IL313893B2 - Means and methods for clogging leaks in pipes - Google Patents

Description

313893/ MEANS AND METHODS FOR CLOGGING LEAKS IN PIPES FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention pertains to methods, processes, non-toxic compositions, systems and devices for blocking leaks in pipes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A recognized challenge in sealing leaks within ducts is the difficulty of conveying an adequate number of sealing elements to the leak site, ensuring effective sealing. This problem arises due to the density of these elements, especially in comparison to the fluid flow within the ducts, which often fails to transport sufficient elements to the necessary location. This issue has been addressed in US patent US8950438B2 by Seal-Tite, LLC.

Furthermore, large diameter pipes or ducts necessitate a significant volume of sealing elements to ensure an ample number reach the leak site. Enhancing control over the delivery of these elements to the leak site would significantly improve the cost efficiency of sealing operations while minimizing risks to infrastructure.

Another challenge lies in preventing conveyed sealing elements from dispersing before becoming entrained within the leak. Overcoming this obstacle not only enhances cost efficiency by reducing the amount of sealing composition required but also ensures effective sealing in the duct.

When leaks occur, a pressure differential forms between the duct's interior and exterior, causing fluid flow to transport sealing elements to the leak site. This target area encompasses the duct's interior surface adjacent to or surrounding the leak, including the edges of the duct wall defining the aperture. However, insufficient pressure differentials may impede the movement of sealing elements toward the leak site, necessitating prolonged exposure for successful entrainment.

Various solutions have been proposed, including internally sealing compositions such as pelletized, contact-solvatable, non-remissible, semi-vulcanized butyl rubber compositions (US3912684A), waxes (US4092285A), and Teflon™ fiber sealants (US8210210B2). 313893/ Additionally, the presence of toxic metals like lead and copper in drinking water pipes poses significant health risks, prompting regulatory standards to limit their concentrations. Compliance with these standards, particularly in the EU, has been challenging due to the prevalence of lead pipes in domestic dwellings. Current corrective measures involve chemical treatments, conventional dig and replace methods, and resin-based coatings. However, these methods are often economically inefficient or fail to meet regulatory standards for potable water contact.

Existing coating processes, such as polyurethane coatings, suffer from limitations in coverage and curing times, potentially leading to clogs and leachates. Thus, there is a pressing need for methods, processes, compositions, systems, and devices capable of efficiently applying barrier coatings to the interior of drinking water pipes, effectively reducing corrosion and metal leaching. This need is addressed in EP2744605B1.

Therefore, there is a long-felt and unmet need to provide a cartridge insertable into a water pipe system and positionable in proximity of a pipe defect causing a leakage for repairing the defect.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is hence one object of the invention to disclose a cartridge or kits thereof insertable into a water pipe system and positionable in proximity of a pipe defect causing a leakage for repairing the defect. The aforesaid cartridge comprises: (a) a tube-like hollow shell of a convergent profile with an input located at a broader terminal and an output located at a narrower terminal; (b) a spiral longitudinally distributed along the tube-like hollow shell; (c) a sealing material accommodated within the tube-like hollow shell. The output is arranged to create a drop of water pressure between an inner space of the tube-like hollow shell and neighboring space; the sealing material is configured for expanding in response to the drop of water pressure and clogging the pipe defect.

Another object of the invention is to disclose a method of repairing a defect causing a leakage within a pipe; the aforesaid comprises steps of: (a) providing a cartridge or kits thereof insertable into a water pipe system and positionable in proximity of a pipe defect causing a leakage for repairing the defect; the cartridge comprising: (i) a tube-like hollow shell of a convergent profile with an input located at a broader terminal and an output located at a narrower terminal; (ii) a spiral longitudinally distributed along the tube-like hollow shell; (ii) a sealing material accommodated within the tube-like hollow shell; the output is arranged to 313893/ create a drop of water pressure between an inner space of the tube-like hollow shell and neighboring space; the sealing material is configured for expanding in response to the drop of water pressure and clogging the pipe defect; (b) inserting the cartridge into a defective pipe and positioning the in proximity of the defect; (c) flowing water via the tube-like hollow shell from the input to the output; (d) establishing the drop of water pressure at the output; (e) expanding the sealing material in response to the drop of water pressure; and (f) clogging the pipe defect.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In order to understand the invention and to see how it may be implemented in practice, a plurality of embodiments is adapted to now be described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 a is a schematic cross-sectional view of a cartridge insertable into a water pipe system and positionable in proximity of a pipe defect causing a leakage for repairing the defect.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Before explaining the disclosed embodiments of the present invention in detail it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of the particular arrangements shown since the invention is capable of other embodiments. Also, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

The term " sealant " refers to a suitable composition provided useful for sealing or mitigating leaks in wells, umbilicals, pipework caissons, storage fill lines, flexible or rigid pipes, conduits, ducts, hoses, lines, pipelines, sewers, vents, vessels, tubing, joints and control lines, being oriented in horizontal or vertical manners, downhole lost circulation, drilling losing and non-productive zones, trunk mains, distribution mains, supply pipes, joints, reservoirs, fire systems, washing systems, industrial water pipes, industrial supply pipes, and all of which are considered to fall within the term "vessel".

