Compressible Pipe Repair Stent Spring for Internal Watertight Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pipe repair methods require shutting down piping systems, which is inconvenient and costly, and often necessitate extensive construction, including digging up streets and sidewalks.
Innovation Solution
A stent comprising a stent spring and a seal, which can be configured in an expanded and compressed state, is used to repair pipe breaks by creating a watertight seal without the need to shut down the piping system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional pipe repair methods are used, then pipe breaks can be repaired, but the piping system must be shut down and extensive construction is required
Solution Approach 1:
The stent is inserted inside the existing pipe through a delivery catheter, with the stent nested within the catheter during insertion. Once positioned at the repair site, the stent is deployed outward to seal the pipe break from the interior, eliminating the need for external access or system shutdown.
Solution Approach 2:
A delivery catheter serves as an intermediary device that transports the compressed stent to the target location within the pipe. The catheter enables minimally invasive insertion of the stent through the pipe wall or via access points, avoiding the need to shut down the piping system.
2Reliability
If traditional pipe repair methods are used, then pipe breaks can be repaired, but extensive construction including digging up streets is required
Solution Approach 1:
The repair function is extracted from the traditional external repair approach and moved inside the pipe. The stent is deployed within the pipe lumen to seal breaks from the interior, eliminating the need for external excavation and construction activities.
Solution Approach 2:
The stent employs a flexible, expandable structure that can be compressed into a small profile for insertion and then expanded to seal pipe breaks. This flexible membrane approach allows minimally invasive deployment without requiring extensive construction access.
3Reliability
If the stent spring is in expanded configuration for sealing, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but insertion and navigation through the pipe becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The stent spring transitions dynamically between two states: a compressed, low-profile configuration for insertion and navigation through the delivery catheter, and an expanded, high-stiffness configuration for sealing against the pipe wall. This dynamic transformation allows the stent to adapt its size to different functional requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The stent spring is constructed as a segmented, modular structure with multiple coils or segments that can be compressed together for insertion and then expanded outward for sealing. This segmented design enables the stent to be compact during delivery while providing sufficient radial expansion force when deployed.
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 stent spring, which can be made from various materials including metal and carbon fiber, biases the stent to an expanded configuration for sealing and can be compressed for easy insertion and navigation through the pipe, effectively addressing the challenges of traditional repair methods.
Implementation Method 1
the stent spring can be made from various materials including metal and carbon fiber, biases the stent to an expanded configuration for sealing
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2~3
Figure 4A~4B
AI summary
Example aspects of a stent spring for repairing a pipe and a method for retaining a stent in a compressed configuration is disclosed. The stent spring for repairing a pipe can comprise a substantially tubular mesh structure defining a void, the void defining a central axis, the mesh structure comprising one or more strands, the one or more strands defining a plurality of openings, wherein the stent spring is configurable in an expanded stent spring configuration and a compressed stent spring configuration; and a tab extending radially inward from the mesh structure into the void, the tab defining a tab opening.