Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention:
The present invention relates to a method for lining pipe
lines used for transporting city water, gas, petroleum or
the like various fluids with the purpose of repair or re-
inforcement of these pipe lines. ~50re particularly, the
present invention relates to a method for lining pipe lines,
especially underwater pipe lines, such as those laid on the
bottom of sea, lake and river, wherein a flexible tubular
lining material is applied onto the inner surface of such pipe
lines by the action of a specific substance capable of
functioning as a strong binder in water.
2. Description of the Prior ~rt:
From the past, a variety of methods have been proposed
as a means for lining pipe lines. In U.S. Patent 3,381,718,
for example, there is disclosed a method for lining concrete
pipe lines, especially those ~or sewers through which a
corrosive liquid is passed, wherein an acid- and alkali-
resisting plastic sheet is applied onto the inner s~rfaca
of the concrete pipe lines. This plastic sheet is a laminate
comprised of a fabric of a fibrous material such as cotton,
synthetic fibers or glass wool overlaid with-a vinyl chloride
resin according to a calendering, coating or the like means,
and is shaped in a tubular orm. In this patent wherein the
plastic sheet is inserted into a concrete pipe line and then
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inflated for lining the pipe line, the method is trouble-
some in its operation and is not suited for lining a long
pipe lines. A binder used in this patent for bonding a
tubular lining sheet to the pipe lines is an epoxy resin
generally utilized in dry state (Col. 3, lines 7-13).
In U.S. Patent 4,009,063, there is disclosed a method
for lining a pipe line having manholes with a hard rigid
pipe of thermosetting resin. The pipe for lining used in
this patent is manufactured by immersing a tubular fibrous
felt in a resin to form a pipe comprising an impervious
film on the inner side thereof and a curable resinous layer
on the outer side thereo. An inflatable tube is inserted
into the pipe and the tube is inflated in a pipe line to
attain its lining with the pipe laid on the tube. This
method is not suited as a method for lining pipe lines buried
in the ground and cannot be used for lining long pipe lines,
particularly those having bends. In this U.S. Patent, a
polyester resin and an ordinary epoxy resin are used as
general curing resins (Col. 10, lines 11-23).
As a method for lining pipe lines, there is also known
a method which is carried out in such manner that a flexible
lining material in the form of a tube previously pravided
on the inner surface thereof with a binder is inserted into
a pipe line and allowed to advance therein while turning the
lining material inside out under fluid pressure whereby the
lining material is bonded onto the inner surface of the pipe
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line by the aid of the binder. According to this method,
it is unnecessary to dig up a pipe line over its full
length and the method is operable simply by forrning manholes
at both terminal ends of the pipe line to be treated. The
lining work itself can be done within a short period of time
even for a long pipe line and is applicable to the lining
of a pipe line having a number of bends, thus being regarded
as an excellent method in recent years (U.S. Patents
4,064,211, 4,368,091 and 4,334,943).
In the above mentioned U.S. Patent 4,064,211, there lS
disclosed the so-called evaginat1on-lining method wherein
one end of a tubular lining material provided on the inner
surface thereof with a binder is fastened and bonded in an
evaginated state to one end of a pipe and a liquid is
inserted from the other end of the pipe into the interior `
of the lining material whereby the lining material is allowed
to advance within the pipe line by f1uid pressure while being
turned inside out to attain lining o~ the pipe line. ~fter
completion of the evagination-lining operation, a small tube
is inserted into the lined pipe line and a warmed liquid is
circulated to accelerate curing of the binder. In this
method, the circulation operation of a warmea liquid after
appIication of the lining material onto the inner surface of
the pipe line is troublesome, a considerably large amount
of the warmed liquid is required in case of lining a long
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pipe line, and so the operation for circulation and warmth-
keeping of such a large amount of the warmed liquid is very
troublesome. In particular, it is difficult to bond the
lining material completely onto the inner surface of the
pipe line when thé pipe line is inclined or bent in vertical
direction. An epoxy resin is disclosed in this U.S. patent
as the binder used therein (Col. 3, lines S-6).
