EP0027980B1 - Method and apparatus for rinsing, cleaning, disinfecting and coating a conduit on the interior, especially a water conduit in a new construction - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a method according to the preamble of claim 1.

Furthermore, the invention relates to a device for performing the method according to claim 1, according to the preamble to claim 2.

In the case of newly installed water pipes, rinsing is required to remove foreign substances such as sand, chips, rust particles, cutting agents, etc.

It may also be necessary to install a pipe for drinking water, e.g. after flooding, clean and disinfect. In order for a pipeline to withstand aggressive media better, it may be it is advisable to provide them with an inner layer.

The removal of such foreign substances is not only necessary for hygienic reasons, but also because such substances can cause or promote corrosion in the pipes, especially at the connection points.

So far, the pipelines have been flushed (FR-A-2 264 240) by allowing water to flow under pressure, either directly from the mains and / or by means of a pump away from the mains connection through the pipeline and the taps. The rinsing effect remained insufficient after this procedure.

It is also known (US-A-2 510 701) to suck the cleaning medium through the lines.

Due to the one-sided direction of flow and because the supplied water formed a relatively calm flow, the foreign substances could not all be washed away.

The flow velocity in the middle of the pipe is relatively high and very low along the wall. This flow is therefore not very suitable for removing foreign substances because it remains on the pipe wall and at the connection points due to the type of flow. The water velocity drops in the large pipe dimensions, so that a large part of the foreign matter has not been detached from the pipe wall. Therefore, it often happened that the supposedly well-flushed pipes still contained a lot of foreign substances that were unsanitary and caused corrosion.

From US-A-2 169 620 a device for flushing pipelines of the aforementioned type has become known, by means of which an attempt was made to successively improve the cleaning effect by pressing the flushing medium by means of a pump in both directions of the line. However, it has been shown that this did not increase the turbulence of the flow, so that no significantly better cleaning results were achieved.

The object of the invention is to provide a method and a device for flushing, cleaning, disinfecting and internally coating pipes, in particular a water pipe in a new building, by means of which an increased degree of cleaning is achieved by making the flow of the flushing medium more turbulent.

The method and the device should ensure that foreign substances are removed from the pipeline as completely as possible, so that contamination of the water and corrosion by foreign substances are avoided.

This object is achieved according to the invention with the teaching according to the marked part of claims 1 and 2.

Embodiments of this teaching are described in the further, dependent claims.

With the embodiment described, it is possible to rinse a water pipe with a degree of purity not previously achieved. In particular, the negative pressure generated by the suction pump in the connected line system and that air is added to the flushing medium ensures that a strong turbulent flow flows through the pipes. As a result, the foreign substances in the pipeline, some of which are adhering, are washed out. The turbulent flow exerts a very high force, which also carries heavier objects, such as chips and sand. Furthermore, the turbulence causes the flushing liquid to be moved strongly along the entire conveying path through the line, so that the foreign substances which have already been detached can no longer accumulate.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment, a vacuum relief valve is also used, which switches automatically during the suction process when a set vacuum is reached. This valve can also be operated manually.

This automatic or manual actuation suddenly results in a reversing movement of the water column, which lifts off solid foreign matter and directs it in the direction of flow of the flushing medium.

The device described is simple and inexpensive and its operation does not require any special expertise.

Exemplary embodiments of the subject matter of the invention are explained in more detail with reference to the drawing.

• Fig. 1 eine Verteilbatterie für Wasser in einem Mehrfamilienhaus, einschliesslich einer Spülvorrichtung,
• Fig. 2 eine detaillierte Darstellung der Spülvorrichtung nach Fig. 1,
• Fig. 3 eine erste Variante zur Ausführung nach Fig. 2,
• Fig. 4 eine Variante zur Ausführung nach Fig. 3, und
• Fig. 5 eine Variante zu den Ausführungen nach Fig. 2 und 3.

They show schematically:

• 1 is a distribution battery for water in an apartment building, including a flushing device,
• 2 shows a detailed illustration of the flushing device according to FIG. 1,
• 3 shows a first variant of the embodiment according to FIG. 2,
• Fig. 4 shows a variant of the embodiment of FIG. 3, and
• 5 shows a variant of the embodiments according to FIGS. 2 and 3.

