Flexible Hose Wrap for Broken Pipe Water Containment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Construction and demolition activities pose a risk of water damage due to leaks from pipes or sprinkler systems, which can be catastrophic if not promptly addressed, as traditional shut-off methods may fail or be inaccessible.
Innovation Solution
A flexible fire hose with a modified proximal end that can be folded away from the intermediate portion and formed into a tubular structure, allowing it to engage broken pipes, diverting water to a safe disposal location, and equipped with tools for immediate containment and shut-off.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional shut-off valve is used to stop water flow, then water damage can be prevented, but the valve may fail or be inaccessible during construction/demolition activities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary device (flexible containment tube) between the water source and the damaged area. This tube can be inserted into the water flow path and sealed to stop leakage without requiring access to the original shut-off valve, thus providing a reliable backup method when valves are inaccessible or fail.
Solution Approach 2:
The containment tube is designed as a simple, inexpensive, single-use device that can be quickly deployed and discarded after use. This eliminates the need for complex, expensive, or durable valve systems while providing sufficient reliability for emergency water stoppage during construction activities.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a flexible hose with modified proximal end is used to contain water leaks, then water can be diverted to safe locations, but the device complexity increases compared to traditional valves
Solution Approach 1:
The proximal end of the hose is designed to be dynamically reconfigurable, transitioning from a non-tubular spread-apart state for insertion to a tubular wrapped state for sealing. This dynamic transformation allows the same structure to serve multiple functions (insertion, sealing, and water diversion) without requiring multiple separate components, thus managing complexity while maintaining versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The hose utilizes flexible material properties to create a shell that can conform to various pipe geometries and orientations (horizontal and vertical). The flexibility allows the hose to adapt to different leak locations and configurations without requiring rigid structural modifications, achieving versatility through material properties rather than complex mechanical designs.
3Ease of operation
If the proximal end portion is made non-tubular and spread apart for insertion, then engagement with broken pipes is facilitated, but the structural integrity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The proximal end portion is designed with dynamic structural properties, remaining non-tubular and spread apart during insertion to facilitate easy engagement with broken pipes. Once positioned, the structure transitions to a wrapped tubular configuration that restores structural integrity and sealing capability. This dynamic transformation resolves the contradiction between ease of insertion and structural strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The hose is segmented into distinct functional portions: the proximal end portion for insertion and engagement, the intermediate tubular portion for water containment, and the distal end for discharge. This segmentation allows the proximal end to be optimized for ease of engagement (non-tubular, spread apart) while the overall structure maintains strength through the integrated tubular sections.
Data Source
AI summary
A piece having a proximal end portion, an intermediate portion, and a distal end portion, where the portions are flexible, where the portions are integral with each other, where the intermediate and distal end portions are tubular, where the proximal end portion in a first state is non-tubular, in a second state is foldable away from the intermediate portion, and in a third state is tubular with an axis transverse to an axis of the intermediate portion. The piece may be carried in a case having pipe caps, pipe plugs, pipe cutting tools, a pipe freezing chemical/foam sleeve combination, a pair of pliers, a roll of tape, zip ties, and a hose end sacrificial closure.