JP2003240186A - Existing pipe repair device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a device detecting a leakage position of an existing pipe and repairing it by just providing a small-scale construction and labor and dispensing with large-scale and complicated processes, irrelevant to whether the existing pipe is buried in the ground or laid on the ground. <P>SOLUTION: This existing pipe repairing device G is provided with a pair of bags B retaining an inspection object region C in the existing pipe in its hermetically sealed state in its inflated state, a communication part 13 communicating from the upstream side to the downstream side of the inspection object region C in its hermetically sealed state, a pressure fluid feed pipe 3 feeding the fluid for pressurizing the inspection object region C, pressure change detecting means 14 detecting the pressure change in the inspection object region C, and a seal material feed pipe 2 filling the inspection object region C with a sealing material S. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a device for repairing an existing pipe, and more specifically, it repairs an existing pipe by detecting a leaked portion in a state where a fluid flows in the existing pipe and repairing the leaked portion at the same time. Regarding the device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Existing pipes including gas supply pipes are laid on the ground,
Or, regardless of whether it is laid underground, there is an opportunity to leak fluid such as gas flowing inside the existing pipe. For example, with the passage of time, there is a possibility that leakage points may occur in the joint part due to loosening of the joint part and deterioration of the sealing material,
Such existing pipes are subject to regular repair and inspection work.

In order to inspect and repair the presence or absence of gas leak points in the existing pipe, conventionally, for example, a device for detecting the leak point is inserted into the existing pipe, and the inspection target region is hermetically held by the device. After the pressure is applied, the change in pressure is detected to detect the location of the gas leak, and then a device that repairs the location of the leak is inserted into this existing pipe, and the sealing material is injected into the location of the gas leak to detect the location of the gas leak. It was repairing.

[0004]

Therefore, in the above-mentioned conventional device, the device for detecting the leaked part and the device for repairing the leaked part have different configurations, and the devices are installed inside the existing pipe. It was extremely troublesome to detect and repair the leaked part of the existing pipe while taking it in and out.

The present invention focuses on such a conventional problem, and its purpose is large-scale and complicated irrespective of an existing pipe buried underground or an existing pipe laid on the ground. An object of the present invention is to provide a device for detecting and repairing a leaked portion of an existing pipe, which requires only a minimum amount of construction work and labor without requiring any special process.

[0006]

[Structure] A characteristic structure of the invention of claim 1 for achieving the above object is an apparatus G for repairing an existing pipe as shown in FIGS. 1 to 6. A pair of bags B for holding the inspection target area C in the existing pipe A in a closed state in an expanded state, and a communication portion 13 that communicates from the upstream side to the downstream side of the inspection target area C in the closed state, A pressurized fluid supply pipe 3 that supplies a fluid for pressurizing the inspection target area C, a pressure change detection unit 14 that detects a pressure change in the inspection target area C, and a sealing material S in the inspection target area C. The seal material supply pipe 2 for filling is provided.

The characterizing feature of the second aspect of the invention is shown in FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 3, the bag B is configured to be inflatable and defensible, and an inflation fluid supply pipe 5 is connected to the inside of the bag B. Supply of fluid through the inflation fluid supply pipe 5 and The bag B is configured to expand and contract by discharging.

As shown in FIG. 6, the sealant supply pipe 2 and the pressurized fluid supply pipe 3 are part of the supply pipe via the flow path switching means 4 as shown in FIG. It's about to be shared.

The characteristic configuration of the invention of claim 4 is as shown in FIGS.
As shown in the figure, the in-pipe inspection camera 9 is provided so as to be attachable.

As mentioned above, the reference numerals have been shown for the sake of convenience in comparison with the drawings, but the present invention is not limited to the configuration of the accompanying drawings by the entry.

