METHOD FOR RENOVATING DAMAGED LINE WALLS IN THE REGION OF THE CONNECTION OF AN AUXILIARY LINE TO A MAIN LINE

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for renovating damaged pipe walls in the region of the connection of a secondary pipe to a main pipe, comprising the following steps, in particular in this sequence: a) providing an apparatus comprising a mobile carrier element, wherein a covering element which is variable in terms of outer diameter and an expandable expansion body are arranged on the carrier element; b) moving the carrier element to the region to be renovated, which comprises the main pipe and the secondary pipe; c) expanding the covering element until it lies against the inner wall of the main pipe, wherein the expansion body, before and/or at least intermittently during the expansion thereof, is arranged in a first recess of the covering element; d) expanding the expansion body, such that the expansion body, when expanded, lies against the wall of the secondary pipe such that the covering element and the expansion body together form a shuttering; e) positioning a transport means for a renovation compound on the second recess of the covering element; and f) introducing the curable, viscous renovation compound into the space between the shuttering and the walls of the main and secondary pipes adjacent to the shuttering by means of the transport means from a storage device.

Claims

1. A method for renovating damaged pipe walls in the region of the connection of a secondary pipe to a main pipe, comprising the following steps, in particular in this sequence: a) providing an apparatus comprising a mobile carrier element, wherein a covering element which is variable in terms of outer diameter and an expandable expansion body are arranged on the carrier element; b) moving the carrier element to the region to be renovated, which comprises the main pipe and the secondary pipe; c) expanding the covering element until it lies against the inner wall of the main pipe, wherein the expansion body, before and/or at least intermittently during the expansion thereof, is arranged in a first recess of the covering element; d) expanding the expansion body, such that the expansion body, when expanded, lies against the wall of the secondary pipe such that the covering element and the expansion body together form a shuttering; e) positioning a transport means for a renovation compound on the second recess of the covering element; and f) introducing the curable, viscous renovation compound into the space between the shuttering and the walls of the main and secondary pipes adjacent to the shuttering by means of the transport means from a storage device.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that a boom is included which is mounted so as to be movable in at least one spatial axis and which moves the expansion body in a radial direction during the expansion of the covering element, such that the expansion body is arranged in the first recess before and/or at least intermittently during the expansion of the covering element.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the boom is mounted so as to be movable in at least two, in particular in three, spatial axes, and is moved in particular by means of an actuator, preferably by means of an electric motor and/or at least one linear actuator.

4. The method as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the movement of the boom in at least one spatial axis is performed by means of a control device automatically in a manner dependent on the expansion of the covering element.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that a compressed-air-generating element, in particular in the form of a compressor and/or a compressed-air container, is provided, which is arranged on the carrier element in order to expand the expansion body by means of compressed air.

6. The method as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that a transport pipe for transporting the compressed air from the compressed-air-generating element to the expansion body is arranged on the boom, wherein the transport pipe, on the side opposite the compressed-air-generating element, comprises a connecting element which can be brought into or is in operative connection with a valve of the expansion body in order, by means of the compressed-air-generating element, to charge and to expand the expansion body with compressed air.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the renovation compound is introduced from the storage device by pressurization in the interior of the storage device, and/or by a pumping device, via the transport means into the space behind the shuttering.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that a camera is provided which is arranged on the carrier element, wherein the camera is arranged adjacent to the boom such that a position of the boom is displayed on a display device to a user.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that the position of the boom is automatically controlled in closed-loop fashion by means of an image processing device of the control device, and/or the position of the boom is controlled in open-loop fashion by a user by means of an input device.

10. The method as claimed in claim 1, furthermore comprising the following steps, in particular in this sequence, preferably after step f): g) contracting the expansion body, in particular by means of a connection of the connecting element of the boom, after the renovation compound has cured; and h) contracting the covering element.

11. The method as claimed in claim 10, furthermore comprising the following steps, in particular in this sequence, preferably after step h): i) removing the expansion body and the covering element from the pipe by means of the carrier element after the renovation compound has cured.

