US3269421A

US3269421A - Packer for grouting conduits

Info

Publication number: US3269421A
Application number: US344018A
Authority: US
Inventors: E B Telford; Jr Severo L Villalon
Original assignee: Halliburton Co
Current assignee: Halliburton Co
Priority date: 1964-02-11
Filing date: 1964-02-11
Publication date: 1966-08-30
Anticipated expiration: 1983-08-30

Description

Allg- 1966 E. B. TELFORD ETAL 3,269,421

PACKER FOR GROUTING CONDUITS Filed Feb. 11, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG! A TTOR NEY 5 1966 E. B. TELFORD ETAL. 3,269,421

PACKER FOR GROUTING GONDUITS Filed Feb. 11, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS E B. TELFORD BY SEVERO L. VILLALON,JR. Km flan u MU A T TOR NE Y5 United States Patent 3,269,421 PACKER FOR GROUTING CONDUITS E. B. Telford, Kettering, Ohio, and Sever-o L. Villaion, Jr., Duncan, Okla, assignors to Halliburton Company, Duncan, Okla, a corporation of Delaware Filed Feb. 11, 1964, Ser. No. 344,018 9 Claims. (Cl. 13897) This invention relates to a method and apparatus for injecting fluid, the viscosity of which tends to increase with the passage of time, into a passage opening. In particular, it relates to a grouting tool which finds particular utility in the repairing of and sealing of joints between sub-surface conduit sections.

In sub-surface conduits, such as sewer lines, it frequently becomes necessary to reseal joints through which leakage is taking place. A technique which may be employed for effecting such repairs involves the isolation of the joint and the introduction of a grouting fluid into the isolated zone for transmittal into the joint. After the viscosity of the grouting fluid has increased, i.e. after it has set at least to gel-like consistency, the apparatus used to inject the grouting fluid is removed, leaving a repaired or fluid-tight joint.

Certain difliculties have been encountered in making subterranean conduit repairs of the type heretofore noted. A particular difliculty has involved the leaving of residual amounts of grouting fluid within a conduit after a conduit joint has been repaired. Such residual grouting fluid, when its viscosity has increased, may tend to impede or interfere with the removal of a grouting tool. After a considerable number of joints have been repaired, the cumulative amount of residual material constitutes a meaningful economic waste. The grout residue left within the conduit may, under some circumstances, tend to produce conduit clogging. In addition, the presence of such residue adjacent a repaired joint interferes with the production of a clean or flush joint. As will be appreciated, the forming of flush joints is desirable in order to minimize the accumulation of a fluid-carried debris around a joint which might tend to produce a conduit stoppage and necessitate further repairs.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for injecting a hardenable fluid or gellable fluid into a passage opening so as to minimize or obviate operational difficulties of the type heretofore noted.

A principal object of the invention is to provide a method and apparatus by means of which a passage opening such as a conduit joint may be sealed with grouting fluid in such a fashion that the seal is substantially coplanar, i.e., flush, with adjacent conduit portions.

A related object of the invention is to provide such a method and apparatus which substantially eliminates the formation of grout residue within a conduit incidental to a passage opening, sealing operation.

A still further object of the invention is to provide such a method and apparatus which tends to minimize the amounts of grouting fluid required for the sealing of a passage opening.

It is likewise an object of the invention to provide a method and apparatus wherein the formation of residual, set grout within a conduit, which would tend to impede the removal of a grouting tool, is substantially avoided.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a grouting method and apparatus by means of which a passage opening may be covered while grouting fluid injected into the opening is allowed to set so as to enable the forming of a flush or substantially coplanar seal.

Ancillary to the principal objects of the invention as recited above, it is desired to provide a unique grouting fluid outlet which is closed or covered at the grouting site while grouting fluid is allowed to set. Additional ancillary objects of the invention are to provide an improved grouting fluid outlet which, although uniquely structurally simple in nature, tends to improve the mixing of grouting fluid components at the grouting site and may tend to produce a more even distribution of grouting fluid in an annular pattern adjacent an annular conduit joint to be sealed or repaired.