[Operation and Effect] According to the invention of claim 1, a pair of bags for holding the inspection target region in the existing pipe in a sealed state, and the inspection target region in the sealed state are communicated from the upstream side to the downstream side. By providing the existing pipe repairing device with the communicating portion, it is possible to hermetically maintain the inspection target region, and at the same time, allow the fluid flowing in the existing pipe to communicate with the inspection target region. That is, it becomes possible to perform the airtight test and repair the leaked portion without stopping the flow of the fluid in the existing pipe. Furthermore, this repair device
Since the pressurizing fluid supply pipe and the flexible sealing material supply pipe are provided, the leaked area is detected by pressurizing this inspection target area to perform the airtight leak test and the pressure change detection means, and at the same time, It becomes possible to fill and repair the leaking portion with the sealing material, and the leaking portion of the existing pipe can be easily repaired.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the bag is configured to be inflatable and defensible, and an inflating fluid supply pipe is connected to the inside of the bag. Since the bag is configured to inflate and deflate by supplying and discharging the fluid, it is possible to repeat the process of repeating inflation and deflation. Therefore, in this existing pipe, when moving the region to be inspected at a plurality of locations, in a state where the bag is inflated, there is a possibility that the region that comes into contact with the inner diameter portion of the existing pipe during movement may be damaged. By contracting, the bag can be moved to a further inspection target region without damaging the bag, and an airtight leakage test can be performed in a plurality of inspection target regions.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the sealant supply pipe and the pressurized fluid supply pipe partially share the supply pipe via the flow path switching means, so that the structure of the supply pipe is simplified. Is possible. Therefore, since the repair device has a simple structure, the maintenance and inspection work of the repair device can be facilitated.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the in-pipe inspection camera is provided in the repair apparatus main body, the leakage location in the existing pipe can be visually confirmed based on the imaging information supplied by the in-pipe inspection camera. It becomes possible to detect. Moreover, if necessary, it is also possible to confirm the presence or absence of the leaked portion by the above airtight leak test. Therefore, the leak location in the existing pipe can be detected easily and reliably based on the visual information.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of an existing pipe repair device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[First Embodiment] This existing pipe repair device G
As shown in FIG. 1, (hereinafter, abbreviated as repair device G) supplies city gas to an apartment house or the like,
And is used for repairing a fluid supply pipe such as an existing pipe A connected by a socket-like joint portion W.
It is used to detect a gas leakage point E which is feared to exist inside the building, and is remotely operated by the inspection unit D installed on the floor of the condominium.

As shown in FIG. 1, the reel R is for winding the insertion hose I, and the seal material supply pipe 2, the pressurized fluid supply pipe 3, and the expansion fluid supply pipe 5 are inserted into the reel R. Each of them is connected to a flexible pipe which is contained in the hose I and is arranged at the center of a main body frame provided on the reel R, and the seal material supply pipe 2 is connected to a seal material supply portion (not shown). The pressurized fluid supply pipe 3 is connected to a pressurized fluid supply unit (not shown), and the expansion fluid supply pipe 5 is connected to an expansion fluid supply unit (not shown).

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the inspection unit D displays an image provided by an in-pipe inspection camera 9 which will be described later, and the inside of an inspection target area C which is set in the existing pipe A and which will be described later. Monitor 10 for displaying information such as pressure change, a control unit 11 for controlling the entire amount of the insertion hose I from the reel R and for controlling the entire device, and for driving the repair device G. A power supply device 12 is provided, and a transmission cable 6 and a power supply cable 7 housed inside a waterproof covering cylinder 8 are appropriately connected to the inspection unit D.

2 to 4, the repair device G determines the position of the gas leakage point E which is likely to be present inside the existing pipe A having the socket-like joint portion W, as shown in FIGS. , The inspection target area C shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.
By carrying out an airtight leak test while holding the
After confirming the presence or absence of the gas leakage location E, it is used for extracting and repairing the sealing material S, for example, a device used for maintenance and inspection work that is regularly performed. Is. Examples of the sealing material S include, but are not limited to, a reaction-curable epoxy resin-based sealing material and the like.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the repair device G is provided with a main body portion 16 and an outer peripheral edge portion of the main body portion 16 of the repair device G, and is remotely operated by the inspection unit D. Two bag units B, which are inflated in the radial direction of the existing pipe A, are provided at the front and rear ends of the main body 16 in the laying direction of the existing pipe A, one at a time and a total of two at a time.

On the outer peripheral surface of the main body 16 of the repair device G, there is provided a fluid supply port 22 that opens inside each of the bag portions B. The fluid supply ports 22 branch inside the repair device main body 16 and are connected to the inner wall side of the bag B, respectively, and are connected to an expansion fluid supply unit (not shown) arranged on the floor. Has been done. The expansion fluid supplied by the expansion fluid supply unit is preferably, but not limited to, city gas.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the bag portion B expands into a donut shape when the expansion fluid is supplied from the fluid supply port 22, and the bag portion is formed in the inner diameter portion of the existing pipe A. The outer peripheral surface of B is in close contact. Therefore, the repair device G
However, it is fixedly held in the region of the inspection target region C that includes the gas leakage point E that is likely to exist in the existing pipe A.