In one embodiment of the invention, sealant is an in situ activated leak sealing material. In other embodiments, pressure-activated sealant was a multi-dispersed phase system, and the dispersed colloid particles were regular in shape and had a narrow size distribution of e.g., about 350 μm, such as discloses in Xu, Lin, et al. "Systematic experimental investigation on in-situ self-adaptive sealing property of composite pressure-activated sealant for curing minor 313893/ tubular leaks." Energies 13.21 (2020): 5597; Cheng, Liang, Yang Yang, and Jian Chu. "In‐situ microbially induced Ca2+‐alginate polymeric sealant for seepage control in porous materials." Microbial Biotechnology 12.2 (2019): 324-333.; Li, X. L., et al. "Design and development of large-scale in-situ PRACLAY heater test and horizontal high-level radioactive waste disposal gallery seal test in Belgian HADES." Journal of Rock Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering 2.2 (2010): 103-110; and Dry, C. M. "Three designs for the internal release of sealants, adhesives, and waterproofing chemicals into concrete to reduce permeability." Cement and Concrete Research 30.12 (2000): 1969-1977.

In this specification, the term " piping system " relates with one or more lines, flexible or rigid pipes, conduits, ducts, hoses, lines, pipelines, sewers, vents, vessels, tubing, joints and control lines, being oriented in horizontal or vertical manners. The term may mean a structure that includes pipes or lines connecting devices, where "lines" may be substantially the same sense as pipes, the "stream" may mean movement of a fluid through a line or a pipe, and the line, pipe, and stream herein may share the same reference numeral. The term also valid for a system composed of piping segments and piping connection. The term pipe system in the following should be understood to refer to a group of co-operating components. The term should be further understood to mean that these components are hydraulic or pneumatic components.

The term " interior " (or interiorly) refers to a relative position closer to the innermost surface of a member of a piping system, a film, sheet, web, package or other article thereof.

The term " sealant film " refers to a film included interiorly a member of a piping system and involved in the sealing of a member of a piping system. The term " sealant layer " refers to the specific layer or layers of the sealant film involved in the sealing to itself or to pipe portion or to another layer. A sealant film may be monolayer or multilayer. If a sealant film is monolayer, the term "sealant film" is synonymous with the term "sealant layer." Reference is now made to Figure 1 , presenting in a schematic and not-in-scale manner a cartridge insertable into a water pipe system (not shown) and positionable in proximity of a pipe defect causing a leakage for repairing said defect. The cartridge comprises a tube-like hollow shell 100 which is convergently arranged such that an input locates at its broader terminal 10 and an output locates at its narrower terminal 20 . According to one embodiment of the present invention, input terminal 10 has a diameter of 35 mm and output terminal 20 has a diameter of 25 mm. Tube-like hollow shell 100 accommodates spiral 30 spiral longitudinally distributed along said tube-like hollow shell and sealant 40 . Spiral 30 structurally stabilizes 313893/ sealant 40 within tube-like hollow shell 100 . When the cartridge is downstream inserted into the water pipe system and positioned in proximity of a pipe defect causing a leakage, water flow 15 penetrates into tube-like hollow shell 100 via broader terminal 10 , flows along arrows 25 , and reaches narrower terminal 20 . According to Bernoulli's equation of continuity, the water pressure within narrower terminal 20 is higher than in the surrounding space of the damaged pipe (not shown). As described above, sealant expands in response to a drop of water pressure. Numeral 50 refers to an expanded sealant which when is dispensed into surrounding space in which the water pressure is lower than in narrower terminal 20 . Therefore, sealant 40 when dispensed along arrow 55 passes into the expanded state and clogs the pipe defect (not shown).

According to the present invention, a cartridge insertable into a water pipe system and positionable in proximity of a pipe defect causing a leakage for repairing the defect is disclosed. The aforesaid cartridge comprises: (a) a tube-like hollow shell of a convergent profile with an input located at a broader terminal and an output located at a narrower terminal; (b) a spiral longitudinally distributed along the tube-like hollow shell; (c) a sealing material accommodated within the tube-like hollow shell. The output is arranged to create a drop of water pressure between an inner space of the tube-like hollow shell and neighboring space; the sealing material is configured for expanding in response to the drop of water pressure and clogging the pipe defect.

