Flow-Through Sewer Plug for CIPP Lining Without Service Backup
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current CIPP technology for pipe repair often results in suboptimal quality due to emphasis on speed and cost, leading to issues like emissions backflowing into buildings and potential flooding during pipe rehabilitation, which can affect occupant health and safety.
Innovation Solution
A flow-through plug system that allows for sewage to be evacuated from a blocked pipe, using a plug with a fluid source to expand and block flow, connected to an extension conduit for evacuation and an alert system to manage backflow and flooding, ensuring safety and maintaining service during pipe repair.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a plug is inserted to block flow into the main pipe during CIPP repair, then the pipe system can be repaired, but sewage flow is interrupted causing backup and potential flooding into residences
Solution Approach 1:
The plug is segmented into multiple functional zones: an inflation zone with expandable bladder for blocking, a flow-through conduit zone for maintaining sewage flow, and an evacuation zone with suction capability. This segmentation allows the single plug device to simultaneously achieve flow blocking for repair quality while maintaining service continuity through the flow-through pathway.
Solution Approach 2:
The flow-through conduit acts as an intermediary pathway between the blocked section and the evacuation system. It mediates between the need to block sewage flow for repair purposes and the need to maintain continuous service, providing a controlled alternative route for sewage to pass through while the main pipe is being repaired.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If a plug is inserted to block flow during CIPP repair, then emissions can be contained, but CIPP emissions may still migrate up service pipes and enter residences
Solution Approach 1:
The flow-through conduit serves as an intermediary channel that provides a controlled pathway for emissions to escape through the plug assembly rather than migrating up the service pipe into the residence. The evacuation system connected to this conduit actively draws emissions through the conduit and away from the building, mediating between the emissions source and the protected space.
Solution Approach 2:
The evacuation system uses pneumatic principles (vacuum/suction) to actively draw CIPP emissions through the flow-through conduit and away from the residence. This pneumatic control prevents emissions from migrating up the service pipe by creating a pressure gradient that directs emissions through the controlled evacuation pathway instead.
3Reliability
If traditional CIPP method is used with complete flow blocking, then pipe rehabilitation can be performed, but occupant health and safety are compromised due to backflow and flooding risks
Solution Approach 1:
The plug device is segmented into functional zones including a flow-through conduit that maintains a safe pathway for sewage flow during rehabilitation. This segmentation ensures that pipe rehabilitation can proceed with proper flow blocking while occupant safety is maintained through continuous controlled flow and active evacuation capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The alert system provides feedback about the plug's operational status and flow conditions to building occupants and repair personnel. This feedback mechanism ensures occupant safety by notifying them of the plug's presence and operational state, preventing misuse of the sewer system during repair while maintaining safe flow conditions.
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 flow-through plug system effectively mitigates emissions and backflow, maintaining sewer service and protecting occupant health while allowing for the rehabilitation of pipes without interrupting service, thus improving the quality and safety of pipe repair processes.
Implementation Method 1
a fluid source operatively connected to the plug to expand the plug in the pipe
Data Source
AI summary
During rehabilitation of a pipe system, such as one or more pipes of a sewer pipe system, a cleanout provides access the pipe system. The cleanout is used to plug an upstream portion of the pipe system and to allow for access to monitor the rehabilitation of the system, which may utilize CIPP repair. The plug includes a flow-through portion to allow for the removal of sewage in the blocked or plugged pipe, which allows for the continued use of the sewage system via a house, residence, or other structure connected to the sewer pipe system. An alert can be used as well to allow for the selective removal of sewage via the flow through plug and an associated removal pipe.