Non-Bonding Protective Sock for Underground Pipe Installation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for protecting pipes installed underground through directional drilling and host pipe insertion face challenges such as exposure to lateral hazards, water absorption leading to increased weight and contamination, and premature pipe failure due to corrosion, as well as difficulties in using inflexible high-strength materials for pre-formed hoses.
Innovation Solution
A borehole pipe protection apparatus featuring a sheet of material with a fastening structure to form a non-bonding sock around the pipe, using high-strength materials like long chain polyethylene, ultra-high density polyethylene, aramid, and liquid crystal polymers, which are impermeable to water and contaminants, and can be easily wrapped around the pipe without permanent bonding, allowing for sliding engagement to prevent damage and corrosion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If pre-formed hoses are used to protect pipe during borehole installation, then protection from lateral hazards is provided, but the hoses are water absorbent and difficult to install once water logged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a flexible protective sleeve made from impermeable material that can be easily installed over the pipe. The sleeve maintains flexibility for installation while providing continuous protection against lateral hazards such as rocks and debris in the borehole environment.
2Ease of operation
If flexible hose materials are used for protective sleeves, then ease of installation is improved, but the materials are water absorbent causing pipe corrosion and degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The protective sleeve is constructed from flexible impermeable material that provides continuous protection against water and contaminants. The material flexibility enables easy installation while the impermeability prevents water absorption that would lead to corrosion and degradation of the underlying pipe.
Solution Approach 2:
The sleeve is made from composite or blended impermeable materials that combine flexibility with water and contaminant resistance. This composite construction allows the sleeve to be easily installed while maintaining reliability by preventing corrosion and degradation.
3Strength
If inflexible high-strength materials are used for protective sleeves, then protection strength is improved, but the materials are difficult to wrap around pipe
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs flexible protective sleeves that can be easily wrapped around the pipe during installation. The flexible material provides sufficient protection strength while maintaining ease of installation, eliminating the need for inflexible high-strength materials that would be difficult to wrap.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If hoses are used as protective sleeves, then protection from lateral hazards is provided, but post-installation bonding between pipe, hose, and soil matrix occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible impermeable protective sleeve creates a barrier between the pipe and the surrounding soil matrix, preventing bonding while maintaining protection from lateral hazards. The sleeve's flexibility allows it to conform to the pipe and surrounding environment without creating permanent bonds.
Data Source
AI summary
A borehole pipe protection apparatus includes a sheet of material having an inner surface and an outer surface and a longitudinal direction and a width direction defined by two edges of the sheet along the longitudinal direction. A fastening structure is configured to join the two edges to form a seam as the sheet of material is wrapped in the width direction around a pipe that is configured to be installed into the borehole to form a sock along the longitudinal direction. The sock is configured to be installed in the borehole with the pipe about which it is wrapped, yet to remain for a service life in non-bonding contact with the pipe. A method for protecting pipe during and after insertion into a borehole is also described.