According to another embodiment of the present invention a method of repairing a defect causing a leakage within a pipe is disclosed. The aforesaid comprises steps of: (a) providing a cartridge insertable into a water pipe system and positionable in proximity of a pipe defect causing a leakage for repairing the defect; the cartridge comprising: (i) a tube-like hollow shell of a convergent profile with an input located at a broader terminal and an output located at a narrower terminal; (ii) a spiral longitudinally distributed along the tube-like hollow shell; (ii) a sealing material accommodated within the tube-like hollow shell; the output is arranged to create a drop of water pressure between an inner space of the tube-like hollow shell and neighboring space; the sealing material is configured for expanding in response to the drop of water pressure and clogging the pipe defect; (b) inserting the cartridge into a defective pipe and positioning the in proximity of the defect; (c) flowing water via the tube-like hollow shell from the input to the output; (d) establishing the drop of water pressure at the output; (e) expanding the sealing material in response to the drop of water pressure; and (f) clogging the pipe defect. 313893/ According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, kits and method of using them are disclosed. The kit comprises one or more cartridges or one or more cassette-like sealant containers incorporateable, affixable or otherwise either temporarily or permanently interconnectable with a pipe or piping system to be sealed. According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the kit comprises or may comprise upon demand a sealant initiator, namely one or more compositions configured to initiate or accelerate the activity of the sealant at site of leak. According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the kit comprises or may comprise upon demand a sealant inhibitor, namely one or more compositions configured to inhibition or delay the activity of the sealant at site of leak. According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the kit comprises or provided in connection with one or more members of a group consisting of a mechanical valve; electronically activated shutter; sensor(s) such as pressure gauge sensor, fluid flowmeter, flow analyzer configured, e.g., to detect laminar or turbulent flow characteristics, fluid composition or temperature detector; a communication to an alarm system; a wireless communication system; operation system; processor and an online access to a database.

While the invention has been described, disclosed, illustrated and shown in various terms of certain embodiments or modifications which it has presumed in practice, the scope of the invention is not intended to be, nor should it be deemed to be, limited thereby and such other modifications or embodiments as may be suggested by the teachings herein are particularly reserved especially as they fall within the breadth and scope of the claims here appended. 313893/ CLAIMS 1. A cartridge insertable into a water pipe system and positionable in proximity of a pipe defect causing a leakage for repairing said defect; said cartridge comprising: a. a tube-like hollow shell of a convergent profile with an input located at a broader terminal and an output located at a narrower terminal; b. a spiral longitudinally distributed along said tube-like hollow shell; and c. a sealant accommodated within said tube-like hollow shell; said output is arranged to create a drop of water pressure between an inner space of said tube-like hollow shell and neighboring space; said sealant is configured for expanding in response to said drop of water pressure and clogging said pipe defect. 2. A method of repairing a defect causing a leakage within a pipe; said method comprising steps of: a. providing a cartridge insertable into a water pipe system and positionable in proximity of a pipe defect causing a leakage for repairing said defect; said cartridge comprising: i. a tube-like hollow shell of a convergent profile with an input located at a broader terminal and an output located at a narrower terminal; ii. a spiral longitudinally distributed along said tube-like hollow shell; and iii. a sealant accommodated within said tube-like hollow shell; said output is arranged to create a drop of water pressure between an inner space of said tube-like hollow shell and neighboring space; said sealant is configured for expanding in response to said drop of water pressure and clogging said pipe defect; b. inserting said cartridge into a defective pipe and positioning said in proximity of said defect; c. flowing water via said tube-like hollow shell from said input to said output; d. establishing said drop of water pressure at said output; e. expanding said sealant in response to said drop of water pressure; and f. clogging said pipe defect. 3. Kits for repairing a defect causing a leakage within a pipe comprising the cartridge of claim 1. 313893/ ABSTRACT A cartridge insertable into a water pipe system and positionable in proximity of a pipe defect causing a leakage for repairing the defect comprising: (a) a tube-like hollow shell of a convergent profile with an input located at a broader terminal and an output located at a narrower terminal; (b) a spiral longitudinally distributed along the tube-like hollow shell; and (c) a sealant accommodated within the tube-like hollow shell. The output is arranged to create a drop of water pressure between an inner space of the tube-like hollow shell and neighboring space. The sealant is configured for expanding in response to the drop of water pressure and clogging the pipe defect. 313893/ 1/ Figure 1

Claims (3)

1. A cartridge insertable into a water pipe system and positionable in proximity of a pipe defect causing a leakage for repairing said defect; said cartridge comprising: a. a tube-like hollow shell of a convergent profile with an input located at a broader terminal and an output located at a narrower terminal; b. a spiral longitudinally distributed along said tube-like hollow shell; and c. a sealant accommodated within said tube-like hollow shell; said output is arranged to create a drop of water pressure between an inner space of said tube-like hollow shell and neighboring space; said sealant is configured for expanding in response to said drop of water pressure and clogging said pipe defect.

2. A method of repairing a defect causing a leakage within a pipe; said method comprising steps of: a. providing a cartridge insertable into a water pipe system and positionable in proximity of a pipe defect causing a leakage for repairing said defect; said cartridge comprising: i. a tube-like hollow shell of a convergent profile with an input located at a broader terminal and an output located at a narrower terminal; ii. a spiral longitudinally distributed along said tube-like hollow shell; and iii. a sealant accommodated within said tube-like hollow shell; said output is arranged to create a drop of water pressure between an inner space of said tube-like hollow shell and neighboring space; said sealant is configured for expanding in response to said drop of water pressure and clogging said pipe defect; b. inserting said cartridge into a defective pipe and positioning said in proximity of said defect; c. flowing water via said tube-like hollow shell from said input to said output; d. establishing said drop of water pressure at said output; e. expanding said sealant in response to said drop of water pressure; and f. clogging said pipe defect.

3. Kits for repairing a defect causing a leakage within a pipe comprising the cartridge of claim 1.