12. The method as claimed in claim 1, characterized by providing a heating device which is integrated in the covering element and/or in the transport means at least in the region of the second recess and/or is operatively connected to the covering element and/or to the transport means in the region of the second recess, and heating the transport means and/or the covering element and the renovation compound for faster curing thereof during the introduction of the renovation compound and/or at least intermittently, in particular continuously, during the curing of the renovation compound.

Description

[0071] Further features and advantages of the invention emerge from the description below in which exemplary embodiments of the invention will be explained by way of example with reference to schematic drawings without thereby restricting the invention.

[0072] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a detail of an apparatus according to the invention and a shuttering system according to the invention in a pipe system in the transport state in section;

[0073] FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of a detail of an apparatus according to the invention and a shuttering system according to the invention in a pipe system in the operating state in section; and

[0074] FIG. 3 shows a schematic view of a detail of an apparatus according to the invention and a shuttering system according to the invention in a pipe system after renovation in section.

[0075] An exemplary apparatus 1 for an embodiment of a method according to the invention is only partially illustrated in the figures. For example, a chassis and a storage container for the renovation compound of the apparatus 1 are not shown.

[0076] FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a transport state of an apparatus according to the invention. The apparatus 1 comprises a covering element 3 and an expansion body 5. The covering element 3 here is in the form of a shuttering sleeve and the expansion body 5 is in the form of a balloon. The expansion body 5 is already partially arranged here in a first recess 7.

[0077] The apparatus 1 thus provided as per step a) is then, in a step b), moved to the area to be renovated, which comprises the main pipe and the secondary pipe.

[0078] When the apparatus 1 is situated at the working location, then as per step c), the covering element 3 is expanded as shown in FIG. 2, whilst the expansion body 5 remains in the first recess 7 and is moved radially outward, and possibly in one or two further spatial axes, correspondingly to the change in the position of the first recess 7.

[0079] The expansion body 5 is then likewise expanded, either during the expansion of the covering element 3 or after the completion of the expansion thereof, such that a shuttering is formed.

[0080] A closure element 9 closes a second recess 11 through which the renovation compound can be introduced into the cavity 13 closed by the expansion body 5 and the covering element 3, in order to renovate the damaged area in the pipe system.

[0081] The closure element 9 may initially be present in the opened state, or may first be opened directly prior to an introduction of the renovation compound into the cavity 13.

[0082] A camera 15 and a boom 17 are arranged here on a carrying arm 19 of the first apparatus 1, which is only partially shown.

[0083] As is apparent from FIG. 1, the covering element 3 is arranged at a distance from the inner wall of the main pipe and the expansion body 5 is already located in the first recess 7. Simple transport of the two shuttering elements to the portion of the pipe system to be renovated is thus made possible, whilst both elements can be directly expanded and transferred into the operating state without the need for a connection of the expansion body 5 to further devices or an introduction of said expansion body into the first recess 7.

[0084] FIG. 2 illustrates the operating state of the apparatus according to the invention. The covering element 3 is expanded here such that it lies firmly against the inner wall of the main pipe. The expanded expansion body 5 equally lies tightly in the secondary pipe against the inner wall of the secondary pipe. The cavity 13′ which is thus closed is filled with the renovation compound by means of the boom 17 through the second recess 11 which is exposed by opening of the closure element 9. Subsequently, the closure element 9 is closed and the renovation compound can cure.

[0085] In order to accelerate the curing, a heating apparatus (not shown) may be used. This can be arranged, for example, directly in the covering element 3 in the region of the second recess 11, or can be integrated in the transport means for the renovation compound. The heating apparatus can also be operatively connected to the covering element or to the transport means and not integrated directly therein.

[0086] After curing has taken place, the expansion body 5 is contracted and the outside diameter of the covering element 3 is also reduced, and therefore the shuttering formed from said two elements can be removed. The renovation compound 3.3″ is cured at this point and the renovation of the pipe has therefore been concluded successfully.

[0087] The features of the invention disclosed in the above description and the claims may be essential both individually and in any desired combination for implementing the invention in its various embodiments.