In accomplishing the foregoing objects, a method is employed wherein a zone, adjacent an opening into which fluid such as grouting fluid is to be injected, is confined. As will be appreciated, grouting fluid is but representative of several fluids, the viscosity of which tends to increase with the passage of time, so as to enable their utilization as passage-opening sealants.

Fluid such as grouting fluid is discharged under pressure into the confined zone for transmittal to and injection through the passage opening to be sealed. Thereafter, the passage-sealing fluid is displaced from the confined zone and the passage opening is covered while the viscosity of the repair fluid injected into the opening is allowed to increase.

A preferred apparatus which may be employed in practicing the invention, in its broadest structural aspects, is characterized by body means supporting spaced packer means. The packer means are so spaced on the body means that they are adapted to cooperate with passage wall portions and the body means to define a confined zone adjacent the passage opening to be sealed. Means are provided for discharging fluid such as grouting fluid into the confined zone. Movable wall means are provided for displacing fluid from the confined zone and for covering the passage opening while the viscosity of the grouting fluid increases.

In describing the invention, reference will be made to preferred embodiments shown in the application drawings.

In these drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a sectional, elevational view illustrating a grouting tool prior to its positioning within a subterranean conduit to be repaired, with the viewing plane of the upper half of the tool intersecting packer couplings;

FIGURE 2 is an elevational and sectional view illustrating the FIGURE 1 tool positioned within a conduit to be repaired and showing the manner in which grouting fluid is injected into a confined zone adjacent a conduit joint for transmittal through the joint to eflect its rescaling;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional and elevational view of the FIGURE 1 tool, the upper half of which is viewed along a plane rotatably displaced from the FIGURE 1 viewing plane of the upper half of the tool so as to intersect a grout displacing member coupling. FIGURE 3 illustrates the manner in which grouting fluid is displaced from a confined annular zone adjacent a conduit joint being repaired and further illustrates the manner in which this joint is covered while the grouting fluid injected into the joint is allowed to set;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged transverse and sectional view of the FIGURE 1 apparatus as viewed along the section line 4-4 which illustrates details of a grouting fluid outlet arrangement; and

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view of the outlet arrangement shown in FIGURE 4, as viewed along the section line 55, which illustrates a resilient wall portion of the outlet.

The apparatus shown in FIGURE 1 comprises a packer-type of grouting tool which is particularly adapted for repairing openings or unsealed joints in subterranean conduits such as sewer lines.

The principal components of the tool 1 shown in FIGURE 1 comprises a generally cylindrical body 2, fluid-inflatable, generally tubular and annular,

bladderlike packers

3 and 4, a grout-displacing, generally tubular,

annular, fluid-inflatable, bladder-like member 5, and grout fluidsupplying means 6. Packers 3 and 4, as well as grout-displacing member 5, may be fabricated of elastomeric material such as rubber or neoprene.

As shown in FIGURE 1,

packers

3 and 4 are mounted on the outer periphery of cylindrical body 2 in axially spaced relationship on opposite sides of grout-displacing member 5. Packers 3 and 4 may be substantially contiguous with the grouting fluid displacing member 5, when these tool components are in their uninflated condition as shown in FIGURE 1.

Packer 3 may be connected to cylindrical body 2 merely by a conventional conduit coupling 7 which serves to place the interior 8 of packer 3 in fluid communication with a pressurized fluid supply line 9. Similarly, the interior 10 of packer 4 may be placed in fluid communication with a pressurized fluid supply line 11 by a conventional conduit coupling 12.

Supply lines 9 and 11 may be connected by a conventional T-type manifold 13 to a male-type coupling fitting 14. Manifold 13 may be mounted within the inner periphery of cylindrical body 2 by a mounting bracket 13a. As illustrated, bracket 13a may be secured to tool body 2 by threaded fastener assemblies 131).

By means schematically shown, a flexible supply conduit 15 may be connected with coupling fitting 14. Pressurized fluid such as air may be transmitted through conduit 15 to concurrently supply air to lines 9 and 12 for transmittal to packer

interior

8 and 10 respectively. As schematically shown in FIGURE 1, pressurized air may be supplied by a conventional and schematically shown air pump 16.

