Upstream Pipe Plug With Inflatable Bulkheads For Leak Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Pipelines often develop cracks or leaks due to mechanical damage, corrosion, or defective joints, leading to hazardous and environmentally unsafe gas or liquid leaks, which are difficult and costly to repair underground.
Innovation Solution
An upstream pipe plug system with bulkheads, cables, and a vent pipe is inserted into the pipe to position a sealing material, such as concrete, between the bulkheads, which is then pumped in to seal the leak, using inflatable bladders and air vents to facilitate insertion and sealing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If traditional excavation methods are used to repair pipe leaks, then the repair can be performed directly on the pipe, but the process becomes dangerous, costly, and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary sealing device (plug assembly with bulkheads and inflatable elements) that can be inserted through the pipe itself to create a seal at the leak location. This mediator allows repair without excavation by establishing a contained workspace within the pipe, eliminating the need for direct external access while maintaining effective sealing capability
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing device is designed as a nested structure where the plug assembly, including bulkheads and inflatable sealing elements, can be inserted through and deployed within the existing pipe. The smaller components are nested within larger ones, allowing the entire sealing system to pass through the pipe interior and expand at the target location without requiring external access
2Ease of operation
If the pipe is uncovered for repair, then direct access to the leak is achieved, but the operation becomes potentially dangerous and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The plug assembly serves as an intermediary that creates a sealed containment zone within the pipe at the leak location. This mediator isolates the repair area from the external environment, allowing sealing operations to proceed safely without exposing workers to hazardous conditions associated with excavation and direct pipe access
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the sealing function from the external excavation process and relocates it to the pipe interior. By taking out the sealing operation and performing it within the pipe using the deployable plug assembly, the harmful factors of excavation are eliminated while maintaining effective leak sealing capability
3Reliability
If cement is pumped into the pipe to seal the leak, then the leak is sealed, but air trapped in the pipe can prevent proper sealing
Solution Approach 1:
The inflatable sealing elements are deployed in advance to create a sealed chamber within the pipe before cement injection begins. This preliminary action of inflating the bulkheads and sealing elements establishes a contained environment that prevents air entrapment during the subsequent cement pumping process, ensuring reliable sealing without requiring complex air removal systems
Solution Approach 2:
The inflatable bulkheads and sealing elements act as intermediaries that create a controlled chamber between the leak location and the cement injection point. This intermediary sealed space allows cement to be pumped in systematically while air can escape through designated paths, preventing air pockets from compromising the seal while simplifying the overall injection process
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
This method provides a quick, safe, and cost-effective solution to seal leaks in pipelines, preventing further leakage and environmental harm without the need for extensive excavation.
Implementation Method 1
an inflatable bladder disposed on an outer circumference of the first bulkhead
Implementation Method 2
a vent pipe engaged to the second bulkhead
Implementation Method 3
Cement, or like sealing material, is pumped into the upstream pipe plug
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides methods and systems for an upstream pipe plug that includes a first bulkhead, a second bulkhead, a vent pipe engaged to the second bulkhead, and an insertion pipe engaged to the second bulkhead.