- The evagination-lining methods disclosed in the above-
menti~ned U.S. Patents 4,368,091 and 4,334,~43 enable control
of the fluid pressure required for evagination of the lining
material by the aid of a pressure container, and concurrently
adjustment of the amount of a binder to be supplied onto the
inner surface of the lining material. The method disclosed
in the latter mentioned patent is especially excellent in
that the lining operation can be carried out, without forming
any wrinkle on the lining material and forming any narrow path
in bend portions of the pipe line, by adjusting the speed of
the lining material in its advancing movement within the pipe
line by the aid of a special evagination-inducing belt drawn
from the opposite side of the pipe line. Since the binder
used in this method is an epoxy resin, however, there is a
problem in using this method for lining of a pipe line having
a length as long as several thousand meters in view of a
limited pot life of the binder to be used. ;
In principle, the evagination-lining method just mentioned
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above is applicable to a pipe line irrespective of its
length. Actually, however, the method is applicable to a
pipe line having a length as long as several hundred meters
but is hardly applicable directly to one having a length
beyond 1,000 meters for the reasons above mentioned.
In case the lining treatment of a pipe line is carried
out according to this method, the pipe line is usually
subjected to a preliminary cleaning treatment wherein the
inner surface of the pipe line is first treated with a
scraper or the like device to remove any rust or tar thereon,
washed with water or hot water and then dried prior to intro-
duction of a tubular lining material. As the lining material
and the pipe line are both air-impervious, any binder to be
interposed therebetween must be free of any volatile substance.
Thus, a binder containing a volatile substance such as a
binder of rubber type which is usually employed together with
a solvent cannot be used for the lining treatment. Among ¦ -
various binders now conventionally employed, therefore, any
blnder other than those of reaction-curing type cannot be
used for the purpose of the pipe-lining treatment. The
use of a binder of such reaction-curing type is advantageous
from another viewpoint that when the lining material is
impregnated with a sufficiently large amount of the binder,
the cured binder will form inside the lined pipe line a rigid
resinous pipe made of the cured binder which may maintain the
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function as a flow path even if the bonding of the lining
material to -the pipe line is par~ially insufficient or
the pipe line itself is broken by external force. In case
of carrying out the evagination-lining method using a binder
of reaction-curing type such as an epoxy resin, the binder
comprising reaction components is first prepared and applied
onto the inner surface of a tubular lining material and
thereafter the binder-applied lining material is introduced
into the pipe line under evagination. The binder should not
be cured during a series of these steps which usually take a
considerable period of time. Furthermore, as a pipe line to
be lined becomes longer, it takes a longer time to apply the
binder onto the lining material and to introduce the binder-
applied lining material into the pipe line over its full
length. In such case, therefore, the binder should have
sufficiently longer pot life. However, a binder having a -
longer pot life usually requires a longer time for completion
of its curing, and as the result, an extremely longer time is~ -
needed for completion of the whole lining treatment.
Under such circumstances, European Laid-open Patent
Appln. No. 155,406 discloses the use o~ a precurable acrylic
binder by photopolymerization is proposed as a binder applied
onto the inner surface of the lining material without using
any warming medium for curing the binder. According to the
method disclosed in the specification of this application,
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the evagination-lining treatment is carried out using as
a binder a curable resin containing a catalyst which can
initiate polymerization by radiation of actinic light, and
at the same time, irradiated light is introduced into the
lining material to cause earlier curing. In this method,
however, it is troublesome to introduce irradiated light
into the innermost part of the lining material applied to
a long pipe line. Further, a light having a specific wave
length capable of exciting the catalyst is necessary in
this method, thus making it practically unattractive.
In the conventional evagination-lining methods, the
length of a pipe line capable of being treated at a time is
usually limited to about 200 300 meters or the reasons above
mentioned. In case of treating a longer pipe line, e.g. a
pipe line having a length of more than 1000 meters,therefore,
there would be no way but to repeat the treatment carried out -
for a section of the pipe line having a length of 200-300
meters. If the pipe line to be lined is exposed or buried
in the ground, it may be easy to repeat such partial lining
~reatment until the pipe line is lined over its full length.
In case of lining a pipe line laid on the bottom of sea, lake
or river, such as transriver or transbay pipe lines, however,
repeating of such partial lining treatment accompanies a
number of technical difficulties. In view of the above
situations, there is a great demand for developing an improved
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evagination-lining method which can be applied to a pi.pe
line having a length of 1000 meters or more and can attain
the lining treatment at a time in a simple operation.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an o~ject of the present invention
to provide a method for lining pipe lines, especially
underwater pipe lines having a length in the order of
thousand meters.
It is another object of the present invention to provide
a method for lining long pipe lines without necessity of any
after-treatment for curing the binder used.
It is still another object of the present invention to
provide a method for lining long pipe lines rapidly in a
simple manner without taking the pot life of the used binder
into consideration.