The interior 17 of grouting-fluid-displacing member 5 may be connected to a pressurized air supply line 18 by a conventional conduit coupling 19 as shown in FIGURES l and 3. Coupling 19 may also comprise the sole connection between member 5 and tool body 2.

As schematically shown in FIGURE 1, conduit 18 may be flexible and extend to an air pump such as the air pump 16 which supplies pressurized air to conduits 9 and 11. By means such as conventional and schematically shown valves 19 and 20, pressurized air may be supplied simultaneously to packers 3 and 4, independent of the subsequent supplying of pressurized air to groutingfluid-displacing member 5.

As will be appreciated,

flexible conduit

18 and 15 would extend from the tool 1, when it was positioned in a subterranean conduit, through the conduit and upwardly through means such as a sewer manhole to the surfacelocated pump 16.

As noted, each of the

packers

3 and 4 may be connected to the cylindrical periphery of the tool body 2 solely by the conduit couplings 7 and 12 respectively. However,

packers

3 and 4 may also be provided with Web-like,

annular lips

21 and 22, respectively, which are held against the outer surface of the cylindrical body 2 by

guide shoes

23 and 24 so as to stabilize the packers on the tool body.

Each

guide shoe

23 and 24 may be fabricated of elastomeric material such as rubber and telescoped over an end of the cylindrical body 2. Each guide shoe may be secured in place by means such as threaded fasteners 25 which pass through the shoe body and the cylindrical tool body 2.

End-mounted guide shoes 23 includes an annular recess 26 adjacent the outer periphery of cylindrical body 2, which recess faces the adjacent packer 3. The web-like, annular packer lip 21, extending from the packer 3, is received within the recess 26 and pressed against the outer periphery of the body 2 by annular shoe portion 23a. Similarly, end shoe 24 includes an annular recess 27 corresponding to recess 26 of the end shoe 23. Recess 27 faces and lies adjacent to packer 4. The annular packer lip 22 extends into the recess 27 and is held against the outer periphery of the cylindrical body 2 by the annular shoe portion 24a.

The grouting fluid supplying or discharging means 6, illustrated in FIGURES 1 through 4, may be employed for the injection of a chemical grout comprising a catalyzed, aqueous mixture of acrylamide and N,N'-methylenebisacrylamide which gels rapidly at ordinary concentrations and temperatures. Two separate components of this grout, one of which would be a catalyst, may be individually transmitted from supply sources to the tool at a repair site.

The components of the grout-discharging means 6, as shown in the drawings, include first and second, schematically illustrated,

flexible conduits

28 and 29 which may extend from the tool 1, through a conduit to be repaired, and up a manhole to grout-component supply pumps 30 and 31.

Valves

32 and 33 may be employed to control the flow of grouting mixture components through the

conduits

28 and 29.

As shown in FIGURES 1 and 4,

conduits

28 and 29 are connected by

conventional conduit couplings

34 and 35 to an outlet fitting 36. Outlet fitting 36 includes

passage portions

37 and 38 which communicate respectively with the

interior passages

39 and 40 of

conduits

28 and 29 respectively.

Fitting 36 may be secured to a segment portion 2a of cylindrical body 2. A conventional gasket 41 may be inserted between the mounting segment 2a and fitting 36. Thread fasteners such as

screws

42, 43, and 44 may be employed to clamp the fitting 36 against the mounting segment 2a. As illustrated in FIGURE 4, mounting segment 2a may include a passage portion 45 which defines a continuation of fitting passage portion 37 and a passage portion 46 which defines a continuation of fitting passage portion 38.

Passage portions

37, 39, and 45 cooperate to define a supply passage which intersects the cylindrical wall of body 2 to terminate in an outlet aperture 45a on the periphery of the body 2. Similarly,

passage portions

38, 40, and 46 cooperate to define another and separate passage which also intersects the cylindrical wall of tool body 2 and terminates in an outlet aperture 46a on the periphery of body 2.

A resilient wall portion or flap 47, fabricated of elastomeric material such as rubber or neoprene, is partially secured by means such as a conventional epoxy adhesive to the outer periphery of cylindrical body 2 so as to conform to the curvature of the cylindrical body and extends across the outlet apertures 45a and 46a.