A sealant supply ring 18 is built in the central portion of the repair device main body 16. A plurality of sealing material supply ports 20 are provided at regular intervals on the outer diameter side of the sealing material supply ring 18, that is, on the main body surface side of the repair device main body 16. By passing through the sealing material supply port 20, the sealing material S can be supplied over almost the entire area included in the inspection target area C. The sealing material supply ring 18 is provided in the repair device body 1
6 and is connected to the seal material supply pipe 2 included in the insertion hose I. The sealing material S is supplied from the sealing material supply unit (not shown) installed on the floor as described above.

The main body 16 of the repair device G is provided with a pressurized fluid supply pipe 3 for supplying a fluid for pressurizing the region C to be inspected. The pressurized fluid supply pipe 3 is enclosed in the insertion hose I, and is bent in the existing pipe radial direction at a substantially central portion inside the main body portion 16 to form an opening portion 15 provided in a central portion of the main body portion 16. Connecting. A check valve 17 is provided in the opening 15 to prevent the fluid pressurizing the inspection target region C from flowing back into the pressurized fluid supply pipe 3.

A communication portion 13 penetrates through the central portion of the repair device main body portion 16. The communicating portion 13 is in a state in which the repair device G supplies the seal material S to the inspection target area C where the gas leakage location E is concerned, that is, even when the bag portion B is inflated. The communication portion 13 penetrates substantially the central portion of each bag B, and the fluid F can communicate with the inside thereof. Therefore, even when the sealing material S is drawn into the inspection target area C, the active tube state of the existing tube A is maintained.

At the front and rear ends of the bag portion B, bag fixing means 23 are arranged in close contact with each other. The bag portion B is fixed to the repair device main body 16 via the bag fixing means 23.

A pressure change detecting means 14 is provided on the surface of the central portion of the main body 16 of the repair device G, that is, on the region where the region C to be inspected is formed. By using this pressure change detection means 14, the leak location E can be detected by detecting the pressure change after the inspection target region C is sealed and pressurized. As the pressure change detection unit 14, for example, a pressure change detection sensor or the like can be used, but the pressure change detection unit 14 is not limited to this.

Next to the main body 16 of the repair device G, a metal head H is provided. The insertion hose I surrounded by the protection spring 28 is connected between the repair device G and the head portion H.

The head portion H is equipped with an in-pipe inspection camera 9 and a small lamp (not shown). A transmission cable 6 and a power supply cable 7 are connected to the in-pipe inspection camera 9 and the small lamp, respectively. The transmission cable 6 and the power supply cable 7 are included in the waterproof covering cylinder 8, and the waterproof covering cylinder 8 is stored inside the insertion hose I.

The process of detecting and repairing the gas leakage point E in the existing pipe A using the repair device G will be described below.

Existing pipe A which is a target in the first embodiment
An example of a branch pipe P is a branch pipe P that supplies city gas or the like to a housing complex such as a condominium, as shown in FIG. A plurality of branch pipes P are branched in parallel from the main pipe buried in, and the city gas supplied by the branch pipes P is supplied to the houses on each floor through the on-off valve 26, the L-shaped pipe 27 and the gas meter GM. Is configured to be supplied to.

When the branch pipe P is to be inspected / repaired, as shown in FIG.
When the gas meter GM is connected via the L-shaped pipe 27 and the L-shaped pipe 27, the L-shaped pipe 27 is removed and the introduction adapter ID is attached to the opening / closing valve 26. Next, the repair device G is inserted into the branch pipe P via the adapter ID. In this case, the inspection unit D and the reel R are arranged on the floor of the condominium.

An image of the inside of the branch pipe P obtained by the in-pipe inspection camera 9 provided in the head portion H is provided in the inspection unit D installed on the floor and is connected to the transmission cable 6. While being monitored by the monitor TV 10, the insertion hose I is sequentially fed out from the reel R. Then, while gradually inserting the repairing device G into the inside of the branch pipe P, a gas leakage point E inside the branch pipe P is searched.

