Heated Rehabilitation Packer for Faster Pipe Repair Curing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pipe rehabilitation methods require a lengthy hardening time for repair materials, which can be prolonged by construction site temperatures, hindering efficient repair processes.
Innovation Solution
A rehabilitation packer with an elastic base body that can be expanded by a free-flowing medium and equipped with a heating device to accelerate the hardening process, using a flowable medium to heat the packer and discharge it directly into the pipe for rapid curing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If rehabilitation material is applied to repair damaged pipes, then the pipe structure is restored, but the hardening time is prolonged under construction site temperatures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies temperature as a controllable parameter to accelerate the hardening process. By integrating a heating device that circulates heated medium through the rehabilitation packer, the temperature of the rehabilitation material is increased, which directly reduces the hardening time while maintaining repair quality. This resolves the contradiction by changing the thermal parameter of the system.
2Productivity
If heating device is added to reduce hardening time, then the repair efficiency is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heating medium circulation system serves multiple functions: it heats the rehabilitation material to accelerate hardening, provides hydraulic pressure for packer expansion, and facilitates material distribution. By making the fluid system multi-functional, the patent avoids adding separate complex heating infrastructure, thus improving productivity without proportionally increasing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating device is integrated into the existing packer structure by incorporating heating channels within the packer body itself. The heating medium flows through these embedded channels, combining the heating function with the structural framework of the packer. This merging approach adds heating capability while minimizing the increase in overall device complexity.
3Speed
If heated medium is circulated through the packer, then the hardening speed is increased, but the energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heating medium circulates continuously through the packer during the entire rehabilitation material application and hardening process. This continuous circulation ensures uniform and sustained heating, preventing cold spots and ensuring consistent hardening speed throughout the material, which optimizes energy utilization by maintaining the required temperature without interruptions or re-heating cycles.
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 the hardening time of rehabilitation materials by using heated flowable media within the packer, allowing for quicker and more efficient pipe repairs, even in curved or complex pipe structures.
Implementation Method 1
a flowable and in particular a heated flowable medium is supplied to the rehabilitation packer in order to heat it up
Implementation Method 2
a heating device is provided in order to heat at least one section of the renovation packer
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
A rehabilitation packer (1) for the at least partial rehabilitation of elements and in particular pipes, with an elastic base body (2) which can be expanded at least in sections by being acted upon by a fluid medium, and with a heating device (4) for at least one section of the rehabilitation packer (1) to heat, the heating device (4) having a feed connection (8) in order to feed a flowable medium to the rehabilitation packer to heat it. According to the invention, the rehabilitation packer (1) has an outlet opening (6) in order to let the free-flowing medium out of the rehabilitation packer.