WO2009103398A1

WO2009103398A1 - Device and method for hardening resin-impregnated fibrous tubes

Info

Publication number: WO2009103398A1
Application number: PCT/EP2009/000462
Authority: WO
Inventors: Christian Noll; Herbert Wind
Original assignee: Brandenburger Patentverwertung Gdbr
Priority date: 2008-02-20
Filing date: 2009-01-24
Publication date: 2009-08-27
Also published as: DE102008010167B4; DE102008010167A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for hardening light-hardenable, resin-impregnated fibrous tubes by means of light-emitting diodes (1) that are mounted on a flexible tubular carrier. The diodes (1) are applied to the outer side of metal pipe segments (2a to 2z) that are fixed to disk-shaped intermediate pieces (3a, 3b) on one side. Rubber pipe segments (2a bis 2z) that can be extended in the longitudinal direction are arranged inside the metal pipe segments (2a bis 2z), and are fixed, on both sides, to two disk-shaped intermediate pieces (3a, 3b) in order to connect same. The invention also relates to a method for reconstructing narrow pipelines, especially branch lines, by inserting a resin-impregnated fibrous tube into the pipeline, expanding the fibrous tube up to the inner wall of the pipeline, and hardening the resin by means of the previously described device, whereby the tubular carrier is moved like a caterpillar in individual successive steps through the fibrous tube.

Description

Apparatus and method for curing resin impregnated fiber hoses

description

The invention relates to a flexible apparatus for curing photocurable resin impregnated fiber tubing by means of light emitting diodes (LEDs) mounted on a tubular support, and to a method for rehabilitating narrow pipelines by inserting the fiber tubing into the tubing and curing the resin.

A particularly elegant method for rehabilitating buried pipelines is to introduce a flexible, light-curable resin-impregnated fiber tube into the tube, expand it there, and then cure the resin by exposure to UV light. In EP-A 1 591 470 it is proposed to harden the photocurable fiber tube by high-energy radiation of light-emitting diodes. These LEDs produce cold light, so that only small amounts of heat are emitted during the irradiation, which reduces the risk of damaging the heat-sensitive protective film of the fiber tube.

In the patent applications DE-A 2007 038 197.4 and DE-A 2007 038 196.6 technically useful methods and devices for the LED curing of resin-impregnated fiber hoses are described, wherein the LEDs are mounted on a tubular support. The diodes are arranged in a plurality of parallel annular or helical areas, wherein they are offset horizontally from each other on the respective adjacent areas. This ensures that overlap the scattering angle of the individual, mounted in the annular regions diodes, so that a uniform curing of the fiber tube is ensured. Problems arise in heavily bent or kinked pipes, especially in branch lines, especially those that have a small diameter, for example, less than 500 mm. Here is for rigid tubular support hardly possible to get through. But also articulated carrier, as indicated in DE-A 2007 038 196.6, can not always solve the problem because it is usually not possible to pull through the carrier from the house side, especially in house connection lines.

A conceivable solution could be motorized carriers. However, this would result in the problem that due to the strong pressure exerted by the driven wheels on the sensitive inner film of the fiber tube, this would be damaged.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and a method in which these problems are overcome.

In the device according to the invention, the diodes are applied on the outside of a plurality of metal pipe segments which are fixed on one side to disc-shaped intermediate pieces, which carry on the inner wall of the film tube engagable support wheels. Within the metal tube segments are longitudinally stretchable rubber tube segments are arranged, which are on both sides for connecting two disc-shaped intermediate pieces, for. By means of clamping rings are attached to this. The device contains at least two diode-carrying metal pipe segments, but depending on the diameter of the pipe, it can contain up to 10, preferably 3 to 5 metal pipe segments.

