LINING TUBE FOR RESTORING DEFECTIVE SEWER SHAFTS AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING AND INSTALLING SUCH A TUBE

Abstract

A lining tube for restoring a defective sewer shaft which has a first shaft portion of a first diameter and an adjoining second shaft portion of an larger diameter. The lining tube has inner film tube and a radially expandable layer of fibrous material around the inner film tube and impregnated with a curable reactive resin. The inner film tube has a connecting portion which extends in the longitudinal direction and which connects two mutually parallel circumferential portions of the inner film tube to a circumferentially closed inner film tube. The connecting portion has a predetermined breaking point which extends along the inner film tube and can be separated in the circumferential direction by introducing a pressure medium into the inner film tube, in order to radially expand the inner film tube and the layer of fibrous material beyond their nominal diameter.

Claims

1-10. (canceled)

11. A lining tube for restoring a defective sewer shaft, wherein the sewer shaft has a first shaft section with a first diameter and, adjoining the first shaft section, a second shaft section with a widened diameter, the lining tube comprising: an inner film tube having a connecting portion, which extends in a longitudinal direction thereof and connects two circumferential portions of said inner film tube running parallel to one another to form a circumferentially closed inner film tube having a defined nominal diameter; and a radially expandable layer of fiber material arranged around said inner film tube, said layer of fiber material being impregnated with a curable reactive resin; said connecting portion having a predetermined breaking point, which extends along said inner film tube and is formed to be broken open in the circumferential direction by introducing into said inner film tube a pressure medium and by radially expanding said inner film tube and said layer of fiber material arranged thereon beyond the nominal diameter.

12. The lining tube according to claim 11, wherein said inner film tube comprises at least one flat film, which is formed into a tube and which has longitudinal edges running at a distance from one another and being connected by a transparent film strip adhesively attached or thermally welded onto an outer side or inner side thereof.

13. The lining tube according to claim 11, wherein said inner film tube comprises at least one flat film, which is formed into a tube and which has edge portions that are connected by a transparent adhesive tape or guided to overlap one another and connected to one another by a device selected from the group consisting of adhesive, a transparent double-sided adhesive tape, and thermal welding.

14. The lining tube according to claim 11, wherein said inner film tube is a circumferentially seamless film tube, which has a circular cross section of a diameter which is more than 10% of the nominal diameter, and wherein, to form a film loop running in the circumferential direction of said inner film tube and extending over a length of said inner film tube, two outer circumferential portions of the seamless film tube arranged parallel to one another are connected to one another in a region of said connecting portion by an adhesively attached or thermally welded-on transparent film strip, which spans said film loop.

15. The lining tube according to claim 14, wherein the diameter of said circumferentially seamless film tube is more than 40% of the nominal diameter of the circumferentially closed inner film tube.

16. The lining tube according to claim 11, wherein: said layer of fiber material comprises at least one helically overlappingly wound fiber strip or at least one fiber strip extending in the longitudinal direction of the lining tube and laid with overlapping longitudinal edges thereof; the fiber material of said tubular layer has a stretchability of more than 10% in such a way that, by introducing the pressure medium into the interior space of the lining tube, said tubular layer of fiber material is enlarged radially from a first diameter to a second diameter, with a size of the second diameter exceeding a size of the first diameter by at least 10%.

17. The lining tube according to claim 16, wherein the second diameter exceeds the first diameter by at least 30%.

18. The lining tube according to claim 11, which comprises a longitudinal tension strip arranged on said layer of fiber material, said longitudinal tension strip extending in the longitudinal direction of the lining tube and containing at least one of glass fibers or glass fiber rovings running in the longitudinal direction of the lining tube for absorbing and transmitting axial forces during a drawing of the lining tube into a sewer shaft, and/or an outer film tube arranged around said layer of fiber material.

19. The lining tube according to claim 18, which comprises an optional further outer film tube, which is impermeable to UV light and is formed of a reinforced tension-resistant material for absorbing axial tensile forces.

