EP1885973B1 - Injection pistol for a filler formed from a mixture of at least two solutions - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a controlled injection gun, clogging products, in local areas of structures with watertightness defects, or in media to stabilize. The injected product is generally a mixture of several chemical constituents, in relative volumes that may be different. This mixture is injected by means of a spray gun and a bi-component pump, depending on the area of use, in leaky expansion joints, in cracks of concrete structures, such as tunnels, underground galleries, dams, cofferdams .

Concrete structures, under water pressure or buried, often contain leaks such as cracks, resumption of casting, leaky expansion joints, defects in the coating of structural metal elements , porosities, gravel nests, at the level of which the watertightness is not ensured and where leaks of water occur.

To seal these defective local areas, especially when liquid leaks are under pressure and / or have a high flow rate, it is not possible to use cement or concrete to seal the leakage areas. The setting time of concrete or cement is too long to seal such leaks.

In the event that, despite everything, leakage is clogged, with these materials, this clogging would be rigid and break rapidly as a result of the movements of the soil, expansions or contractions due to temperature differences.

It is known to use two mixed chemicals before injection into the concrete by means of injectors, either screwed into the concrete to the right of the defect, or the expansive type.

• Ces injecteurs après perçage du béton doivent être vissés dans le support, et nécessitent l'utilisation d'outils, leur longueur et diamètre doivent être différents selon l'épaisseur du béton et la nature du problème à résoudre.

These injectors have the following important defects:

• These injectors after drilling the concrete must be screwed into the support, and require the use of tools, their length and diameter must be different depending on the thickness of the concrete and the nature of the problem to be solved.

If the injector is too short or positioned too close to the surface of the concrete, the risk of tearing and / or bursting of the support is great when pressurizing.

After drilling in the horizontal or vertical planes, it is necessary to eliminate the drilling dust by blowing or washing otherwise the injector will not be able to fulfill its role, the cracks or joints being filled with drilling dust.

After injection, most often the injectors are stuck by the injection product and can not be recovered, they are then left in place or cut flush with the surface of the support where it will oxidize, thus causing oxidation stains difficult to remove.

The almost systematic replacement of these injectors has a significant impact on the financial item supply and labor.

The injector remained in place, blocked by the injection product, can not be reinjected; a new perforation is necessary.

If the injectors are to be removed from the support with a tool such as "hub pull", the operation is likely to cause damage to the surface of the support: it must be repaired.

The gun connected to the injector must be connected and disconnected at each injection, which favors the flow of resin on the environment, the tooling, the operator.

The injector-gun assemblies on the market allow the contact of the various components of the injected resin and require constant cleaning and attention, the chemicals being polymerized in the injector-gun assemblies.

The injectors on the market must be connected to an injection gun, a mandatory relay to the pump, thus complicating the injection procedure, maintenance, reliability and increased costs.

The object of the present invention is to provide an injection gun that overcomes all or some of the aforementioned drawbacks.

This is an injection gun, through an injection hole, a sealing product formed by a mixture of at least two solutions, said injection gun comprising a manner known from the document FR.2.553.304 or US 3,828,980 , which discloses the preamble of claim 1, a tubular injection system which is fed, in particular under pressure, into each of said solutions and which is terminated by an injection head capable of penetrating into the injection hole.

Characteristically, according to the present invention, the tubular system comprises, for each solution, an independent transfer duct opening out from the end of the injection head, so that the mixing of the solutions is done outside the head of the injection head. 'injection.

According to this particular arrangement, the mixture of chemical solutions for forming the sealing product is not in the injection device but at the outlet thereof, in the sealing defect to be sealed. There is therefore no risk of clogging of the injection head by the polymerized clogging product.

According to the invention, a first transfer conduit of a given solution is a circular cross-section tube and at least one other transfer conduit of at least one other solution has an annular cross section, which is delimited by at least one tube arranged concentrically around the first transfer conduit. Thus, at the exit of the injection head, the solution conveyed by the first transfer conduit is necessarily in contact with the solution conveyed by the transfer conduit which surrounds it annularly.

According to the invention, the injection head comprises, towards its end, a sleeve which is traversed by the transfer ducts and which is expandable, by means of expansion, between a rest position in which the head of injection can be introduced into the injection hole and an expanded position in which the sleeve is applied to the walls of the injection hole tightly. With this arrangement, the clogging product can not flow outwardly into the injection hole but must necessarily be located in the defect to be sealed.

