Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present lnvention pertains to concrete pipe
sealing treat~ents, more specifically to an apparatus for
sealing imperfections ln a pipe and the method for carrylng
out this treatment.
BACKCRO~ND OF THE INVENTION
As is known, concrete pipes are extensively used
as conduits for sewage systems and varioua other underground
applicationa, auch as electric vaults.
Although concrete Ls the be6t available material
in terms of rigidity, durabilitly and economy~ it is by nature
porous and may be flawed by sma]Ll holes, fissures, cracka, etc.
at the time of manufacture. Or, such imperfections may
develop wherever the pipe is installed by the corrosive actlon
of acids present in sewage effluent and the ~radual wearing
action of fluids, auch as rainwater. Therefore, there will occur
ab~orption of the effluent into the surroundlng subaoll,
thereby poll-tlng the immediate vioinity of the pipa; also,
rainwater will infiltrate the pipe, swelling ~he volume of effluent
to be pumped to a sewAge treatment plant, hence ~ignificantly
raiaing the cost of the pumping and aewage treatment.
Till now, the only known manner of sealing or
choking a concrete pipe has been to paint, by h~nd or with
a paint gun, either the exterior surface or the interlor
3urface, or both, of a concrete plpe with an epoxy-related
material. Such procedure i9 clearly slow and expensive.
Yet, for the reasons cited above, it i8 important
to have a fully impermeable pipe. In fact, many inatitutlons
of public authority nowadays enact leglalation to enaure that
concrete pipes do not leak. If they do, they are clAssified
as an inferior grade and restricted to uses, such a~ culvert
pipe~. Thi3 is a 1088 for the manufacturer who produces
an otherwise high quality product.
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OBJECTS OF THE I~V~NTION
Accordingly, lt is an important ob~ect of the present
inventlon to provide a concrete plpe se~ling ~pp~ratus an~ method
which effectively sealu a concrete plpe, preventing ~ny infll-
tr~tion or ex-fil~ratl~n when the plpe i~ in~t~lled ln the,~
ground for use .
It is anoth,er ob~ect of' the present lnvention to
provide a ~eallng appara,t,us and method of the çharacter de~crlbed,
which allows continuous productlon of Healed concrete plpe~ in
'an entirely-mechanlzed manner.
~ . . . . . .
It 19 consequently B prlme ob~ect of this invention
to provide choklng method nnd means for concrete pipes which wlll
render the choking moat effectl~e and long lastlng.
,It 18 a further ob3ect of the lnven~ion ~o;al~low a
production line operation of the concrete pipe choklng means,
whereas the concrete pipes msy be choked ln an entlrely-mechanlzed
manner.
It 18 another ~b~ect of the lnventlon to produce
a thorou~h chokin~ ~pread on the lnner wail of ~ concrete pipe
by the feeùlng of pressurized choklng fluld thereon.
S~lll another ob~ect of the lnventlon 1~ to provide
an apparatus wherein the fluid used 18 recoverable wlth mlnimal
waute a~ter operatlon.
Other ob~ects willbe ~ore~ppar~nt f~o~ the detalled
descrlptlon of the preferred embodlmentH of the lnventlon.
SUM~ARY OF THE INVENrI~N
! The ab~ve and other ob~ects and advantages of the present
lnventlon are reallzed according to a preferred embodlment comprl~lng
a palr of axlally-aligned and movably, longitudlnally spaced-apart
cylindrical insertion members. Both cylindricsl lnsertion member0`
are preferably hollow and adapted to be moved between ~n outer
posi'tion and ~n lnner posltlon. Carrlage means, preferably connected
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~o ~ ~r~me ~re adapted to move the insertlon member~
longitudlnally between these two positi~ns.
Tt-~ outer dl~,leters oE both cyllndrical lnsertlon
members i8 sllghtly 1~98 thsn the outer diameter of a concrete
plpe to be sealed. Also, the comblned lengths of the cyllndrlcal
lnsertlon members 1~ ~llghtly lesI~ than the length of ~he
concrete pipe. Furthermore, both ends of both cyllndrlcal
lnsertlon members ere closed and thelr outer ends are adapted
to sealinRly close both ends o the concrete plpe, Sesling fluid
introductlon meQns are provided in one insertion member.
Preferably, the carrlage means and the frame are supported by
four flo~r engsging leg~, one at each corner of the frame.
The top area of the frame 18 preferably rectangulsr dnd has
mounted thereon 8 pair of longltudinally-orlented and slidable
horizontal carriages 3ituated at the opposite longltudinal
ends of the frame. Both carri~ges can slide from an outer
position to sn inner ?osltion ad~acent the corre~pondlng palr
of floor-engeglng legs.
The outer end of both carrlages ha8 a ri8idly-~ecured,
~ downwardly-extendlng support assembly which terminates above floor
level. Both of these ~s~emblie~ have rigldly sec~red thereto
at their lower portion~ one of the horizon~l inwardly and
longltudinally extending cylindrical insertion member8.
