IN-SITU DEPLOYMENT DEVICE

Abstract

An in-situ deployment device (20) for transporting an expandable sleeve (4) inside of a pipe (1, 2) and for applying it in on the inside of the pipe (1, 2), wherein the expandable sleeve (4) comprises a backing layer (5) and an adhesive layer (6) and wherein the adhesive layer (6) faces the outside when the sleeve is positioned on the deployment device (20) while being transported through the pipe (1, 2), the deployment device (20) comprising: an inflatable section (21) for carrying and expanding the expandable sleeve (4) and a positioning section (22) for positioning the deployment device (20) at the correct location inside of the pipe (1, 2), wherein the inflatable section (21) and the positioning section (22) are connected such with each other that the two sections (21, 22) can move relative to each other.

Claims

1. An in-situ deployment device for transporting an expandable sleeve inside of a pipe and for applying it on the inside of the pipe, wherein the expandable sleeve comprises a backing layer and an adhesive layer and wherein the adhesive layer faces the outside when the sleeve is positioned on the deployment device while being transported through the pipe, the deployment device comprising: an inflatable section for carrying and expanding the expandable sleeve and a positioning section for positioning the deployment device at the correct location inside of the pipe, wherein the inflatable section and the positioning section are connected such with each other that the two sections can move relative to each other.

2. Deployment device according to claim 1, wherein the inflatable section and the positioning section are connected with each other by at least one rod.

3. Deployment device according to claim 1, wherein the inflatable section and the positioning section are connected with each other by two rods, wherein the two rods are positioned adjacent each other on one radial side of the deployment device.

4. Deployment device according to claim 1, wherein the positioning section comprises a camera and optionally a light source.

5. Deployment device according to claim 1, wherein the positioning section comprises means for centering the positioning section.

6. Deployment device according to claim 1, wherein the inflatable section comprises an inflatable bladder and two end caps one on each side of the inflatable section.

7. Deployment device according to claim 1, wherein the dimensions of the inflatable section are selected such that the deployment device is suitable to transport the expandable sleeve with the adhesive layer facing to the outside through a pipe without the expandable sleeve touching the inside of the pipe.

8. Deployment device according to claim 6, wherein the inflatable bladder comprises a diameter of less than 70% of the inner diameter (d) of the pipe when being moved with the expandable sleeve towards the location that needs to be sealed.

9. Deployment device according to claim 1, wherein the inflatable section comprises end caps with means for centering the inflatable section.

10. Deployment device according to claim 1, wherein the inflatable section comprises at least one end cap with a laser positioning system.

11. Deployment device according to claim 1, wherein the camera of the positioning device is directed towards the laser positioning system.

12. Deployment device according to claim 1, wherein the deployment device comprises an umbilical cable for transferring information and for moving the device inside of the pipe.

13. Deployment device according to claim 1, wherein the deployment device comprises a steel cable for moving the device inside of the pipe.

14. Deployment device according to claim 1, wherein the deployment device comprises an airline for transporting air through the pipe for inflating or deflating the inflatable section.

15. Deployment device according to claim 1, wherein cushioning elements are used as centering means for the positioning section and/or the inflatable section.

Description

[0080] The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the following Figures exemplifying particular embodiments of the invention:

[0081] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional, schematic view of a pipe section with an inflatable section of a device according to the invention outside of the pipe section, the inflatable section comprising a diameter Do;

[0082] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional, schematic view of a pipe section with an inflatable section of a device according to the invention outside of the pipe section, the inflatable section comprising a diameter Do, the inflatable section further comprising an expandable sleeve being wrapped around the inflatable section;

[0083] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional, schematic view of the pipe section of FIG. 1 with the inflatable section of a device according to the invention outside of the pipe section, the inflatable section comprising a diameter D.sub.1, D.sub.1 being bigger than Do and smaller than the inner diameter of the pipe d;

[0084] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional, schematic view of a pipe section of FIG. 1 with the inflatable section with its diameter D.sub.1 being inserted into the pipe;

[0085] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional, schematic view of a pipe section of FIG. 1 with the inflatable section being inserted into the pipe and the inflatable section being inflated to a diameter D.sub.2 equal to the inner diameter of the pipe section;

[0086] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional, schematic view of an expandable sleeve wrapped around the inflatable section;

[0087] FIG. 7 is cross-sectional, schematic view of the pipe section of FIG. 1 with the expandable sleeve being attached to the inner wall of the pipe section;

[0088] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional, schematic view of a larger part the pipe section of

[0089] FIG. 1 with the expandable sleeve being attached to the inner wall of the pipe section and a coating being provided inside of the pipe section covering its inner wall as well as the sleeve;

[0090] FIG. 9 is a three dimensional view of one embodiment of the deployment device according to the invention within a pipe section;

[0091] FIG. 10 is a three dimensional view of the device shown in FIG. 9 within a pipe shown from another angle;

[0092] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional, schematic view of the inflatable section of a device according to the invention inside of a pipe at the location of an offset pipe joint;

[0093] FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional, schematic view of the inflatable section of a device according to the invention inside of a pipe at the location of another kind of offset pipe and

[0094] FIG. 13 is a three dimensional view of the connection between the positioning section and the inflatable section.

