GB2563628A

GB2563628A - A pipe seal

Info

Publication number: GB2563628A
Application number: GB1709894.8A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Brown Davy; Naden Thomas
Original assignee: Davy Brown
Current assignee: Davy Brown
Priority date: 2017-06-21
Filing date: 2017-06-21
Publication date: 2018-12-26
Also published as: GB201709894D0

Abstract

A method of sealing an aperture in a pipe comprises providing a patch 10 formed from a material, such as fibre glass, and a wire mesh 14, with the material provided with a resin. The patch is arranged upon an external surface of an inflatable packer 12, which is then positioned appropriately within a pipe 16. The packer is inflated to position the patch over the aperture to be sealed, such as the end of a redundant pipe 18 at a pipe junction, and the resin then adheres the patch to the pipe. The inflatable packer is subsequently removed from the pipe. The wire mesh can be formed from stainless steel. Preferably the material of the patch is impermeable to air and water.

Description

A Pipe Seal

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a device and method for closing off the end of a pipe, particularly where the end of the pipe is at a junction in a pipework system, or sealing a crack or hole in a pipe.

Background to the Invention

Rats often leave drainage and sewer systems through redundant branch lines or holes in defective or displaced pipe work. Modem drain lining systems are often used to seal these defects, but they offer little if no resistance to rats who will chew through the repair.

Other methods for preventing the movement of rats through redundant branch lines or holes in pipework include the application of a mesh to cover the aperture. However, whilst this may be effective against rodents, further complications may arise, for example drain fly may still pass through the aperture or odours may be emitted from the pipe.

Summary of the Invention

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a method of sealing an aperture in a pipe wherein the method comprises the steps of: providing a patch comprising material and a wire mesh adjacent thereto, wherein the material is provided with resin; arranging the patch upon the external surface of an inflatable packer; positioning the inflatable packer within the pipe; inflating the packer to position the patch over the aperture to be sealed; allowing the resin to adhere the patch to the pipe; and removing the inflatable packer.

The method of the present invention allows one to seal the end of a pipe or an aperture, hole, crack or split therein, creating a substantially air tight seal. This prevents the movement of rats through the pipe and also prevents the passage of odours and drain fly therethrough. Whilst previously proposed patches often get their strength from the pipe to which they are attached, the wire mesh of the present invention provides structural rigidity to the pipe, which allows the system to be employed in pipe where the structural integrity of the pipe might be questionable. The wire mesh also reduces the risk of rodent damage from rodents chewing through the patch.

The cured resin secures the patch in place by adhering to the host pipe to which it is connected, completely covering the aperture, crack, hold or opening in the pipe, thereby holding the barrier in place.

An excess resin from the patch may be forced through stainless steel mesh to add adhesion to host pipe. Additionally, some excess resin may ingress into the void that is being covered, thereby strengthening the adhesion to the host pipe and/or providing further strength to the pipe. Whilst it is not a preferred option, it may be that the wire mesh can be substituted with a sheet metal instead.

In the method of the present invention, the patch may be of such thickness that there is only nominal internal diameter loss in the host pipe, which is at least no greater than standard drain lining methods and it may be significantly less loss.

In a preferred arrangement, the material is fibre glass. Whilst other materials, such as felt, might be considered, a disadvantage with such materials is that rodents are able to eat through them. Therefore, the use of fibre glass material in combination with the wire mesh provides a robust and rodent resistant patch. Furthermore, the fibre glass material may be a resin impregnated woven fibre glass mat.

In one arrangement, the aperture is the end of a redundant pipe at a junction with another pipe, This allows for a redundant pipe, particularly a branch pipe, to be sealed to prevent the passage of pests (rodents, drain fly and the like) and gas therethrough.

Advantageously, the wire mesh comprises stainless steel. The use of a non-corrosive marine grade stainless steel barrier allows the patch to operate reliably with such a harsh, damp environment as found in drains.

In one arrangement, the material of the patch is impermeable to fluid. This prevents the passage of fluid through the patch, thus preventing gases passing from the main, host pipe, through the defective wall or into the redundant branch pipe.

The invention extends to a patch comprising a material section affixed to a wire mesh and wherein the material is provided with resin. Preferably, the material is fibre glass and/or the wire mesh is stainless steel and, advantageously, the material is impregnated with resin.

The repair effected by the present invention creates a solid reinforced pipe within the defective host pipe with the patch, which may be in the form of a steel mesh and fibre glass mat, covering the entire internal circumference of the pipe work.

The patch may be pre-assembled, that is to say that the material and wire mesh may be combined in advance, or it may be assembled as it is positioned on the packer, that is to say that the material is applied to the packer and then the wire mesh applied to the material. In either arrangement, the wire mesh is applied to the material to create a patch that is then used to seal part of a pipe.

The mesh may be provided with a cable wire to restrict its expansion to a pre-set diameter. This prevents the inflatable packer applying too greater a force to a structurally weak pipe, which could damage it further.

Brief Description of the Drawings

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a diagram showing a step in the method of the present invention; and Figure 2 is a diagram showing a further step in the method of the present invention, subsequent to Figure 1.

Detailed Description of Exemplary Embodiments

Figures 1 and 2 show a method comprising a first step of wrapping a resin soaked woven fibre glass mat 10 around an inflatable packer 12. A marine grade stainless steel sheet or mesh 14 is then wrapped around the fibre glass mat to create a patch, the packer is then inserted into a first pipe 16 of a drain/sewer system and placed adjacent the end of a redundant branch 18,

The inflatable packer 12 is inflated to the full internal diameter of the pipe, as shown in Figure 2 and the stainless steel sheet/mesh 14 is held mechanically against the wall of the first, or host, pipe 16 until the resin within the mat 10 cures, the inflatable packer 12 is then deflated and removed from the first pipe 16, leaving the patch in adhered to the internal wall of the first pipe 10, thereby blocking access to the redundant branch 18.

Claims

1. A method of sealing an aperture in a pipe wherein the method comprises the steps of: providing a patch comprising material and a wire mesh adjacent thereto, wherein the material is provided with resin; arranging the patch upon the external surface of an inflatable packer; positioning the inflatable packer within the pipe; inflating the packer to position the patch over the aperture to be sealed; allowing the resin to adhere the patch to the pipe; and removing the inflatable packer.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the material is fibre glass.

3. A method according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the aperture is the end of a redundant pipe at a junction with another pipe.

4. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the wire mesh is stainless steel.

5. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the material of the patch is impermeable to air and water.

6. A patch for use in any preceding claim, wherein the patch comprises a material section affixed to a wire mesh and wherein the material is provided with resin.

7. A patch according to claim 6, wherein the material is fibre glass and/or the wire mesh is stainless steel.