Expandable Pipe Liner With Grooved Grout Placement for Conduit Repair
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for repairing damaged conduits, such as using grout materials, are costly and inefficient due to uneven material distribution and difficulty in filling all cracks, with existing expandable pipe solutions providing limited control over grout placement and expansion.
Innovation Solution
An expandable pipe with a polymer-based or elastomer-based liner featuring grooves for controlled grout placement, where a polyurethane and fiber grout material expands upon exposure to moisture, UV radiation, heat, or ultrasonics to fill voids and cracks within the conduit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If grout material is pumped into the annular space to repair metal conduit, then the conduit cracks are filled, but the grout material is disposed unevenly and does not fill all cracks
Solution Approach 1:
The liner is divided into multiple segments with grooves that compartmentalize the grout material placement, ensuring uniform distribution and complete crack filling along the conduit length
Solution Approach 2:
The grooves are pre-formed on the liner surface before grout application, establishing predetermined pathways that control grout flow and placement uniformity throughout the repair process
2Manufacturing precision
If an expandable pipe with grooves is used for grout placement, then grout distribution is controlled, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The liner is constructed as a flexible thin-walled structure that can be easily manufactured with integrated grooves, minimizing structural complexity while maintaining grout placement control
Solution Approach 2:
The liner combines flexible material properties with integrated groove features, achieving controlled grout placement through a relatively simple composite structure that balances functionality and complexity
3Ease of operation
If the liner is made expandable for convenient transportation, then the pipe can be folded, but the structural integrity may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The liner transitions from a flexible, foldable state during transportation to a rigid, structurally intact state when expanded and installed, dynamically adapting its mechanical properties to different operational phases
Solution Approach 2:
The liner's physical state changes from compressed and folded during transport to expanded and structurally stable during installation, with material parameters adjusting to maintain integrity throughout the process
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 solution provides a cost-effective and efficient method for restoring conduits by ensuring uniform grout distribution and expansion, effectively sealing and restoring the conduit's integrity while preventing water and debris entry.
Implementation Method 1
the grout material is expandable in a dimension upon exposure to moisture, ultra violet radiation, heat, and/or ultrasonics
Implementation Method 2
the grout material is expandable in a dimension upon exposure to moisture, ultra violet radiation, heat, and/or ultrasonics
Data Source
AI summary
An expandable pipe for restoring a damaged pipe is provided. The expandable pipe includes a liner formed of thermoplastic polyurethane, and grout material applied to the exterior surface of the liner. The exterior surface includes a plurality of flared tips and grooves, and each groove is located between adjacent flared tips. The grout material is disposed on the flared tips and in the grooves of the liner. The method used to restore the damaged pipe includes clamping the liner with the grout material on a puller-sealer fixture having a U-shaped cross-section to prevent debris from entering the interior of the liner, and pulling the puller-sealer fixture and liner through the damaged pipe. The grout material expands in volume upon exposure to moisture, ultra violet radiation, heat, and/or ultrasonics, and fills cracks or other imperfections and voids along the interior surface of the conduit, caused by corrosion, erosion, or other circumstances.