Pleated Containment Sleeve for High-Pressure Pipe Ruptures
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Solution Overview
Problem
High-pressure piping systems, particularly those used in concrete pumping, are prone to catastrophic failures at pipe bends due to wear and obstructions, leading to unpredictable ejections of pressurized material that pose hazards to people and property.
Innovation Solution
A pliable, seam-free containment sleeve made of high-strength, lightweight, semi-permeable fabric with pleats and breakaway stitching is designed to wrap around pipes and couplings, expanding to arrest the energy of a pipe rupture and contain the ejected material, using ballistic nylon for durability and gas permeability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a pipe or joint ruptures under high pressure, then pressurized material is ejected at high velocity, but this creates hazards to people and property
Solution Approach 1:
A containment sleeve is introduced as an intermediary component between the pipe system and the surrounding environment. The sleeve wraps around the pipe or coupling and contains any ejected pressurized material, preventing it from reaching people and property while allowing the pipe system to operate at high pressure
Solution Approach 2:
The containment sleeve is installed beforehand on the pipe or coupling to provide protective cushioning. When a rupture occurs, the sleeve is already in place to absorb and contain the ejected material, mitigating the harmful effects before they can affect people or property
2Strength
If the containment sleeve is made of high-strength fabric, then it can contain high-pressure ejections, but this increases the weight of the sleeve
Solution Approach 1:
The containment sleeve is made from composite materials that combine high strength with lightweight properties. Specifically, ballistic nylon fabric is used, which provides the necessary strength to contain high-pressure concrete ejections while remaining relatively lightweight for easy handling and installation
3Reliability
If the containment sleeve is made seam-free, then it improves durability and containment effectiveness, but this increases manufacturing complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The containment sleeve is constructed as a seamless flexible shell from ballistic nylon fabric. This seamless construction eliminates potential weak points where seams could fail, improving reliability and containment effectiveness while the flexible nature of the fabric allows for relatively simple manufacturing processes
Data Source
AI summary
A containment sleeve for use with a pressurized piping system including a pliable fabric sheet having first and second opposing longitudinal edges, first and second opposing transverse edges, and first and second opposing major surfaces respectively defining an interior and exterior surfaces. At least one pleat extends between the first and second transverse edges, the pleat being in a normally closed position to define the interior surface with a first surface area. The sheet of pliable fabric to secure about a portion of a pressurized piping system with the interior major surface facing the pipe so as to form a sleeve having an initial interior volume there about. In response to a rupture of the pressurized piping system within the interior volume, the pleat to expand to an open position to expand the interior surface to a second surface area to increase the interior volume from the initial volume.