Conveniently located at the front and rear end of the carrier, a rear disc-shaped end piece and a front disc-shaped end piece, wherein radially expandable rubber tube segments on the one hand on the rear end piece or on the front end piece and on the other hand on the rear intermediate piece or on the front intermediate piece are attached. These rubber tube segments, when stretched, may closely conform to the inner wall of the film tube and thereby cause the corresponding area of the carrier to be fixed at that location.

Furthermore, it is appropriate

that the rear end piece has three holes, the middle intermediate pieces each have two holes, the front intermediate piece has a bore and the front end piece has no hole,

- That the first bore of the rear end piece, a first tube is guided, whereby the air chamber between the rear end piece and the intermediate piece can be pressurized, that through the second bore of the rear end piece and to the first bore of the rear intermediate piece, a second hose is guided, whereby the other air chambers can be pressurized, and

- That through the third bore of the rear end piece, through the second holes of the intermediate pieces and to the bore of the front intermediate piece, a third tube is guided, whereby the air chamber between the front intermediate piece and the underlying can be pressurized.

The first hose should not pass through the second bore of the end piece and the second hose should not pass through the third hole of the intermediate pieces, but the hoses should end before and behind the respective holes and be replaced by connections in the holes, which the hoses against Seal the adjacent air chambers. In principle, more holes can be attached to the intermediate pieces, so that the air chambers can also be moved separately.

In order to take the device according to the invention into operation, light cables must be passed through the rear end piece and the intermediate pieces sealing sealed, which are connected to the sitting on the metal pipe segments diodes. The metal pipe segments are preferably made of a good heat-conducting metal, in particular aluminum. These materials have the advantage that they can absorb and dissipate the heat radiated by the diodes, otherwise there is a risk that the performance and the life of the LEDs decreases over time.

Advantageously, the diodes are - as described in DE-A 2007 038 197.4 - arranged on the metal pipe segments in a plurality of parallel annular regions, wherein they are offset horizontally against each other on the respective adjacent regions.

The outer diameter of the tubular support (without support wheels) is preferably 3 to 40 cm, the metal pipe segments are preferably 5 to 25 cm wide and the rubber pipe segments are preferably 10 to 30 cm wide.

The inventive method is particularly well suited for rehabilitation of pipes with relatively small diameter, preferably from 50 to 500 mm and in particular from 60 to 250 mm. It is preferred for rehabilitating branch lines, e.g. used for domestic connections and for house and property drainage pipes.

Initially, a fiber tube filled with a photocurable resin, e.g. a polyester resin or a vinyl ester resin, introduced into the pipeline.

For this purpose, either a relatively short, open at the front and at the rear with a collar fiber hose ("hat profile") is introduced together with a rubber carrier by means of a channel robot in the branch line This process is described, for example, in EP-A 740 102 and EP-A 1 798 462.

However, this mode of operation is in many cases, especially if you want to rehabilitate longer branch lines fully, not possible, so there is an inverted Hose everted by compressed air from one side, usually the house side, into the pipe, as for example in EP-A 228 998, Figure 4, is recorded. The fiber tube is then expanded again by injecting a fluid medium, preferably air, so that it conforms snugly against the inner wall of the pipeline. This process is described, for example, in EP-A 740 102.

Finally, the resin is cured by pulling the device according to the invention through the fiber tube and igniting the LEDs and emit UV light. In this case, the tubular, flexible carrier is moved like a caterpillar in successive steps through the fiber tube. The tubular support can be moved mechanically, wherein the rubber tube segments are relatively rigid and consist of two parts which are mutually displaceable. Preferably, however, the tubular support is moved forward by positive pressure.

This is done in a preferred embodiment by the following method steps:

A. the tubular support is inserted into the rear end of the pipeline,

B. the rear air chamber is pressurized, so that the rear, stretchable in the radial direction rubber tube segment expands to the inner wall of the fiber tube and fixes the carrier at this point,

C. the middle air chambers are pressurized so that the rubber tube segments elongate 1.5 to 8 times in the longitudinal direction and the front end of the carrier thereby moves forward,

D. the front air chamber is pressurized so that the front, radially expandable rubber tube segment expands to the inner wall of the fiber tube and fixes the carrier at this point,

E. The pressure in the rear air chamber is released so that the rear fixation of the carrier is released, the stretched rubber tube segments retract again and the rear end of the carrier moves forward.