Other and further objects, features and advantages of
the present invention will become apparent more fully from
the following description.
As a result of extensive researches made for developing
a new improved evagination-lining method applicable to a rapid
lining treatment of extremely long pipe lines in a simple
manner without any particular consideration on the pot life of a binder
to be used, it has now been found that when an unlined portion
of the pipe line positioned in front of the front end of the
.introduced tubular lining material forming a turning point
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of evagination where evagination of the lining materia]
occurs is filled with water and when a substance capable
of reacting with water to form a binder is used for the
binder (i.e. the use of a binder of a reaction-curing type),
the lining treatment can be carried out even for an extremely
long pipe line without causing any premature curing of the
binder used or without necessity of any after-treatment
such as warming the lined pipe line for curing the binder.
In accordance with the present invention, there is
provided a method for lining pipe lines which comprises
inserting a tubular lining material with a binder on the
inner surface thereof into a pipe line, with the ~ront end
of the lining material being fixed annularly to one end of
the pipe line to form a turning point of evagination, and
allowing the lining material to advance within the pipe
line while moving the turning point of evagination forwards
from one end to the other end of the pipe line to turn the
tubular lining material inside out under fluid pressure
thereby applying the evaginated linin~ material onto the
inner surface of the pipe line over its full length with
the binder on the exterior surface of the evaginated tubular
llning material being interposed between the pipe line and
the lining material, characterized in that an unlined portion
of the pipe line positioned in front of the forwardly moving
turning point of evagination is fully filled with water and
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that a binder of reaction-curing type capable of reacting
with water to initiate curing is used as the binder, whereby
the binder on the inner surface of the lining material is
continuously brought into contact and react with water as
the turning point of evagination moves forwards, and the
binder on the outer surface of the evaginated tubular lining
material is interposed and cured between the pipe line and
the lining material to bond them firmly under the fluid
pressure.
The lining method of the present invention has various
features as compared with the conventional similar lining
methods wherein an ordinary resinous binder such as an
epoxy resin is used as a binder of reaction-curing type.
One of the features of the method of this invention resides
in the use of a specific binder which has no binding action
in normal state but is converted by the reaction with water
into a rapidly curable binder. Another feature of the method
of this invention resides in the point that an unlined portion
of the pipe line is fully filled with water. Accordingly,
the specific binder on the inner surface of the tubular
lining material is brought at the turning point of evagination
into contact for the first time with water a~d is reacted
there with it to form an epoxy binder on the exterior surface
of the evaginated tubular lining material. Thus, the method
of this invention is distinguished by such merit that it is
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applica~le to long pipe lines, especially those laid on
the bottom of sea, lake or river without any consideration
on the pot life of the binder used.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE IN_ENTION
The lining method of this invention can be applied to
any kind of pipe lines such as city water pipe lines, sewage
pipes, gas conduits, petroleum pipe lines, and pipe lines
for power transmission wires, telecommunication cables, etc.
These pipe lines may be made of various kinds of materials,
such as steel,copper, various alloys, concrete, ceramics,
glass and rigid resinous materials.
The tubular lining~materials used for the purpose of
repairing or reinforcing the pipe lines should be so flexible
that they can be evaginated under fluid pressure, and so are
generally selected from tubular textile jackets and flexible
plastic tubes. The use of tubular textile jackets is
preferable which are commercially available and usually
manu~actured by weaving warps and a weft in a seamless tubular
form. Fibrous materials for the warps and the weft may be
of inorganic nature, such as asbestos or glass, in addition
to natural and synthetic fibers such as cotton, polyamide,
polyester or polyurethane fibers. On actual use, the tubular
lining material should be free of any water or moisture which
causes undesirable premature curing of the binder. These
tubular lining materials are properly selected according to
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the nature of a 1uid to be passed through the pipe line
and strength or resistance required for repalr or reinforce~
ment of the pipe line.
The ~inder used in the method of this invention is
chiefly selected from two-component binders of epoxy series
which become reactive only when brought into contact with
water. Such binders are generally comprised of an epoxy
compound as a main ingredient and a ketimine or aldoimine
derivative of a diamine or polyamine as a curing ingredient.
