Curved Pipe Repair Patch With Plug for Tight-Access Defects
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for repairing pipes with defects, such as cracks or holes, are often hindered by accessibility issues and the difficulty in installing new sections of pipe, especially when the defective pipe is behind a wall or obstructed.
Innovation Solution
A patching system comprising a curved patch body with a plug that fits into the defect, secured using attachment notches and straps, which allows for secure adhesion without significantly increasing the pipe's diameter, ensuring a seal without obstructing fluid flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a new section of pipe is used to replace the defective section, then the pipe defect is effectively fixed, but accessibility and installation difficulty increase when the pipe is behind a wall or obstructed
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts only the necessary repair function from the traditional pipe replacement method. Instead of removing and replacing the entire defective pipe section, a self-contained patch assembly is applied externally to the pipe surface, containing all repair elements (patch body, plug, adhesive, primers) in a single applicable unit that addresses the defect without requiring pipe section removal
Solution Approach 2:
The patch assembly employs a nested structure where the plug is inserted into the defect cavity within the pipe wall, the patch body is applied over the defect area, and attachment straps are wrapped around the patch body to secure it. This nested arrangement allows multiple functional elements to be contained within a compact external application that does not require internal pipe access
2Strength
If the patch body is made thick to ensure structural strength, then the repair reliability improves, but the pipe diameter increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patch body is designed with non-uniform thickness, being thickest at the center over the defect area and tapering toward the edges. This local quality variation provides maximum structural strength precisely where the defect requires reinforcement, while minimizing the overall thickness and diameter increase of the patched pipe section
Solution Approach 2:
The patch assembly uses composite material construction with the patch body made from materials having high tensile and compressive strength properties. The combination of the patch body material, plug material, and attachment strap material creates a composite repair structure that achieves high strength with minimal thickness
3Reliability
If the plug is made large to ensure complete defect sealing, then the seal reliability improves, but the attachment to the pipe becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The plug is designed with a tapered or stepped geometry that allows progressive insertion into the defect cavity. The varying cross-sectional dimensions along the plug length create a dynamic insertion process where the smaller end enters first, followed by the larger end, facilitating easier attachment while ensuring complete defect sealing when fully inserted
Data Source
AI summary
A patch for a pipe includes a patch body that has an outer surface and an inner surface. The patch body is curved to correspond to the curvature of a pipe that may include a defect that is desired to be sealed. A plug extends from the inner surface of the patch and the plug is configured to fit within the defect while the inner surface of the patch is in contact with an outer diameter of the pipe. The patch is adhered to the pipe using a primer and an adhesive that is applied to the outer diameter of the pipe surrounding the defect, the inner surface of the patch, or to both surfaces. Attachment straps may wrap around the pipe and the patch as the adhesive sets to maintain contact between the pipe and the patch.