As shown in FIGURE 5, resilient wall section 47 may be rectangular in character and adhesively secured to cylindrical body 2 along three sides 47a, 47b and 47c. One edge 47d of resilient wall portion 47 remains unattached to the cylindrical body 2. A slit 47c extends transversely inwardly from edge 47d and terminates generally adjacent and between apertures 45a and 46a, as shown. As illustrated, slit 47c is generally aligned with a median plane disposed between the outlet apertures 45a and 46a.

Slit, resilient wall 47, with one unsecured edge, provides a resilient balfle which effects the lateral deflection and mixing or commingling of grouting fluid components exiting from the outlet apertures 45a and 46a. The mixed grouting components, after exiting from the apertures 45a and 46a, flow outwardly between the cylindrical body 2 and the unsecured edge 47d of resilient wall 47. This outward flow is facilitated by the resilient character of the wall 47 as well as the slit nature of the edge 47d.

When the tool 1, as shown in FIGURE 1, is employed to eflect the repairing of leaky joints in a subterranean conduit such as a sewer line, it is necessary to provide means for moving the tool 1 through the sewer line to the desired repair site. Accordingly, tool 1 may be provided with cable and yoke assemblies secured by conventional fastening means to opposite ends of the interior of cylindrical body 2. Each such assembly may comprise a plurality of brackets, such as brackets 48 secured to the interior of the left end of tool body 2 as shown in FIGURE 1 and brackets 49 secured to the interior of the right end of the tool as shOWn in this figure.

Brackets

48 and 49, respectively, are symmetrically spaced about the interior of the cylindrical body 2 and attached to the cylindrical body by means such as conventional threaded fasteners 50. Each such bracket may be attached to a cable section 51. The cable sections 51 of each yoke assembly may be joined to a common cable extending away from the tool 1 through the sewer line to be repaired. As will be appreciated, such cables may be manipulated at manhole locations so as to enable the tool 1 to be drawn axially of the conduit to effect its desired positioning.

FIGURE 2 illustrates the tool 1 positioned adjacent an annular conduit joint 52. FIGURE 2 also illustrates the tool 1 after the

packers

3 and 4 have been air inflated so as to cause them to expand radially outwardly into peripheral engagement with conduit sections or

wall portions

53 and 54 on opposite sides of joint or passage opening 52. With

packers

3 and 4 thus expanded, they define, in cooperation with cylindrical body 2 and the portions of the conduit wall between the packers, a confined annular zone 55.

After the annular zone 55 has been confined adjacent the repair site, grouting fluid components may be flowed outwardly of the apertures a and 46a so as to flow into the annular zone 55 for transmittal to and through the conduit joint 52. As the grouting fluid components leave the apertures 45a and 46a, they impinge against the resilient Wall 47 and are deflected so as to cause an effective intermixing of the components as they leave the tool body 2. The mixed grout components may then be deflected to some extent by the undersurface of the member 5 so as to tend to be dispersed somewhat more uniformly through the annular space 55 than would occur in the absence of the member 5. To some extent, this dispersal may be enhanced by an annular indentation 56 preformed in the undersurface of the relaxed or uninflated member 5, as shown in FIGURE 2.

As is also shown in FIGURE 2, the mixture 57 of grouting fluid components, during the grouting operation, will substantialy occupy the confined annular space 55 and pass through the joint 52 and penetrate to some extent the surrounding soil or earthen fill 58.

FIGURE 3 illustrates the manner in which the member 5 may be employed to substantially fully displace grouting fluid 57 from the confined annular space 55. When pressurized fluid such as air is introduced into the interior 17 of member 5, this member expands radially and axially.

The radial expansion of member 5 causes the inner or under surface 5a of this member to engage the resilient wall 47 and to thus tend to hold this wall against outlet apertures 45a and 46a so as to close these grouting fluid outlets. The outer wall 5b of member 5 engages the periphery of the sewer conduit so as to extend across the joint or opening 52 and conformingly engage the inner walls of the

conduit sections

53 and 54 adjacent the opening 52.

The axial expansion of the packer 5 causes the member side walls and 5:1 to respectively engage the expanded, i.e. air-inflated,

packers

3 and 4.

