotated to connect to the corporation stop, then the fitting can be threaded in, but the rotation and threading process increases installation complexity and time
Solution Approach 1:
The fasteners are pre-configured on the shaft section to expand radially outward during insertion. This preliminary configuration eliminates the need for post-insertion rotation or threading operations. As the fitting is inserted into the corporation stop, the fasteners automatically engage the stop wall, providing secure connection without additional manual operations, thus reducing installation time while maintaining connection security.
3Reliability
If plugs are used to seal corporation stop openings before liner installation, then resin can be prevented from entering the stops, but holes must be formed in the liner and plugs removed to restore fluid communication
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the plugs from the installation process. Instead of sealing the corporation stop openings with plugs and later removing them, the fitting is directly inserted into the open corporation stop through the liner. The shaft section of the fitting provides the necessary seal and connection without requiring plug installation or removal, simplifying the overall installation process while maintaining resin containment during liner installation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides a reliable fluid seal and mechanical connection, preventing delamination and exfiltration, while allowing for easy installation without the need for complete rotational alignment, enhancing the durability and integrity of the pipe system.
Implementation Method 1
an annular compressible gasket to establish a fluid seal between the fitting body and the liner
Implementation Method 2
A fastener is connected to the fitting body. The fastener is configured to establish a mechanical connection between the fitting and the branch conduit as the fitting body is inserted into the branch conduit
Data Source
AI summary
A fitting for connecting a branch conduit to a liner installed in a main pipe is configured to mechanically connect to the branch conduit as it is inserted into the branch conduit from inside the main pipe. The mechanical connection is established without rotating the fitting. The fitting can include a body having an outer shaft section for being received in the branch conduit and an inner flange section for opposing the liner within the main pipe. The fastener include one or more teeth that extend radially from the exterior of the shaft section. The teeth can be secured to the shaft section by deforming portions of the fitting body against the teeth. The flange section supports a gasket for sealing against the liner when the fitting is installed. The flange section can include a rim that maintains the gasket in the proper position.