GB2249602A

GB2249602A - Repairing pipelines and passageways

Info

Publication number: GB2249602A
Application number: GB9017943A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Eric Wood
Original assignee: Insituform Group Ltd
Current assignee: Insituform Group Ltd
Priority date: 1990-08-15
Filing date: 1990-08-15
Publication date: 1992-05-13
Also published as: GB9017943D0

Abstract

The invention provides that imperfections in the wall of a passageway or pipeline surface are repaired by wiping curable synthetic resin cement or mortar against the surface. The wiping is effected by forming a pool of resin between a first tubular member and the surface, and by everting a second tubular member into the first tubular member to wipe the pool of resin from one end of the passageway or pipeline to the other. The tubular members may be removed and may be formed or rubber or plastics. A camera pig may be used within cold water in the first tubular member to monitor progress. Hot water may be used to even the second member and cure the resin. <IMAGE>

Description

IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO THE REPAIR OF PIPELINES AND PASSAGEWAYS This invention relates to the repair of pipelines and passageways, and seeks to provide a method of filling crevices, cracks, apertures in a pipeline surface with a hardenable material which is fluent when introduced into the cracks and crevices and apertures but which can harden to fill these imperfections for the repair of the pipeline or passageway surface.

It is of course known to use fluent compositions for the repair of pipeline and passageway surfaces for the filling of cracks, apertures and the like, but such methods comprise for example spraying the material onto the pipeline or passageway surface, followed by the pressurising of same onto the surface using an inflatable tube or similar methods, which generally speaking can be wasteful in utilisation of the fluent material.

The present invention is concerned with the provision of an effective application method of applying a fluent composition, typically a curable synthetic resin whereby economic utilisation of the resin will be achieved, and also whereby spraying of the resin onto the pipeline or passageway surface is not necessary.

Although the invention has main application to the applying of synthetic resin to the pipeline or passageway surface, it is appreciated that the invention has wider application and can be utilised for the application of other fluent materials such as morter and cement.

In accordance with the invention, two tubular members are used for the application of the fluent material namely a first tubular member which is applied to the pipeline or passageways surface, and a second tubular member which is everted into and along the first tubular member, and the fluent material is introduced between the surface to be repaired and the first tubular member as a pool or reservoir of material, and by virtue of the eversion of the second tubular member into and along the first tubular member, the fluent material is pressed against the passageway or pipeline surface forcing some of the fluent material into apertures, cracks and fissures i-n that surface, and the residue of the fluent material is wiped along the pipeline or passageway surface as the said eversion proceeds.As a result of this method, the fluent material is pressed against and progressively moved along the pipeline or passageway surface which ensures that all cracks and fissures and apertures are filled with the fluent material. The excess material which reports to the end of the section of the pipeline or passageway thus treated can suitably be collected by an appropriate collection means and therefore there is little or no wastage of the material, which typically will be a curable synthetic resin.

The method is particularly useful for repairing pipelines or passageways which have been relined and the relining has imperfections such as perforations or apertures which need to be reapired by being filled with curable synthetic resin, typically the same curable synthetic resin which is used in the original relining operation. The method may include using a means for introducing the pool or reservoir of resin at the leading end of the section of pipeline or passageway to be treated, and such means may comprise a feed pipe extending from a supply of the resin located at ground level a to position between the first tubular member and the pipeline or passageway surface.

The first and second tubular members typically will be of reinforced rubber, plastic film material or other suitable material.

At the completion of the eversion of the second tubular member, the interior of that tube may be provided with heated liquid or the like in order to cure the resin which has been introduced into the apertures, cracks and the like, and when the curing has been completed, the first and second tube can be removed. The first tube will also be removed or alternatively if it bonds to the cured resin, it may be sacrificed.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described, for example, with reference to the accompanying diagramatic drawings wherein Figs 1, 2 and 3 are similar views but progressively show the method in various stages of the development; Fig 4 illustrates to an enlarged scale how resin is pressed against the pipeline or passageway surface at the leading end, at an intermediate position, and the trailing end of the pipeline or passageway section to be treated.

