Detectable Annular Joint Liner for Precise Sewer Pipe Cutting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing underground pipe repair methods, particularly for sewer systems, are costly and disruptive due to the damage incurred during the curing and cutting processes of liners in trenchless repair techniques, which affect the joint between service and branch pipes.
Innovation Solution
A T-shaped joint liner with an annular body having a physical characteristic, such as ferromagnetic material or RFID tags, is used in conjunction with a robot device equipped with a cutting tool and processor to precisely locate and cut the liner in the service pipe, minimizing damage and enabling trenchless repair.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a new liner is applied to the service sewer pipe and the joint portion is damaged during curing and cutting operations, then the liner application process can be completed, but the joint portion of the liner is damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the liner into separate segments: a service pipe liner and a branch pipe liner, with the branch pipe liner pre-installed and protected before service pipe liner application. This segmentation allows the service pipe liner to be cured and cut without damaging the joint portion, as the branch pipe liner acts as a protective barrier during these operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The branch pipe liner is installed and cured before the service pipe liner is applied. This preliminary action ensures that the joint portion is already sealed and protected when the service pipe liner undergoes curing and cutting operations, preventing damage to the joint portion during these subsequent processes.
2Reliability
If traditional excavation methods are used to replace branch and service sewer pipes, then the pipes can be fully replaced, but the process is very expensive and disruptive to property owners
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces traditional mechanical excavation and pipe replacement systems with a trenchless relining system. Instead of physically digging up and removing old pipes, the system uses inflatable liners that are inserted into the existing pipes, inflated to conform to the pipe interior, and cured to create new structural liners, thereby eliminating the need for disruptive excavation operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses flexible inflatable liner materials that can be inserted into existing pipes in a compressed state, then inflated to expand and conform to the pipe interior. These thin film liners provide structural reinforcement and sealing without requiring removal of the original pipe structure, enabling repair through the existing pipe pathway.
3Reliability
If the joint portion of the liner is protected during service pipe liner application, then the joint portion integrity is maintained, but the process complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the protection function into the structural design of the branch pipe liner itself. The branch pipe liner is designed to extend into the joint region and serve dual purposes: sealing the branch pipe connection and protecting the joint portion during service pipe liner operations. This integration eliminates the need for separate protective measures, reducing overall process complexity while maintaining joint integrity.
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
This solution allows for precise and non-destructive trenchless repair of sewer pipe joints, reducing costs and disruption by accurately positioning the cutting tool within the pipe system, thereby protecting the liner and ensuring effective sealing.
Implementation Method 1
the physical characteristic may comprise a ferromagnetic characteristic, and the annular body may comprise a magnetic material
Implementation Method 2
the physical characteristic may comprise a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag carried by the annular body
Data Source
AI summary
An underground pipe repair device is for a joint between a service pipe and a branch pipe. The underground pipe repair device may include a T-shaped joint liner having a base portion extending laterally in the service pipe, and an arm portion extending vertically into the branch pipe, the base portion including a first base surface facing the service pipe, and a second base surface opposite the first base surface. The underground pipe repair device may include an annular body aligned with an opening for the branch pipe and coupled to the second base surface of the T-shaped joint liner. The annular body may have a physical characteristic to be detected by a robot device within the service pipe.