Elastic Pipe Lining Material for Varying Pipeline Diameters
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pipeline-lining materials face challenges in managing elasticity, which can lead to bursting and excessive lengthening during installation, making them difficult to manage in pipelines with varying diameters and branches.
Innovation Solution
A pipe-lining material with an elastic circular-knit structure that contracts less than prior art materials, allowing for reduced elasticity and increased burst resistance, featuring a circular-knit material knitted under pre-tension to a relaxed diameter within +/-10% of the smallest nominal width, and an elastically extensible film tube for improved manageability and fit in pipelines.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the circular-knit material is knitted under high pre-tension to achieve a smaller relaxed diameter, then the material contracts less and provides better manageability, but the material loses elasticity and cannot expand sufficiently to cover larger pipeline widths
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by precisely controlling the pre-tension force during knitting to achieve an optimal balance. The pre-tension is set within a specific range (0.5-2.0 cN per yarn) that allows the material to contract sufficiently for manageability while retaining enough elasticity for expansion. This quantitative parameter optimization resolves the contradiction between manageability and expansion capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite materials by combining circular-knit fabric with elastic fibers (such as spandex or elastane) mixed with conventional fibers. This composite structure provides both the contractibility needed for manageability and the elastic recovery needed for expansion. The elastic fibers act as energy storage elements that enable the material to expand to cover larger pipeline widths after being compressed during installation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the material is made highly elastic to cover a range of pipeline widths, then the material can expand to fit larger diameters, but the material risks bursting and becomes difficult to manage during installation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent controls the elastic properties by adjusting the pre-tension parameter during knitting and the elastic fiber content within optimal ranges. This prevents excessive elasticity that would lead to bursting while ensuring sufficient elasticity for width adaptation. The controlled parameter optimization maintains reliability during installation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-compressing the material through controlled contraction during installation before it is inflated to the final expanded state. This sequential process allows the material to be managed in a compact, controlled state first, then expanded to the required size, reducing the risk of bursting during handling and installation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the material contracts significantly from its knitting diameter to the smallest pipeline width, then the material can fit smaller pipelines, but the material stretches excessively into branches during installation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the contraction ratio by adjusting the pre-tension parameter and knitting diameter to achieve a balanced contraction that fits smaller pipelines without excessive lengthening. This controlled parameter adjustment prevents the material from stretching too far into branches during installation, improving installation control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by pre-compressing the material to a controlled contracted state before installation, which counteracts the tendency to over-stretch during the inflation process. This preliminary compression ensures that when the material is inflated, it expands to the required size without excessive stretching into branches, maintaining installation control.
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 material ensures better manageability and increased burst resistance, allowing for seamless installation in pipelines with varying diameters and branches, while maintaining sufficient extensibility for navigation through bends and transitions.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic circular-knit material knitted under pre-tension such that, after knitting, it contracts to a relaxed diameter of +/−10% of the smallest predefined nominal pipeline width
Implementation Method 2
the pipe-lining material is at least 50% widenable in the transverse direction at a pressure of not more than 0.7 bar
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a pipeline lining material for use for at least two, preferably three, predefined pipeline nominal widths, comprising an elastic round knitted material, which is knitted under pretension so as to contract to an untensioned diameter of +/−10% of the smallest predefined pipeline nominal width after being knitted, and comprising an elastically flexible film tube arranged around the round knitted material. The pipe lining material can be expanded by at least 50% in the transverse direction under a pressure of maximally 0.7 bar, at which the untensioned round knitted material maximally has a diameter that is reduced by 55% compared to the round knitted material under pretension.