Water service line repair

#Water service lines generally provide water to residential and commercial buildings from a public or privately owned water main. To do this, individual service lines typically branch off the main line and pass through a water meter, which records the amount of water passing through the meter, before delivering the water to the building. However, it is not uncommon for such branch service lines to experience a reduction in water flow due to build-up, such as mineral build-up, somewhere within the line. Correcting such flow reductions typically requires the excavation, removal and replacement of a portion of the service line, which is expensive and time-consuming. Accordingly, there is a need for improved techniques in repairing water service lines that are experiencing reduced water flow.

#The present teachings relate to methods and apparatus for removing unwanted build-up in a pipe, such as a water service line, by creating and directing one or more hydraulic pulses toward the build-up. This may be accomplished, for example, by fluidically connecting a piston assembly to the pipe, and then striking or otherwise abruptly moving the piston to produce a hydraulic pulse.

#FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a piston assembly that may be used to remove unwanted build-up from a water service line, according to aspects of the present teachings.

#FIG. 2 is an exploded side elevational view of the piston assembly of FIG. 1.

#FIG. 3 is an isometric view of a support brace that may be used to brace a piston assembly to withstand non-longitudinal forces, according to aspects of the present teachings.

#Water distribution networks, whether public or private, may include a network of principal or main water lines, also known as water mains. Water is distributed from a water main to a plumbing system associated with real property by way of individual service lines passing through a water meter. A water meter records the amount of water passing through a service line and may separate a supply side or water main side from a customer side or property side of an individual service line associated with the serviced property. A water service line may be a pipe, typically not smaller than ¾ inches in diameter, delivering water at a flow rate that may be measured in gallons per minute. Mineral buildup in a water service line may decrease the flow rate below a minimum acceptable flow rate established by a public utility water main service, or another person or entity affiliated with a water distribution network, requiring some form of maintenance to restore water flow to an acceptable level.

#When a water service line is partially or entirely blocked, such as by mineral build-up, the water service line is often removed and replaced, which is time consuming and costly, and even more so if the blocked line runs under a road. The present teachings are generally directed toward dislodging mineral build-up in a water service line, in a manner that does not require significant excavation or replacement of any portion of the service line. Generally speaking, this is accomplished using a piston placed in fluid connection with the service line in the general vicinity of the suspected build-up. The piston is configured create pulses of water, such as hydraulic shock waves, which travel into the water service line and dislodge the build-up. Accordingly, by avoiding the need to excavate and/or replace portions of the service line, methods and apparatus according to the present teachings can significantly reduce the time and money required to remove unwanted build-up within the line.

#FIG. 1 is a side elevational view and FIG. 2 is a side elevational exploded view depicting a piston assembly, generally indicated at 12, for dislodging build-up in a water service line. The piston assembly 12 includes a hollow outer sleeve 14 configured to be connected to a water service line, and a piston 16 disposed within sleeve 14 and configured to move within the sleeve in a substantially fluid tight manner. A bleeder assembly, generally indicated at 18, is connected to the head portion, generally indicated at 17, of piston 16 and is configured to allow removal of air from within sleeve 14.