Monolithic CIPP Pressurizing Head for Airtight Lining Sealing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pressurizing heads for pipe renovation in CIPP technology are costly to manufacture due to their metallic or lathe-turned construction, requiring excessive material and lacking flexibility for secure, air-tight sealing.
Innovation Solution
A monolithic pressurizing head with a hollow lining connection part and a cap section, comprising an outer and inner shell with an infill, made from 3D-printed fiber-reinforced plastics like PETG-carbon, which allows for adjustable stiffness and air-tight sealing through a ring clamp, and optional integration of a heating cable for accelerated curing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If pressurizing heads are made from metal or lathe-turned plastic, then structural strength and durability are achieved, but manufacturing cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameters by using fiber-reinforced plastics instead of traditional metals or solid plastics. This allows achieving the required strength properties through material composition modification rather than expensive manufacturing processes like welding or lathe-turning, thereby reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining structural integrity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite materials (fiber-reinforced plastics) to combine the advantages of different materials - the strength of fibers with the ease of molding of plastics. This composite approach enables cost-effective production through additive manufacturing while achieving the structural strength previously only attainable through expensive metal construction
2Stability of the object's composition
If pressurizing heads are made with thick solid material, then structural stability is improved, but material cost and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by varying the infill density and material distribution within the pressurizing head structure. Critical areas receive higher infill density for enhanced stability, while non-critical areas use lower density to reduce material quantity. This localized optimization achieves structural stability without requiring uniform thick solid material throughout the entire component
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the internal structure into an infill pattern within the outer shell, creating a hollow interior with strategic material placement. This segmentation allows the structure to achieve stability through smart material distribution rather than solid construction, significantly reducing the quantity of material required while maintaining structural integrity
3Strength
If traditional manufacturing methods are used, then structural integrity is achieved, but manufacturing time and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical manufacturing methods (welding, lathe-turning) with additive manufacturing technology. This substitution enables complex geometries to be produced in a single printing process without requiring multiple assembly steps, welding operations, or精密 machining, thereby significantly improving manufacturing efficiency while maintaining structural integrity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple manufacturing operations into a single additive printing process. The pressurizing head is produced as one integrated component with all necessary features (connections, reinforcement structures, hollow chambers) created in one continuous manufacturing step, eliminating the need for separate welding, assembly, and finishing operations required by traditional methods
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 reduces material costs and enhances durability while ensuring secure, air-tight sealing and faster resin curing, making it suitable for various pipe diameters and harsh construction conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a pressurizing head connector for a pressurizing head comprises a body having a thread comprising a pressurized air inlet and a heating cable inlet for receiving a heating cable
Implementation Method 2
After the lining has been placed into the pipe to be renovated, it usually is pressurized with pressurized air. Alternatively or in addition, water may be circulated in the lining
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3
AI summary
Cured-in-place-pipe technology (CIPP) linings need to be pressurized. In order to provide an alternative structure for a pressurizing head for linings it is proposed that the pressurizing head (1) comprises a hollow lining connection section (2) that has: i) a lining receiving section (21) onto which a lining (5), such as used in pipe renovation by cured-in-place-pipe -technology (CIPP), may be inserted, ii) the lining receiving section (21) having a tightening section (210) where the outer surface has an essentially cylindrical surface such that the lining (5) may be fastened in an air- and water-tight manner using a ring clamp, for example, and iii) a protrusion/notch (23) following the outer perimeter (22) of the lining receiving section (21) and neighboring the tightening section (210), for preventing slip of the lining from the lining receiving section (21). The pressurizing head (1) further comprising a cap section (3) closing the pressurizing head (1), wherein the cap section (3) comprises at least one connection (30, 31, 32) for water or pressurized air a) the pressurizing head (1) comprises or consists of a monolithic structure that forms a body of the cap section (3) and the lining receiving section (2) such that the monolithic structure comprises an outer shell (10), an inner shell (11) connected to each other; b) the at least one connection (30, 31, 32) configured for a connector (34, 35, 36), preferably a metallic connector, that is air-tightly sealed to the monolithic structure; and c) between the outer shell (10) and the inner shell (11) is an infill (12) that is located at least at the tightening section (210) and/or at the cap section (3) but preferably also between these, to stabilize the tightening section and the connector (34, 35, 36) of the at least one connection (30, 31, 32). An independent patent claim for a pressurized head connector is also included.