Background technology
In worldwide, pipe-line system is used in many applications, thereby will locally carry or be sent to another place from one such as the material of water or other fluid, thus the whole system of being assigned to.For example, use huge pipe-line system that moisture is fitted on resident or industrial enterprise's use and further processing.Usually, such pipeline or tube system are positioned at underground, because ground pipe is not only ugly but also can produce inconvenience.
Usually, water pipe system comes convey materials by the pipe of being made by different materials, and these materials are such as cast iron, spheroidal graphite cast-iron, armored concrete, asbestos cement etc. are arranged.These pipes are buried under the ground, and its branch extends with the incoming terminal user to all directions.In general, after having used many years, perhaps because other, underground pipe can damagedly also begin to leak, thereby has reduced the pressure of pipeline and water is unnecessarily leaked in the inlet pipe zone on every side.Such leakage not only influences system, and has increased supplier's processing cost, from and increased terminal use's cost.Therefore, these leak and must repair fast, and will take preventive measures to guarantee to avoid further leakage.
Because the position of the underground of pipe-line system, it is very big and time-consuming to repair a pipe labour intensity that leaks.Must excavate the position of pipe trench along pipeline, and it effectively be repaired before reusing in that pipe is put back to determine to leak.According to prior art, for the pipe of sealing leak or damaged pipe, developed multiple liner system, be used for or repair existing crack or guarantee that prophylactically it no longer further breaks or damages.In addition, use a kind of larger-diameter split or damaged pipeline in adopt the method for the pipe of a much smaller diameter.Yet this only is the problem that substitutes the outer tube that splits with an interior pipe crannied or that leak.Also have, use the system of such pipe set of tubes to reduce the flow that flows through pipe-line system widely, and obviously be that people are undesirable, and can change pressure parameter.
For this reason, developed a kind of pipe liner and its installation method, as authorize disclose in people's such as St.Onge the United States Patent (USP) 5794662, be particularly suited for the pressure line application.The St.Onge patent aims to provide a kind of method to sewage conduct, water pipe or natural gas tube rebush, and this method use is wanted little segmentation lining with respect to the pipe sizing of institute's rebush.Yet, and only the minor diameter bushing pipe to be stayed in the major diameter outer tube on the contrary, St.Onge patent use heat and/or pressure are pressed onto the small-sized tube submodule by on the pipe of institute's rebush.Specifically, inside or bushing pipe are thermoplastic pipe, are generally polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipe, and in the time of in being exposed to thermal source or pressure, it can expand and be embossed in the inboard of existing pipeline, thereby carries out rebush effectively.Both can also can carry out lining to the part of damaging to the total length of pipeline with this technology, this is commonly called " spot repair ".
According to the St.Onge patent, in case in inserting the total length of bushing pipe existing or being responsible for, the two ends of bushing pipe just are plugged, and are exposed in the steam under certain pressure, thereby along the length direction of bushing pipe heating bushing pipe and exert pressure, this expands bushing pipe and contacts with on every side the person in charge's inwall.In case bushing pipe is fully expanded to existing inner-walls of duct and fits, take off just with its cooling, and with stopper.The final bushing pipe that expands and the person in charge's wall is fitted, thereby has avoided any further leakage.Equally, the method for St.Onge patent only need be just passable in the ditching of the two ends of the pipeline section of being repaired.
Though the St.Onge patent is advanced in to the rebush of underground pipe-line system or repairing field, and the space of improving is still arranged in this field.Specifically, in order to transport bushing pipe and it to be inserted among the person in charge, must make bushing pipe by section or part, the length of these sections or part is wanted much shorter than the needed bushing pipe length of final sum usually.Therefore, when sending into bushing pipe among the person in charge, must be at the scene all parts of bushing pipe be coupled together.In addition, also want and the bushing pipe of multiple length can be connected by a kind of joint with intensity of original pipeline, and the diameter of connector area is increased and exceed original pipe diameter.Except above-described expansion application scenario, use multiple and attachable pipeline section also of great use in many different application scenarios.For example, use multiple and fused conduit particularly useful in the slippage lining, wherein, the fused conduit that diameter is smaller is inserted and is needed to repair but do not need in the bigger pipe of the diameter of flow of full capacity.In this case, this bushing pipe is drawn in the pipe and is stopped and put in place, but does not expand.In most of the cases, the space between the bushing pipe and the person in charge is filled by low intensive grout, so that new pipeline is fixing on the throne.Yet slippage lining technology can need to use the pipeline that can hold larger-diameter connecting piece or mechanical splice.