Referring to the drawings, a section of underground pipeline or passageway to be treated is illustrated, and it extends between a pair of man-holes. That section of pipeline or passageway may have a relatively poor surface in that it may have cracks, apertures, fissures and the like which have to be filled with the fluent material, or alternatively the pipeline or passageway section may have previously been lined by means of a resin impregnated liner comprising typically a layer of film imprenated with synthetic resin and which has been cured in place, but which for some reaaon or other has imperfections therein in the form of apertures or perforations which must be filled with replacement resin.

To effect the treatment of the pipeline or passageway section shown and in accordance with the method of the invention, a first flexible tube is placed into position to line the pipeline or passageway section, so that the ends thereof extend to ground level as shown. This flexible tube is applied to the passageway surface by filling same with clean cold water, and a resin supply has a filling or inlet pipe which extends in the vacinity of the leading end of the pipeline section to a location between the first lining tube and the pipeline or passageway surface to be treated.

A resin outlet tube is connected in the location between the first tube and the pipeline or passageway surface and a collection vessalfor the collection of surplus resin as will be explained.

A camera is immersed in the cold water in the first tube as shown so as to enable the viewing of the installation to take place in a camera truck at ground level.

A second tube is inverted into the first tube as shown in Fig 2 after the resin is introuduced at the leading end of the pipeline or passageway section between the first tube and the pipeline or passageway surface. The second tube is everted, as shown, using hot water, into and completely along the first tube with the result that the resin is forced against the pipeline or passageway surface to be repaired, and also is progressively pushed forwards until it reaches the end of the pipeline or passageway section at which location any excess resin is returned via the outlet pipe to the collection reservoir so that there is minimal or no wastage of resin. The cracks, Eissures and apertures in the pipeline or passageway surface will in the meantime have been filled with the resin material. The heat from the hot water inside the second tube effects curing of this resin which has been placed in the apertures and cracks where it eventually hardens effective repair of the pipeline or passageway surface.

Fig. 4 show in greater detail how the resin enters the appertures, perforations, cracks and fissures and also the inlet and outlet pipes are shown to indicate the resin is delivered to a position between the first tube and the pipeline or passageway surface, and how the surplus resin is discharged into the collection reservoir.

Claims

1. A method of preparing pipelines or passageways wherein two tubular members are used for the application of the fluent material namely a first tubular member which is applied to the pipeline or passageways surface, and a second tubular member which is everted into and along the first tubular member, and the fluent material is introduced between the surface to be repaired and the first tubular member as a pool or reservoir of material, and by virtue of the eversion of the second tubular member into and along the first tubular member, the fluent material is pressed against the passageway or pipeline surface forcing some of the fluent material into apertures, cracks and fissures in that surface, and the residue of the fluent material is wiped along the pipeline or passageway surface as the said eversion proceeds.

2. A method according to Claim I which is used for repairing pipelines or passageways which have been re-lined and the relining has imperfections.

3. A method according to Claim 1 or 2 including a means for introducing the pool or reservoir of resin at the leading end of the section of pipeline or passageway to be treated.

4. A method according to Claim 3 wherein said means comprises a feed pipe extending from a supply of the resin located at ground level to a position between the first tubular member and the pipeline or passageway surface.

5. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the first and second tubular members are of reinforced rubber plastics film material or other suitable material.

6. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein at the completion of the eversion of the second tubular member, the interior of that tubular member is provided with heated liquid or the like in order to cure the resin which has been introduced into the apertures, cracks and the like.

7. A method according to Claim 6 wherein when the curing has been completed, the first and second tubular members are removed.

8. A method according to any of Claims 1 - 6 wherein the first tubular member remains bonded to the cured resin.

9. A method of repairing pipelines and passageways substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.