According to the invention, the expandable sleeve is a flexible tube with elastic radial deformation. In addition, the expansion means comprise a piece of frustoconical shape which is traversed by the transfer ducts. Finally, the frustoconical piece and the expandable sleeve are movable relative to each other between a rest position in which the small base of the frustoconical piece is close to an opening of the sleeve and an active position in which the piece frustoconical penetrated force from said small base in said opening, which causes the increase in the outer diameter of the sleeve.

It is understood that the injection head must be able to penetrate inside the injection hole to the placement of the expandable sleeve at the walls of said injection hole. Thus, in its rest position, the sleeve must have an outside diameter smaller than the inside diameter of the injection hole. The radial deformation of the flexible tube constituting the expandable sleeve allows it to bear against the walls of the injection hole to form a tight seal preventing the mixing of the solutions, during polymerization, to flow back to the outside the injection head.

According to the invention, the tubular system comprises a protective tube containing the transfer ducts and at the end of which is fixed the expansible sleeve, in particular via a receiving ring. The protective tube is a kind of protective case for the transfer lines. It also allows the attachment of the expandable sleeve. The presence of the receiving ring makes it possible to form a rigid attachment point for the sleeve during its expansion.

According to the invention, the injection gun of the present invention comprises a double-acting cylinder whose actuation controls the double relative displacement of the frustoconical piece and the sleeve. The operator can simply, after introducing the injection head into the hole injection, control the expansion of the sleeve by actuating the cylinder, then, after injection of the mixture of solutions, the passage of the sleeve in the rest position so as to remove the injection head from the injection hole.

According to the invention, the body of the double action cylinder is connected to the frustoconical part via the transfer ducts.

According to the present invention, the injection gun comprises a supply of compressed air. In the case where the double action cylinder is of the pneumatic type, this compressed air supply can be connected to the cylinder of the cylinder.

In addition, it can be provided that the compressed air can be fed into the space between the protective tube and the transfer conduits to the end of the injection head. The operator can therefore, by actuating the compressed air supply, blow-off the elimination of drilling dust from the injection hole. It can also, at the end of the operation and after removal of the injection head from the hole, blowing off the clogging product that may be on the surface of the frustoconical piece.

1. a) un premier sous-ensemble comprenant les canalisations d'amenée des solutions, les conduits de transfert, la pièce tronconique et le corps du vérin double action et
2. b) un second sous-ensemble comprenant une poignée de portage, le tube protecteur, le manchon et le cylindre du vérin double action.

In a preferred embodiment, the injection gun of the present invention comprises two subassemblies articulated with each other, namely:

1. a) a first subassembly comprising the solutions supply lines, the transfer ducts, the frustoconical part and the body of the double action cylinder and
2. b) a second subassembly comprising a carrying handle, the protective tube, the sleeve and the cylinder of the double action cylinder.

These two subassemblies are interconnected by a hinge connection allowing the relative longitudinal displacement, without rotation, of the two subassemblies with respect to each other during the actuation of the jack.

• La figure 1 est une représentation très schématique des différents constituants du pistolet,
• La figure 2 est une vue de côté du pistolet de la figure 1,
• La figure 3 est une vue de dessous du pistolet de la figure 1 et
• La figure 4 illustre les deux positions, au repos et expansée, du manchon équipant la tête d'injection du pistolet de la figure 1.

The present invention will be better understood on reading the description which will be given of a preferred embodiment of an improved injection gun, illustrated by the appended drawing in which:

• The figure 1 is a very schematic representation of the different components of the gun,
• The figure 2 is a side view of the gun from the figure 1 ,
• The figure 3 is a bottom view of the gun from the figure 1 and
• The figure 4 illustrates the two positions, at rest and expanded, of the sleeve equipping the injection head of the gun of the figure 1 .

In the injection gun 30 which will be described below, the clogging product is made from a mixture of two chemical solutions. This is not exclusive of the present invention, the number of chemical solutions to be mixed could be greater than two.

In the present case, it may be in particular a mixture of an aqueous acrylic solution and an aqueous solution containing a polymerization initiator, of the type of that described in document FR.2.630.743 .