In Fig. 1, a supply line 1 is shown, which is connected to the public water network. Via a valve 2 and an intermediate piece 3, the feed line 1 is connected via a further valve 4 to a first distribution line 5, for example for bathtubs and toilets, or the higher floors of an apartment building. The intermediate piece 3 can be used to reduce the pipe diameter serve and be combined, for example, with a filter, a water meter and / or a water softener.

The intermediate piece 3 is removed for flushing by means of the flushing device 14 described below.

A further pipe 6 is branched off in front of the valve 4 and is connected to three further distribution lines 8, 9, 10 via valves 11, 12, 13 directly or via a further intermediate or fitting piece 7 for bodyshells. Detachable connections 15, 16 are located on both sides of the intermediate piece 3 so that the intermediate piece 3 can be replaced by a flushing device 14. When the intermediate piece 3 is removed, a connection from the supply line 1 arranged valve 2 is opened so that the device 14 shown in FIG. 2 is produced.

2 shows the flushing of the distribution line 10, the valves 4, 11, 12 being closed and the valve 13 being open.

At the connection point 15, a hose 16a is connected, which is connected via a filter 17 to a pipe section 18 and then to a three-way valve 19. Depending on its position, this valve 19 connects the pipe section 18 with a line 20 to the connection point 16, or via a further pipe 21 with a water jet pump 22, which is connected to the connection point 16 via a further valve 23. A drain pipe 24 runs away from the water jet pump 22 to a drain 25.

The actuations for the valves 19 and 23 are preferably connected to one another in such a way that they can be actuated simultaneously via a common organ.

At the beginning of the flushing, the valve 2 arranged in the feed line 1 is opened so that the water can flow through the hose 16a, the filter 17, the pipe section 18, the three-way valve 19, the line 20, the connection point 16 into the pipe 10. The valves 4, 11, 12 are closed and the valve 13 is open. At the end of line 10, for example on the top floor of a house, the water flows through a hose 27 attached to an outlet 28 into a large container 29, which can also be a bathtub. The hose 27 is connected to a tube 30 which is provided at the bottom with two branch tubes 31, 32 which together form an angle of e.g. Limit 90 ° so that the pipe 30 is supported on the two pipes 31, 32 and is thus approximately vertical in the container 29.

When the container 29 is filled, a valve 33 at the end of the tube 31 is open, while a valve 34 in the tube 32 is closed. Both valves 33 and 34 are automatically operated by the water pressure. Thus, the water flows through the pipe 31 and the valve 33 into the tank 29 alone.

When the container 29 is full, the system switches to sucking back the water from the container 29. During this switchover, the valves 23 and 34 are opened while the valve 33 closes automatically. The switchover is carried out by actuating valves 19 and 23. As a result, valve 19 is switched from pipe 20 to pipe 21. The valve 23 is opened at the same time. This changeover causes the water to flow from the pipe section 18 to the water jet pump 22 and to drive it. This pump 22 now sucks the water from the container 29 through a filter 35, the valve 34, the pipes 32 and 30, the hose 27, the outlet 28, the pipe 10, the valve 13, the connection point 16, the valve 23 and the drain pipe 24 to the drain 25. The valves 33 and 34 are in turn actuated independently by the water pressure. The water jet pump 22 is driven by the water from the network through the pipe section 18.

During this process, foreign matter of any kind is retained by the filter 35 in the container 29. The suction effect of the water jet pump 22 generates a negative pressure and a strongly turbulent flow in the line 10, so that foreign substances still present are removed. This suction process can be maintained until the container 29 is empty.

A little air, e.g. at the outlet 28.

After the line 10 has been flushed, the lines 5, 8, 9 are flushed in the same way.

In order to generate additional movements in the rinsing liquid, e.g. A vacuum relief valve 20a can be used in the tube 20. This valve 20a can e.g. B. be a so-called vacuum safety valve that responds to an adjustable negative pressure in the pipeline and lets air into the pipeline. If this causes the air to enter the pipe suddenly, the flow direction is temporarily reversed. As a result, foreign matter is easily removed even in pipe sections with larger cross-sectional changes.

In the described embodiment, a container 29 or e.g. needs a bathtub that needs to be monitored to avoid overfilling.

