Pipe Lining Alignment Body for Junction Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pipeline rehabilitation devices face challenges in reliably transporting and positioning pipe linings at the junction of building service lines, leading to potential deformations and unsealed connections due to misalignment during the curing process.
Innovation Solution
A device featuring an alignment body with complementary contours to the building service line junction, combined with an inflatable sleeve and spring-mounted contact fingers, ensures precise alignment and secure positioning of the pipe lining, utilizing a pneumatic motor for transportation and a heating element to accelerate curing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the hose-shaped lining section is transported through the main line to the junction region, then the pipe lining can be positioned at the building service line junction, but misalignment occurs leading to deformations and unsealed connections
Solution Approach 1:
The alignment body is moved into the junction of the building service line before the final positioning of the pipe lining. This preliminary action establishes a reference position that ensures the pipe lining will be aligned exactly with the axis of the building service line, preventing misalignment during subsequent positioning operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The alignment body acts as an intermediary element between the transport means and the pipe lining. It provides a mechanical reference that mediates the positioning process, ensuring that the hose-shaped lining section is correctly oriented and aligned with the junction axis before the pipe lining is finalized.
2Ease of operation
If the pipe lining is shifted or rotated during transport, then positioning flexibility is achieved, but the hose-shaped cylindrical section is not reliably inverted causing permanent deformations
Solution Approach 1:
The alignment body is positioned in advance at the junction, creating a fixed reference point. This preliminary positioning constrains subsequent movements, ensuring that any adjustments made during transport do not compromise the final alignment precision of the pipe lining with the building service line axis.
Solution Approach 2:
The alignment body's complementary contours to the inner contours of the building service line junction enable self-alignment. When the alignment body is moved into the junction, the geometric complementarity automatically guides it into the correct position, eliminating the need for complex external alignment mechanisms.
3Loss of time
If electrical heating elements are used to accelerate curing, then curing time is reduced, but the risk of electrical sparks in potentially explosive environments increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pneumatic motor replaces electrical motors for transporting the alignment body and positioning the pipe lining. This substitution eliminates electrical components that could generate sparks in potentially explosive environments, while maintaining the functionality of mechanical actuation through pneumatic pressure.
Solution Approach 2:
The curing process uses alternative heating methods that do not involve electrical elements. By changing the heating parameter from electrical to non-electrical (such as chemical heating or external thermal sources), the curing time can be reduced without introducing spark hazards in explosive atmospheres.
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 solution enables reliable, precise alignment and secure bonding of pipe linings at the junction, preventing deformations and ensuring a watertight seal, while eliminating the risk of electrical sparks in potentially explosive environments by using a pneumatic motor.
Implementation Method 1
the drive for moving the alignment body into the junction of the building service line
Implementation Method 2
it can have spring-mounted or telescoping contact fingers, which guarantee a centered arrangement of the alignment body within the building service line
Implementation Method 3
utilizing a pneumatic motor for transportation and a heating element to accelerate curing
Data Source
AI summary
A device and method for rehabilitating pipe connections is disclosed that simplifies the reliable transportation and positioning of a pipe lining relative to a junction region of a building service line to be lined. The device and method provides for rehabilitating the junction of a building connection from a main pipeline into the building service line. With a positioning mechanism, a curable pipe lining may be positioned at the junction of the building service line from the main line and, with a transport mechanism, the positioning mechanism and the pipe lining may be transported to the junction. An alignment body may be arranged so that it may move the transport mechanism and which can be moved into the junction of the building service line. A drive may move the alignment body into the junction of the building service line.