Branch Pipe Liner Assembly for Trenchless Joint Repair
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for repairing underground sewer pipe joints, such as those between branch and service pipes, are costly and disruptive due to damage during the application and curing of liners, particularly when cutting openings in the service sewer pipe.
Innovation Solution
An underground pipe repair system utilizing a robot device with an inflation tool, sensors, and a processor to position and inflate a liner within the pipe, followed by an electronic curing device to cure the liner, and a cutting tool to precisely cut openings while minimizing damage to the liner.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a new liner is applied to the service sewer pipe and a vertically inverted T-shaped liner is applied to the joint, then the joint between branch and service pipes can be repaired, but the joint portion of the liner may be damaged during the application and curing of the service sewer pipe liner
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the repair process into distinct phases: first applying and curing the joint liner, then applying and curing the service pipe liner. The robot device separates the inflation and curing operations, allowing the joint liner to be fully cured before the service pipe liner is applied, thereby preventing damage to the joint portion during the service pipe liner curing process.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary action by completely curing the joint liner before applying the service pipe liner. The robot device positions and cures the joint liner first, ensuring it is fully set and protected, then proceeds to apply the service pipe liner without risking damage to the previously installed joint liner.
2Reliability
If excavation and replacement of branch and service sewer pipes is performed, then functional ideal repair is achieved, but the approach is very expensive and disruptive to property owners
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces traditional mechanical excavation and pipe replacement with a non-invasive robotic liner application process. The robot device navigates through the existing pipe, applies liners internally, and cures them in place, eliminating the need for digging, heavy machinery, and disruptive construction work while achieving equivalent or superior repair functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the fundamental parameters of the repair approach by transitioning from external mechanical replacement to internal chemical/curing-based repair. The liner material transforms from flexible application state to rigid cured state through chemical curing processes, providing structural reinforcement without requiring physical pipe replacement.
3Manufacturing precision
If a robot device with inflation tool and electronic curing device is used, then the liner can be precisely positioned and cured within the pipe, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The robot device integrates multiple functions into a single unified platform: navigation through the pipe, precise positioning, liner application, inflation control, and electronic curing. This multi-functional design reduces the need for multiple separate equipment systems and operators, managing device complexity while achieving high positioning precision through coordinated control of all functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The robot device is self-contained with onboard power supplies, control systems, and curing devices, allowing it to autonomously navigate, position, apply, and cure the liner without requiring external intervention or complex support infrastructure. The device manages its own operations from entry to completion, reducing overall system complexity despite the advanced capabilities it provides.
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 system enables trenchless repair of sewer pipe joints with reduced disruption and cost by precisely controlling the inflation and curing processes, protecting the liner from damage during cutting.
Implementation Method 1
operate the inflation tool to cause the liner to inflate within the first pipe
Implementation Method 2
activating an electronic curing device (e.g. an ultraviolet (UV) radiation curing device) to be positioned within the inflated liner to cure the inflated liner within the first pipe
Data Source
AI summary
An underground pipe repair system is for a branch pipe connecting with a service pipe. The underground pipe repair system includes a robot device with an inflation tool, a processor, and a housing carrying the inflation tool and the processor. The underground pipe repair system also includes a liner assembly having an inverted liner including a proximal end coupled to the inflation tool, and a distal end opposite the proximal end, and an electronic curing device coupled to the distal end and within the inverted liner. The processor is configured to cause the robot device to move through the service pipe, determine a position of the branch pipe, operate the inflation tool to invert and cause the inverted liner to inflate within the branch pipe and position the electronic curing device within the inflated liner, and activate the electronic curing device to cure the inflated liner within the branch pipe.