In the embodiment according to FIGS. 3 and 4, this disadvantage of monitoring the amount of water supplied to the container 29 or the bathtub is eliminated in that a circuit of the washing liquid is produced. To create this circuit, a hose 27 can be drawn from the outlet 28, e.g. from a tap to an upper floor of a house to drain pipe 24 in the basement. In the vast majority of cases, however, several distribution lines lead to the top floor of a house. This can be, for example, a cold and a hot water pipe. For example, an end connection connection can result in the water or the rinsing liquid flowing through the cold water and through the hot water line, both of which together form the water cycle. With this arrangement, two lines are rinsed simultaneously, thus reducing the workload.

In the following, however, one speaks of a hose connection on the basis of the embodiment according to FIG. 2, which is also suitable for the case that only one line leads to the top floor.

The flushing of the distribution line 10 (FIG. 3) takes place in two stages, as has already been described in connection with FIG. 2. In the first stage, the rinsing liquid flows (as in FIG. 2) to the outlet point 28 and from there through the hose 27, the valve 33 and the pipe 24 to the outlet 44. When the water or liquid begins to flow through the outlet, the distribution line 10 to be flushed is full, after which the water is sucked back into the reverse direction can be switched. During this switchover, the valves 19 and 23 (as in FIG. 2) are switched over and the valve 33 is closed and the valve 34 is opened. The water jet pump 22 (FIG. 2) now generates a negative pressure in the distribution line 10, as a result of which the water flows from the drain line 24 via the line 10 to the water jet pump 22 and from there again through the drain pipe 24.

Since the combination of the amount of drive water from the connection point 15 and the amount of suction water from the distribution line 10 in the pipe 24 results in any case in excess, the line system can via the filter 35, the valve 34, the hose line 27 and the connection 28 to form a closed rinsing circuit get connected. As a result, the flushing process can be carried out with a constant, strongly moving or turbulent flow, regardless of the amount of medium and special monitoring measures. Due to the strong medium turbulence, the foreign substances present in the line system are whirled up, swept away, rinsed out through the pipe 24 or held in the filter 35. Due to the strong turbulence, all foreign substances are whirled up within a useful period of time and carried away by the liquid into the drain.

The only difference between FIGS. 3 and 4 is that the hose 27 in FIG. 4 is composed of two hose parts 27a and 27b, between which a vessel 42 e.g. is arranged with a disinfectant or coating agent. An admixing valve 40 is also arranged between the two hose parts 27a, 27b and, depending on the setting, lets more or less of the agent into the circuit through an opening 43 and a pipe 41. The vessel 42 thus fulfills a completely different task than the container 29. It is pointed out that the direction of flow through the valves 33 and 34 is indicated by arrows. These valves can either be operated manually or they can automatically respond to pressure and only be permeable in one direction of flow.

Depending on the version, the various flushing devices are therefore not only suitable for flushing but also for cleaning, disinfecting and coating the inner surface of pipes. For example, a coating that inhibits corrosion and that settles on the inner surface of the pipe during the flow process can be used as the coating.

The parts labeled 16a to 24 or 30 to 35 plus 27 can each be combined into a compact unit. The same applies to parts 27a and b, and 40 to 43 according to FIGS. 3 and 4. The parts combined in this way can be easily packaged and transported.

5 shows two different ways of adding air to the rinsing water and an arrangement for reversing the direction of flow in the distribution line 10.

The flushing water jet pump 47, which is provided with holes for the air inlet, allows the network water, which flows under pressure through the line 45 into the distribution line 10, to be mixed with air from the environment during flushing.

The ventilation valve 20a, on the other hand, only lets air into the distribution line 10 when the water jet pump 22 has generated a certain negative pressure in the distribution line 10 during suction. With a set negative pressure, the ventilation valve 20a opens and guides air e.g. via the valve 48 and the hose 27 into the distribution line 10.

The admixture of air to the flushing water, both with the pushing water jet pump 47 and with the ventilation valve 20a, causes the foreign substances to be flushed out to be whirled up and thus leads to a more effective flushing.

The changeover valves 50 and 51 with the connection points 16a and 16b enable the flow direction in the distribution line 10 or in the hose line 27 to be reversed.

When flushing with mains pressure without a water jet pump, the water flows from the connection point 15 and via the three-way valve 19 into the line 53 and from there, depending on the position of the switching valves 50 and 51, either via the valve 50 into the lines 10 and 27 to the valve 51 and 48 and via line 52 to outlet 44 or via valve 51 into lines 27 and 10 to valve 50 and 48 and via line 52 to outlet 44.