The radial and axial expansion of the member 5 causes the member 5 to substantially fully occupy the confined annular space 55 so as to displace grouting fluid 57 from this space and cause the displaced material to pass through the conduit opening 52.

The engagement of the member wall 5]) in conforming relationship with the sewer conduit in the vicinity of the conduit opening 52, cause grout within the opening 52 to form a flush seal in relation to the inner conduit wall portions. The member wall 5a, in engaging the outlet flap or wall 47, tends to prevent the draining of grouting fluid through the outlet apertures 45a and 46a.

In describing the structure and overall mode of operation of the tool 1, several of the advantages of the invention have been demonstrated. The unique grouting-fluiddisplacing member enables a passage opening, such as a conduit joint or break, to be sealed without leaving wasteful and/ or passage-clogging, grout residue within the conduit interior. The effective removal of grout residue from the space between the packers facilitates the removal of the tool from the passage without the incurrence of resistance which might result from interposed, partially solidified or gelled grouting fluid.

The grout-displacing member, in expanding into conforming engagement with the outer body of the tool adjacent the grout component outlets, tends to etfect the closing of these outlets so as to deter an undesired drainage of fluid into the repair zone. The expansion of the groutdisplacing member into conforming engagement with a conduit, adjacent a conduit opening to be sealed, enables the forming of a uniquely flush joint and supports the sealing material while it is setting; i.e. while the viscosity is increasing.

Additional advantages may be attributed to the unique grouting outlet arrangement incorporated in the preferred embodiment of the invention, The apertures 45a and 46a, in combination with the resilient wall 47, provide a uniquely simple but highly effective grouting componentmixing device. The overlying presence of the grout-dis placing member 5, in relation to the grout outlet, may tend to provide an improved dispersal of the mixed grout components in the region of a zone to be repaired.

Other advantages of the invention relate to the effective but structurally simple manner in which. the packers are secured to the cylindrical body of the tool. The sole mechanical interconnections between the packers and the tool body comprise conduit couplings. With these limited connections, and the supplemental, stabilizing elfect of the end shoe secured, annular packer webs, the packers are eflectively and stably supported upon the tool body.

Those skilled in the art and having the benefit of the disclosure of the invention, may recognize certain additional deletions, substitutions, and modifications which would lie within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. It will also be recognized that the inventions are not limited in their utility to the injection of the disclosed grouting fluids nor to the repairing of leaking conduit joints.

We claim:

1. A method of injecting grouting fluid into an opening in a conduit Wall, said method comprising:

confining an annular zone adjacent an opening in a conduit wall into which grouting fluid is to be injected;

discharging grouting fluid into said confined annular zone for transmittal to and injection through said opening; displacing grouting fluid, substantially as an annular mass, in a radially outward direction from said annular zone and covering said opening; and

allowing the viscosity of grouting fluid injected into said opening to increase while said opening remains covered.

2. A method of injecting grouting fluid into an opening, said method comprising:

confining an annular Zone adjacent an opening into which grouting fluid is to be injected;

separately discharging pressurized grouting fluid components from fluid passage outlets; deflecting said dis charging, grouting fluid components at least partially into commingling relationship prior to their entry into said confined annular zone;

discharging commingled grouting fluid components into said confined annular zone for transmittal to and injection through said opening;

displacing grouting fluid in a radially outward direction from said annular zone and covering said opening; and

3. An apparatus for injecting grouting fluid into an opening in a conduit wall, said apparatus comprising:

body means;

a pair of generally annular packer means spaced on said body means and adapted to cooperate with conduit wall portions and said body means to define a confined annular zone;

means for discharging grouting fluid into said confined zone;

radially movable annular wall means for thereafter displacing grouting fluid from said confined annular zone and for covering said opening; and

means for moving said annular wall means generally radially outwardly through said confined annular zone.

4. An apparatus as described in claim 3 wherein said means for discharging fluid into said confined zone includes:

fluid passage means intersecting said body means; and

resilient wall means covering said passage means, having edge portions secured to said body means, and including a resiliently distensible outlet.

5. An apparatus as described in claim 4 wherein said fluid passage means includes a pair of mutually independent fluid passages, each of which terminates in an aperture lying adjacent said resilient wall means, with each of said passages being adapted to supply a component of said pressurized fluid.

