US3718113A - Buried pipeline signal - Google Patents

Buried pipeline signal Download PDF

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Publication number
US3718113A
US3718113A US00054104A US3718113DA US3718113A US 3718113 A US3718113 A US 3718113A US 00054104 A US00054104 A US 00054104A US 3718113D A US3718113D A US 3718113DA US 3718113 A US3718113 A US 3718113A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
signal
tube
smoke
tubular
visual
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.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US00054104A
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English (en)
Inventor
P Schertler
R Strobel
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
3M Co
Original Assignee
Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co filed Critical Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3718113A publication Critical patent/US3718113A/en
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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02G—INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES
    • H02G9/00—Installations of electric cables or lines in or on the ground or water
    • 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
    • F16L1/00—Laying or reclaiming pipes; Repairing or joining pipes on or under water
    • F16L1/024—Laying or reclaiming pipes on land, e.g. above the ground
    • F16L1/06—Accessories therefor, e.g. anchors
    • F16L1/11—Accessories therefor, e.g. anchors for the detection or protection of pipes in the ground
    • 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
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17D—PIPE-LINE SYSTEMS; PIPE-LINES
    • F17D5/00—Protection or supervision of installations
    • F17D5/02—Preventing, monitoring, or locating loss
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02G—INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES
    • H02G9/00—Installations of electric cables or lines in or on the ground or water
    • H02G9/02—Installations of electric cables or lines in or on the ground or water laid directly in or on the ground, river-bed or sea-bottom; Coverings therefor, e.g. tile
    • H02G9/025—Coverings therefor, e.g. tile
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10S116/00—Signals and indicators
    • Y10S116/14—Tapes as carriers

