GB2444067A - Water mains inspection and servicing - Google Patents
Water mains inspection and servicing Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2444067A GB2444067A GB0623477A GB0623477A GB2444067A GB 2444067 A GB2444067 A GB 2444067A GB 0623477 A GB0623477 A GB 0623477A GB 0623477 A GB0623477 A GB 0623477A GB 2444067 A GB2444067 A GB 2444067A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- inspection
- channel
- servicing
- cover
- fire hydrant
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 title claims abstract description 37
- 238000007689 inspection Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 35
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 claims description 6
- 238000004891 communication Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 230000000903 blocking effect Effects 0.000 abstract description 2
- 238000012423 maintenance Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000005259 measurement Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000012544 monitoring process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000000284 resting effect Effects 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16L—PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16L55/00—Devices or appurtenances for use in, or in connection with, pipes or pipe systems
- F16L55/10—Means for stopping flow from or in pipes or hoses
- F16L55/12—Means for stopping flow from or in pipes or hoses by introducing into the pipe a member expandable in situ
- F16L55/124—Means for stopping flow from or in pipes or hoses by introducing into the pipe a member expandable in situ introduced radially into the pipe or hose
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16L—PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16L55/00—Devices or appurtenances for use in, or in connection with, pipes or pipe systems
- F16L55/26—Pigs or moles, i.e. devices movable in a pipe or conduit with or without self-contained propulsion means
- F16L55/46—Launching or retrieval of pigs or moles
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16L—PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16L2101/00—Uses or applications of pigs or moles
- F16L2101/30—Inspecting, measuring or testing
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
- Fire-Extinguishing By Fire Departments, And Fire-Extinguishing Equipment And Control Thereof (AREA)
Abstract
An inspection or servicing system for mains water pipes, comprises a cover 22 for attachment to a fire hydrant opening 20; a channel 36 running through the cover 22; a slidable rod 24 passing through the channel and sealed within the channel; and an inspection or servicing device (26, figure 1) at one end of the slidable rod 24. This system enables an inspection or servicing device to be fed into a fire hydrant opening 20. The cover 22 seals the opening so that the inspection or servicing can be carried out at mains pressure. The servicing device may be an inflatable bag for blocking flow along the pipe. A steering device 50 may be provided at a lower end of the channel 36, for directing the inspection or servicing device into the pipe.
Description
WATER MAINS INSPECTION AND SERVICING
Field of the invention
This invention relates to the inspection and servicing of mains water systems.
Backaround of the invention
Within the water industry, there is an increasing demand for routine repair works and maintenance/rehabilitation works to be carried out without disruption of the water network services. Thus, there is a desire to maintain operational pressures and flows.
Summary of the invention
According to the invention, there is provided an inspection or servicing system for mains water pipes, comprising: a cover for attachment to a fire hydrant opening; a channel running through the cover; a slidable rod passing through the channel and sealed within the channel; and an inspection or servicing device at one end of the slidable rod.
This system enables an inspection or servicing device to be fed into the fire hydrant opening. The cover seals the opening so that the inspection or servicing can be carried out at mains pressure.
The cover may comprise an elongate chamber with the channel running through a central elongate axis of the chamber.
The cover may have a lower portion for fluid communication with the fire hydrant opening, an upper portion, and a centring device between the upper and lower portions. The centring device is preferably coupled to an end of the channel and is slidable so that the channel can be raised and lowered. This enables the inspection or servicing device to be attached to an end of the channel and then retracted into the cover before it is used. The cover can be filled with pressurised water, so that the inspection or servicing device is in equilibrium and can easily be pushed into the mains water flow.
A steering device may be provided at a lower end of the channel, for directing an inspection or servicing device into the mains water pipe.
The invention also provides a method of inspecting or servicing a mains water pipes, comprising: fitting a cover over a fire hydrant opening, an inspection or servicing device being coupled to the cover and connected to one end of a rod which passes through a channel which runs through the cover; and feeding the rod through the channel to push the inspection or servicing device into the mains water pipe.
The invention thus provides a launch chamber as a way of entering engineering tools and inspection devices into the water main without causing disruption to the
Brief description of the drawings
Examples of the invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows an arrangement of the invention; and Figure 2 shows the internal components of the arrangement of Figure 1 in more detail.
Detailed description
The invention provides a launch chamber for launching an inspection or servicing device into a mains water pipe, and which allows operational pressures and flows within the water system to be maintained.
Figure 1 shows the basic layout of the system of the invention.