6. An apparatus for injecting grouting fluid into an opening in a conduit wall, said apparatus comprising:

a generally cylindrical body;

a pair of fluid inflatable, elastic, annular and tubular packers carried by and axially spaced on the outer periphery of said cylindrical body, said packers being adapted to be inflated into peripheral engagement with Wall portions of a conduit on opposite sides of a conduit opening which is to receive grouting fluid;

first conduit means for supplying pressurized fluid to said packers to effect the inflation thereof;

said packers, when inflated into engagement with said conduit wall portions, defining, in cooperation with said cylindrical body and said conduit, a confined annular zone adjacent said conduit opening;

means for discharging grouting fluid into said confined annular zone, said means including grouting fluid passage means intersecting said cylindrical body and terminating in grouting fluid, outlet aperture means;

a fluid inflatable, elastic, annular, and tubular grouting fluid displacing member carried on the outer periphery of said cylindrical body between said packers, said member being disposed radially outwardly of said outlet aperture means and adapted to be positioned between said outlet aperture means and a conduit opening which is to receive grouting fluid;

second conduit means for supplying pressurized fluid to said member to eflect the inflation thereof whereby said member will expand radially into peripheral engagement with said conduit and generally axially into engagement with said packers, after their inflation, so as to substantially occupy said confined annular zone, displace grouting fluid therefrom, cover said conduit opening, and extend across outlet aperture means.

7. An apparatus as described in claim 6 wherein said grouting fluid passage means includes mutually independent, first and second fluid passages, each of which terminates in a separate outlet aperture and is adapted to convey a pressurized fluid component of said grouting fluid; and wherein said means for discharging grouting fluid further includes a resilient wall secured to the outer periphery of said cylindrical body, covering each of said outlet apertures and disposed between said outlets and said grouting fluid displacing member; said resilient wall having at least some edge portions ad'hesively secured to the outer periphery of said cylindrical body and at least one edge portion unsecured to said cylindrical body; said resilient wall including a slit extending inwardly from said unsecured edge portion and generally aligned with a plane disposed between said outlet apertures.

8. An apparatus as described in claim 7 further including an annular guide shoe secured to the outer periphery of each end of said cylindrical body, each of said annular guide shoes including an annular recess adjacent the outer periphery of said cylindrical body and facing an adjacent packer; each of said packers including an annular web lying adjacent the outer periphery of said cylindrical body and extending axially of said cylindrical body into the annular recess of the guide shoe to which it is adjacent.

9. A packer assembly comprising:

generally cylindrical body means;

annular guide shoe means secured to the outer periph ery of said body means; and

tubular, annular, and fluid inflatable packer means peripherally encircling at least a portion of said body means;

said guide shoe means including a generally annular recess adjacent the outer periphery of said body means and facing said packer means;

said packer means including web means lying adjacent the outer periphery of said body means and extending generally axially of said body means into said annular recess of said guide shoe means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,672,162 6/1949 Brauer 138-97 3,103,235 9/1963 Stringham 138-97 3,168,908 2/1965 Zurbrigen 138-97 FOREIGN PATENTS 212,715 3/ 1924 Great Britain.

LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner.

C. HOUCK, Assistant Examiner.

Claims

1. A METHOD OF INJECTING GROUTING FLUID INTO AN OPENING IN A CONDUIT WALL, SAID METHOD COMPRISING: CONFINING AN ANNULAR ZONE ADJACENT AN OPENING IN A CONDUIT WALL INTO WHICH GROUTING FLUID IS TO BE INJECTED; DISCHARGING GROUTING FLUID INTO SAID CONFINED ANNULAR ZONE FOR TRANSMITTAL TO AND INJECTION THROUGH SAID OPENING; DISPLACING GROUTING FLUID, SUBSTANTIALLY AS AN ANNULAR MASS, IN A RADIALLY OUTWARD DIRECTION FROM SAID ANNULAR ZONE AND COVERING SAID OPENING; AND ALLOWING THE VISCOSITY OF GROUTING FLUID INJECTED INTO SAID OPENING TO INCREASE WHILE SAID OPENING REMAINS COVERED.