The process steps A to E are repeated several times, so that the carrier with the diodes in total forward to the front end of the pipeline moving, finally, all chambers are relaxed, current is passed through the light cables, so that the diodes ignite and cause the hardening, then the carrier is slowly retracted, whereby the entire fiber tube is hardened.

For pressurizing the air chambers, a fluid medium, e.g. a gas, preferably air pressed through the hoses. Alternatively, the chambers can also be acted upon by a liquid, preferably water.

The longitudinally stretchable rubber tube segments are expediently reinforced with Kevlar or metal fibers in the radial direction.

Conveniently, a camera for monitoring the movement and hardening process is attached to the head end of the tubular support.

The invention will be described below with reference to the drawing, in which the device according to the invention is shown in a schematic cross-sectional view.

As can be seen in FIG. 1, the device according to the invention for hardening impregnated hard wicks, not shown in more detail, comprises a plurality of light-emitting diodes 1 which are mounted on a flexible tubular support, preferably of metal tube segments 2a, 2b to 2z is composed.

According to the illustration of FIG. 1, the diodes 1 are in this case applied to the outside of the metal tube segments 2 a to 2 z and preferably extended over an angular range of 360 ° in the circumferential direction.

The metal pipe segments 2a to 2z are preferably attached on one side to disk-shaped intermediate pieces 3a, 3b to 3z, which carry only schematically indicated support wheels 4, which are engageable with the inner wall of the film tube, not shown. Within the metal tube segments 2a to 2z are longitudinally stretchable rubber tube segments 5a to 5z arranged, which are fixed on both sides for connecting two disc-shaped intermediate pieces 3a, 3b to 3z thereto.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, as viewed in the direction of movement 22 of the wearer forward end thereof is closed by a front disc-shaped connector 10 and the rear end by a rear disc-shaped connector 9. Transversely stretchable rubber tube segments 7 and 8 are fixed on the one hand to the rear disc-shaped end piece 9, or on the front disc-shaped end piece 10 and on the other hand to the rear disc-shaped intermediate piece 3a and to the front disc-shaped intermediate piece 3z.

The longitudinally stretchable rubber pipe segments 5a to 5z as well as the transversely stretchable rubber pipe segments 7 and 8, of which the rubber pipe segment 7 is shown in the drawing in expanded form in dashed lines and provided with the reference numeral T, are on the disc-shaped intermediate pieces 3a to 3z preferably secured by means of clamping rings 6.

1, the rear disc-shaped end piece 9 has three holes, whereas the disc-shaped intermediate pieces 3a and 3b are each provided with only two through holes. In contrast, the front writing-shaped intermediate piece 3z has only one and the front disc-shaped end piece 10 no such hole. The bores in the disk-shaped intermediate pieces 3a, 3b to 3z and in the rear disc-shaped end piece 9 serve to define the front air chamber 16 defined between the front disk-shaped end piece 10 and the disk-shaped intermediate piece 3z, between the following disk-shaped intermediate pieces 3z and 3b and 3b and 3a defined central air chambers 15z and 15a and defined between the disc-shaped intermediate piece 3a and the rear disc-shaped end cap 9 rear air chamber 14 separately from each other with compressed air or a pressurized fluid to act upon. As further indicated in Fig. 1 by the unspecified wavy lines, a first tube 11 is connected to the first bore of the rear disc-shaped end piece 9 to pressurize the rear air chamber 14 separated from the other air chambers with pressure and thereby the rear expandable in the transverse direction rubber tube segment 7 to expand into the position indicated by the reference numeral 7 ^' , in which the tube segment 7 bears against the inside of the pipeline to be rehabilitated and temporarily fixes the rear end of the device according to the invention for the subsequent movement process.