In other various application scenarios, also need fused conduit,, wherein combine and use fusion splice with horizontal drilling technology such as repairing the application scenario.This method is bored a pilot hole in ground, and can adjust accurately with control height and Aligning degree.After finishing pilot hole, the diameter of boring is extended, and inserts drilling slurry so that bigger hole stays open.By drilling slurry pulling drill bushing, form a pipeline on the spot then.Yet the bigger drilling machine of this arts demand one is to adapt to mechanical connection spare and the joint of being made by PE or HDPE.
In addition, in the also available fused conduit of pipe explosion occasion.In pipe explosion, use large hydraulic or the pneumatic type cutting head cuts down old pipe and fragment is imbedded in the soil on every side.This just can draw in having the new pipe that diameter is identical or bigger in the pipeline now.This technology is to be used in obviously to increase in the situation of new pipe capacity.Equally, also useful certainly in direct-burried application scenario fused conduit.
Developed all fusion joining processes that are used for pipe or pipeline, the mechanical splice that they are used for pipeline section is connected together, the fusion splice place or near embedding metal wire or heat-resistant component.For example, referring to the United States Patent (USP) 6398264 of authorizing Bryant.III, the United States Patent (USP) 6394502 of authorizing Andersson, the United States Patent (USP) 6156144 of authorizing Lueghamer, the United States Patent (USP) 5921587 of authorizing Lueghamer, the United States Patent (USP) 4684789 of authorizing Eggleston and the United States Patent (USP) 4642155 of authorizing Ramsey.For many years, use welding polyethylene pipe (PE or HDPE) usually.For example, referring to the United States Patent (USP) 3002871 of authorizing people such as Tramm, authorize people such as Dickinson United States Patent (USP) 4987018, authorize people's such as Dickinson United States Patent (USP) 4963421 and authorize people's such as Haneline.Jr United States Patent (USP) 4780163, and the U.S. Patent Application Publication 2003/0080552 of Genoni.Therefore, can obtain existing fusion splicing devices.Yet, must on use and running parameter, revise to some extent this device, to be used for the pipeline of welding polyvinyl chloride.Different with common polyethylene pipe with the connection of thermal welding technology, the occasion that can use muff joint is only limited in the application of pvc pipe usually.This limitation has limited the application of pvc pipe in the slippage lining is repaired.Therefore, need to provide a kind of technically and be actually discrete component, do not have the former base of PVC bushing pipe of mechanical splice, this just can not resemble the diameter that increases former base the mechanical connection spare.Such connecting piece or fusion splice must have and the similar strength characteristic of original pipeline, and get rid of infiltration in the joint by cancelling such mechanical splice.In addition, preferably, can be provided with one and can bear follow-up expansion process and finally be used for the connecting piece of pressure pipeline system.
The specific embodiment
For following description, term " on ", D score, " right side ", " left side ", " vertically ", " level ", " top ", " end ", " side direction ", " vertically " and to derive from term related to the present invention with direction shown in scheming.Yet, be understandable that, except obviously have contrary, can carry out multiple replacement, change and step changes to the present invention.The concrete device and the technology that will also be appreciated that shown in the accompanying drawing and describe in the following description are exemplary embodiment of the present invention.Therefore, the concrete size relevant with embodiment and other physical features of this place announcement should not be considered limiting.
Disclosed multiple digital scope among the present invention.Because these digital scopes are continuous, so they comprise each value between minimum of a value and the maximum.Except as otherwise noted, the concrete number range of each among the present invention all is an approximation.
The present invention aims to provide a kind of conduits fused technology, pipeline is preferably a kind of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipe, this technology comprises first pipe section 10 and 12 weldings of second pipe section as schematically illustrated among Fig. 1, and have been adopted a welder 14 in this method.In a preferred embodiment, this method and welder 14 can close use with a conduit expansion process and system's access node, thereby a bushing pipe 16 is placed among the person in charge, and in order to expanding subsequently, this bushing pipe 16 is formed by the multitube road part of for example first pipe section 10 and second pipe section 12.Yet this method and welder 14 can be used for any occasion that needs the contunuous wedling pipe section.As mentioned above, bushing pipe 16 is made by the thermoplastic material such as PVC.Yet the method according to this invention can be conceived any material with suitable expansion characteristics and all can use and be connected.The fusion joining process of pvc pipe all can be effective for other similar expanded polymeric class and thermoplastic.