[0095] Herein below various embodiments of the present invention are described and shown in the drawings wherein like elements are provided with the same reference numbers. Before describing the deployment device according to the invention a method of sealing a pipe section that can be applied with the deployment device according to the invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 8.

[0096] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional, schematic view of a pipe section. The pipe section is a joint of two ends of pipes 1 and 2. The inner diameter of the pipes 1 and 2 is d, wherein the end section of the pipe 1 provides an enlarged inner diameter di to receive an opposing end section of the pipe 2. In that joint a gap 9 may exist between the end of pipe 2 and the enlarged section of pipe 1. The materials used in in-situ maintenance procedures, e.g. in in-situ spray coating processes may have limitations in their ability to fill or span circumferential discontinuities, such as for example those discontinuities showed in FIG. 1, a gap 9 due to a joint of pipes. In order to prepare the pipe section for the in-situ spray coating process, the herein following method provides a pre-treatment of the pipe.

[0097] For the pre-treatment a deployment device according to the invention is used that provides an inflatable section that may be adapted in its diameter. The inflatable section also provides mechanical means for moving it into, along the pipe and back out of the pipe as will be described below in more detail. In addition, the inflatable section provides means for centering and positioning as will also be described in more detail below. These means are not shown in FIGS. 1 to 8 to ensure clarity in the drawings.

[0098] FIG. 1 also schematically shows an inflatable section 3 of the deployment device according to the invention outside of the pipe section. The inflatable section is in an uninflated stage and provides a diameter Do, which is smaller than the diameter d of the pipes 1 and 2. It may also be smaller than 70% of the diameter d for the pipes 1 and 2.

[0099] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the same pipe section of pipes 1 and 2 and the inflatable section 3, wherein the inflatable section 3 is in its uninflated stage with a diameter Do. An expandable sleeve 4 is wrapped around the inflatable section 3 such that the end portions 7 and 8 of the sleeve 4 overlap each other (see FIG. 6).

[0100] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the same pipe section of pipes 1 and 2 and the inflatable section 3, wherein the inflatable section 3 has now been inflated up to a first diameter D.sub.1, which is larger than Do but still smaller than d, the diameter of the pipes 1 and 2. The expandable sleeve 4, which is wrapped around the inflatable section 3, is stretched due to the inflation of the inflatable section 3. By slightly stretching the sleeve 4 it is guaranteed that the sleeve is positioned onto the inflatable section 3 and does not move relative to the inflatable section 3 during the next process steps.

[0101] As can be seen in FIG. 6 which shows a radial cross-section of the inflatable section 3 with an expandable sleeve 4 wrapped around the inflatable section 3, the sleeve 4 comprises two layers a backing layer 5 and an adhesive layer 6. The adhesive layer is facing the outside in FIG. 6. The sleeve 4 provides two opposing end regions 7 and 8, wherein the two opposing end regions 7 and 8 overlap each other when the sleeve 4 is wrapped around the inflatable section 3 of the deployment device according to the invention. Since the adhesive layer 6 is facing the outside of the sleeve 4 the overlapping end 8 becomes adhered to the overlapping end 7 due to the adhesive layer 6 of the overlapping end 7 getting in contact with the backing layer 5 of the opposing end 8. Thereby the sleeve 4 becomes fixed in its cylindrical shape.

[0102] Next the inflatable section 3 of the deployment device according to the invention with the thereon positioned sleeve 4 is inserted into the pipe until it reaches the pipe section to be sealed (see FIG. 4). The inflatable section 3 should be located centrally over the joint. Means of cameras may be used to ensure proper positioning as will be described in detail below. Lasers may optionally be used as well to aid in achieving proper location of the expandable sleeve 4 at the joint (see below). When the inflatable section 3 has reached the pipe section to be sealed it is inflated to the diameter D.sub.2 which corresponds to the inner diameter of the pipes 1 and 2. Since the overlapping ends 8 and 7 are fixed relative to each other and do not move relative to each other, the sleeve 4 further expands until the adhesive layer 6 of the expandable sleeve 4 touches or contacts the inner walls of the pipes 1 and 2 (see FIG. 5).

