Flexible Drill Head for Cured Resin Removal in Conduits
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Solution Overview
Problem
Standard drilling apparatuses are insufficient for reaching deep into service entrances within rehabilitated underground conduits, as the curable resin from the lining can seep and cure deeper than the drill bit can access, leading to blocked or partially clogged entrances and disrupted water supply.
Innovation Solution
A drilling apparatus featuring an elongated flexible appliance connected to a robot, allowing the drill head to extend at least 8 cm deeper into the service entrance, with mechanisms for rotational motion and extension/retraction, including a flexible shaft, hollow tube support, and pressurized fluid systems to facilitate deeper penetration and alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If a standard drill bit is used in the conventional drilling apparatus, then the drilling head can be kept compact and operable within the conduit, but the drill bit cannot reach deep enough into the service entrance to remove resin that has cured deep inside
Solution Approach 1:
The drilling apparatus is divided into modular components: a reusable drilling head assembly and replaceable drill bits of varying lengths. The drill bit can be detached and replaced depending on the depth required, allowing the system to maintain simplicity while achieving greater length when needed. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by enabling long drill bits without permanently increasing the complexity of the entire apparatus.
Solution Approach 2:
The drilling head is designed with movable and adjustable components that allow it to adapt its configuration based on the specific service entrance depth. The drill bit length can be dynamically adjusted or changed, and the drilling head can be repositioned along the service entrance, providing flexibility to reach varying depths without requiring a completely different apparatus for each scenario.
2Length of moving object
If the drilling head is extended deeper into the service entrance to reach cured resin, then the resin can be removed, but the space available inside the underground conduit limits the maximum extension
Solution Approach 1:
The drilling head and drill bit assembly is designed to nest within the conduit's available space when not in use. The compact configuration allows the long drill bit to be stored inside the drilling head housing, which itself fits within the robot platform. During operation, the drill bit extends outward through the service entrance wall, achieving deep penetration while maintaining a compact profile within the conduit during transit and storage.
Solution Approach 2:
The drilling system transitions from a two-dimensional planar operation within the conduit to a three-dimensional operation by extending the drill bit perpendicular to the conduit axis and into the service entrance. This dimensional change allows the drill bit to reach deep into the service entrance (along the perpendicular axis) without requiring proportional increases in the length of components remaining within the conduit's limited volume.
3Length of moving object
If a longer drill bit is installed to remove deep cured resin, then the service entrance can be fully cleared, but the standard drilling head cannot accommodate longer drill bits due to space constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The drilling system is segmented into a standardized drilling head interface and interchangeable drill bits. The drilling head contains a universal mounting mechanism that can accommodate multiple drill bit lengths and types. This segmentation allows the system to maintain a compact, standardized drilling head while providing adaptability through the selection of appropriate drill bit lengths for different service entrance depths.
Solution Approach 2:
The drilling head is designed with universal mounting capabilities that can accept various drill bit configurations. The standardized interface and adjustable positioning mechanisms allow a single drilling head design to perform multiple functions with different drill bits, achieving versatility without requiring multiple specialized drilling heads for different drill bit lengths.
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
Enables effective removal of cured resin deep within service entrances, ensuring full re-establishment of water flow without the need for costly excavation, by extending the drill head's reach and allowing precise alignment and operation.
Implementation Method 1
an elongated flexible appliance connected to the robot; a rotatable drill head connected to the second end of the elongated flexible appliance
Implementation Method 2
pressurized fluid systems to facilitate deeper penetration and alignment
Data Source
AI summary
A drilling apparatus for drilling from inside a conduit having at least one service entrance is described. The drilling apparatus comprises a robot; an elongated flexible appliance having a first end and a second end, the elongated flexible appliance connected to the robot; a rotatable drill head connected to the second end of the elongated flexible appliance; the elongated flexible appliance driven by the robot to extend the rotatable drill head inside the service entrance by at least 8 cm and to retract the rotatable drill head out of the at least one service entrance. The apparatus further comprises means to bend the elongated flexible appliance to orient the drill head connected thereto perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the conduit.