The ASTM standard of pvc pipe can be used for the polyvinyl chloride resin additive of various scopes, and these additives have the multifrequency nature in the additive combination that allows.Yet, be not that all possible combination of additive all can be worked in conduit expansion process.That is to say that not all PVC water pipe all can be fused to the intensity identical with the tubing of bushing pipe, pvc pipe that neither be all can expand into the size identical with the tubing of bushing pipe.
Because pipe expansion carries out in remote place, bushing pipe 16 must be with transported in sections for later installation.Therefore, what discuss is first pipe section 10 and being connected and welding of second pipe section 12 though the present invention is concrete, and this method and welder 14 equally also can be used for being connected the bushing pipe 16 of any amount and length.Therefore, in another preferred and infinite embodiment, welder 14 is for movably, and can on-the-spotly use, to implement method of the present invention.
Specifically, the present invention includes following steps: with the terminal edges 18 of first pipe section 10 and the terminal edges 20 (step 100) removably staggered relatively of second pipe section 12; The terminal edges 18 of first pipe section 10 and the terminal edges 20 of second pipe section 12 are carried out surface treatment (step 120); The terminal edges 18 of first pipe section 10 is aimed at (step 130) with the terminal edges 20 of second pipe section 12; At least a portion fusing (step 140) with the terminal edges 20 of the terminal edges 18 of first pipe section 10 and second pipe section 12; The terminal edges 18 of first pipe section 10 is engaged (step 150) with the terminal edges 20 of second pipe section 12; And between the terminal edges 20 of the terminal edges 18 of first pipe section 10 and second pipe section 12, keep-up pressure, thereby form a fused joint area 22 (step 160).In a preferred and infinite embodiment, this method comprises that also at least a portion of the outside sealing ring 24 that extends around fused joint area 22 that will be produced removes (step 170).This method is undertaken by welder 14, and welder 14 will be discussed in more detail below.
Referring to step 100, the terminal edges 18 of first pipe section 10 is clamped or fixing on the throne, and by the first clamp mechanism, 26 location, and second pipe section 12 is clamped or the location by the second clamp mechanism 28.The first clamp mechanism 26 and the second clamp mechanism 28 are for the part of welder 14 and make first pipe section 10 and second pipe section 12 is removably located.In addition, the first clamp mechanism 26 and the second clamp mechanism 28 all can longitudinally be driven, and represent with arrow A in Fig. 2.Therefore, driving mechanism 30 is operationally got in touch with the first clamp mechanism 26 and/or the second clamp mechanism 28, thereby provides not driving force to drive the first clamp mechanism 26 and/or the second clamp mechanism 28 enters or leave bonding station.
Must carry out surface treatment to set up cleaning and parallel match surface to the terminal edges 18 of first pipe section 10 and the terminal edges 20 of second pipe section 12.This surface treatment is finished by a surface disposal facility 32, and this mechanism can place between the terminal edges 20 of the terminal edges 18 of first pipe section 10 and second pipe section 12.For example, but surface disposal facility 32 side direction move into or shift out the position between the terminal edges (18,20), shown in arrow B among Fig. 2.Surface disposal facility 32 continues terminal edges (18,20) is ground or surface treatment, and the distance between the first clamp mechanism 26 and the second clamp mechanism 28 is minimum.In a preferred and infinite embodiment, surface disposal facility 32 comprises one or more blade sections 33.The terminal edges (18,20) of 33 pairs of pipe sections of these blade sections (10,12) is carried out actual cutting and surface treatment work.In another embodiment, blade section 33 is the carbide-tipped cutter bit blade, and it can make uniformity better and process of surface treatment is cleaner.In addition, these carbide-tipped cutter bits can use and the blade of the blade section 33 of can not wearing and tearing blade section 33 more continually.Certainly, blade, coating, the structure and material that also can use other intensity to strengthen.
Should be noted that the first clamp mechanism 26 and the second clamp mechanism 28 needn't all be movably, as long as one is movably, so that first pipe section 10 and second pipe section 12 engage.At work, one or two in the first clamp mechanism 26 and the second clamp mechanism 28 all moves, thereby surface disposal facility 32 securely, square-foldedly is locked between the first clamp mechanism 26 and the second clamp mechanism 28.This operation provides one to be foursquare surface substantially, and this surface is perpendicular to the center line of first pipe section 10 and second pipe section 12, and detection is less than any gap.In addition, surface disposal facility 32 can comprise the blade with a plurality of angle directions.This is that pipe section (10,12) provides smooth surface.