A mains water pipe 10 carries a pressurised water flow 12. At a point along the pipe 10, there is an existing fire hydrant, which comprises a riser section 14 and a valve section 16. The valve section 16 has a control handle 18 which controls the flow of water from the mains pipe to an outlet 20 of the fire hydrant.
The invention provides a launch chamber 22 in the form of a cover used for launching equipment into the mains water flow and which is coupled to the outlet 20.
Figure 1 shows a control rod 24 passing through the chamber 22, and used to push a device 26 into the mains pipe 10 from an initial launch position shown as 28.
The chamber is shown in more detail in Figure 2.
The chamber comprises a tubular section housing fitted with a female London round thread (6.35cm) at one lower end, to match existing fire hydrant outlets 20: The upper end has an air vent valve 30 and an optional pressure gauge 32. The rod 24 is fed in from the top end, and this may be a manual operation, or else a power feed mechanism may be used. This is shown schematically as 34.
The device has a cylindrical outer shape, and there is an inner channel 36 through which the rod 24 passes. At the top end of the device, a seal (or double seal) 38 is fitted around the channel 36. Figure 2 also shows a locking device 40 for locking the rod feed, and this can also provide a distance measurement function. It has an outer seal 41 closing the channel 36. A chamber refill inlet valve is shown as 42.
The chamber has an upper internal portion 44 and a lower internal portion 46. A movable centring device 48 is fitted near to an end of the inner channel 36, and has an array of holes so that the upper and lower internal portions are in fluid connection.
The lower end of the channel 36 is provided with a launch foot 50, which is a seat to define the starting position for the inspection or servicing device. The device may be larger than the bore of the channel 36, as it starts below the channel 36.
The launch foot also acts as a steering device to ensure the initial feeding of the device into the mains system allows it to pass the valve components of the fire hydrant correctly.
In use (as will be described below) the chamber is filled or partially filled with water, and this may be accompanied by some sliding of the centring device 48 as it fills. This filling causes the inspection device to be subjected to the mains pressure before it is moved into and along the mains pipe. The device is designed to operate at 16 bar water pressure.
Initially (with the chamber detached from the fire hydrant), the central channel 36 is lowered so that the end projects beyond the lower end of the outer housing, and in this way the monitoring or servicing equipment can be attached to the end of the control rod 24 and seated in the launch foot 50. With the equipment attached, the channel 36 can be withdrawn so that the equipment is contained in the chamber.
A blanking cap (not shown) is then removed from the fire hydrant outlet 20. The water tight pressure seal 41 is checked for correct seating around the rod 24 connected to the device, situated at the top of the device. With the valve 16 closed, the chamber and contained equipment 26 is fitted onto the outlet 20. The device is screwed to fire hydrant outlet using the standard thread, and the fire hydrant valve 16 is opened to allow the device to pressurise.
This involves the air within the chamber being vented by the air vent 30, which is a manually operated valve. This releases the air pressure and allows the water to fill the device. The water passes through the openings in the flange around the centring device 48, and there may also be some upward movement of the centring device 48. The inspection or servicing device is then submerged in pressurised water.
Once pressurized, the channel 36 can be raised and lowered, and this enables the equipment 26 to be moved to its desired starting position, with the launch foot resting at the base of the fire hydrant head, as shown in Figure 2.
The inspection or servicing device 26 can be fed through the hydrant outlet by feeding the rod 24 connected to the inspection or servicing device into the chamber.
When the inspection or servicing device has reached its required position within the mains water system, the feeding of the tube can be stopped and locked using the mechanism 40. The feeding can be done manually and/or by an automated drive system 34.
The launch chamber can be used with both standard types of fire hydrant, namely those with fixed and those with loose jumpers (the jumper is the valve closure device). The fixed jumper is the most common fire hydrant. A fixed jumper opens and closes via a screw thread incorporated in the valve body and is fixed in position.
A loose jumper hydrant opens via the use of a screw thread and is then held in the open position by the pressure of the water flow. If the pressure drops and the flow stops the loose jumper will drop and reseat to prevent any back flow.
To ensure the loose jumper remains in the open position whilst inspection and engineering tools are deployed within the pipework, the launch foot 50 for use with a loose jumper fire hydrant will sit beneath the jumper, as shown in Figure 2. In this way, the launch foot 50 (and control rod 24) acts as a wedge to prevent the valve closing once the device of the invention is in use.