20. The lining tube according to claim 19, wherein said further outer film tube is a fabric-reinforced plastic film.

21. The lining tube according to claim 11, which comprises a further inner film tube of an airtight transparent plastics material arranged inside said inner film tube, said further inner film tube extending in the longitudinal direction of the lining tube over an entire length thereof, and a sealing element closing off one end of said further inner film tube with an airtight seal to form an air bag that is closed on one side.

22. The lining tube according to claim 21, wherein said sealing element is a knot or a cord wound around the outer side of said further inner film tube or a cable tie.

23. A method for producing the lining tube according to claim 11, the method comprising: providing a transparent flat plastic film having longitudinal edges; forming the plastic film into a circumferentially closed inner film tube of a specified nominal diameter by overlapping adhesive bonding or welding of the longitudinal edges and/or by adhesively attaching or thermally welding a transparent film strip onto two adjacent outer circumferential portions, running parallel to one another, of the flat plastic film arranged in the form of a tube, thereby creating a connecting portion, which has a predetermined breaking point running in the longitudinal direction of the inner film tube; and arranging a layer of fiber material on the outer side of the circumferentially closed tubular inner film tube by overlapping helical winding or overlapping laying of at least one resin-impregnated fiber strip around the inner film tube.

24. The method according to claim 23, wherein the at least one resin-impregnated fiber strip is a glassfiber strip.

25. The method according to claim 23, which comprises laying a further transparent, circumferentially airtightly closed inner film tube, extending over the length of the lining tube, onto the flat plastic film before the flat plastic film is formed into the circumferentially closed inner film tube.

26. A method of lining a defective sewer shaft, which has a first shaft section of a first diameter and, adjoining the first shaft section, a second shaft section of a widened diameter, the method comprising: providing a lining tube according to claim 11; fastening one end of the lining tube to a cup-shaped packer; raising the packer with the lining tube fastened thereto into a position vertically above the sewer shaft; lowering the packer with the lining tube fastened thereto into the sewer shaft; expanding an air bag, which has been closed in an airtight manner in the region of the bottom of the sewer shaft, inside the lining tube by introducing a pressure medium into the air bag in such a way that, with the predetermined breaking point in the connecting portion breaking open, the lining tube expands radially inside the sewer shaft and comes to lie against the inner wall of the widened second sewer section; and curing the reactive resin in the layer of fiber material by introducing a radiation source into the interior space of the expanded air bag arranged in the lining tube.

27. The method according to claim 26, wherein the pressure medium is pressurized air.

Description

[0036] In the drawings:

[0037] FIG. 1 shows a schematic, partly transparent plan view of a lining tube according to the invention,

[0038] FIG. 2a shows a schematic representation of a sewer shaft to be restored before the insertion of a lining tube according to the invention,

[0039] FIG. 2b shows the sewer shaft from FIG. 2a after the lowering of the lining tube,

[0040] FIG. 2c shows the sewer shaft from FIG. 2a before the insertion of the further inner film tube into the lining tube,

[0041] FIG. 2d shows the sewer shaft from FIG. 2a after the insertion of the further inner film tube,

[0042] FIG. 2e shows the sewer shaft from FIG. 2a after the insertion of a radiation source and expansion of the lining tube and also irradiation of the inner side of the layer of fiber material laid against the inner wall of the shaft sections of different widths,

[0043] FIG. 3 shows a schematic partial representation of a preferred embodiment of an inner film tube with a predetermined breaking point that is used in the lining tubes according to the invention, and

[0044] FIG. 4 shows a schematic partial representation of a further embodiment of a seamless inner film tube with a predetermined breaking point that is used in the lining tubes according to the invention and includes a film loop that is bridged by a film strip.

[0045] As the representation of FIG. 1 shows, a lining tube 1 for restoring a defective sewer shaft 100, which is represented in FIG. 2a and has a first shaft section 110 of a first diameter and, adjoining it, a second shaft section 120 of a widened diameter, comprises an inner film tube 10 and also, arranged around it, a radially expandable layer of fiber material 20, which is impregnated with a curable reactive resin.