Next, must make the profile of first pipe section 10 and second pipe section 12 rounded and be aligned with each other, so that the minimum that do not match of tube wall.This can realize in the external diameter matched position of second pipe section 12 up to the external diameter of first pipe section 10 by adjusting the first clamp mechanism 26 and/or the second clamp mechanism 28.Wish not unclamp the first clamp mechanism 26 and the second clamp mechanism 28, so just make first pipe section 10 and/or second pipe section 12 in fusion process slidably.Between the first clamp mechanism 26 and the second clamp mechanism 28 required minimum range can make first pipe section 10 and/or second pipe section 12 as far as possible near-earth around the joint area of determining.Joint area from clamp pipe section (10,12) is near more, and operating personnel are easy more to the control of suitable align with tube part (10,12).
Next, with terminal edges 20 heating of the terminal edges 18 of first pipe section 10 and second pipe section 12 or be melted to temperature, interfacial pressure and the duration that needs.When doing like this, heat will penetrate in first pipe section 10 and second pipe section 12, and locate to form the material pyrosphere of fusion in terminal edges (18,20).This heating process is carried out by heater mechanism 34, and this heater mechanism heats simultaneously and melts terminal edges (18,20).This heats simultaneously and can realize by using first heating plate 36 and second heating plate 38, single two-sided heating plate or other device that can heat terminal edges (18,20) simultaneously.Owing to have surface disposal facility, heater mechanism 34 should move to position between the terminal edges (18,20), when heating process is finished till, on this time point, heater mechanism 34 should be removed.Therefore, heater mechanism 34 should also be movably, such as being displaced sideways between terminal edges (18,20), shown in the arrow C among Fig. 2.In another preferred and infinite embodiment, heater mechanism 34 provides the zone heating with respect to the surface of heating collar mechanism 34, first heating plate 36 and/or second heating plate 38.Therefore, the different piece of heating surface, can there be different temperature on for example upper and lower surface.Like this, because the natural characteristic of heating process can make terminal edges (18,20) fusing more even again, wherein heat rises and forms differentiated warming interface along terminal edges (18,20).Therefore, regional heating can form uniform profile along terminal edges (18,20).Also can imagine heater mechanism comprises by controlling organization 40 or can be by the multiple zone of controlling organization 40 control.This controlling organization 40 can provide the control to each zone, thereby makes the efficient of heater mechanism 34 and accuracy the highest, makes along the profile of terminal edges (18,20) more even.After finishing, heating process removes the speed of heater mechanism and terminal edges (18,20) clamp speed together is also very important.Preferably, the time interval was shorter, such as 3 to 4 seconds.
Also imagine the controlling organization 40 that welder 14 adopts usually and one or more measurement mechanisms strike up partnership and control all elements.For example, first heating plate 36 and/or second heating plate 38 can be equipped with thermometer and measure the plate temperature, and have a subsidiary controller to set and stablize these temperature.Yet owing between the actual temperature of thermometer and terminal edges (18,20) error is arranged, these thermometers are just as general indicator.In this, can with a pyrometer or other surface temperature measurement device and controlling organization 40 strike up partnership and loop cycle ground uses, to guarantee the proper temperature of first heating plate 36 and/or second heating plate 38.Also imagine in controlling organization 40, thermometer or other surface temperature measurement device any one and be digital device, the heat that is applied by heater mechanism 34 can be measured and control to this digital device more accurately.When welder 14 is used in combination with pvc pipe, this numerical control device advantageous particularly, because compare in conjunction with the situation of PE or HDPE use with welder 14, the physicochemical characteristic of pvc pipe comprises that its melt temperature and hardening temperature require higher precision.Therefore, this digital control heating with the zone combines, and better control feature is provided can for welder 14 of the present invention.
In addition, it is clean that heating plate (36,38) should keep, and any coating on heating plate (36,38) should not swiped or damage by any way.After terminal edges (18,20) has been heated reasonable time and has reached proper temperature, as discussed below, remove heater mechanism 34, and put together with the terminal edges (18,20) of enough pressure with fusion, with mixing duct material suitably, thereby form the joint of homogeneous, be called fused joint area 22.