` Power means are provlded to move both carrlage~
snd ~heir respective support assemblles longitudinally~
A concrete plpe support means 19 dlsposed transversely
and centrally of the frame, belng adàpted to support at least one
concrete pipe in horl7ont~1 longitudinal position, such that
the axial bore of ~he pipe is in preclse registry wl~h both
cyllndrlcal insertlon member3. Preferably, thls support meens
19 in the form of a long transverse trestle, whereby a plurallty
of pipes can be moved one afeer the other lnto the frame to be
sealed thereat in an entirely- mechanized manner.
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The sealing fluid introduction means preferably
consists of a small diameter tube, or conduit, extending through
~he snid one insertion member. One end of the tube forms a
hole in the inner wall of the cylinder~ while the opposi~e end
projects outwardly from the outer end wall of the cylinder and
1~ operatlvely connected to a supply ofsloaq~ln~ fluid.
Preferably, valve means ~re provided to remove trApped
air in the sealed bore of the pipe.
The method of sealing a concrete pipe by means of the
above-described apparatus comprlses the steps of:
a) retracting both carriages outwardly to their respective
outer limit positions, thereby also retractlng the cylindrlcal
insertion members;
b) positioning a concrete pipe to be erected on the support
means and in axial registry with the cylindrical insertion
members,
c) engaging both cylindrical insertion members into the
axial line of the concrete pipe, whereby the axial bore
is sealed :Ibut at both its ends. In this operative posltlon
of the cyllndrical members, their respective inner walls ,
are preferably in close but non-abutting relationship
to minimalize the free internal 4pace of the axial bore;
d) in~ectLng, under pre~sure, a liquid-sealing material
through the tube o the one cyllndrical member and through the
hole of the outer face of the latter, thus into the annular
zone between the insertion members and the inside wall of the
pipe~
The sealing material, preferably water-dissolved latex
having a viscosity close to that of water, will adequately cover
and seal the entire inner wall of the concrete pipe permanently.
Since the free space of the axial bore is small, little aealing
liquid will be used.
Once the sealing step is completed, the procédure i~
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fol10wed in reverse until the next concret~ pipe ia in .
pO8 i tion~
~RIEF DESCRIPTION OF TtlE DRAWIN~S
The above will be more clearly understood by referring
to the description of the preferred embodiment and to the annexed
drawings, in whlch:
~ Figure l is a side elevati.on of the ~ealing apparatus,
showing the cylindrical insertiom member~ in retracted position;
Fl~ure 2 i8 a view similar to that of Figure l
showing the cyIindrical insertion members in sealing engag~d
position in the axial bore of a concrete pipe;
Figure 3 is & top plan view of tha apparatus oi .
Figure l;
Flgure 4 is an end view, taken at the right side of
the apparatus of Figure l, also showing the trestle cflrrying
a plurality of concrete pipes;
Figure 5 is a longitudinally cross-sectioned elevation
of a concrete pipe, also showing the two cylindrical insertion
members inserted in the axial bore of the~ pipe;
Figure 6 18 a cross-sectional view taken along
line 6-6 of Figure 5; and
Figure 7 is an enlarged view of the upper middle
area of Figure 5, showing how the sealing fluid circulates
to seal the inner wall of a concrete pipe.
, Like numerals indicate likeelements throughout the
drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
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Referring to Figures l to 4 inclusively, there is
shown the apparatus of the invention, comprising an upright
3Q frame lO, having a rectangular flat upper portion supported
by two longitudinally-spaced pairs of rigid upright po~ts 12, 12,
and 14, l4. These posts rest on a floor l5 and preferably each
has a base 13.
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The upper portion of frsme 10 i9 deflned by a palr of
lon~ dln~l beams 16 18 two end palrs of tran~verAe be~ms
20 22 and 28 30 re~pect~vely ~8 well ~ n mlddle pAir of trun~-
verse be~m~ 24 26. All of thas~ transverse beami ~re par~ilel
nnd ri~ldly aecured at thel~ Qpposlte end~ to be~m~ 16, 1~. (cf. Flg.
3)
The rl~ht ~lde ~rea of the upper portion of frame 10 hAs
a pair of longltudlnal hollow ba~s 40 42 rlgldly secured, ns
by wel~lng, ~o the top surface~ of tr~n~ver~e be~ms 22 and 24.
BarY 40, 4~ haYe open outer ends~ prefer~bly flu8h Wlth the outer
ide of beam 22 .
A f lrYt carrlagè 19 adapted to sllde longltudlnally
in parallel bars 40, 42 and is formed by a palr of rlgid bsrs 32,
34 rigidly interconnected at theik outer ends by ~ llnk 36
and an upright flat plate 38 A power mean~ to 811de thls ~ir~t
carri~ge i~ provided~ consl8tlng of a hydrsullc pi~ton 62
having a pl~ton rod 6~' plvotally secured to llnk 36, while
the piaton 62 is itself pivotally secured to the central portion
of transverse beam 24.
