Sewer Sealant Metering with Flushing Reuse Between Repair Points

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing metering devices for sealing sewer walls are laborious to use due to the need to frequently remove and reposition the device and clean the sealant supply and discharge systems at multiple locations along a sewer, leading to inefficiencies in the sealing process.

Innovation Solution

A metering device with separate supply spaces and inhibiting elements for each sealant component, combined with a flushing agent system using pressurized heated water to efficiently clear sealant from the supply spaces and discharge system, allowing for easier and more efficient sealing at multiple locations without replacing the sealant discharge.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the metering device is used to seal multiple locations along a sewer, then the sealing coverage is improved, but the device must be frequently removed and repositioned which increases labor time and reduces productivity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing coverageVSAvoidlabor time
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The metering device is divided into separable components: a reusable housing with sealant supply system and a disposable sealant discharge unit. This segmentation allows the discharge unit to be replaced quickly between locations without replacing the entire device, reducing labor time while maintaining versatility for multiple sealing locations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The sealant discharge unit is designed as a disposable component that is discarded after use at each location, while the expensive housing and supply system are recovered and reused. This approach minimizes the time required for cleaning and preparation between locations while maintaining the ability to seal multiple locations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

2Ease of operation

If the sealant discharge is cleaned between locations, then the device can be reused, but the cleaning process is laborious and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice reuseVSAvoidcleaning process
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The sealant discharge unit is extracted as a separate disposable component from the housing. This allows the discharge unit to be simply replaced rather than cleaned, significantly simplifying the preparation process between locations while enabling continuous reuse of the main device.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The sealant discharge unit is designed as a low-cost disposable component that is replaced rather than cleaned between locations. This eliminates the laborious cleaning process while allowing the expensive housing and supply system to be reused multiple times.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Reliability

If sealant remains in the supply space and discharge after use, then the device can be stored, but it prevents reuse at further locations due to closure and contamination

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealant discharge functionalityVSAvoidrepair efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The sealant discharge unit is designed as a disposable component that is discarded after a single use. This ensures that no sealant remains in the discharge system to cause closure or contamination, maintaining reliability for each new location while enabling rapid reuse of the main device, thus improving overall productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The contaminated sealant discharge unit is discarded after use, while the clean housing and supply system are recovered for reuse. This separation ensures that the reusable components remain contamination-free and functional, while the disposable component absorbs the contamination, maintaining repair efficiency across multiple locations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

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 significantly reduces the labor required for sealing a sewer wall by enabling efficient removal and reuse of sealant components, allowing for quick and effective sealing at multiple locations along the sewer length without the need to replace the sealant discharge, thus streamlining the repair process.

Implementation Method 1

By providing a flushing agent supply, removal of sealant which is present in the supply space and sealant discharge can be achieved

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressurised heated water flow: Fluid Spray

Data Source

PatentEP3481559B1Metering device for metering of a sealant for sealing a sewer wall, system provided with the metering device, use of the metering device, method for sealing a sewer and a sewer obtained using the method
Publication Date: 2024.05.29 VAN WIERINGEN PATRICIA MARTINA MARIA
  • EP3481559B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3481559B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

Metering device for metering a sealant for sealing a sewer wall, the metering device comprising a housing which is provided with a sealant supply and a sealant discharge, wherein the sealant supply is configured for supplying sealant to a supply space provided in the housing and the sealant discharge is configured for discharging sealant from the supply space and supplying it to the sewer wall, wherein an inhibiting device is provided for inhibiting the supply of sealant from the supply space to the sealant supply, wherein the metering device comprises a flushing agent supply which is configured for supplying flushing agent to the supply space and the sealant discharge for removing sealant which is present in the supply space and the sealant discharge. System provided with the metering device, use of the metering device, method for sealing a sewer and a sewer obtained by the method.