Semi-Rigid Pipe Coupling for Lead Pipe Bypass Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing underground pipes, particularly those made of lead, pose a contamination risk due to deterioration and are difficult and costly to replace, requiring excavation that can damage infrastructure and pose safety hazards.
Innovation Solution
A semi-rigid pipe system with coupling assemblies is used to bypass existing pipes, forming a fluid-tight seal and allowing fluid flow without excavation, using flexible tubes and coupling assemblies to connect to existing pipes, including those with flared or threaded ends.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional pipe replacement methods are used, then contaminated pipes can be replaced, but excavation is required which damages infrastructure and poses safety hazards
Solution Approach 1:
The new pipe is inserted inside the existing contaminated pipe, creating a nested configuration where the replacement pipe runs through the old pipe. This allows contamination prevention without requiring excavation or removal of the existing pipe infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
Coupling assemblies serve as intermediary components that connect the new pipe to the existing pipe system. These couplings enable the transition from old to new infrastructure without direct contact between replacement workers and contaminated materials, reducing safety hazards.
2Reliability
If traditional pipe replacement is performed, then functional requirements are met, but the process is difficult and costly requiring excavation
Solution Approach 1:
The new pipe is pulled through the existing pipe from one end to the other, eliminating the need for excavation. This nested installation method dramatically reduces installation complexity and cost while maintaining full functionality of the pipe system.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling assemblies extract the connection function from the traditional excavation-based replacement process. By using removable couplings that connect the new pipe to existing fittings, the system achieves full functionality without the costly and complex excavation process.
3Reliability
If coupling assemblies are used to connect the new pipe, then fluid-tight sealing is achieved, but the coupling structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling assemblies incorporate flexible sealing elements and thin film barriers that conform to the pipe surfaces, creating fluid-tight seals without requiring complex rigid structures. The flexibility of these sealing components adapts to slight variations in pipe dimensions while maintaining seal integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling assemblies act as intermediary components that bridge the new pipe and existing pipe system. While they add structural elements, these intermediaries simplify the overall connection process by providing standardized, pre-fabricated coupling mechanisms rather than requiring custom field installations.
4Ease of operation
If the semi-rigid pipe is made flexible to navigate existing pipe routes, then installation without excavation is enabled, but the pipe structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The semi-rigid pipe uses a flexible shell construction that allows it to bend and navigate existing pipe routes without excavation. This flexible structure maintains sufficient rigidity to maintain its shape during installation while being pliable enough to follow the contours of the existing pipe pathway.
Solution Approach 2:
The pipe structure utilizes parameter changes in material properties, transitioning from completely rigid to semi-rigid flexible construction. This parameter change enables the pipe to be installed through existing routes while maintaining the structural integrity needed for fluid conveyance under pressure.
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 system provides a cost-effective and minimally invasive method to replace contaminated pipes, ensuring clean water supply while minimizing disruption and environmental impact.
Implementation Method 1
a nipple with a first outer diameter and configured to receive by friction-tight fit and be disposed inside the semi-rigid pipe
Implementation Method 2
an inner surface that tapers inward from the compression nut distal end to the compression nut proximal end such that threading the compression nut onto the coupling presses the semi-rigid pipe against the nipple to form a fluid-tight seal
Implementation Method 3
each coupling assembly disposed over and sealingly coupled to a respective one of the first end and the second end of the semi-rigid pipe
Data Source
AI summary
A method and a system which includes a semi-rigid pipe (SRP) disposed inside a first existing pipe and two coupling assemblies disposed over and sealingly coupled to the ends of the SRP. Each assembly includes: a coupling with a nipple configured to receive and be disposed inside the SRP; and a compression nut that includes an inner surface that tapers inward such that threading the compression nut onto the coupling presses the semi-rigid pipe against the nipple to form a fluid-tight seal. Also disclosed is a supersystem comprising a plurality of such systems.