.Sl~ rly, the left-slde area of the upper portion of ~ra~e
10 1~ provided wlth a second palr of lon8itudinal, parallel hollow
barY 52, 54 ri.~ldly Yecured to the top surface~ of transverse
beams 26, ~8. Bars 52, 54 also have open outer enda which are
flush wlth.the outer slde of beam 28.
Hollow bars 52, 54 ~re more closely spsced together than
hollow bars 40j 42, 80 as not to lnterfere wlth the latter.
A second carriage 19 adapted for slidable displacement wlthln
bars 52, 54, being formed of a palr of parallel rlgld bars 44
and 46 rlgidly lnterconnec~ed ~C thelr outer ends by another
link 48 and a ~ertically-orlented flat plate 50. Ths..powei
means to operate the second carrlage also conslsts of a hydraullc
- piston 70 plvotally secured to be~m 26. The rod 70' of pl~ton 70
i8 in turn pivotally Yecured to llnk 48.
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Both th~ first and secc~ld car.rlages are provic~3d with a
support assembly. The latter includes, for the first carrlage,
a relatively thick central plate 56 having its upper end ~igidly
fixed to link 36. Plate 56 is bent inwardly angularly at 56' a~d
/1
bent a~ain downwardly at 56", tern~natlng abovP floor l~vel,
Plate 56 is reinforced by a palr of xigid struts 58, arran~ed in a V.
m e support assembly for the sea~d carriage is slmilar,
except that plate 64 is vertically sl r~1ght, being rigi.dly
secured at its upper edge to link nE~oer 48. Plate 64 is reinforced
by another pair of rigid struts 66.
m e first and secon~ support as~3nblie~ are designed tD
rigidly q~pport cylindrical inserti~ members 60 and 68, respect-
ively. The ~irst insertion member 60 ls r1yidly secured to a plague
72 which is affixed to the inner kottxlm face of plate 56, thereby sealing
th~ outer end of member 60. (the l~i:ter is preferably hollcw~
The inner end of r~ember 60 is also se~led by a wall 60', as clearly
~h~wn in Figure 5. The outer end of member 60 is further provlded
with a tap red`annular oollar 60" ~hich preclsely sealingly fits
into the fem~le e~ouchure of a concrete plpe 76.
The second insertion member 68 is also preferably hollcw, being
of the sa~e diameter and length as first memker 60. It~ inner end
is rigidlyt sealingly secured to a sacond pla~ue 74. The latter
is fixedly attached to the inner botbom faoe of plate 64. To further
provi~e a tight ~eal at thP outer end of seccnd ~nsertian member
6~, an annulclr gasket 79' is disposed between plaque 74 and
the outer rim of the member 68 (ef. Fig. 5).
B~th insertlon memhers are in preclse langitudinal axlal
alignment with each other and æ e adapbsd to fit into the caxial
alignment with each other c~nd are c~dapted to fi~ into the a~ial
bore oE a~lcrete plpe 76. This pipe may cr may not haYe reinforc-
ng rads and has an inner diameter which is slightly.greater than
the outer diameter of insertic~n members 60, 68. The aqmbinecl
lengths of members 60, 68 ls les~ than t~.e lenc~th of the pipe 76,
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such that a space 78 is formed between the two members 60, 68
when they are in fully-sealing inserted position (best seen in
Fig. 5).
Concrete pipe 76 i8 supported on the support meanH, shown
as an elongated transverse trestle 80 which extends throu~h the
middle of frame 10. Trestle 80 ~hu~ a]lows for continuou3
production of ~ealed pipes, being formed with a central depression
80~ onto whLch a plpe 76 iB ro~led for the sealing treatment
~cf. Fig. 4).
Inserti.on member 68 i9 formed with a small diameter longi-
tudinal conduit 82 opening out into a hole 82~ made i~ inner wall
68', and connected to a pressurized sealing fluid supp]y sou~ce
(not shown) at its other end.
Referring finally to Fig.7, the arrows indicate tha flow
of fluid i~suing from conduit 82. The fluid is water-~
dissolved latex or copolymers of polyvinyl acetate; the solution
will adequately seal all the imperfection3 ~uch as ~mall air
pockec~, ~racks, etc. ln concrete pipe 76 AB shown, the fluid
flows lnto space 78, thence into the gap 84 between insertlon
members 60, 68 and the inner wall 76' of-the pipe. Any air
compre33ed and trapped within the pipe can be released by open~ng
a manual valve 85 (Fig. 5) communicating with gap 84 by a pipe 86.
It is to be noted that the apparatus described above lends
itself to recuperation of mo3t of the unused latex solution by
a ~uitable recovery means (not shown).
It is to be further noted that the apparatus can be provided
in different sizes to accommodate concrete plpe~ made in varlou3
st~ndardi2ed dimension3.