[0103] The inflatable section 3 of the deployment device according to the invention may get even more inflated or pressurized in this position in order to provide a suitable pressure onto the expanded sleeve 4 to facilitate adequate adhesion of the sleeve 4 at the inner wall of the pipes 1 and 2. The pressure radially applied to the sleeve can be up to 15 bar, the pressure referring to the pressure inside of the inflatable section 3 of the deployment device according to the invention. Preferably it is between 2 and 5 bar. The pressure may be maintained for two to five minutes in order to assure reliable adhesion of the sleeve at the inner wall of the pipes 1 and 2. After this time the deployment device may be deflated and moved out of the pipe again. The inflatable section 3 of the deployment device may then be reloaded with another sleeve and deployed at the next spot to be sealed, e.g., at the next joint. When all spots are sealed the pipe is ready for an in-situ spray coating or lining which may lead to rehabilitation of the pipe.

[0104] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional, schematic view of the pipe section with the joint of pipes 1 and 2 with the expanded sleeve 3 being adhered to the inner wall of the pipe section thereby extending over the gap 9, that exists due to the geometry of the pipe joint, wherein the pipe 1 provides an extended diameter to receive an end section of the pipe 2. The expanded sleeve 3 provides a seal for the gap 9 and therefore facilitates a reliable in-situ spray coating process. The result of a spray coating step can be seen in FIG. 8 which is a cross-sectional view of the pipe section of FIG. 7 with an additional layer of resin coating 11 the inner walls of the pipes 1 and 2 as well as the expanded sleeve 3 extending over the pipe joint.

[0105] Examples for sleeve materials that were tested and performed suitably are the following (all commercially available from 3M Company, St. Paul, Minn., US): [0106] 3M Polyurethane Protective Tape 8641 [0107] 3M Polyurethane Protective Tape 8641 (perforated) [0108] 3M Rubber Mastic 2228 [0109] 3M Extreme Sealing Tape 4411N [0110] 3M Extreme Sealing Tape 4412N [0111] 3M All Weather Flashing 8067 [0112] 3M Cable Jacket Repair Tape 2234

[0113] The 3M (Aircraft Belly) Protective Tape 8641 is a 16-mil thick polyurethane coated with an aggressive, conformable 25-mil thick pressure sensitive acrylic foam adhesive.

[0114] The 3M Rubber Mastic 2228 is a conformable self-fusing rubber electrical insulating and sealing tape. It consists of an ethylene propylene rubber (EPR) backing coated with an aggressive temperature-stable mastic adhesive.

[0115] The 3M Extreme Sealing Tape 4411N, 4412N are tapes out of a family of single coated, pressure sensitive adhesive tapes designed for sealing applications. The backing on this tape is an ionomer film that is very tough yet flexible and abrasion resistant. The very soft and thick acrylic adhesive has excellent sealing properties. This single coated tape is designed to seal over an existing joint, seam or penetration. The adhesive is designed to adhere well to the ionomer film so that overlapping tape joints can be adhered while maintaining a strong seal.

[0116] The 3M All Weather Flashing 8067 is a self-adhered, waterproof flashing membrane designed for sealing around openings and penetrations in exterior walls. It has a unique acrylic pressure sensitive adhesive that aggressively sticks to all applicable surfaces and a proprietary backing with sealing function.

[0117] 3M Cable Jacket Repair Tape 2234 is a two layer tape with an outer layer of vulcanized CSM rubber to provide outstanding chemical and environmental resistance. The inner layer is composed of flame-retardant mastic and acts as a moisture barrier which provides excellent adhesion to a variety of jacket materials.

TABLE-US-00001 Adhesive Robustness Conformability Tape Thickness Backing Type Adhesive Type Properties of Backing in Pipe 3M Polyurethane 1 mm Polyurethane Acrylic (foam carrier) 5 9 9 Protective tape 8641 3M Polyurethane 1 mm Polyurethane Acrylic (foam carrier) 5 9 9 Protective tape 8641 (Perforated) 3M Rubber Mastic 1.65 mm Rubber (EPR) Mastic 5 5 9 2228 3M Extreme 1 mm Ethylene/Acrylic co-polymer Acrylic (foam 9 9 9 Sealing Tape carrier) 4411N 3M Extreme 2 mm Ethylene/Acrylic co-polymer Acrylic (foam carrier) 9 9 5 Sealing Tape 4412N 3M All Weather 0.13 mm Acrylic Acrylic 9 5 1 Flashing 8067 3M Cable Jacket 1.5 mm Rubber (EPR) Mastic 5 1 5 Repair Tape 2234

[0118] The following is a description of the deployment device 20 according to the invention. FIGS. 9 and 10 are three dimensional views of one embodiment of the deployment device 20 according to the invention inside of a pipe section from two different angles. The deployment device 20 comprises an inflatable section 21 and a positioning section 22. The inflatable section 21 and the positioning section 22 are connected with each other by means of two rods 23 as will be described further below. The connection allows movement of the two sections relative to each other to allow some flexibility of the deployment device 20 when moving through a pipe.