Through a second bore of the rear disc-shaped end piece 9 is up to the first bore of the rear disc-shaped intermediate piece 3a zoom out a second tube 12 to the middle air chambers 15a and 15z, or other medium air chambers not shown separately to put under pressure and thereby the Device according to the invention for the forward movement to stretch.

Furthermore, it is preferred by the third hole of the rear end piece 9 and also through the second holes in the disc-shaped intermediate pieces 3a and 3b through a third hose 13 zoom out to the bore of the front intermediate piece 3z to the front air chamber 16 separated from the other air chambers to apply pressure. In this way, the transversely stretchable front rubber tube segment 8 can be selectively expanded to expand this in the same way as the rear rubber tube segment 7 and to clamp on the inner wall of the pipeline to be rehabilitated. By a subsequent venting of the middle and rear air chambers 15a to 15z and 14, the carrier contracts due to the inherent elasticity of the rubber tube segments 5a to 5z. Alternatively, negative pressure for contracting the carrier can be supplied.

Subsequently, the front air chamber 16 is vented and the process described above is repeated by the rear air chamber 14 and then the middle air chambers are pressurized again to the device according to the invention in the manner of a bead in the direction of arrow 22nd to move through the fiber tube to be cured without damaging the delicate inner tube tube.

The tubes 11, 12 and 13 are preferably extensible in the longitudinal direction of the carrier, which is e.g. can be achieved via an indicated spiral shape of the otherwise pressure-resistant hoses. They preferably extend only within the air chambers 14, 15a to 15z and are not passed through the holes, but connected in a pressure-tight manner via connections, not shown, with the inputs and outputs of the bores.

After the device according to the invention has been moved in the manner described above to the end of the fiber tube, all the air chambers are vented, the diodes 1 turned on and the device using the wheels 4 and a not shown in detail pull rope and / or attacking the rear end piece 9 hoses slowly pulled back through the fiber tube, so that the entire fiber tube is cured.

Bezugszβichenliste

I diodes

2a to 2z metal pipe segments

3a to 3z disc-shaped intermediate pieces

4 support wheels

5a to 5z rubber pipe segments

6 clamping rings

7 and 8 transversely stretchable rubber pipe segments 7 ^' transversely stretched rubber pipe segment

9 rear disk-shaped end piece

10 front disk-shaped end piece

I 1 first hose

12 second hose

13 third hose

14 rear air chamber 15a to 15z middle Luftkammem 6 front air chamber 2 movement direction

Claims

claims

Apparatus for curing fiber-optic resin impregnated fiber tubes by means of light emitting diodes (1) mounted on a flexible tubular support, characterized

- that the diodes (1) are applied to the outside of metal pipe segments (2a to 2z),

- That the metal tube segments (2a to 2z) are fixed on one side to disc-shaped intermediate pieces (3a, 3b to 3z), which carry on the inner wall of a fiber tube engageable support wheels (4), and

- That within the metal pipe segments (2a to 2z) in the longitudinal direction stretchable rubber pipe segments (5a to 5z) are arranged, which are fixed on both sides for connecting two disc-shaped intermediate pieces (3a, 3b to 3z) thereto.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that

- That at a rear end of the carrier, a rear

- Disc-shaped end piece (9) and at a front end of the carrier, a front disc-shaped end piece (10) is located, and

that transversely stretchable rubber tube segments (7, 8) are provided, which are fastened to the rear disc-shaped end piece (9) and a rear disc-shaped intermediate piece (3a) and to the front disc-shaped end piece (10) and a front intermediate piece (3z) are.