Definitions

  • the warning device of this invention produces a risable visual signal such as clouds of dense smoke, either dyed or undyed, or brilliant flashes of flame. This is done by providing a rupturable tubular member which has within it a smoke and/or a luminescence producing component which becomes visible as the direct result of the rupture.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view of a rupturable tubular signaling device.
  • FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the section line 22 of FIG. 1.
  • FIG. 3 is a schematic transverse cross-sectional view showing a plurality of the tubular signaling devices of FIG. 1 disposed about a utility conduit.
  • the tubular outer casing 1 of the rupturable tubular signaling device is made of polyethylene or similar flexible corrosion-resistant plastic.
  • An intermediate concentric tubular liner 2 of aluminum is provided to decrease the possibility of moisture contact with a visual signal pro ducing means 3, e.g., titanium tetrachloride.
  • a tubular interior member 4 such as 3,718,113 Patented Feb. 27, 1973 polyethylene, which is formed with a plurality of septa 6 to separate it into individual compartments.
  • a polyethylene tube may be filled with titanium tetrachloride and then heat sealed at intervals to provide individual compartments, each containing the signal producing means 3.
  • the compartmentalized or segmented device is preferred because it allows exposure of some of the signal producing means without allowing the entire amount to react when the first rupture occurs. This reduces to a minimum the need for replacement after each break.
  • FIG. 3 illustrates a preferred arrangement of the tubular signaling devices disposed about a sunken utility conduit 5. This particular configuration provides protection from both sides and is desirable because it provides the maximum protection for the minimum amount of cost.
  • the product of this invention is a visual warning device which comprises an underground corrosion-resistant, flexible, essentially moisture and air proof tubular member which is rupturable by mechanized earthmoving equipment.
  • the tubular member surrounds a visual signal producing means capable of producing a risable visible signal.
  • the casing 1 of the tubular signaling device must resist underground corrosion, preferably to the same extent as the conduit 5.
  • the tubular member comprising the casing 1, the aluminum liner 2 and the interior member 4 must also provide a barrier of air because all of the commonly available signal producers usable to produce a risable signal are extremely sensitive to moisture and/ or oxygen present therein. For this reason, an additional moisture barrier layer such as aluminum foil between the outside environment and the signal producing means 3 can be beneficial.
  • barrier layers can, of course, be interposed between the reactive material and the outside layer with the number of layers dictated to some extent by the relative degree of moisture sensitivity of the reactive material and the nature of the underground environment.
  • the tubular signal device is preferably sufliciently fiexible to allow its winding about a reel for deposition by mechanical means, e.g., by a cable plow.
  • mechanical means e.g., by a cable plow.
  • the tubular signaling device be not greater than two inches in outside diameter and it is especially preferred that it be not greater than one inch.
  • the tubular signal device should be of a suitable length say 500 to 1500 feet to allow for semicontinuous implantation. In any event, the ratio of length to outside diameter of the tubular signaling device is greater than 50 to 1.
  • each of these signal producing means must produce either smoke or luminescence to extend from the depth of the buried tube (which is generally not more than 3 feet below the surface of the ground) to the surface of the ground and preferably above.
  • Pyrotechnic combinations are an example of such signal producing means.
  • Pyrotechnic materials need energy input before the reaction can become self-sustaining. This is accomplished by putting a more easily ignited first fire element in contact with a pyrotechnic mixture.
  • the first fire element is ignited, e.g., by friction, which can be obtained from the rupturing force applied to the tubular signaling device of this invention.
  • Pyrophoric materials placed in contact with the fused pyrotechnic mass can also be used as a first fire. These materials react rapidly and exothermically 3 with air to generate sufiicient heat to ignite the pyrotechnic mixture.
  • a typical pyrotechnic device is comprised generally of fuels, oxidizers, binders, and adhesives. The choice of the particular materials obviously depends upon the particular effect desired.
  • the pyrotechnic systems most interesting for this invention are those which do not involve predominantly incandescent or luminescent outbursts, but rather produce clouds of dense smoke.
  • the pyrotechnic signal smokes are of two types. The first of these types involves the condensation of exothermic reaction products in the form of finely divided, solid particles to form a smoke.
  • An example of such a reaction is (in the above reaction the aluminum serves as a fuel while zinc oxide and hexachloroethane serve as the oxidizing component.
  • a grayish white cloud of zinc chloride is produced and it serves admirably as the signal produc- Percent Potassium chlorate 28-35 Sugar 2335 Dye 30-54 Sodium bicarbonate -15 While both of these types of signal smokes can be used there are disadvantages inherent in each.
  • the class of signal smokes using the exothermic reaction product condensate provides a mixture which reacts at high temperatures and creates a luminous flame. If the stoichiometry of the mixture is changed to produce more smoke, there is a tendency for erratic burning to take place. This particular class of mixtures is also fairly hard to ignite.
  • Pyrotechnic materials in general also suffer from a more serious disadvantage, i.e., they require extreme care in handling because of their explosive nature.
  • An alternative to the pyrotechnic signaling system is one based solely on pyrophoric materials.