Examples of the epoxy compounds include a liquid diglycidyl
ether o~ bis-phenol type, an alicyclic epoxy compound, an
epoxy compound of phenol or cresol novolac type, a glycidyl
ester of phthalic acid, an epoxy compound of ~-methyl-
epichlorohydrin type, an epoxy compound of a dimer acid type
and an epoxy compound of a polyglycoI type. Besides these
epoxy compounds, various epoxy compounds are known and
commercially available. Any of these epoxy compounds can
be used for the method of this invention in combination with
a suitable curing ingredient. The ketimine or aldoimine
derivative of a diamine or polyamine used as the curing
ingredient is prepared by a dehydrocondensation reaction
between the diamine or polyamine and a keto~e or aldehyde. In this
case, the dehydrocondensation reaction takes place between a
primary or secondary am~ino group o~ the diamine or polyamine and a
ketone or aldehyde group o~ the ketone or aldehyde compound (R ~CO
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or H`>CO) wherein R and ~' are alkyl groups which may be the same
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ordifEerent~ so that the resultant ketimine or ~ldoimine
derivative has a grouping R ~C - N- or ~> C = N- in the
molecule. The ketimine or aldoimine derivatives prepared
by ketimination or aldoimination of a diamine or polyamine
may be regarded as a diamine or polyamine having protected
amino groups and are now commercially available. For example,
Epicure H-l, H-2, H-3, H-5, H-5S and H-6 (Shell), Araldite
HY-831 and 833 (Ciba-Geigy), etc. can be used as a ketimine
derivative of a polyamine. A base amine of these ketimine
or aldoimine derivatives is an aliphatic diamine or polyamine
or an aliphatic aromatic diamine or polyamine. The use of
a ketimine derivative derived from an aliphatic diamine or
polyamine having a long chain and aromat-ic ring(s), such as
Epicure H-5 or H-6 is pre~erable since such derivative affords
a binder coat possessing good adhesion and flexibility. Since
these ketimine or aldoimine derivatives of diamines and
polyamines have no reactive free amino gxoup, these derivatives
are not reactive with the epoxy compounds even if both
ingredients are mixed. Thus, a mixture of the epoxy compound ~`
and such ketimine or aldomine derivative shows an extremely
long pot life because of the absence of any active free amino
group. When such ketimine or aldomine derivatives are brought
into contact with water, however, these derivative undergo
hydrolysis,whereby the ketone or aldehyde group protecting
the amino group is split off to form a mixture of the base
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diamine or polyamine functioning as a curing ingredient for
epoxy compounds at an ambient temperature and the corresponding
ketone or aldehyde compound usually selected at the time of
preparing the derivative as being soluble in water. Thus,
the binder used in the method of this invention an be
considered as a binder precursor and is converted in the
presence of water into a binder. It is a matter of course
that the binder of this invention should be free of water or
be separated from water until it is used for the lining
treatment. In the binder, the epoxy compound and the ketimine
or aldomine derivative are mixed with each other in stoichio-
metrical amounts.
Besides the modified epoxy binders as mentioned above,
certain kinds of modified silicone series and of urethane
series are known to be capable of reacting with water to
initiate curing. The binder used in the method of this
invention may suitably be selected from these modified binders.
The flexible tubular lining material used in the method
of this invention is usually provided on its`external
surface with a gas-impervious resinous coating which, after
evagination of the tubular lining material, forms a coating
on the inner surface thereof and so has to be chemically
resistant to a fluid to be passed through the pipe line.
In general, natural or synthetic rubber, polyester, polyamide,
polyurethane or the like is used as a material for the coating.
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The fluid utilizable for allowing the inserted flexible
tubular lining material to advance from one end to the other
end of the pipe line should not be hazardous or corrosive to
the lining material. Usually, an inert medium such as air,
nitrogen, water or the like is used under pressure to push
the turning point of evagination forwards. Thus, the fluid
is compulsorily pressurized and introduced into the lining
material by pumping. In case the fluid is water, its
pressure may be produced by its own gravity, for example,
by installing a water tank at an elevated position. The fluid
pressure is suitably controlled so that the tubular lining
material may be allowed to advance within the pipe line at
a moderate speed.
The present invention can more fully be understood from
the following description taken in conjunction with accompany-
ing drawings in which:
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section view of a pipe line
showing the state of annularly fixing one end of a tubular
lining material to one end of a pipe line according to the
method of this invention.
Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section view of a pipe line
showing the proceeding of the lining treatme^nt according to
this invention using air as a pressurizing fluid.
Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section view of a pipe line
showing the same lining treatment as shown in Fig. 2 except
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that water is used as a pressurizing fluid.