When a gas leakage point E is suspected of being detected on the basis of the image pickup information obtained from the in-pipe inspection camera 9 provided in the head section H, the image pickup information is used for the detection. After guiding the repair device G to the gas leakage point E, the fluid is supplied from the inflation fluid supply section (not shown) to the inside of the bag section B through the inflation fluid supply pipe 5, whereby The bag part B is inflated. When the bag part B is expanded, the outer peripheral surface of the bag part B is elastically brought into close contact with the inner diameter part of the branch pipe P, so that the bag part B is fixed and supported in a region including the inspection target region C.

After confirming that the airtightness of the region C to be inspected is ensured, the pressurized fluid L supplied from the pressurized fluid supply unit is supplied to the pressurized fluid supply pipe 3 and the opening 15. It is supplied and pressurized to the region C to be inspected through.
The pressure change detection means 14 indicates that the pressure has been increased to a constant pressure.
After confirming with the control unit 11 via the, pressurization is stopped immediately. Next, when the pressure drop is detected in the inspection target area C, it is determined that the gas leakage point E exists in the inspection target area C.

Next, the sealing material S is drawn into the inspection target area C where it is determined that the gas leakage point E exists, and the gas leakage point E is repaired.

In this case, the repair device G is as described above.
Since the inspection target region C is held inside the branch pipe P while being kept airtight, the sealing material supply ring 1
The sealing material S is filled and repaired at the gas leakage location E from a sealing material supply section (not shown) by way of the sealing material supply port 20 provided in 8.

After filling the gas leaking point E with the sealing material S, the inside of the branch pipe P must be moved to search for a further leaking point E. Therefore, the filled fluid is discharged from the bag portion B. As a result, the size of the bag portion B is slightly contracted, and a gap is created between the inner diameter portion of the existing pipe A and the outer diameter portion of the bag portion B. Therefore, when moving the existing pipe A
This eliminates the possibility of damage to the bag portion B caused by the contact with the bag portion B and facilitates the movement of the repair device G inside the existing pipe A.

Then, the repair device G is guided to search for a further gas leakage point E while sequentially feeding the insertion hose I from the reel R installed on the floor. Then, when a new gas leakage point E is detected, the repair work is performed by repeating the above-described repair method.

At this time, at the joint portion of the pipe, there is a high possibility that gas will leak due to poor sealing due to aging, so that as shown in FIG.
The inspection target region C is set in a state including the above, and the presence or absence of gas leakage in the inspection target region C is inspected as described above, and if necessary, from the sealing material supply port 20 of the sealing material supply ring 18 to the sealing material S. To fill the joint portion of the pipe.

Second Embodiment In the second embodiment, a buried existing pipe A for city gas, which is buried in the ground where city gas flows, will be described as an example.

The repair device G used in the second embodiment has substantially the same structure as the repair device G used in the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, and is laid horizontally. It is used for the existing pipe A.

As shown in FIG. 5, in the field, first, a branch joint V is connected to an existing pipe A to be inspected and repaired according to a predetermined procedure, and the inside of the existing pipe A is connected through the branch joint V. Then, the repair device G is inserted. Then
The gas leak location E inside the existing pipe A is searched and repaired by the same procedure as in the first embodiment.

After repairing the leaking point E, the repairing device G is guided to search for a further gas leaking point E while sequentially feeding the insertion hose I from the reel R installed on the ground. Then, when a new gas leakage point E is detected, the repair work is performed by repeating the above-described repair method.

[Third Embodiment] In the first and second embodiments, the pressurized fluid L and the sealing material S supplied to the inspection target region C are respectively the dedicated pressurized fluid supply pipe 3 and the sealing material. The inspection target area C is provided via the supply pipe 2.
Had been supplied to.

The repair device G'in the third embodiment is roughly the same as the repair device G in the first and second embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, but is shown in FIG. By providing the flow path switching means 4 as described above, the inspection target region C is formed by using the same pipe for the sealing material S and the pressurized fluid L.
Further, the pump P can be supplied from the seal material supply unit 24 and the pressurized fluid supply unit 25, respectively.

