Single-Piece Grinding Device for Pipe Renovation Material Removal

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for removing epoxy resin-impregnated pipe renovation material are slow, consume excessive materials, and generate dust, making it inefficient and costly to disassemble and reline pipes due to failed lining operations.

Innovation Solution

A grinding device with a single-piece body and cutters, designed to rotate within a pipe, allowing efficient removal of pipe renovation material in both forward and transverse directions, utilizing a flexible rotation shaft and pressure-bearing system to minimize damage and enhance removal speed.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of substance

If sanding plates or grinding chains are used to remove pipe renovation material, then the material can be removed, but the removal process is very slow and consumes excessive sanding material

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesanding material consumptionVSAvoidremoval speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of substanceVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the traditional sanding mechanism with a mechanical cutting system using carbide-tipped cutters that physically chop and remove the epoxy resin lining. This substitution of mechanical cutting for abrasive sanding dramatically reduces sanding material consumption while increasing removal speed, as the cutters directly fracture and eject the renovation material rather than gradually wearing it away through friction

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The grinding device employs composite construction with a steel body and carbide-tipped cutters, combining the toughness of steel with the extreme wear resistance of carbide. This composite approach allows the cutters to withstand the high forces required to break through cured epoxy resin while maintaining sharp edges, thereby achieving fast removal speeds without excessive material consumption

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Object-generated harmful factors

If sanding plates or grinding chains are used to remove pipe renovation material, then the material can be removed, but excessive dust is formed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedust formationVSAvoidremoval speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the dust-generating sanding process with a mechanical cutting system that fractures the epoxy resin into larger chips and fragments rather than reducing it to fine dust. The carbide-tipped cutters chop through the renovation material, producing manageable debris that can be more easily contained and removed, thereby reducing harmful dust formation while maintaining high removal speeds

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Ease of operation

If sanding devices are used to remove pipe renovation material, then the material can be removed, but the device is difficult to carry forward in a complex pipe line

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice mobilityVSAvoidremoval speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The grinding device is segmented into a compact modular design with a small-diameter body that can navigate complex pipe geometries and bends. The device's compact form factor allows it to be easily pushed through and repositioned within the pipe system, maintaining ease of operation while the cutting mechanism ensures rapid material removal when engaged

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The device employs a flexible drive shaft mechanism that allows it to navigate bends and complex pipe configurations. The flexible transmission system enables the grinding device to follow the pipe's geometry while maintaining rotational power delivery to the cutters, ensuring both mobility in complex layouts and sustained removal speed

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

4Ease of manufacture

If sanding is used to open pipe walls, then the pipe renovation material can be removed, but the pipe walls require additional cleaning

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning requirementVSAvoidcleaning time
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the sanding process with mechanical cutting that fractures the epoxy resin into discrete chips and fragments. This cutting action produces cleaner pipe walls with larger, more easily removed debris particles rather than fine dust, reducing the time and effort required for subsequent cleaning operations while maintaining efficient material removal

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 grinding device significantly reduces the time and material consumption required for removing pipe renovation material, allowing for faster re-lining attempts without damaging the pipe, thus reducing costs and time associated with pipe renovation.

Implementation Method 1

a grinding device for removing pipe renovation material from a pipe... at least one cutter... for grinding pipe renovation material

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAbrasion: Abrasion

Data Source

PatentEP2780623B1Device and system for removal of pipe renovation material from pipe and use of such a device
Publication Date: 2018.07.25 PICOTE SOLUTIONS OY LTD
  • EP2780623B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2780623B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3

AI summary

The invention discloses a grinding device for removing pipe renovation material from a pipe (38), the grinding device comprising at least one cutter (12, 22, 32), a body (10, 20, 30) and fastening means (14, 16, 24, 26) for fastening the grinding device to a rotation shaft. The grinding device is characterized in that the body (10, 20, 30) and the at least one cutter (12, 22, 32) are accomplished of a single piece for grinding pipe renovation material both in the forward direction of the grinding device and in a direction transverse to the forward direction. In addition, a system for removing pipe renovation material from the pipe (38) and use of the grinding device for removing pipe renovation material from the pipe (38) are disclosed.