Fig. 4 is a schematic view showing a lining treatment
for a pipe line laid on the bottom of sea according to the
method of this invention.
Throughout the drawings, each reference numeral has
commonly the same meaning.
Referring to Fig. 1 showing a longitudinal section of
a pipe line together with an induction pipe which is temporarily
connected to the pipe line by means of a flange or a bolt and
nut connector. A plpe line 1 is opened at both ends to form
an entrance and an exit for a lining material. A flexible
tubular lining material 2 having on the inner surface thereof
a binder 3 is introduced into the pipe line 1 through the
entrance thereof. In order to apply the binder 3 onto the
inner surface of the tubular lining material 2, a proper
amount of the binder is injected into the interior space of
the lining material from its front end, and thereafter the
lining material charged with the binder is allowed to pass
through a pair of nip rolls and wound on a reel whereby the
binder is squeezed and spread on the whole inner surface of
the lining material. Alternatively, the tubular linlng
material previously charged with the binder may be wound
in flattened state once on a reel and then taken off at the
time of the lining treatment. In a more simplified manner,
the tubular lining material provided on the inner surface
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thereof with the binder may continuously be introduced as
such into the pipe line for carrying out the lining treatment.
On injection of the binder into the interior space of the
tubular lining material, it is preferable that the interior
space be previously kept under reduced pressure to expel
the air occupied therein. By this preliminary treatment,
the lining material is effectively impregnated with the
binder so that the adhesion strength between the lining
material and the binder is enhanced, with an additional
merit that any moisture Fontained in the lining material is
eliminated to prevent any premature curing of the binder.
On introduction of the tubular lining material 2 in
flattened state into the pipe line 1, the front end 4 of
the lining material 2 is annularly fixed in evaginated state
to the entrance 5 of the pipe line 1. Usually, the tubular
lining material 2 is introduced into the pipe line 1 through
an induction pipe 6 provided with a means for introducing
a pressurized ~luid into the pipe line 1. Thus, the end of
the pipe line I is bent rectangularly and is temporarily
connected to the induction pipe 6 the front end of which is
also bent rectangularly by means of a bolt and nut connector
7 which also serves ~o fix the evaginated front end 4 o~ the
lining material 2 between the pipe line 1 and the induction
pipe 6. In case a pressurized fluid such as compressed air
is introduced into the pipe line 1 in this stake, the tubular
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lining material 2 is pushed forwards from the annularly
fixed position by fluid pressure whereby the front end of
the lining material 2 forms a turning point of evagination
8 where evagination of the tubular lining material takes
place. In Fig. 1, the pushing force of the fluid pressure
is shown by the arrow marks. In this manner, the turning
point of evagination 8 is allowed to advance within the pipe
line 1 by fluid pressure. The binder 3 applied onto the
inner surface of the tubular lining material 2 is exposed
at the turning point of evagination and then exists on the
outer surface of the tubular lining material 2 with the
proceeding of evagination.
Prior to the lining treatment, the inner surface of
the pipe line is preferably cleaned by washing or by the
ald of a scraper to remove any rust or tar on the inner
surface.'
As the binder used in the methocl of this invention is
quite inactive in the absence of water, the pipe line has to
be filled with water, after such optional cleaning treatment,
to activate the binder. In case the pipe line is fully filled
with water, a small amount of water will continuously be
removed from the opposite end of the pipe line as an exit
of water, as the turning point of evagination moves forwards
within the pipe line under fluid pressure.
Fig. 2 shows as a longitudinal section view such
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intermediate stage of the lining treatment according to
the method of this invention using compressed air as the
pressurized fluid. The interior space of an unlined portion
of the pipe line 1 in front of the turning point of evagina-
tion 8 is filled with water 9. The tubular lining material
2 provided on the inner surface thereof with the binder 3
and introduced in flattened state into the pipe line 1, with
the front end thereof being fastened in evaginated state to
the entrance of the pipe line 1 is pushed forwards within
the pipe line under the pressure of compressed air. In this
case, th~ binder 3 is kept inactive while being on the inner
surface of the tubular lining material 2 but is brought into
contact with the water 9 at the forwardly moving turning point
of evagination 8 and activated to form a true binder 3'.
After passing through the turning point of evagination 8,
the activated binder 3' exists on the external surface of
the tubular lining material 2 and is then pressed against
the inner surface of the pipe line, as being interposed
between the pipe line 1 and the lining material 2 under the
fluid pressure produced by compressed air 10. The lining
material 2 is strongly bonded to the inner surface of the
pipe line 1 in this manner whereby the gas-impervious
chemicals-resistant layer existed, before evagination, on
the external surface of the tubular lining material now
constitutes the innermost layer of the lined pipe line.
