Composite reinforcement of tubular structures
AssigneeCarboshield, Inc.
InventorsHamid Saadatmanesh, Ehsan Mahmoudabadi
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems and methods for reinforcement of tubular structures via composite internal dowels are provided herein. The hardening of a curable fill inside a flexible sleeve provides conformal contact between the resulting dowel and the surrounding tubular structure. Permeation of the fill through the sleeve may improve the bond. Attachment of the sleeve to a narrower tube may allow for precise positioning of the sleeve as well as a reduction in the amount of fill required. Ultimately, the internal dowels may extend past a degraded section of the tubular structure from a selected lower limit below the degraded section to a selected upper limit above the degraded section.
Claims20
A system (100) for reinforcement of a tubular structure (110) having a degraded section (112), the system (100) comprising:
- a. a flexible sleeve (120) having a length between a first end (121) and a second end (122);
- b. a flexible tube (130) having a length between a first end (131) and a second end (132), wherein the first end of the tube (131) is coupled with the second end of the flexible sleeve (122) such that an interior of the flexible sleeve (120) may be accessed through the flexible tube (130);
- and
- c. a curable fill (140), configured to enter the flexible sleeve (120) via the flexible tube (130) and cure within the flexible sleeve (120);
- wherein the flexible tube (130) is configured to support the flexible sleeve (120) at a position within the tubular structure (110) corresponding with the degraded section (112) until at least a portion of the fill (140) cures and fixes the sleeve (120) in place within the tubular structure (110).
A method of reinforcing a tubular structure (110) having a degraded section (112), the method comprising:
- a. identifying a tubular structure (110) having a degraded section (112) below an access point;
- b. inserting a flexible sleeve (120) through the access point such that it is partially suspended in the tubular structure (110) and feeding the sleeve (120) into the tubular structure (110) until a portion of the sleeve (120) is aligned with the degraded section (112);
- c. filling the sleeve (120) with a first portion of a curable fill (140);
- d. supporting the sleeve (120) until the first portion of the fill (140) is cured;
- and
- e. filling the sleeve (120) with a second portion of the fill (140).
A method of reinforcing a tubular structure (110) having a degraded section (112), the method comprising:
- a. identifying a tubular structure (110) having a degraded section (112) below an access point;
- b. determining a first distance (D1) from the access point to a bottom of the degraded section (112);
- c. determining a second distance (D2) from the access point to a top of the degraded section (112);
- d. sealing a segment of an exterior of the tubular structure (110) corresponding to the degraded section (112) by wrapping an adhesive tape around the segment or by fixing one or more plates or shells over the degraded section (112);
- e. selecting an upper limit at a third distance (D3) from the access point, wherein D3 is less than D2;
- f. selecting a lower limit at a fourth distance (D4) from the access point, wherein D4 is greater than D1;
- g. providing a sleeve (120) having a length corresponding to the distance between the upper and lower limits;
- h. applying a non-permeable coating to a segment of the sleeve (120), wherein the segment of the sleeve (120) to which the non-permeable coating is applied corresponds to the degraded section (112);
- i. saturating the sleeve (120) with a polymer resin;
- j. fastening a lower end of the sleeve (121);
- k. fixing a tube (130) to an upper end of the sleeve (122) such that an interior of the sleeve (120) may be accessed via the tube (130);
- l. applying a mark to the tube (130) at the third distance (D3) from the sleeve (120);
- m. filling a hollow section below the sleeve (120) with a secondary filler material;
- n. inserting the sleeve (120) through the access point such that it is suspended in the tubular structure (110);
- o. feeding the tube (130) into the tubular structure (110) until the mark reaches the access point;
- p. filling the sleeve (120) with one or more portions of a curable fill (140);
- q. installing shear keys (160) through the tubular structure (110) and into the sleeve (120);
- r. supporting the sleeve (120) via the tube (130) until one or more portions of the fill (140) are cured.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.