Must fused joint area 22 stably be fixed up to enough coolings with till producing suitable intensity with pressure.Should finish this work by the hydraulic pressure that the first clamp mechanism 26 and the second clamp mechanism 28 provide.The cooling time enough is very important for the globality that obtains joint before removing from the first clamp mechanism 26 and the second clamp mechanism 28.
After fusion joining process, as the result who exerts pressure on the material of fusing, fused joint area 22 is showed outer pyrosphere 24 and interior pyrosphere 42.Outer pyrosphere 24 leaves fused conduit external wall 44 and extends, and similarly, interior pyrosphere extends internally from fused conduit internal wall 46.Before first pipe section 10 is used for conduit expansion process and system, outer pyrosphere 24 should be removed.Specifically, when when being used for expansion process subsequently, outer pyrosphere 24 should being removed, thereby first pipe section 10 is fully expanded in the person in charge.Usually outer pyrosphere 24 is removed or is machined in 1/8 to 1/16 inch of fused conduit external wall 44.Usually, interior pyrosphere 42 does not need to be eliminated, and can not produce unnecessary negative condition in bushing pipe 16 yet.Yet if so interior pyrosphere 42 can be unfavorable for flowing of material, so interior pyrosphere 42 also will be eliminated.
If fusion joining process is unsuccessful or defectiveness,, repeats above technology then and get final product as long as fused joint area 22 is cut and removed.Yet the reason that makes fused joint area 22 produce defectives for example should be recorded in the controlling organization 40.Also should handle, analyze and demonstrate by the phenomenon and the data of 40 pairs of fusion joining processes of controlling organization.
For the fusion joining process operating parameter, the formula of the gauge pressure of welder 14 is when being commonly used to calculate use PVC bushing pipe 16:
In addition, be used for unit of account for the square inch pipeline or the formula of tube surface area (pSa) be:
The formula that is used for calculating gauge pressure when pipeline or cylinder area are 1.00 square inches is:
Gp=pSa×Ip
At last, when the cylinder area of tube surface area, interfacial pressure and machine is known, is used for the formula of gauge pressure of computing machine and is:
In above-mentioned formula:
MGp=machine gauge pressure, psi
π=pi, 3.1416
OD
2=external diameter square, inch * inch
ID
2=internal diameter square, inch * inch
Ip=interfacial pressure (≈ 140psi), pvc pipe
The cylinder area of Ca=machine, square inch
PSa=tube surface area, square inch
The gauge pressure of Gp=when cylinder area is 1.00
By a large amount of tests and outcome record, set up the form among Fig. 4-9, to be used for when interfacial pressure is about 140psi, the setting up various parameters that are used for above-mentioned formula fast.In these forms, demarcate caliber, Outer Tube diameter, interior conduit diameter, surface area, gauge pressure and size than all listing.Cylinder pressure is based on 1.00.In addition, for the form that uses Fig. 4-9 comes computing machine gauge pressure and psi, listed gauge pressure and the psi of drawing should be divided by the cylinder area (unit is square inch) of employed machine.For the definite suitable gauge pressure that can use the machine of all types and size, the gauge pressure of being indicated in accompanying drawing and the form should be divided by effective cylinder area of employed machine.
The pipe that pipe weight and roller resistance are caused pulls must be added in the gauge pressure that calculates.In addition, must consideration for example blow, rain, high temperature, low temperature, the extreme weather conditions of snowing etc., and do suitably to regulate.Can need take builder's temporary shed and cover the need of preparing against harsh situation.In addition, can notice that different with poly welding, the necessary handled of the welding of PVC is particularly when axial lifting or bending.Can use spreader bar or " Y " shape hoist cable to handle pipe safely.In addition, use air-heater or steam generator to heat long welding bushing pipe 16 and can make pipe become more soft, and under cold snap, can more safely handle.
Like this, the invention provides a kind of method and apparatus that is used for fusion joining process, it is particularly useful for the welding polyvinyl chloride pipe.Adopt this method and equipment the pipeline of multiple partial or length can be connected with the joint equal with original pipeline strength, and can not make the increasing diameter of joint area be added to the diameter that exceeds original pipeline.In addition, the present invention at present invention a kind of single-piece bushing pipe 16 former bases that do not have mechanical splice.
Invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiment.Other people are reading and are understanding above detailed description and can significantly revise and replace later.The present invention should be interpreted as modification and the replacement that comprises that all are such.