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In Fig. 2, too, the direction of the force of fluid pressure
acting on the tubular lining material is shown by the arrow
marks.
The lining treatment of the pipe line 1 proceeds in
this manner from one end (entrance) to the other end (exit)
thereof by suitably controlling the pressure of the compressed
air. At the stage where the turning point of evagination 8
moves forwards beyond the exit, the lining treatment is
finished and both terminal ends of the pipe line 1 are
properly treated, for example, by cutting off the marginal
portions of the lining material to connect it to other pipe
lines.
Fig. 3 shows as a longitudinal section vlew an intermediate
stage of the lining treatment according to the method of this
invention using water as the pressurized fluid. In this case,
the lining treatment for the pipe line is carried out in the
same manner as described with respect to Fig. 2 except that
the compressed air as the pressurized fluid 10 is substituted
by water 11 which can be pressurized by either pumping as
in the case of air or its own gravity by positioning a
reservoir of water in an elevated place. In case of utilizing
the gravity of water for its pressurizing, the pressure
can be controlled by suitably ad~usting the height level
of the reservoir.
For carrying out the lining treatment for pipe lines
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according to the method of this invention, it is indispensable
to fill the interior space of the pipe lines with water.
The binder on the inner surface of the lining material is
brought into contact with the water at the turning point of
evagination where the binder undergoes hydrolysis to form
the activated binder and a compound protecting the amino
group, for example, a ketone in case of using a ketimine
derivative o a polyamine. A ~etone or the like compound
formed by hydrolysis is usually soluble or miscible with
water and gives no adverse effect on the activated binder.
Accordingly, the method of this invention is particularly
useful for lining long pipe lines, especially those laid on
the bottom of sea, lake or river, such as transbay, trans-
channel or transriver pipe lines for transporting petroleum
or water. In casé such a long underwater pipe line is super-
annuated or damaged, it is extremely difficult technically
and economically to replace such pipe line with a new one.
In such case, therefore, it is generally recommended to
regenerate the function of such pipe line by lining it with
a repairing or reinforcing tubular lining material. In case
of a petroleum pipe line laid on the bottom of sea, the pipe line
is usually filled with petroleum or water irrespective of
whether the pipe line is actually used or not. This is due
to the reason that when the underwater pipe line becomes
empty, or in other words, it is filled with air, a great
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buoyant force will be acted on the whole or a part o~ the
pipe line and cause floating in water or alternatively
serious torsion or breakage even if the pipe line is fixed
onto the bottom. Further, a conventional evagination-lining
method for underground pipe lines cannot be applied to a
long underwater pipe line for the reasons as discussed with
respect to the prior arts. In case of lining an underground
pipe line such as a gas conduit or sewage pipe, the
conventional method can be applied to a section of such
pipe line existing between manholes or having a length as
long as 200-300 meters. In case of an underwater pipe line~ the
evagination-lininc3 method cannot be applied thereto portion-
wise since the underwater pipe line has a length of at least
1000 meters and the lining treatment therefor cannot be made
portionwise. In addition, the use of a binder having a very
long pot'life is necessary for lining such long pipe line at
a time, and a considerable time is requirPd for an overall
lining treatment in view of the necessity of a long period
of time for curing a binder with a lon~ pot life
as described hereinbefore with respect to the prior art.
However, it is quite impossible to circulate a hot liquid
medium for warming and curing the binder in case of underwater
pipe lines surrounded with water. However, a lining treatment
for long underwater pipe lines under such conditions can
easily be carried out according to the method of this invention
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wherein the pipe lines are previously filled with water
and a special binder which is activated only when brought
into contact with water is employed.
In Fig. 4 showing schematically a lining treatment
for a long pipe line laid on the bottom of sea according
to the method of this invention, a pipe line 1 is, for
example, a transchannel long oil pipe line laid on the
bottom of sea, both ends of which are exposed on the ground
and connected to other pipe lines. This pipe line 1 is
disconnected from the other pipe lines at its both ends 12
and 13 and any residual oil in the pipe line 1 is replaced
with water. The pipe line 1 is subjected to a cleaning
treatment to remove any rust, oil and tar on the inner
surface thereof and is then filled with clari~ied water 9.
