Methods and systems for sealing a service pipe
OwnerPeter Paz, David Herckyinventors
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Abstract
The present invention provides methods and systems for sealing at least one leak in at least one of at least one lateral pipe and a mains pipe, the method including passing a at least one of a pig train and said sealant composition under pressure along at least one of said main pipeline and said at least one lateral pipe such that a portion of the sealant composition enters at least one leakage site to seal and cure the at least one leak.
Claims22
A method for sealing at least one leak in at least one lateral pipe, the method comprising:
- a) closing at least one residential valve;
- b) passing at least one pig train comprising at least one gel pig and at least one sealant composition comprising at least one of wound fibers and yarns, under pressure along a mains pipe from a first end thereof and said at least one lateral pipe, wherein said lateral pipe is at an angle of 30-90 degrees to said mains pipe, such that a portion of said pig train enters said at least one leakage site in said at least one lateral pipe to seal said at least one leak in said at least one lateral pipe, wherein said leak is selected from the group consisting of a hole, a crack, a corroded section and combinations thereof, and wherein said mains pipe is of a diameter of 4-50 inches, 6-40 inches, 8-30 inches, 10-20 inches and said lateral pipe is of a diameter of 0.5-4 inches, 1-3 inches, or 2-2.5 inches, and wherein another portion of the pig train continues along the mains pipe and exits the mains pipe at a second end thereof.
A method for sealing a leak at a leakage site in a mains pipe, the method comprising:
- a) closing a plurality of residential valves;
- b) passing at least one of a pig train and a sealant composition under pressure along a lateral pipeline such that a portion of said at least one of a pig train and said sealant composition enters said mains pipe from said lateral pipeline;
- and
- c) allowing said portion to reach said leak site and to seal said leak, wherein said lateral pipe is at an angle of 30-90 degrees to said mains pipe, wherein the lateral pipe has an internal diameter of 2 inches or less, less than 1.5 inches, less than 1 inch, less than ¾ inch, less than ⅕ inch or less than ⅜ inch, and wherein said mains pipe is of a diameter of 4-50 inches, 6-40 inches, 8-30 inches, or 10-20 inches.
A system for sealing a leak in a lateral pipe from a main pipeline, the system comprising:
- a) at least one sealant composition comprising at least one of wound fibers and yarns;
- b) at least one gel pig;
- c) a plurality of residential valves;
- and
- d) a pressure control system for controlling at least one of a pressure in said main pipeline and a pressure in said lateral pipe by controlling the plurality of residential valves, whereby said at least one gel pig is adapted to push a portion of said at least one sealant composition from said mains pipe into said lateral pipe and to push another portion of said at least one sealant composition along said mains pipeline, wherein said mains pipe is of a diameter of 4-50 inches, or 6-40 inches, or 8-30 inches, or 10-20 inches and said residential pipe is of a diameter of 0.5-4 inches, or 1-3 inches, or 2-2.5 inches, and wherein said leak is selected from the group consisting of a hole, a crack, a corroded section and combinations thereof.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.