Whilst the chamber is being vented, a flow of water is created through the chamber hence the jumper is raised. At this point, the launch foot can be inserted into the valve and located beneath the jumper. Thus, the channel 36 is lowered so that the launch foot is in position while the chamber is filling with water. The launch foot 50 then prevents the jumper from dropping into its closed position when the pressure is equalised between the mains flow and the chamber. It is noted that these measures are only needed for loose jumper fire hydrants.
The launch foot 50 will be inserted into the same location for a fixed jumper fire hydrant but will not need to act as a device for holding open the jumper.
The inspection or servicing device can be fed bi-directionally through the live water mains, in order to allow full internal inspection/maintenance to be carried out. At the end of the operation, it can be retracted back through the hydrant and passed, past the hydrant valve, into the chamber, simply by reversing the feed direction of the tube 24.
The fire hydrant valve is then closed to allow the chamber to be de-pressurised using valve 30. This releases pressure to the atmosphere to allow the launch chamber to be removed.
The device can be used to enable replacement of the fire hydrant, and this can be achieved by inserting inflatable bags into the mains to act as temporary blockages, and temporary bypass passages can then be installed which bypass the hydrant, to enable its removal.
The valve 42 is used in this situation when the launch chamber has been removed to enable replacement of the fire hydrant. The launch chamber is reattached to the new hydrant and is used to remove the deflated bag. To stop the bag being forced up into the hydrant when the bag pressure is released, the launch chamber is filled with water using the valve 42. The water in the launch chamber will quickly pressurize to the system pressure before retrieving the bag from the hydrant and pulling the bag into the launch chamber.
Thus, generally, the valve 42 enables the launch chamber to be filled with water before opening the hydrant valve, if this is required.
The inspection or servicing device can take many forms, including inflatable bags for blocking fluid flow as mentioned above, hydrophones, and any other associated engineering tool or inspection device, Inflatable bags may for example be used to block fluid flow to allow the fire hydrant itself to be replaced or serviced, or they may be used to provide interruption of fluid flow further downstream.
Various modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art.
Claims (7)
- Claims 1. An inspection or servicing system for mains water pipes,comprising: a cover for attachment to a fire hydrant opening; a channel running through the cover; a slidable rod passing through the channel and sealed within the channel; and an inspection or servicing device at one end of the slidable rod.
- 2. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cover comprises an elongate chamber with the channel running through a central elongate axis of the chamber.
- 3. A system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the cover has a lower portion for fluid communication with the fire hydrant opening, an upper portion, and a centring device between the upper and lower portions.
- 4. A system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the centring device is coupled to an end of the channel and is slidable so that the channel can be raised and lowered.
- 5. A system as claimed in claim 3 or 4, wherein the upper portion is vented.
- 6. A system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a steering device is provided at a lower end of the channel, for directing an inspection or servicing device into the mains water pipe.
- 7. A method of inspecting or servicing a mains water pipes, comprising: fitting a cover over a fire hydrant opening, an inspection or servicing device being coupled to the cover and connected to one end of a rod which passes through a channel which runs through the cover; and feeding the rod through the channel to push the inspection or servicing device into the mains water pipe.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB0623477A GB2444067A (en) | 2006-11-24 | 2006-11-24 | Water mains inspection and servicing |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB0623477A GB2444067A (en) | 2006-11-24 | 2006-11-24 | Water mains inspection and servicing |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB0623477D0 GB0623477D0 (en) | 2007-01-03 |
| GB2444067A true GB2444067A (en) | 2008-05-28 |
Family
ID=37636456