In this case, the cleaning treatment as a preliminary
treatmen~ prior to the lining treatment is carried out
preferably by not only passing a washing liquid but also
using a s~raper or the like tool to remove any substance
built up on the inner surface of the pipe line 1. A water
column 14 is constructed by one end of the pipe line 1 on
the land, for e~ample, for the end 13 which is then connected
to the lower part or bottom of the water column 14 through
an induction pipe as shown in Fig. 1 by the reference
numeral 6. The height of the water columnl4 is pre~erably
10-20 meters at the top thereof from the sea level. A water
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5~233
inlet 15 is provided at -the upper part or on the top of the
column l~while the other end 12 of the pipe line 1 remains
opened~ A flexible tubular lining material 2 shown in the
figure simply as a single solid line is wound on a reel 16
prior to the lining treatment. Any of the materials employed
hitherto for known conventional lining materials can be used
for the tubular lining material _ of this inventlon, but a
flexible textile jacket woven in a seamless tubular form
having on the external surface thereof a gas-impervious
film of a flexible synthetic resin is preferably used for
this invention. In case of a tubular lining material ~or an
oil transporting pipe line, the use of an elastic polyester
resin is most preferable as having high oil-resisting property.
The tubular lining material 2 is reeled off and the
binder 3 in an amount sufficient enough to be applied onto
the inner surface of a pipe line to be lined is introduced
into the interior space of the tubular lining material from
its front end. It is preferable to evacuate the interior
space of the tubular lining material prior to introduction
of the binder thereinto whereby the tubular lining material
is effectively impregnated with the binder to enhance bonding
force between them and moisture contained in the tubular
lining material is concurren~ly removed to prevent any premature
curing of the binder. It is preferable in the subsequent
treatment to keep under reduced pressure the interior space
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of the tubular lining material from the rear end thereof,
i.e. the end of the lining material wound on the reel. The
rear end of the tubular lining material may be connected to
a belt or rope (not shown) which has a length at least equal
to the length of a pipe line to be treated. In this case,
the belt or rope is preferentially wound on the reel 16 so
that the tubular lining material comes out~first.
After charging the interior space of the tubular lining
material 2 with the binder 3 in an amount sufficient enough
to be applied onto the inner surface of the pipe line 1 over
its full length, an inflated portion 2' of $he tubular lining
material enclosing the binder 3 as a reservoir thereof is
placed on a roller conveyer 17, and the tubular lining
material 2 is then closed in flattened state at the front
end thereof and passed through a nip roll 18 to squeeze the
reservoir for spreading the binder 3 uniformly over the
inner surface of the tubular lining material 2. The flattened
tubular lining material 2 provided on the inner surface thereof
with the binder 3 is passed between a pair of caterpillar
belts 19 whereby the lining material 2 is compulsorily moved
~orwards. The lining material 2 is allowed to ascend to the
top of a water column 14 by the action of a roller conveyer
20 and is then allowed to descend through water to the bottom
of the column 14~ The lining material 2 is drawn out from
the bottom of the column 14 and is then introduced into an oil
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12'7S~33
pipe line as the pipe line 1 laid on the bottom of sea in
such manner that an induction pipe is connected between
the bottom of the water column 14 and the pipe line 1 and
the tubular lining material 2 is annularly fixed in
evaginated state to the joint portion 21 between the front
end of -the induction pipe 6 and the rear end of the pipe
line 1 as shown in Fig. 1. Although the lining treatment
is carried out in Fig. 4 while applying the binder 3 onto
the inner surface of the tubular lining material 2, the
lining treatment may be carried out by winding the tubular
lining material 2 previously provided on the inner surface
thereof with the binder 3 on the reel 16 and supplying the
tubular lining material 2 drawn out from the reel directly
to the water column _.
Wate~ is supplied to the water column 14 through the
inlet 15 positioned in the upper portion thereof and reaehed
to the front end of the tubular lining material 2 annularly
fastened in evaginated state to the joint portion 21 whereby
the water pressure in accordance with the water level in the
water column 14 can be applied to the front end of the tubular
lining material 2 moving forwards while being evaginated.