When rinsing with simultaneous suction of the water jet pump 22, the water flows from the connection point 15 via the three-way valve 19 into the lines 45 and 49 and from there, depending on the position of the switching valves 50 and 51, either via the valve 50 into the lines 10 and 27 Valve 51 and 23 and via the water jet pump 22 to the outlet 44, or via the valve 51 in the lines 27 and 10 to the valve 50 and 23 and via the water jet pump 22 to the outlet 44.

The flushing device described has proven to be very effective in that it flushes the pipelines much better than was previously the case. The device is very simple in construction and can be manufactured extremely inexpensively.

In the preceding description it was assumed that water is used as the rinsing medium, which is certainly true in most cases. However, it is also possible to use other flowable media, e.g. also use gases. Instead of a water pipe, other pipes, e.g. also gas lines can be cleaned according to the described method.

Another example of use is the flushing of lines in chemical plants.

The strongly turbulent flow is important for all uses, which partly results from the formation of a vacuum or vacuum and, if necessary, from the addition of air. The vacuum can be released intermittently by operating the vacuum relief valve 20a, which can be used in all embodiments.

Claims (16)

1. Process for the scavenging, cleaning, disinfecting and inner coating of a pipe line, in particular a water pipe in a new building, by means of at least one liquid, whereby a pipe-scavenging device is connected between the medium source and the pipe, and the medium is allowed to flow through the pipe line in both directions in order to remove foreign materials, characterised in that the scavenging medium is sucked back through the line in one flow direction and in that an extremely turbulent flow is produced by adding air, by means of which the rest of the foreign materials are removed.

2. Device for carrying out the process of claim 1, which has, between the medium source (15) and a connection point (16), a device (14) that is connectable to the line (5, 8, 9, 10) for scavenging the line in both directions, characterised in that the device (14) has a suction pump (22) for sucking back the liquid and for producing a vacuum in the line (5, 8,9,10), and means (47) for adding airto the flowing scavenging liquid.

3. Process according to claim 1, characterised in that a second scavenging liquid is used for sucking back.

4. Process according to claim 1 or 3, characterised in that water is used as the scavenging liquid, which is drawn off from the open water system and is sucked back from one end of the line in the filtered state.

5. Process according to claim 4, characterised in that a water jet pump is used for sucking back.

6. Process according to one of claims 1, 3, 4 or 5, characterised in that the liquid is displaced into a circulating system through the distributor mains and a connecting pipe.

7. Process according to claim 6, characterised in that the connecting pipe is arranged between the outlet of the water jet pump and the end of the distributor mains.

8. Process according to claim 1, characterised in that a vacuum-relief valve is inserted into the flow path in such a way that there is a sudden vacuum relief in the line, so that a temporary counter movement in the flow and a strong turbulence is caused.

9. Apparatus according to claim 2, characterised in that the device (14) has a filter (17) and a three way valve (19) for letting through water as a scavenging medium to the lines (5, 8, 9, 10) and in that at the end of the line there is respectively an outlet device (31, 33) and an inlet device (32, 34, 35).

10. Apparatus according to claim 9, characterised in that the inlet device (32, 34, 35) and outlet device (31, 33) are arranged in a container (29) for receiving the water or the scavenging liquid.

11. Apparatus according to claim 9, characterised in that the outlet device (31, 33) and the inlet device (32, 34, 35) are arranged at the discharge of the pump (22), whereby circulation of the water or the scavenging liquid is caused.

12. Apparatus according to claim 9, characterised in that the pump is a water jet pump (22) which can be driven by means of the pressure of the water system, and in that the three way valve (19) is used for diverting the flow from the water system to the water jet pump (22), for sucking back the water from the container (29).

13. Apparatus according to claim 9, characterised in that the inlet device (32, 34, 35) includes a filter (35) and a valve (34).

14. Apparatus according to claim 9, characterised in thatthe outlet device (31, 33) includes a valve (33).

15. Apparatus according to claim 9, characterised in that it has a container (42) and an admixing valve (40) for supplying a disinfecting or coating agent.

16. Apparatus according to claim 9, for carrying outthe process of claim 12, characterised in that the line (5, 8,9, 10) has a pump (47) for adding airto the flowing scavenging medium.

Images