[0046] The lining tube is distinguished by the fact that the inner film tube 10 has a connecting portion 12, which extends in the longitudinal direction of the same and connects two circumferential portions 10a, 10b of the inner film tube 10 running parallel to one another to form a circumferentially closed inner film tube of a defined nominal diameter DN. The connecting portion 12 comprises a predetermined breaking point 14, which extends along the inner film tube 10 and can be broken open in the circumferential direction by introducing into the inner film tube 10 a pressure medium, in particular compressed air, from a compressed gas source 6 (FIG. 2e), so that the inner film tube 10 and the layer of fiber material 20 arranged on it can expand radially beyond the nominal diameter, which corresponds substantially to the diameter of the first, upper smaller shaft section 110 (FIG. 2a) by more than 10%, preferably more than 30% and particularly preferably up to 50%, to the widened diameter of the second, lower shaft section 120. Thus, in practice, in the case of a usual sewer shaft 100 with a shaft depth of 2 to 5 m, the smaller diameter of the upper shaft section 110 may be, for example, mm, and the diameter of the lower, cylindrical second shaft section 120 may be, for example, 1000 mm, with a conical transitional section being formed between the first and second shaft sections 110, 120.

[0047] In the case of the preferred embodiment of the invention, used for forming the inner film tube 10 is at least one transparent flat film 16, which is formed into a tube, for example by laying, and the longitudinal edges 17a, 17b of which, as shown in FIG. 1, run at a distance from one another and are connected to one another by a transparent film strip 18 adhesively attached or thermally welded onto the outer side. In the case of this embodiment shown in FIG. 1, which can be produced very inexpensively, the predetermined breaking point 14 extends along one or both longitudinal weld seams, or adhesive points, along which the transparent film strip 18 is connected to the corresponding circumferential portions 10a, 10b of the likewise transparent flat film 16 from which the inner film tube 10 is formed.

[0048] In the case of a further embodiment of the invention, which is shown in FIG. 3 and can be produced particularly inexpensively and easily, the inner film tube 10 comprises at least one flat film 16, which is formed into a tube and the edge portions 16a, 16b of which are guided such that they are overlapping one another and are connected to one another, for example by an adhesive that is only schematically indicated in FIG. 3, for example by a double-sided adhesive tape, or by thermal welding. Alternatively, the edge portions 16a and 16b may also be connected to one another by a transparent adhesive tape. The previously described two embodiments of the inner film tube according to the invention offer the advantage that a further, circumferentially closed, preferably seamless inner film tube, which is for example provided as inexpensive endless material from a roll, can be laid into it before the two circumferential portions 10a, 10b are adhesively bonded or welded to one another. In the case of this embodiment, the resin-impregnated fiber strips of the layer of fiber material are particularly advantageously laid in an overlapping manner around the adhesively bonded/welded inner film tube. The fiber strips are in this case formed as individual mats, which are of a length which corresponds to the length of the lining tube to be produced. In the case of this embodiment, the width of the mats is slightly, for example 10%, greater than the inner circumference of the second, enlarged shaft section 120, whereby it is ensured that the layer of fiber material can expand to the second, greater diameter by circumferential displacement of the longitudinal edges of the mat guided in an overlapping manner, but at the same time always remains completely closed circumferentially when the layer of fiber material has come to lie against the second shaft section of greater diameter.

[0049] In order in the case of the previously described embodiments of the inner film tube 10, produced by overlapping adhesive bonding/welding of a flat film 16, to prevent any escape of compressed air through the sometimes not completely closed seams, or through the opened predetermined breaking point 14 in the region of the second shaft section 120 of increased diameter, arranged inside the welded/adhesively bonded inner film tube 10 is a further inner film tube 60 of an airtight transparent plastics material, the one end of which can be closed in an airtight manner by welding or by a sealing element 62, in particular a cord wound around the outer side of the further inner film tube 60, or a cable tie, to form an air bag 64 that is closed on one side. Although the further inner film tube 60 may already be placed into the inner film tube 10 at the factory during production, it is preferably only on the construction site that it is pushed into the interior space of the inner film tube 10, in particular after the insertion of the lining tube 1 into the vertical sewer shaft 100, the lower free end of the further inner film tube 60 having previously been closed in an airtight manner by welding or by a sealing element 62 to form the air bag 64 that is closed on one side.

