Taping Apparatus for Pipe Lining Void Patching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current SIPP lining methods fail to provide optimal coverage and uniform thickness over voids such as cracks, perforations, and joints in pipes, leading to suboptimal structural integrity and potential damage to inline gate valves during the lining process.
Innovation Solution
A taping apparatus that navigates through pipes to locate and apply adhesive tape patches over voids, ensuring uniform liner thickness and preventing fatigue failure, equipped with cameras for visual guidance and a rotatable drum housing with an extendable arm assembly for precise tape application.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If SIPP lining is applied directly over voids without patching, then the lining process can proceed without additional preparation steps, but the resulting liner thickness becomes non-uniform and structural integrity is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The taping apparatus is deployed before the SIPP lining process to apply adhesive tape patches over voids, cracks, and imperfections in the pipe wall. This preliminary action ensures that when the lining material is subsequently sprayed, it deposits uniformly without accumulating in pre-existing voids, thereby achieving consistent liner thickness and maintaining structural integrity while preserving overall process efficiency
2Productivity
If the SIPP spraying apparatus operates at high speed to maintain productivity, then the lining process is efficient, but voids are not properly filled and liner thickness varies
Solution Approach 1:
By pre-patching voids with adhesive tape before the high-speed spraying process, the taping apparatus enables the SIPP apparatus to maintain high operating speeds without compromising filling quality. The tape patches eliminate voids that would otherwise cause material accumulation and thickness variations, allowing continuous high-speed operation while ensuring uniform liner deposition and reliable structural integrity
Solution Approach 2:
The adhesive tape acts as an intermediary layer between the pipe wall voids and the SIPP lining material. This intermediate patching layer prevents the spraying apparatus from directly depositing material into voids at high speed, mediating the interaction to achieve both high productivity and reliable structural outcomes through uniform material distribution
3Manufacturing precision
If voids are patched with adhesive tape before SIPP lining, then liner thickness uniformity is improved and structural integrity is enhanced, but additional preparation time and complexity are required
Solution Approach 1:
The taping apparatus is designed to be self-contained and self-deploying, navigating through the pipe autonomously or semi-autonomously to locate and patch voids without requiring extensive external preparation or complex support systems. The integrated design combines navigation, detection, and patching functions in a single unit that can be inserted through existing pipe access points, minimizing external complexity while achieving precise void patching for uniform liner thickness
Solution Approach 2:
Rather than preparing the entire pipe surface uniformly, the taping apparatus applies adhesive tape patches only at specific locations where voids and imperfections are detected. This localized patching approach maintains liner thickness uniformity by addressing only the problematic areas, avoiding the need for complex full-surface preparation processes and reducing overall process complexity while preserving manufacturing precision
4Reliability
If SIPP lining is applied over inline gate valves, then the valves may be damaged by over-spray and operational efficacy is compromised, but skipping valve areas creates gaps in the lining coverage
Solution Approach 1:
The taping apparatus is deployed before the SIPP lining process to apply protective adhesive tape patches over inline gate valves and other sensitive components. This preliminary protection ensures that when the lining material is sprayed, it does not accumulate on or damage the valve surfaces, maintaining valve operational efficacy while the rest of the pipe receives continuous, gap-free lining coverage
Solution Approach 2:
Adhesive tape patches serve as intermediary protective layers between the SIPP lining material and inline gate valves. These intermediate patches prevent direct contact and over-spray accumulation on valve surfaces, mediating the spraying process to protect valve operational efficacy while allowing continuous lining application throughout the pipe, including areas adjacent to protected valves
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 taping apparatus ensures better uniformity of liner thickness and prevents damage to inline gate valves by effectively covering voids before the SIPP lining process, enhancing the structural integrity of pipes and improving the operational efficacy of valves.
Implementation Method 1
applies an adhesive tape patch over the void
Data Source
AI summary
A taping apparatus adapted to apply tape over voids on an interior pipe wall, the taping apparatus having a transport assembly adapted to move the apparatus through a pipe; and a rotatable taping assembly adapted to retain a roll of tape and apply the tape over a void on the interior wall of the pipe, the taping assembly comprising an extendable and tractable arm assembly and a tape applicator assembly.