With reference to the figure 1 the injection gun 30 comprises an injection head 31 which is fed by each of the two chemical solutions from a first inlet 8 for the solution corresponding to the resin and a second inlet 11 with respect to the solution containing the initiator of polymerization. At least the first inlet 8 is equipped with a non-return valve and a quick coupler 9. Each of these admissions leads to the transfer conduit of its own. On the figure 1 , at the injection head 31, one can see the transfer conduits 3, 4 which are arranged concentrically along the longitudinal axis of the injection head. The transfer duct 4 is a circular section tube. It is intended to convey the solution containing the polymerization initiator, fed from the inlet 11. The resin transfer duct, from the inlet 8, is conveyed in an annular transfer duct, delimited internally by the first tube 4 and delimited externally by the second tube 3.

The gun 30 comprises a double action cylinder 15 which can be pneumatic, electric, electromechanical or hydraulic. Its connection 2 is adapted to its mode of operation. In this case, it may be a supply of compressed air 1.

The two tubes 3, 4, made in particular of 316L stainless steel, are contained in a protective tube 20 which may also be 316L stainless steel or aluminum. The two tubes 3, 4 are secured to the cylinder 15 and to their another end of a frustoconical piece 7, through which the tubes 3, 4 pass. figure 1 the end 17 of the first tube 4 feeding the solution containing the polymerization initiator opens out beyond the second tube 3.

At the distal end of the protective tube 20 is provided a receiving ring 5 for attaching an expandable sleeve 6. In this case it is a flexible tube, radially deformable elastically.

The proximal end of the protective tube 20 is integral with the cylinder of the double action cylinder 15.

Overall, the injection gun 30 is composed of two subassemblies that are articulated to each other by a hinge connection 19 so as to allow the relative displacement, relative to each other, of the expandable sleeve 6 and the frustoconical piece 7.

The first subassembly comprises the supply lines of the solutions, the transfer lines, that is to say the two tubes 3, 4, the frustoconical part 7 and the body of the double action cylinder. The second subassembly comprises the protective tube 20, the sleeve 6 and the cylinder of the double action cylinder. This second subassembly also comprises a structural element on which is fixed a carrying handle 23.

On the figure 4 schematically represented both positions on the one hand at rest ( Figure 4A ) and on the other hand in an expanded position ( Figure 4B ).

The operator first of all proceeded to drill an injection hole 32 having a determined diameter D0. It positions the injection head 31 so as to penetrate into the injection hole 32 the frustoconical piece 7 and the expandable sleeve 6 in the rest position, having in this state an outer diameter D1, which substantially corresponds to the outer diameter of the 20. It then actuates, from the handle 16, the double-acting cylinder 15 so as to move the cylinder with respect to the body of the jack in the direction of the arrow F ( Figure 4B ). This rearward displacement relative to the carrying handle 23 will correlatively cause the recoil of the frustoconical piece 7 to be inside the injection hole 32. During this movement, the small base 7a of the frustoconical piece 7 which was near the distal opening of the sleeve 6 penetrates inside said opening. At the end of the journey, in the example shown in Figure 4B , the frustoconical piece 7 has penetrated completely inside the sleeve 6, which has therefore deformed radially, consequently increasing the diameter D1. This radial deformation is provided so that the sleeve 6, in the expanded position, comes to press strongly against the inner walls of the injection hole 32, forming a sealed barrier.

It is in this deployed position of the sleeve 6 that the operator can consequently control the arrival of the two chemical solutions which open out one and the other, through the transfer ducts to the end of the head. injection, directly into the injection hole 32 and into the cavity to be closed, without possible backward reflux around the injection head 31.

The actuation of the double-acting cylinder 15 causes, as described above, the recoil, with respect to the handle 23 of the first subassembly. For this recoil to be done, the injection gun 30 is equipped with a hinge hinge 19, which is able to connect the two subassemblies and casing, by an angular pivoting, the relative displacement of these two sub-assemblies. -sets.

This hinge 19 consists of two plates 33, 34, connected to each other by a transverse axis of pivoting 35. Each plate 33, 34 is itself connected to a subassembly by a transverse pivot axis 36 , 37. In the idle position of the injection gun ( Figure 4A ), the two plates 33, 34 are between them an angle α. At the end of the recoil, sleeve 6 in expanded position ( Figure 4B ), the two plates 33, 34 are between them an angle β greater than the angle α.