[0050] According to a further alternative embodiment of the invention, the inner film tube 10 may be a circumferentially seamless film tube, which has a circular cross section of a diameter which is more than 10%, preferably more than 40%, of the nominal diameter of the first shaft section 110, and which preferably corresponds to the diameter of the second, enlarged shaft section 120 of a sewer shaft 110 to be restored. In the case of this embodiment of the invention, shown in FIG. 4, to form a film loop 13 running in the circumferential direction of the inner film tube 10 and extending over the length of the inner film tube 10, the two outer circumferential portions 10a, 10b of the seamless film tube 10 arranged adjacent to one another are connected in the region of the connecting portion 12 by an adhesively attached or thermally welded-on transparent film strip 18, which spans and covers the film loop 13. Advantageously provided in this way is a connecting portion with a predetermined breaking point 14, which in FIG. 4 by way of example runs along the first and second circumferential portions 10a, 10b in the region of the adhesive point or weld seam, and which is schematically indicated by the dashed lines in FIG. 4. During the insertion and expansion of the inner film tube 10 of the embodiment from FIG. 4, it is immaterial whether the weld seam/adhesive point on the right or left in the representation is open during the expansion of the lining tube 1 in the widened second shaft section 120, since the circumferentially completely closed inner film tube 10 always ensures a closed-off volume of air inside the lining tube 1, which reliably prevents the reactive resin from being blown out during the expansion of the same.

[0051] In order in the case of a layer of fiber material 20 obtained by overlapping helical winding to ensure sufficiently great circumferential stretchability of the layer, it has at least one helically overlappingly wound fiber strip, in particular a glassfiber strip 22, the fiber material of which has a stretchability in the longitudinal direction of more than 10% with respect to the overall length of the strip. As has been found by the applicant, this great longitudinal stretching allows a correspondingly great radial expansion of the layer 20 produced from the helically overlappingly wound fiber strip by more than 10%, in particular more than 30%, up to 60%, without significant shrinkage in the longitudinal direction of the lining tube 1 occurring.

[0052] As can also be seen from the representation of FIG. 1, in the case of the previously described embodiments of lining tubes 1, preferably arranged on the layer of fiber material 20 is at least one longitudinal tension strip 30, which extends in the longitudinal direction of the lining tube 1. The longitudinal tension strip 30 preferably comprises continuous glass fibers or glassfiber rovings, which preferably run over the entire length of the lining tube and absorb the axial forces when the lining tube 1 is inserted into a defective sewer shaft 100 to be restored, for example by means of a crane.

[0053] Furthermore, in the case of the preferred embodiment of the lining tube 1, arranged around the layer of fiber material 20 is an outer film tube 40, which preferably has a diameter which is greater than or equal to the diameter of the further inner film tube/air bag 64, and preferably prevents a barrier against the escape of harmful substances, in particular styrene, from the reactive resin into the surrounding ground. The outer film tube 40 may also be surrounded by a further outer film tube 50, which consists of a reinforced material that is tension-resistant and impermeable to UV light, in particular of a fabric-reinforced plastic film which is provided with a circumferentially stretchable portion which, during the expansion of the lining tube, bursts in a way similar to the predetermined breaking point 14 as from a specified positive pressure, for example 0.2 bar, in the second shaft section 120 and allows radial stretching of the layer of fiber material 20.

[0054] According to a further concept on which the invention is based, a method for producing a previously described lining tube 1 is distinguished by the following method steps:

[0055] Firstly, a flat plastic film 16 permeable to UV light is formed into a circumferentially closed inner film tube 10 of a specified nominal diameter. This advantageously takes place by overlapping adhesive bonding or welding of the longitudinal edges 17a, 17b of the transparent flat plastic film 16 and/or by adhesively attaching or thermally welding a transparent film strip 18 onto two adjacent outer circumferential portions 10a, 10b, running parallel to one another, of the flat plastic film 16 arranged in the form of a tube. This has the effect of creating a connecting portion 12, which has a predetermined breaking point 14 running in the longitudinal direction of the inner film tube 10. On the outer side of the thus-formed inner film tube 10 with the predetermined breaking point 14, at least one circumferentially closed layer 20 of fiber material is arranged by overlapping laying or overlapping helical winding of at least one resin-impregnated fiber strip 22, in particular glassfiber strip. The winding preferably takes place here on a winding device, as is described for example in WO-A 95/04646.