[0119] The inflatable section 21 comprises an inflatable part or bladder 24 as well as two end caps 25 one on each side of the inflatable bladder 24. The inflatable bladder 24 may be made out of rubber and comprise a diameter that is variable in its size. It may for example be inflated from about 60% of the diameter of the pipe it is used for to 100% of the diameter of the pipe it is used for. The two end caps 25 may be made out of aluminium. They may comprise a receptacle to receive the ends of the inflatable bladder 24. They may also provide means for centering the inflatable section 21. The centering means may be arranged circumferentially around the end caps 25 and may be made out of cushioning elements like brushes 26. As can be seen in FIG. 13, the brushes may be held in u-shaped carriers 27 which are positioned in channels 28 within the end caps 25. It is also possible that the centering means are adjustable. Such an embodiment is not shown in the drawings.

[0120] The positioning section 22 also comprises a carrier 29 made of aluminium and centering means arranged circumferentially around the carrier 29. The centering means of the embodiment shown in FIG. 9 resemble to the brushes 26 of the inflatable section 21 just described. They comprise brushes 26 held in u-shaped carriers 27 which are held in channels 28 within the carrier 29.

[0121] For positioning the deployment device inside of the pipe the positioning section 22 provides a camera with an integrated light source 30. The camera 30 is mounted such on the positioning section 22 that it faces the inflatable section 21. The end cap 25 of the inflatable section 21 that faces the positioning section 22 provides a laser device 32. The laser device 32 generates a line onto the inside wall of the pipe. The laser is used to accurately locate a joint in conjunction with the camera. It may for example create a 10 mm line. The camera 30 may be directed towards the inflatable section 21 of the deployment device 20 to view the line that the laser 32 projects and pipe wall between the positioning device 22 and the end cap 25 of the inflatable section 21. Once the laser 32 is directly pointing to the jointthe camera 30 picks up the disappearance/displacement of the laser 32 within the jointthe deployment device 20 can be pulled a known distance so that the expandable sleeve 4 is pulled to the place where it needs to be applied in order to completely cover the joint.

[0122] The deployment device 20 also provides an umbilical cable 31 for transferring information from and to the camera 30. The umbilical cable 31 can also be used for moving the deployment device 20 through the pipe. The umbilical cable 31 is connected to the positioning device 22. The device 20 provides an airline 33 for inflating and deflating the inflatable section 21, which is connected to the inflatable section 21, and a steel cable 34, which is also connected to the inflatable section 21. By providing a steel cable 34 and an umbilical cable 31 on opposite sides of the deployment device 20 it is possible to move the device in two directions inside of the pipe.

[0123] FIG. 13 is a three dimensional view of the deployment device 20 according to the invention and shows the connection between the inflatable section 21 and the positioning section 22. The two rods 23 can be seen. They may for example be threaded rods that are screwed into holes inside of the carrier 29 and the end cap 25 facing the positioning section 22. The two rods are positioned adjacent each other on one radial side of the deployment device 20 to allow some movement of the two sections relative to each other.

[0124] FIGS. 11 and 12 are cross-sectional, schematic views of the inflatable section 21 of a deployment device according to the invention inside of a pipe at the location of a pipe joints of two pipes 1 and 2. As can be seen in the drawings, the pipes 1 and 2 are not ideally aligned. In FIG. 11 the two pipes provide an angled offset of an angle , wherein may for example be 5 degree. In FIG. 12 the two pipes provide an offset b, wherein b may for example be 10 mm.

[0125] As can be seen in the two drawings, and as is not limited to the embodiments shown in the drawings but refers to the invention in general, in order to avoid that the expandable sleeve that is being transported through the pipe touches the inside of any of the pipes or the total length as well as the diameter of the inflatable section during transport play an important role. The longer the inflatable section is, the smaller the diameter needs to be selected. But there is a limit to minimizing the diameter of the inflatable section because if the process according to the invention starts with a too small diameter, the expandable sleeve may be expanded to much during the further process steps such that it does not reliably stick to the inside of the wall anymore. In order to be able to move the deployment device with the adhesive sleeve through a pipe the invention provides the following features: some of the technical features needed to position the deployment device inside of the pipe have been mounted on a section that is separate from the inflatable section. In addition, the two sections are connected with each other such that they can move relative to each other, which provides more flexibility to the entire deployment device.