Heated Fluid Curing Cap for Pipe Liner Resin Acceleration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for repairing buried pipes using tubular liners impregnated with curable resin require curing times ranging from three to eight hours, which is inefficient and dependent on ambient temperatures.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus comprising a curing cap with a flexible curing tube that uses heated fluid to accelerate the curing process, including a manifold for fluid communication with a heated source and a drainage system to manage pressure and temperature, allowing the heated fluid to flow through perforations into the liner tube to expedite resin curing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the bladder remains inflated until the resin cures using ambient temperature, then the liner is properly cured, but the curing time ranges from three to eight hours which is inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by introducing heated fluid to change the temperature parameter of the curing environment. The manifold system delivers heated fluid through the liner to the resin, raising the temperature from ambient levels to accelerated curing temperatures, thereby reducing curing time from 3-8 hours to a significantly shorter duration while maintaining complete curing
2Loss of time
If heated fluid is introduced to accelerate curing, then curing time is reduced, but the device complexity increases with manifold and fluid delivery system
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing the manifold system to perform multiple functions: it distributes heated fluid throughout the liner, maintains pressure on the resin-coated surface, and facilitates heat transfer to the resin. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate systems for each operation, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while achieving accelerated curing
3Loss of time
If heated fluid flows through the liner to cure resin, then curing is accelerated, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by using the inflated bladder itself as the heat transfer medium. The bladder that is already present in the system to apply pressure to the resin is also used to convey heated fluid and transfer heat to the resin. This eliminates the need for separate heating elements or external heat sources, thereby reducing energy consumption while achieving accelerated curing
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
Significantly reduces resin curing time, allowing for faster pipe repair operations regardless of ambient temperatures, by conducting heat through the inflatable bladder or plastic liner layer to act as a catalyst for the resin.
Implementation Method 1
During curing operations, the heated fluid flows through the flexible tube and exits, through said perforations, into the interior of an inverted liner tube
Implementation Method 2
by conducting heat through the inflatable bladder or plastic liner layer to act as a catalyst for the resin
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus and method that accelerates curing of resin in a liner for a buried pipe includes an air inversion unit connected to an air compressor. The apparatus include a curing cap having an inflation port, a curing port and a drainage port. A remote source of pressurized fluid is placed in fluid communication with the inflation port. The apparatus also includes a manifold having an outlet, a first inlet in valved fluid communication with a heated fluid source, a second inlet in valved fluid communication with a pressurized fluid source and a third inlet in valved fluid communication with the drainage port. A flexible tube is slidably received by the curing port while maintaining a substantially fluid-tight seal. The flexible tube has a first end in fluid communication with the outlet of the manifold and the second end has a substantially spherical guide thereon. The second end of the flexible tube also includes a plurality of perforations to allow fluids to pass there through.