  • Several materials are sufficiently pyrophoric to serve as signal producing means. (Certain pyrophoric materials react with air to produce a flame with very little smoke generation. The inclusion of a diluent, e.g., oil, will serve to produce large volumes of smoke in materials which would otherwise produce very little.)
  • a discussion of pyrophoric materials can be found in the Handbook of Selected Properties of Air and Water Reactive Materials, Bulletin No. AD. 688, 422, published by the U.S. Government.
  • pyrophoric materials are elements such as potassium, lithium and phosphorus; alloys such as potassium-phosphorus, sodiumpotassium (the above materials are preferably used with a diluent); metal carbides; hydrides of aluminum, diborane, cerium, cesium, potassium and magnesium; cadmium and certain nitrides; molybdenum dioxide; calcium and stannic phosphide, lithium silicide; and metaloorganic compounds such as ethyl aluminum dichloride, and R Al compounds where R is methyl, ethyl, propyl, iso-propyl or n-butyl.
  • a far superior class of materials is characterized by the ability to produce smoke when in contact with moisture and comparative safety in handling.
  • Examples of such materials are bromides and chlorides of the transition and amphoteric metals and acetyl chloride and bromide.
  • Examples of other materials which are more difiicult to handle than those mentioned above but still produce generous volumes of smoke when placed in contact with moisture are S0 and ClSO H.
  • An especially preferred material is titanium tetrachlo ride which rapidly reacts with available moisture to generate ample clouds of dense, dilficultly dispersed white smoke which has proven to be safe to one who comes in contact with it for short periods of time. (It is believed that the TiO which is a white pigment used in paints, forms around the acid droplets to prevent or inhibit acid burns.) It has also been found that adequate smoke is produced when titanium tetrachloride is held at a temperature of 0 C.
  • a hermetic seal permits the use of a propellant.
  • propellants will, of course, depend upon the signalling system chosen but any material which will be compatible with the signal producing means and generate enough pressure upon rupture of the tube walls to help thrust the smoke above ground can be used.
  • sulfur dioxide is an excellent propellant for use in a tube containing titanium tetrachloride.
  • propellants are desirable because it is possible that only one of the segments would be ruptured and the presence of the propellant would help to ensure that ample smoke appeared above the ground surface.
  • EXAMPLE 1 An unsegmented polyethylene tube 6 yards long having one sealed end with an outside diameter of inch and an inside diameter of /2 inch was filled to 80% capacity with TiCl, and heat sealed. A ditch was dug by a trenching machine, the tube was placed in the trench and covered with dirt. The blade on the trencher was set /2 foot lower and the trencher was driven across the tube in a perpendicular direction. The liquid spilled in the trench as the tube was ruptured and almost immediately dense clouds of white smoke rose to a height of about eight feet above the level of the ground, i.e., about 10 feet above the tube. The trencher operator, who was unaware of the purpose of the tube, immediately stopped the machine and ran. The smoke persisted for 3 to 4 minutes in a wind of 15 to 20 m.p.h. at F.
  • Example 1 was repeated except that a tube having an outside diameter of /2 inch and an inside diameter of inch was used.
  • the smoke released upon rupture of the tube produced a visual signal not immediately dispersed by the wind but of somewhat lesser height than that produced in Example 1. This signal was adjudged to provide a more than adequate warning signal.
  • EXAMPLE 3 Three separate tubes were buried and ruptured as in the preceding examples. All tubes were 7 yards long with an outside diameter of inch and an inside diameter of /2 inch. The wind velocity was 10 to 15 m.p.h. and the temperature was 40 F.
  • All tubes contained TiCl; and were filled in the following manner.
  • the first tube was filled to capacity
  • the second was segmented by heat sealing the tube in 1 yard segments with each segment containing 80% of capacity
  • the third tube was unsegmented and filled to 80% capacity with a mixture of TiCl and S the latter being 5% by volume of the mixture.
  • the smoke signal was similar to that found in Example 1.
  • the segmented tube upon rupturing, squirted TiCl liquid high into the air which almost instantly formed a dense white cloud almost the equal of the one formed from the first tube.
  • the third tube produced a cloud with the greatest height and volume, i.e., approximately 8 feet above the ground, which completely enveloped the trenching machine.
  • a visual warning device adapted to be buried near a utility conduit and comprising:
  • sentially moisture proof tubular member comprising a plastic tubular outer casing, a concentric tubular aluminum liner and a plastic tubular interior member containing a plurality of individual compartments which are hermetically sealed, which tubular member is rupturable by earthmoving equipment and has a ratio of length to outside diameter of at least 50 to 1;
  • a visual signal producing means releasably contained in each of said compartments and capable of producing a risable visual signal upon rupture of the tubular member.
  • a protection system for a buried utility conduit comprised of at least one visual warning device as defined in claim 1 buried in essentially parallel spaced relationship with said utility conduit.
  • a visual Warning device as defined in claim 1 wherein the visual signal means is rapidly reactive with ambient moisture to generate smoke upon rupture of the tube.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Geophysics And Detection Of Objects (AREA)
  • Inorganic Compounds Of Heavy Metals (AREA)
  • Laying Of Electric Cables Or Lines Outside (AREA)
  • Rigid Pipes And Flexible Pipes (AREA)
  • Emergency Lowering Means (AREA)
  • Fire-Extinguishing By Fire Departments, And Fire-Extinguishing Equipment And Control Thereof (AREA)
US00054104A 1970-07-13 1970-07-13 Buried pipeline signal Expired - Lifetime US3718113A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US5410470A 1970-07-13 1970-07-13

