Flexible Irrigation Pipe Liner Flange for Leak-Resistant Installation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional pipe liners for irrigation systems are prone to leaks near connections, difficult to transport and install, and undergo significant thermal expansion, causing stress on pipe connections and hastening damage.
Innovation Solution
A pipe liner comprising an elongated flexible conduit with a flexible flange that can be collapsed for easy installation, formed from a waterproof material reinforced with through-tile-weave material, which reduces the likelihood of leaks and thermal expansion stress by being integrated into a single piece and designed for secure connection to rigid flanges and hose barbs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional pipe liners are used, then they can prevent corrosion in irrigation pipes, but they are prone to leaks near connections and difficult to transport and install
Solution Approach 1:
The pipe liner is divided into multiple modular sections that can be easily transported and installed separately, then connected together. This segmentation makes the liner manageable during installation while maintaining continuous corrosion protection, solving both the transport difficulty and leak resistance issues.
Solution Approach 2:
The liner integrates connection features directly into the liner structure itself, merging the sealing function with the structural integrity. This integration eliminates separate connection components that were prone to leaking, while the collapsed configuration allows easy installation through existing pipes.
2Reliability
If conventional pipe liners are used, then they can protect metal pipes from corrosion, but they undergo significant thermal expansion and contraction that induces stress on pipe connections
Solution Approach 1:
The liner material is selected or engineered to have thermal expansion properties that match or closely approximate those of the surrounding metal pipe. By changing the thermal parameter of the liner material, the differential expansion is minimized, reducing stress on connections while maintaining corrosion protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The liner uses composite material construction that combines materials with complementary thermal properties, creating a structure that resists thermal expansion stress. This composite approach allows the liner to maintain corrosion protection while accommodating temperature variations without inducing damaging stresses.
3Reliability
If conventional pipe liners are used, then they can be installed in irrigation systems, but they are difficult to transport and install due to their size and rigidity
Solution Approach 1:
The liner is designed with dynamic properties that allow it to collapse or flex during transport and installation, then expand to its full protective form once installed. This dynamic capability enables easy handling and storage while maintaining the full effectiveness of the protection when in use.
Solution Approach 2:
The liner employs a flexible shell construction that can be collapsed into a compact form for transport and then expanded to provide full corrosion protection. This flexible thin-film approach maintains protection effectiveness while dramatically improving transportability and installation ease.
Data Source
AI summary
A pipe liner for lining a fluid-carrying pipe, the pipe liner comprising an elongated flexible conduit and a flexible flange. The flexible conduit includes an outer wall forming an open-ended central channel for allowing fluids to be pumped therethrough. The flexible flange extends radially from one end of the elongated conduit and includes a number of fastener holes. The flexible conduit and the flexible flange are configured to be collapsed and pulled through the pipe such that the flexible flange can be connected to a rigid flange of the pipe via the fastener holes. The pipe liner is less prone to leak and is easier to transport and install.