Pipe Liner Junction Sealing With Hydrophilic Gaskets
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for repairing damaged pipes, particularly at junctions between main and lateral pipes, face challenges in preventing groundwater infiltration due to difficulties in achieving an adhesive bond between the liner tube and the pipe interior, which can be greasy or oily, and issues with liner shrinkage creating gaps for water entry.
Innovation Solution
The use of hydrophilic seals or impermeable compressible materials, such as hydrophilic gaskets or bands, that swell in response to liquid exposure to form a seal between the liner assembly and the host pipes at the junction, effectively preventing groundwater infiltration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If adhesive bonding is used to attach the liner tube to the pipe interior, then the liner can be secured in place, but the bond fails when the pipe interior is greasy or oily
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a hydrophilic seal as an intermediary component between the liner tube and the pipe interior. This seal acts as a mediator that creates a reliable seal without requiring direct adhesive bonding to the contaminated pipe surface, thereby overcoming the harmful effect of grease and oil contamination.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the chemical adhesive bonding system with a mechanical sealing system using a hydrophilic seal. This mechanical approach substitutes the unreliable chemical bond with a physical seal that prevents groundwater infiltration through mechanical contact and swelling action rather than chemical adhesion.
2Strength
If thermoset resins are used to form the liner, then the liner can be cured and hardened in place, but shrinkage occurs during curing that creates gaps for water infiltration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies beforehand cushioning by positioning the hydrophilic seal in advance at the interface between the liner and pipe interior. This seal预先 compensates for the shrinkage that will occur during resin curing, maintaining continuous contact and preventing gap formation that would allow water infiltration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes parameter changes by employing a hydrophilic seal that changes its physical properties (swells) in response to moisture exposure. This parameter change allows the seal to compensate for dimensional changes in the resin liner during curing, maintaining seal integrity despite the liner's shrinkage.
3Ease of manufacture
If high pressure water jetting is performed to clean the pipe interior, then grease and oil can be removed to some extent, but washing is only partial and not reliable
Solution Approach 1:
The hydrophilic seal serves as an intermediary that eliminates the need for reliable surface cleaning. By introducing this intermediate sealing component, the system no longer depends on the quality of surface preparation, allowing simple water jetting to suffice without requiring thorough grease and oil removal for bond success.
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
This solution provides a reliable and durable method to prevent groundwater entry into the pipe system by creating a watertight seal at the junctions between main and lateral pipes, even in applications where the pipe interior is greasy or oily, and reduces the risk of liner shrinkage-related gaps.
Implementation Method 1
The gasket is made of a hydrophilic material capable of swelling in response to being exposed to water or other liquid
Implementation Method 2
Exposing the hydrophilic bands to water or other liquid causes them to swell, thereby creating the desired seal
Data Source
AI summary
A liner tube is provided for repairing either a single pipe line or a main pipe line having a lateral pipe line connected thereto. The liner tube assembly includes a liner tube impregnated with a liquid material capable of curing and hardening. The liner tube includes a gasket or band of hydrophilic paste positioned about the juncture of the pipe lines. The gasket or bands form a tight seal between the liner tube and the pipe line.