[0056] In the case of a particularly advantageous embodiment of the method, a further transparent, circumferentially airtightly closed inner film tube 60, extending over the length of the lining tube 1, is laid in the flat plastic film 16 before the flat plastic film 16 is formed into the circumferentially closed inner film tube 10.

[0057] The lining tube 1 according to the invention produced in the way described above is subsequently transported to the construction site and installed there in a defective sewer shaft 100 to be restored, as is shown in the representations of FIGS. 2a to 2e.

[0058] This involves first one end of the lining tube 1 being fastened, for example by a tensioning belt that is not designated any more specifically, to a known cup-shaped packer 200, which is held above the sewer shaft 100 by a crane not shown any more specifically. As shown in FIG. 2a, the packer 200 with the lining tube 1 fastened to it is subsequently positioned in a vertical position above the sewer shaft 100, which has a first, upper shaft section 110 of a smaller diameter, for example 600 mm, and, lying thereunder, a second sewer section 120 of a greater diameter, for example 1000 mm.

[0059] Next, the packer 200 with the lining tube 1 fastened to it is lowered into the sewer shaft 100 until the lower end of the lining tube 1 rests on the bottom of the sewer shaft 100 (FIG. 2b).

[0060] After that, a previously described further inner film tube 60, which has previously been closed at the bottom, for example by a sealing element 62 or by tying a knot and forms an air bag 64 closed on one side, is inserted from above into the inner film tube 10 of the lining tube 1, as is shown in FIGS. 2c and 2d.

[0061] In a final method step, the packer 200 is closed on its upper side in a known way by a cover, not designated any more specifically, and the interior space of the air bag 64 is subjected to positive pressure in a known way by introducing compressed air from a compressed air source 6 through the cover of the packer 200. As a result, in the region of the first sewer section 110 the inner film tube 10 comes to lie against the inner side of the layer of fiber material 20 and forces it against the inner side of the first shaft section 110, the inner film tube 10 being closed along the predetermined breaking point 14. In the adjoining conical transitional section and the second shaft section 120, in which the sewer shaft 100 has a greater diameter than the nominal diameter of the inner film tube 10, the predetermined breaking point 14 tears as a result of the increasing pressure and allows the further inner film tube/air bag 64 to come to lie against the inner side of the partially exposed layer of fiber material 20 and radially expands this layer and presses it against the inner wall of the second shaft section 120.

[0062] Finally, the reactive resin in the layer of fiber material 20 is cured by inserting a UV radiation source, not designated any more specifically, into the interior space of the air bag 64, while the fiber material is pressed against the inner wall of the sewer shaft 100 with high pressure due to the positive pressure in the further inner film tube 60/air bag 64.

LIST OF DESIGNATIONS

[0063] 1 Lining tube [0064] 6 Compressed gas source [0065] 10 Inner film tube [0066] 10a First circumferential portion of the inner film tube [0067] 10b Second circumferential portion of the inner film tube [0068] 12 Connecting portion [0069] 13 Film loop [0070] 14 Predetermined breaking point [0071] 16 Flat film formed into a tube [0072] 16a Edge portion [0073] 16b Edge portion [0074] 17a Longitudinal edge [0075] 17b Longitudinal edge [0076] 18 Welded-on film strip [0077] 20 Layer of fiber material [0078] 22 Fiber strip [0079] 30 Longitudinal tension strip [0080] 40 Outer film tube [0081] 50 Further outer film tube of reinforced tension-resistant material [0082] 60 Further inner film tube [0083] 62 Sealing element/cord [0084] 64 Air bag [0085] 100 Sewer shaft [0086] 110 First shaft section [0087] 120 Second shaft section [0088] 200 Packer