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB0623477A Withdrawn GB2444067A (en) | 2006-11-24 | 2006-11-24 | Water mains inspection and servicing |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2444067A (en) |
Cited By (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2460635A (en) * | 2008-05-31 | 2009-12-09 | P N Daly Ltd | Inspection assembly for a buried pipe |
| GB2524083A (en) * | 2014-03-14 | 2015-09-16 | P N Daly Ltd | Hydrant configuration |
| US20190024837A1 (en) * | 2015-07-31 | 2019-01-24 | Rosen Swiss Ag | Apparatus for Launching and Receiving a Pig Into or From a Pipeline |
| WO2019175551A1 (en) * | 2018-03-10 | 2019-09-19 | Qinov8 Uk Ltd | System and method for locating leaks in pipelines |
| GB2589977A (en) * | 2019-10-22 | 2021-06-16 | Fidotech Ltd | Method and system for sensor device deployment |
Citations (10)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB1531213A (en) * | 1975-11-10 | 1978-11-08 | Petrone J | Gas main stopper |
| US4492095A (en) * | 1981-12-08 | 1985-01-08 | Brister, Incorporated | Apparatus and method for forming a temporary plug in a fluid conduit |
| GB2230060A (en) * | 1989-01-05 | 1990-10-10 | Stortford Engineering Designs | Pressure balanced retriever |
| GB2292987A (en) * | 1994-09-09 | 1996-03-13 | British Gas Plc | Pig launcher |
| DE19530962A1 (en) * | 1995-08-23 | 1997-02-27 | Vew En Ag | Device for putting inflatable locking balloons in pipelines |
| EP0989344A1 (en) * | 1998-08-31 | 2000-03-29 | Van Beugen Beheer B.V. | Shut-off device for a pipe |
| GB2355507A (en) * | 1999-09-07 | 2001-04-25 | Wrc Plc | Deployment of equipment into fluid containers and conduits |
| DE19953423A1 (en) * | 1999-11-06 | 2001-05-10 | Jt Elektronik Gmbh | Inspection of underground pressure pipes for fresh water or gas, by lowing testing unit through connection unit placed on hydrant |
| WO2002021037A1 (en) * | 2000-09-05 | 2002-03-14 | Lattice Intellectual Property Ltd. | Method and apparatus for inserting rodlike tools into pipelines |
| JP2004290716A (en) * | 2003-03-25 | 2004-10-21 | Kurimoto Ltd | Method for discharging impurities in pipe and discharge appliance |
-
2006
- 2006-11-24 GB GB0623477A patent/GB2444067A/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (10)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB1531213A (en) * | 1975-11-10 | 1978-11-08 | Petrone J | Gas main stopper |
| US4492095A (en) * | 1981-12-08 | 1985-01-08 | Brister, Incorporated | Apparatus and method for forming a temporary plug in a fluid conduit |
| GB2230060A (en) * | 1989-01-05 | 1990-10-10 | Stortford Engineering Designs | Pressure balanced retriever |
| GB2292987A (en) * | 1994-09-09 | 1996-03-13 | British Gas Plc | Pig launcher |
| DE19530962A1 (en) * | 1995-08-23 | 1997-02-27 | Vew En Ag | Device for putting inflatable locking balloons in pipelines |
| EP0989344A1 (en) * | 1998-08-31 | 2000-03-29 | Van Beugen Beheer B.V. | Shut-off device for a pipe |
| GB2355507A (en) * | 1999-09-07 | 2001-04-25 | Wrc Plc | Deployment of equipment into fluid containers and conduits |
| DE19953423A1 (en) * | 1999-11-06 | 2001-05-10 | Jt Elektronik Gmbh | Inspection of underground pressure pipes for fresh water or gas, by lowing testing unit through connection unit placed on hydrant |
| WO2002021037A1 (en) * | 2000-09-05 | 2002-03-14 | Lattice Intellectual Property Ltd. | Method and apparatus for inserting rodlike tools into pipelines |
| JP2004290716A (en) * | 2003-03-25 | 2004-10-21 | Kurimoto Ltd | Method for discharging impurities in pipe and discharge appliance |
Cited By (8)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2460635A (en) * | 2008-05-31 | 2009-12-09 | P N Daly Ltd | Inspection assembly for a buried pipe |
| GB2460635B (en) * | 2008-05-31 | 2012-04-11 | P N Daly Ltd | Inspection assembly conduit assembly and construction method for buried pipe inspection |
| GB2524083A (en) * | 2014-03-14 | 2015-09-16 | P N Daly Ltd | Hydrant configuration |
| US20190024837A1 (en) * | 2015-07-31 | 2019-01-24 | Rosen Swiss Ag | Apparatus for Launching and Receiving a Pig Into or From a Pipeline |
| US10619784B2 (en) * | 2015-07-31 | 2020-04-14 | Rosen Swiss Ag | Apparatus for launching and receiving a pig into or from a pipeline |
| WO2019175551A1 (en) * | 2018-03-10 | 2019-09-19 | Qinov8 Uk Ltd | System and method for locating leaks in pipelines |
| CN111868496A (en) * | 2018-03-10 | 2020-10-30 | 英国奎因诺夫8有限公司 | Pipeline leakage positioning system and method |
| GB2589977A (en) * | 2019-10-22 | 2021-06-16 | Fidotech Ltd | Method and system for sensor device deployment |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB0623477D0 (en) | 2007-01-03 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| WAP | Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1) |