3. Device according to claim 2, characterized

- That the rear disc-shaped end piece (9) has three holes, at least one of the intermediate pieces (3a, 3b) per two holes, the front disc-shaped intermediate piece (3z) has a bore and the front end piece (10) has no bore,

- That at the first bore of the rear disc-shaped end piece (9), a first tube (11) is guided to pressurize a rear air chamber (14) with pressure,

- That through the second bore of the rear end piece (9) and to the first bore of the rear intermediate piece (3a) a second tube (12) is guided to pressurize one or more central air chambers (15a to 15z) with pressure, and

- That a third tube (13) is guided through the third bore of the rear end piece (9), through the second holes of the intermediate pieces (3a, 3b) and to the bore of the front intermediate piece (3z) to a front air chamber (16 ) to apply pressure.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that the hose (12) and the hose (13) extend only within the Luftkammem (15a to 15z) between the disc-shaped intermediate pieces (3a, 3b) and the rear disc-shaped end piece (9) and with the associated holes in the disc-shaped intermediate pieces (3a, 3b) and / or in the rear disc-shaped connecting piece (9) are pressure-tightly connected via connections to the interior of the tubes (12, 13) relative to the adjacent air chambers (14, 15a to 15z ) seal.

5. Apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that through the rear end piece (9) and the disc-shaped intermediate pieces (3 a, 3 b) electrical light cables are passed tightly sealed, which with the on the metal Pipe segments (2a to 2z) sitting diodes (1) are electrically connected.

6. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the metal pipe segments (2a to 2z) of a good heat conductive metal, preferably made of aluminum.

7. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the diodes (1) on the metal pipe segments (2a to 2z) are arranged in a plurality of parallel annular regions, wherein the diodes (1) are horizontally offset from each other on the respective adjacent regions.

8. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the outer diameter of the tubular support is 3 cm to 50 cm.

9. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the metal tube segments (2a to 2z) have a width in the range of 5 cm to 25 cm.

10. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the rubber tube segments (5a to 5z) have a width in the range of 10 cm to 30 cm.

11. A method of rehabilitating pipes having an inner diameter of 50 to 500 mm by inserting a fiber hose impregnated with a photohardenable resin, into the conduit and then expanding the fiber tube to conform snugly to the inner wall of the conduit; and curing the resin by passing a device according to any one of claims 1 to 10 with light emitting diodes disposed on a tubular support the fiber tube is drawn, characterized in that the tubular, flexible carrier is moved caterpillar-like in individual successive steps through the fiber tube, wherein it is moved mechanically, by vacuum or preferably by positive pressure forward.

12. A method for rehabilitating pipes according to claim 11, characterized by the following method steps:

A. the tubular support is inserted into the rear end of the pipeline,

B. the rear air chamber (14) is pressurized, so that the rubber tube segment (7) in the transverse direction to the inner wall of the fiber tube zoom expands (7 ^' ) and fixes the carrier at this point,

C. the middle air chambers (15a to 15z) are pressurized so that the rubber tube segments (5a to 5z) extend 1, 5 to 8 times in the longitudinal direction and the front end of the carrier thereby moves forward,

D. the front air chamber (16) is pressurized, so that the rubber tube segment (7) extends in the transverse direction to the inner wall of the fiber tube and fixes the carrier at this point,

E. The pressure in the front air chamber (14) is reduced, so that the rear fixation of the carrier is released, and the pressure in the middle air chambers (15a to 15z) is reduced so that the stretched rubber pipe segments (5a to 5z) contract and the trailing end of the carrier moves forward,

F. method steps A to E are repeated several times, so that the support with the diodes (1) moves overall in the forward direction (22) to the front end of the pipeline, G. thereafter the pressure in all the air chambers (14, 15a to 15z,

16), H. Current is passed through the light cables so that the diodes (1) ignite and cause the hardening, and I. the carrier is slowly withdrawn so that the whole

Fiber tube is cured.

A method for rehabilitating pipelines according to claim 12, characterized in that for pressurizing the air chambers (14, 15a to 15z, 16) a medium, e.g. a gas, preferably air, or a liquid, preferably water, through which hoses (11, 12, 13) are pressed.