Rectangular Pipe Rehabilitation Segments with Inclined Spacers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pipe rehabilitation methods are inefficient and costly when dealing with curved portions of pipes, as they require custom arc-shaped segments or diameter expanders that do not effectively match varying curvatures, leading to suboptimal space utilization and increased costs.
Innovation Solution
A method using rectangular parallelepiped segments with a spacer interposed between end plates to link segments in the circumferential direction, allowing for effective rehabilitation of curved pipe portions by adjusting the spacer's inclination to match the pipe's curvature, thereby creating a rehabilitation pipe that fits closely and cost-effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If custom arc-shaped segments are manufactured to match every different curvature of existing pipes, then the rehabilitation precision and fit quality improve, but manufacturing costs and device complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the curved pipe rehabilitation problem into two independent components: standardized rectangular segments and adjustable spacers. The rectangular segments remain uniform in shape, while the spacers are adjusted to achieve the desired curvature. This segmentation allows standardization of segments while accommodating various curvatures through spacer adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The spacer acts as an intermediary element between standardized rectangular segments to achieve curvature adaptation. Instead of making each segment custom-shaped, the spacer mediates the spacing and angular relationship between segments, enabling curvature matching without complex custom segment manufacturing.
2Ease of manufacture
If standardized arc-shaped segments with approximate curvature are used for curved pipes, then manufacturing costs decrease, but space variation increases and fit quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The spacer is designed with adjustable properties, allowing its dimensions and orientation to be dynamically modified to match different curvatures. This dynamic adjustment capability enables standardized segments to achieve precise curvature fitting without requiring custom manufacturing for each curvature case.
3Adaptability or versatility
If diameter expanders are used to link segments in curved pipe rehabilitation, then curvature adaptation is possible, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using complex diameter expanders, the invention uses simple spacer elements that copy the functional effect of curvature adaptation. The spacer replicates the curvature-matching capability without requiring the complex expanding mechanism, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining adaptability.
Data Source
AI summary
An existing pipe that is to be rehabilitated has concavely curved portions and straight portions as viewed in cross-section orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the existing pipe. For pipe rehabilitation at the curved portion of the existing pipe, a plurality of rectangular parallelepiped segments whose inner surface plate, side plates and end plates are all rectangular are used. A spacer is interposed between the end plates of the rectangular parallelepiped segments. The spacer has first and second contact surfaces that are inclined relative to each other and come into contact with the end plates of the rectangular parallelepiped segments when they are linked in the circumferential direction.