LENGTH-ADJUSTABLE DEVICE FOR CURING A TUBULAR LINER

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device for curing resin-impregnated lining tubes using high-energy radiation, comprising at least two radiation sources for generating high-energy radiation, wherein the device has a front end, a rear end, two oppositely situated side ends, a top end, and a bottom end, wherein a length of the device from the front end to the rear end is smaller in a transport state than in an operating state. At least one element of the device is foldably, displaceably, rotatably, and/or movably supported, and at least one first radiation source is situated farther from at least one additional radiation source in the operating state than in the transport state. The device includes a fastening point on which a tensile force can act, in particular in the longitudinal direction of the device in order to transfer the device from the transport state into the operating state.

Claims

1. A device for curing resin-impregnated lining tubes using high-energy radiation, comprising at least two radiation sources for generating high-energy radiation, wherein the device has a front end, a rear end opposite the front end, two oppositely situated side ends, a top end, and a bottom end opposite the top end, wherein a length of the device, measured from the front end to the rear end, is smaller in a transport state than in an operating state, in that at least one element of the device is foldably, displaceably, rotatably, and/or movably supported, and wherein at least one first radiation source is situated farther from at least one additional radiation source, in the longitudinal direction of the device, in the operating state than in the transport state, and wherein the device includes a fastening point, at or near the front end and/or the rear end, on which a tensile force from a power source that is situated outside the device acts or can act, in particular at least in part, in the longitudinal direction of the device in order to transfer the device from the transport state into the operating state.

2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that a width of the device, measured from one side end to the opposite side end, and/or a height of the device, measured from the bottom end to the top end, is smaller in a transport state than in an operating state, in that at least one further element of the device is foldably, displaceably, rotatably, and/or movably supported, in particular the change in the width and/or the changes in the height of the device together with the change in the length of the device taking place by means of the tensile force acting on the device and/or by means of at least one drive unit.

3. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that a cable, in particular a cable that includes Kevlar fibers and/or at least one traction cable, and/or a traction cable, are/is situated at a first front fastening point and/or at a second rear fastening point, wherein the device is or may be acted on by a tensile force acting in the longitudinal direction by means of the traction cable(s).

4. The device according to claim 3, characterized in that a first cable and/or traction cable is situated at a first fastening point at or near a front end, and a first tensile force is or may be provided on the device in a first longitudinal direction, and a second cable and/or traction cable is situated at a second fastening point at or near a rear end, and a second tensile force is or may be provided on the device in a second longitudinal direction, wherein the first tensile force acts or may act in the opposite direction from the second tensile force.

5. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that a gas discharge lamp, a short arc lamp, a stroboscopic lamp, a flash lamp, an arc lamp, in particular a xenon lamp, and/or a mercury-xenon lamp are/is used as a radiation source, wherein in particular the illumination means provides or may provide at least fifty percent (50%) of the radiation energy in a wavelength range of 351 to 800 nm, in particular in a range of 380 nm to 800 nm, in particular in a range of 380 nm to 700 nm, preferably in a range of 390 nm to 470 nm, or in a range of 400 nm to 800 nm.

6. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one first fastening unit and at least one second fastening unit are included, wherein the at least one first fastening unit is connected or connectable to the at least one second fastening unit by means of at least one telescoping arm and/or by means of a length-adjustable, in particular scissor-shaped, connecting element, or the at least one first fastening unit is connected or connectable to a first end of at least one connection unit by means of at least one telescoping arm and/or by means of a length-adjustable, in particular scissor-shaped, connecting element, and the at least one second fastening unit is connected or connectable to a second end, opposite from the first end of the connection unit, by means of at least one further telescoping arm and/or by means of a further length-adjustable, in particular scissor-shaped, connecting element, so that the at least one first connection unit and the at least one second connection unit are displaceable, preferably linearly displaceable, relative to one another and in particular relative to the connection unit.

7. The device according to claim 6, characterized in that at least one first radiation source, in particular n radiation sources, where n=1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, or greater, is/are situated at the first fastening unit, and at least one further radiation source, in particular m further radiation sources, where m=1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, or greater, is/are situated at the second fastening unit.

8. The device according to claim 6, characterized in that the radiation sources are situated at a first distance from the first and/or second fastening device, in particular that n, m radiation sources are situated in a circle around the first and/or second fastening device, offset by a midpoint angle of the first and/or second fastening unit of 15, 20, 30, 45, 60, 90, or 120 relative to one another, preferably in each case three radiation sources offset by a midpoint angle of 120 at the at least one first and the at least one second fastening unit.

9. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the radiation sources are connected or connectable to the at least one first and/or the at least one second fastening unit, at a fixed distance therefrom, by means of spacer elements, or that the radiation sources are foldably, displaceably, rotatably, and/or movably situated relative to the at least one first and/or the at least one second fastening unit by means of spacer elements, in particular by means of telescoping spacer elements.

10. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one, in particular all, radiation sources of the at least one first fastening device and of the at least one second fastening device are offset relative to one another by a midpoint angle , so that in the transport state they are or may be situated in particular in parallel and overlapping, at least in sections.

11. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one first fastening device and/or the at least one second fastening device include(s) at least one, in particular o, where o=1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, or greater, wheels, wherein at least one, in particular each, of the wheels is connected or connectable to and spaced apart from the at least one first and/or the at least one second fastening device by means of at least one carrier element, wherein in particular the distance of at least one wheel, in particular all wheels, from the first and/or second fastening unit is smaller in the transport state than in the operating state.