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3718113A true US3718113A (en) 1973-02-27

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US00054104A Expired - Lifetime US3718113A (en) 1970-07-13 1970-07-13 Buried pipeline signal

Country Status (5)

Country Link
US (1) US3718113A (enExample)
CA (1) CA944628A (enExample)
DE (1) DE2134804B2 (enExample)
FR (1) FR2101605A5 (enExample)
GB (1) GB1339194A (enExample)

Cited By (13)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4549486A (en) * 1984-05-25 1985-10-29 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Army Smoke canister
US4603326A (en) * 1984-09-14 1986-07-29 Ici Americas Inc. Anti-theft detector responsive to a chemical agent
US4767237A (en) * 1986-08-26 1988-08-30 Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company Marking tape with wire conductors and methods for use
US5685256A (en) * 1995-01-20 1997-11-11 Gas Research Institute Set pressure sensing and verifying device
US5743031A (en) * 1996-02-23 1998-04-28 H&L Company Digging hardware signaling apparatus
US6609855B1 (en) * 2002-02-19 2003-08-26 At&T Corp. Color-pigmented utility conveyance
WO2013096702A2 (en) 2011-12-21 2013-06-27 Electrawatch, Inc. A passive alarm to prevent buried infrastructure damage
WO2014081887A1 (en) 2012-11-20 2014-05-30 Spectrum Pharmaceuticals Improved method for the preparation of liposome encapsulated vincristine for therapeutic use
US20140150710A1 (en) * 2012-12-03 2014-06-05 International Business Machines Corporation System for Preventing Undue Bending of Cables
WO2017210370A1 (en) 2016-05-31 2017-12-07 Eas,Ip, Llc Smoketapetm
CN107671686A (zh) * 2017-09-28 2018-02-09 东莞市佳顺达自动化精密机械有限公司 一种高效扫光机
US20200003931A1 (en) * 2016-09-08 2020-01-02 Eas Ip, Llc Signal tape
CN113236860A (zh) * 2021-06-28 2021-08-10 西南石油大学 一种油气管道保护装置

Cited By (17)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4549486A (en) * 1984-05-25 1985-10-29 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Army Smoke canister
US4603326A (en) * 1984-09-14 1986-07-29 Ici Americas Inc. Anti-theft detector responsive to a chemical agent
US4767237A (en) * 1986-08-26 1988-08-30 Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company Marking tape with wire conductors and methods for use
US5685256A (en) * 1995-01-20 1997-11-11 Gas Research Institute Set pressure sensing and verifying device
US5743031A (en) * 1996-02-23 1998-04-28 H&L Company Digging hardware signaling apparatus
US6609855B1 (en) * 2002-02-19 2003-08-26 At&T Corp. Color-pigmented utility conveyance
WO2013096702A2 (en) 2011-12-21 2013-06-27 Electrawatch, Inc. A passive alarm to prevent buried infrastructure damage
WO2013096702A3 (en) * 2011-12-21 2013-10-03 Electrawatch, Inc. A passive alarm to prevent buried infrastructure damage
WO2014081887A1 (en) 2012-11-20 2014-05-30 Spectrum Pharmaceuticals Improved method for the preparation of liposome encapsulated vincristine for therapeutic use
US20140150710A1 (en) * 2012-12-03 2014-06-05 International Business Machines Corporation System for Preventing Undue Bending of Cables
US9244046B2 (en) * 2012-12-03 2016-01-26 International Business Machines Corporation System for preventing undue bending of cables
WO2017210370A1 (en) 2016-05-31 2017-12-07 Eas,Ip, Llc Smoketapetm
JP2019523917A (ja) * 2016-05-31 2019-08-29 イーエーエス，アイピー，エルエルシー 煙テープ
US20200003931A1 (en) * 2016-09-08 2020-01-02 Eas Ip, Llc Signal tape
US12007517B2 (en) * 2016-09-08 2024-06-11 Eas Ip, Llc Signal tape
CN107671686A (zh) * 2017-09-28 2018-02-09 东莞市佳顺达自动化精密机械有限公司 一种高效扫光机
CN113236860A (zh) * 2021-06-28 2021-08-10 西南石油大学 一种油气管道保护装置

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB1339194A (en) 1973-11-28
DE2134804C3 (enExample) 1974-05-22
DE2134804A1 (de) 1972-09-07
DE2134804B2 (de) 1973-10-25
FR2101605A5 (enExample) 1972-03-31
CA944628A (en) 1974-04-02

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