This hinge mounted on three parallel transverse axes 35, 36, 37, allows a displacement without rotation of the two subassemblies.

When the clogging operation is completed, it is sufficient for the operator to operate the lever 16 so as to move the two subassemblies in the opposite direction, to return the sleeve 6 to its rest position and realize the extraction of the injection head from the hole 32.

It is then sufficient for the operator to plug the portion of the hole 32 occupied by the sleeve 6 with a mortar without shrinkage. Thus, it will be possible later to reuse the same injection hole if necessary.

Particularly in the case where the injection gun comprises a supply of compressed air, to actuate the pneumatic cylinder, this compressed air supply can also be used to firstly eliminate the dust caused by the injection hole drilling and on the other hand clean the frustoconical piece 7 possible clogging product deposits that could have occurred. In this case, the supply of compressed air is directed into the space between the protective tube 20 and the second tube 3 to the end of the injection head 31. This compressed air opens through the injection head at the distal opening of the sleeve and arrives directly on the external surface of the frustoconical piece 7.

This frustoconical piece 7 may be stainless steel or synthetic material. The flexible tube acting as a sleeve may also be in a synthetic material but which is flexible and sufficiently deformable to lead to the result described above.

The admissions 8, 11 of chemical solutions are connected to a pump connected on the one hand to a hydraulic unit and on the other hand to the containers containing said solutions. It is this pump that ensures the supply of chemical solution. It is connected to the injection gun 30 at the beginning of operation and disconnected at the end of operation. There is no loss of product or tedious cleaning. The connection and the disconnection are done in a very simple and fast way.

It can also be provided a discharge lever 10.

Claims (2)

1. A pistol (30) for injecting through an injection, hole (32), a sealing product formed by a mixture of art least two solutions, comprising a tubular injection system which is fed with each of said solutions under pressure, and which is ended with an injection head capable of penetrating into the injection hole, the tubular system including for each solution, an independent transfer conduit emerging from the end of the injection head (31), so that the mixing of the solutions is performed outside the injection head, a first transfer conduit being a tube with a circular cross-section (4), characterized in that said other transfer conduit(s) has(have) an annular cross-section, being delimited by one (3) or several tubes arranged concentrically around the first transfer conduit (4), in that the injection head (31) includes, towards its end, a sleeve (6) crossed by the transfer conduits, and which is expansible, by expansion means, between a rest position in which the injection head (31) may be introduced into the injection hole (32) and an expanded position in which the sleeve is sealably applied onto the walls of the injection hole (32), in that the expansible sleeve (6) is a flexible tube with an elastic radial deformation, in that the expansion means include a part with a frusto-conical shape (7), crossed by the transfer conduits, in that the frusto-conical part (7) and the expansible sleeve (6) may be displaced relatively to each other between a rest position in which the small base of the frustum is in proximity to an aperture of the sleeve (6) and an active position in which the frusto-conical part (7) has forcibly penetrated intro said aperture, increasing the outer diameter of said sleeve (6), in that the tubular system comprises a projective tube (20) containing the transfer conduits and at the end of which the expansible sleeve (6) is attached, in that it comprises a dual action actuator (15), the actuation of which controls the dual relative displacement of the frusto-conical part (7) and of the sleeve (6), in that the body of the dual action actuator (15) is connected to the frusto-conical part (7) via transfer conduits, in that it includes a compressed air supple, connected onto the cylinder of the actuator, and in that the compressed air supply is arranged so that the compressed air is sent intro the space between the protective tube (20) and the transfer conduit (3) right up to the end of the injection head (31), notably for cleaning the frusto-conical part.
2. The injection pistol according to claim 1, characterized in that it includes,

   a) a first subassembly comprising the ducts (9,11) for introducing the solutions, the transfer conduits (3,4), the frusto-conical part (7) and body of the dual action actuator (15),

   b) and a second subassembly comprising a carrying handle (23), the protective tube (20), the sleeve (6) and the cylinder of the dual action actuator (15),

   and in that both subassemblies are connected together through a hinged connection (19) allowing relative longitudinal displacement without any rotation of both subassemblies upon actuating the actuator (15).

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