12. The device according to claim 11, characterized in that the carrier elements have a circular segment-shaped design, and in each case may be introduced into and passed through a bearing unit that is situated at the at least one first and/or second fastening unit and/or formed by same, wherein the carrier elements are offset by a midpoint angle of the first and/or second fastening unit of 15, 20, 30, 45, 60, 90, or 120 relative to one another, preferably in each case four carrier elements that are offset by a midpoint angle of 90 at the at least one first and/or the at least one second fastening unit.

13. Use of a device according to claim 1 in a lining tube and/or as a curing device for lining tubes, in particular for curing the lining tube, preferably for curing the curable layer of the lining tube.

Description

[0051] Further features and advantages of the invention result from the following description, in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained by way of example with reference to schematic drawings, without thereby limiting the invention.

[0052] In the figures:

[0053] FIG. 1: shows a schematic perspective view of a device according to the invention in the operating state;

[0054] FIG. 2: shows a schematic perspective view of the device according to the invention from FIG. 1 in the transport state;

[0055] FIG. 3: shows a schematic side view of the device according to the invention from FIG. 1 in the operating state;

[0056] FIG. 4: shows a schematic side view of the device according to the invention from FIG. 1 in the transport state;

[0057] FIG. 5: shows a schematic side view of the device according to the invention from FIG. 1 in the transport state, in an uninflated lining tube; and

[0058] FIG. 6: shows a schematic side view of the device according to the invention from FIG. 1 in the operating state, in an inflated lining tube.

[0059] Identical features are provided with the same reference numerals below. The figures show a device 1 according to the invention. The device 1 includes six radiation sources 3, which are connected to a first fastening unit 5 and a second fastening unit 7 by means of spacer elements, not shown. The first fastening unit 5 is connected to a connection unit 9 by means of a telescoping arm, and the second fastening unit 7 is connected to the connection unit 9 by means of a further telescoping arm on the opposite side of the connection unit 9. The telescoping arms allow linear displacement of the fastening units 5, 7 with respect to the connection unit 9 and with respect to one another. It is thus possible for the two fastening units 5, 7 to move away from one another.

[0060] Fastening points 2, 4 are provided by means of which tensile forces may act on the device 1 according to the invention. In particular, FIGS. 5 and 6 show cables 6, 8 that may preferably be used for force transmission of tensile forces of drive units, not shown, in order to transfer the device 1 from the transport state into the operating state.

[0061] As is apparent in particular in FIGS. 1, 3, and 6, the three radiation sources 3 are offset relative to one another in a circle around the first and the second fastening devices 5, 7 by a midpoint angle of the first and the second fastening units of 120. The spacing of the radiation sources 3 is fixedly or variably set by the spacer elements, not shown.

[0062] It may be advantageous that the radiation sources 3, as shown, are situated relative to one another about a midpoint angle , so that in the transport state they are or may be situated in particular in parallel and overlapping, at least in sections. This is illustrated particularly clearly in FIG. 4.

[0063] The device 1 according to the invention includes four wheels 11 in each case on the first and the second fastening units 5, 7. Each of the wheels 11 includes three rollers that are supported so as to be rotatable about a central axis. Using the stated three rollers makes it possible for even a height offset within the lining tube to be easily overcome. Such a height offset may result from a sleeve misalignment or a fold. It is apparent that carrier elements 13 of the wheels 11 have a circular segment-shaped design, and in each case may be introduced into and passed through a bearing unit 15 that is situated in each case at the first and second fastening units 5, 7. Thus, during a transition of the device 1 from the transport state into the operating state, the wheels may be simultaneously spaced apart from the fastening units 5, 7 in two directions, so that the wheels 11 do not hinder the curing of the lining tube due to shading.

[0064] The four carrier elements 13 are in each case offset by a midpoint angle of the first or second fastening unit 5, 7 of 90 relative to one another. It may thus be ensured that the positioning of the device 1 according to the invention within a pipe to be renovated is optimal at all times, and guiding of the device in the lining tube takes place from four directions.

[0065] In particular, FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate a device according to the invention in a lining tube to be cured. The lining tube 17 is stretched over a packer 19, and is illustrated in the uninflated state in FIG. 5 and in the inflated state in FIG. 6. As shown in FIG. 5, the uninflated lining tube 17 descends obliquely downwardly until it rests with both of its walls on the base. The device 1 according to the invention is in the transport state. The first and second fastening devices 5, 7 are connected to one another, with a retracted telescoping arm, via the connection unit 9. The radiation sources 3 are present overlapping in areas, since they are offset relative to one another about the midpoint angle . In addition, the circular segment-shaped carrier elements 13 are passed through the bearing unit 15, and thus minimize the size of the device according to the invention.

[0066] As soon as the lining tube 17 is inflated, as shown in FIG. 6, the first and second fastening units 5, 7 are spaced apart from the connection unit 9 due to an extension of the telescoping arms, and the circular segment-shaped carrier elements extend, so that the device 1 according to the invention is in the operating state without possibly being damaged by the lining tube 17, 17. The corresponding forces required for transferring the device 1 from the transport state into the operating are provided by means of the cables 6, 8, which are connected to the device 1 at the fastening points 2, 4.

[0067] The features of the invention disclosed in the preceding description and in the claims may be important, alone or also in any given combination, for implementing the invention in its various embodiments.