The flow path switching means 4 includes the repair device G '.
It is connected in communication with the pressurized fluid / sealant supply pipe 1 extending from. On the other hand, the flow path switching means 4 is also connected to both the sealing material supply pipe 2 extending from the sealing material supply unit 24 and the pressurized fluid supply pipe 3 extending from the pressurized fluid supply unit 25. When supplying the pressurized fluid L to the inspection target region C, the flow path switching means 4 supplies the pressurized fluid L to the pressurized fluid / sealing material supply pipe 1 so as to supply the pressurized fluid L to the pressurized fluid / sealing material supply pipe 1. And the pressurized fluid / sealing material supply pipe 1 are switched to communicate with each other. On the other hand, when a gas leak point E is detected in the inspection target area C, the flow path switching means 4 is configured to fill the leak point E with the seal material supply pipe 2 and the pressurized fluid. -Switching so as to communicate with the seal material supply pipe 1, the seal material S is drawn into the gas leakage location E. The flow path switching means 4 is controlled by operating the control unit 11 provided in the inspection unit D laid on the ground. The flow path switching means 4 may be provided, for example, so as to be associated with the reel R, but may be provided at any location.

The pressurized fluid / sealing material supply pipe 1 is connected to a pressurized fluid / sealing material supply ring 19 provided in the main body of the repair device G '. The pressurized fluid / sealing material supply ring 19 has the same structure as the sealing material supply ring 18 in the first embodiment. The pressurized fluid / sealant supply ring 19 is provided with a pressurized fluid / sealant supply port 21,
The pressurized fluid L and the sealing material S are supplied to the inspection target region C from the pressurized fluid / sealing material supply port 21. The pressurized fluid / sealing material supply port 21 has the same configuration as the sealing material supply port 20 in the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 6, a check valve 1 is provided at a connecting portion between the pressurized fluid / sealing material supply pipe 1 and the pressurized fluid / sealing material supply ring 19.
7 is provided. Further, in the first embodiment, the pressure change in the inspection target region C after pressurization is detected by the pressure change detection means 14 provided in the main body portion 16 of the repair device G, but as shown in FIG. In addition, the pressure detection means 14 ′ may be provided in a structure different from the main body 16 of the repair device G ′. Specifically, it can be provided between the flow path switching unit 4 and the pressurized fluid supply unit 25.

[Other Embodiments] (1) In the first, second, and third embodiments, the pressurized fluid L is supplied to the inside of the inspection target region C to apply pressure,
Although the method of detecting the existence of the gas leakage point E by the subsequent pressure decrease is shown, conversely, the gas leakage point E is detected by depressurizing the inside of the inspection target area C by a predetermined operation and detecting the subsequent pressure increase. It is also possible to adopt a configuration that detects the presence of the.

(2) In the first, second and third embodiments, the communication portion 13 provided in the main body portion 16 of the repair device G is not shown when the bag portion B is in an inflated state. Although the bag portion B is configured to penetrate substantially the central portion of the bag portion B, a plurality of communicating portions 13 may be provided inside the main body portion 16. In this case, the communication part 13 is installed so as to be eccentrically symmetrically oriented in the radial direction.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an operation diagram showing a repair process of an existing pipe in the first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of one aspect of the repair device.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of one aspect of the repair device.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of one aspect of the repair device.

FIG. 5 is an operation diagram showing a repair process of an existing pipe in the second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a repair device according to a third embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

2 Seal material supply pipe 3 Pressurized fluid supply pipe 13 Communication 14 Pressure change detection means A Existing pipe B bag C inspection area F fluid G, G'repair device S seal material

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An apparatus for repairing an existing pipe, comprising a pair of bags for holding an inspection target region in the existing pipe in a sealed state in an expanded state, and a upstream side to a downstream side of the inspection target region in the sealed state. A communication part communicating with each other, a pressurized fluid supply pipe for supplying a fluid for pressurizing the inspection target region, a pressure change detection means for detecting a pressure change in the inspection target region, and a seal for the inspection target region. An existing pipe repair device equipped with a seal material supply pipe for filling the material. 2. The bag is configured to be inflatable and defensible, an inflation fluid supply pipe is connected to the inside of the bag, and fluid is supplied and discharged through the inflation fluid supply pipe to provide the bag. The existing pipe repair device according to claim 1, wherein the device is configured to expand and contract. 3. The existing pipe repairing device according to claim 1, wherein the seal material supply pipe and the pressurized fluid supply pipe share a part of the supply pipe via a flow path switching means. 4. The existing pipe repair device according to claim 1, further comprising an in-pipe inspection camera attachable thereto.