The water pressure pushes forwards the turning point of
evagination 8 within the pipe line where the tubular lining
material 2 in flattèned state provided on the inner surface
thereof with the binder 3 is evaginated to expose the binder 3
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to water, as shown in Fig. 2. The movement of the tubular
lining material 2 in this case is shown by the arrow mark
in Fig. 2. The water pressure may be produced by pumping
water instead of using head pressure of water from the
water column 14. By continuous supply of water to the
water column _ , the turning point of evagination is moved
forwards within the pipe line 1 whereby the lining material
is correspondingly drawn out from the reel 16 and passed
through the reservoir of the binder 3. The lining material 2
thus provided on the inner surface thereof with the binder 3
is then passed through the nip roller 18 to control the
amount of the binder 3 and conveyed into the pipe line 1
through the caterpillar conveyer 19, the water column 1
and the induction pipe 6. The tubular lining material 2 is
then evaginated at the turning point of evagination 8 while
exposing the binder 3 to water and the evaginated tubular
lining material 2 is pressed against the inner surface of
the pipe line with the binder 3 activated by water being
interposed between the inner surface of the pipe line 1 and
the lining material 2 under water pressure. The lining
treatment of the pipe line 1 can thus be carried out in this
manner and the evagination-lining speed can be controlled
properly by adjusting the water level of the water column 14.
The interior space of the pipe line 1 is fully filled wi~h
water in front and rear of the turning point of evagination 8.
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The water existing in front of the turning point of evagination
8 is contacted with air at the open end 12 of the pipe line
while the water existing in rear of the turning point of
evagination 8 is communicated with the water in the column 14.
Thus, the difference in pressure between the water in front
of the turning point of evagination 8 and the water in rear
of the turning point of evagination 8 can freely controlled
by adjusting the level of water in the column ~4, irrespective
of the depth of sea at the turning point of evagination 8.
The water existing in front of the turning point of evagination
8 is pushed out according to the advance of the lining
material 2 and exhausted from the open end 12 of the pipe
line. If necessary, the water may compulsorily be exhausted
from the open end 12 by pumping for the purpose of pressure
adjustment.
In 'case the turning point of evagination 8 passes
through the middle point of the pipe lin~ 1, the tubular
lining material 2 is wholly drawn GUt from the reel 16, passed
through the water column 14 and introduced into the pipe line
1. At the final stage of the lining treatment, the rear end of
the tubular lining material 2 extends from the open end 12
of the pipe line 1 whereby the oil pipe line is lined over
its full length.
In the present invention, the binder is inactive in normal
state but is activated onl~ whenbrought into contact with water.
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Accordingly, the interior space of a pipe line to be treated
has to be filled with water. In an actual pipe-lining
treatment according to this invention, the binder applied
onto the inner surface of a tubular lining material is brought
into contact with water and activated at the turning point of
evagination 8 where evagination of the lining material takes
place, and theninterposed between the inner surface of the
pipe line and the lining material. Accordingly, no considera-
tion is necessary in the present invention for pot life of the
binder used. The binder is stable for the lining treatment
of a pipe line as long as 1000 meters or more and is applied
onto the inner surface of the pipe line immediately after
being activated. Thus, a binder having a rapid curing speed
can be selected for lining of such long pipe lines to shorten
the working time therefor.
In the prior art lining methods, a warming liquid medium
is passed through the lined pipe line to accelerate the curing
of the binder. It is extremel~ difficult, howe~er, to warm
a long pipe line evenly over its full length. According to -
the method of this invention, such after-treatment is quite
unnecessary. In the prior art lining methods, a tubular
lining material provided on the inner surface thereof with
a binder is cooled for prevent any premature curing of
the binder. In the method of this invention, however, a
tubular lining material provided with the binder can be stored
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as such for a long period of time without fear of any
premature curing of the binder.
In the prior art evagination~lining methods, a binder
is usuaily warmed in winter season to reduce the viscosity
of the binder thereby eliminating difficulty in evagination
of a binder-applied tubular lining material due to increase
of the viscosity of the binder. In this case, however, there
is a fear of premature curing of the binder by warming. In
the method of this invention, however, the binder can be
warmed to reduce its viscosity without fear of any premature
curing.
The method of this invention is thus useful for lining
pipe lines used for transporting city water, gas, petroleum
or the like fluids with the purpose of repair or reinforcement
of the pipe lines. The method of this invention is particularly
suitable~for lining pipe lines laid on the bottom of water.
None of the prior art evagination-lining method can attain
such remarkable technical merits particularly when the pipe
line is extremely long or laid on the bottom of water.
As many apparently widely dif~erent embodiments of the
present invention may be made without departing from the
spirit and scope thereof, it is to be construed that the
present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments
thereof excèpt as defined in the appended claims.
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