Reusable Injection Tool Sealing Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing injection tools in the mining industry are disposable, prone to human error due to hand-tightening, not reusable, and result in high material transportation costs and safety risks due to high injection pressures and adherence of hardened material, making it difficult to reopen boreholes for incomplete sealing.
Innovation Solution
A reusable injection tool with a power-tool-actuated sealing mechanism using adjustable length pipes and a nose piece with a valve at the second end to allow for secure, fast, and reliable sealing and easy removal, featuring multiple sealing rubbers and optional spikes for enhanced attachment, enabling multiple uses without the need for separate parts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If hand-tightening is used to secure the injection tool to the borehole, then the tool can be installed, but human errors increase and safety risks arise due to high injection pressures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical tightening system with a power-tool-actuated tightening mechanism. The nose piece includes a valve that is hand-tightened initially, then a power tool is used to actuate the tightening mechanism, which secures the sealing rubbers against the borehole wall with consistent, high torque. This substitution eliminates human error while maintaining operational simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The injection tool is designed to tighten itself through a power-tool-actuated mechanism. After initial positioning, the power tool automatically actuates the tightening system that secures the sealing elements to the borehole wall, reducing the need for manual intervention and improving reliability through automated, consistent tightening.
2Ease of manufacture
If disposable injection tools are used, then each borehole can be sealed, but material transportation costs increase and environmental impact worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a reusable injection tool design where the tool is removed from the borehole after injection. The valve mechanism allows the tool to be detached, cleaned of hardened injection material, and reused for subsequent boreholes. This recovery and reuse process eliminates the need for continuous manufacturing and transportation of disposable tools, reducing material consumption and environmental impact.
Solution Approach 2:
The injection tool is designed as a universal, multi-functional device that can be used across multiple boreholes and injection campaigns. The reusable design with removable valve and cleanable components allows the same tool to serve multiple purposes and locations, reducing overall material consumption compared to single-use tools.
3Reliability
If the injection tool remains in the borehole after injection, then sealing can be maintained, but the tool adheres to hardened material making removal difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the valve mechanism as a separate, removable component from the injection tool. After injection, the valve is detached from the tool body, allowing the main tool to be pulled from the borehole. The valve can remain in place to maintain sealing while the tool is removed for cleaning and reuse. This separation resolves the adhesion problem by allowing selective removal of components.
Solution Approach 2:
The injection tool is segmented into separable components: the main tool body and the removable valve. This segmentation allows the valve to stay in the borehole maintaining the seal, while the tool body is extracted for cleaning and reuse. The segmented design eliminates the problem of hardened material adhering to the entire tool, facilitating easy removal and reuse.
4Reliability
If high injection pressures are used to seal cracks, then sealing effectiveness improves, but safety risks increase due to potential tool ejection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual tightening with a power-tool-actuated tightening mechanism that applies consistent, high torque to secure the sealing elements to the borehole wall. This mechanical substitution ensures the tool can withstand high injection pressures without ejection, maintaining safety while achieving effective sealing through the reliable, securely-tightened connection.
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 provides secure, fast, and reliable sealing, allows for easy removal and cleaning, reduces material transportation costs, and extends tool life with up to 25 uses, facilitating efficient and safe operations in challenging environments.
Implementation Method 1
compressing longitudinally the rubber sealing (6) to enlarge the outer diameter of the rubber sealing
Implementation Method 2
compressing longitudinally the rubber sealing (6) to enlarge the outer diameter of the rubber sealing
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a~2d
AI summary
This invention relates to an injection tool (1) which comprises a longer smaller diameter pipe (3) assembled movable inside a shorter larger diameter pipe (4), a connection piece (2) assembled at the first end of the smaller diameter pipe (3), a projecting part (8) connected to the smaller diameter pipe (3) near the connecting piece (2), the projecting part (8) having an opening or groove for a bolt (10), a projecting part (9) connected near to the first end of the larger diameter pipe (4) the projecting part (9) having threaded opening for the bolt (10), the bolt (10) connecting the projecting parts (8, 9) and the bolt (10) having a fixed stopper plate (11), a nose piece (7) assembled to the second end of the smaller diameter pipe (3), a press plate (5) assembled to the second end of the larger diameter pipe (4) and a sealing rubber (6) around the smaller diameter pipe (3) situated between the nose piece (7) and the press plate (5). This invention also relates to a method for injection which comprises the steps of entering the injection tool (1) to the borehole, tightening the injection tool (1) to the borehole, connecting the injection machine to the injection tool (1), starting the injection, and an forming automatically functioning valve to the nose piece (7) at the second end of the injection tool.