AU2003203504A1 - A Pipeline system and tool therefor - Google Patents

Description

P/00/011 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT Name of Applicant: Actual inventor(s): Address for Service: Invention Title: Details of Associated Provisional Application(s) No(s): JAMES LEE GARDINER JAMES LEE GARDINER

INTELLEPRO

Patent Trade Mark Attorneys Level 7 102 Adelaide Street BRISBANE, QLD, 4000 (GPO Box 1339, BRISBANE, 4001) A PIPELINE SYSTEM AND TOOL THEREFOR Australian Patent Application No. PS1555 filed 5 April 2002.

The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: '1 2 A PIPELINE SYSTEM AND TOOL THEREFOR TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION THIS INVENTION relates to a pipeline system having at least one inspection opening.

This invention also relates to a plumbing device for an inspection opening in a pipeline.

This invention further relates to a plumbing tool for making an opening in a pipeline.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Pipelines are generally used to transfer flowable materials between points which may include one or more source points and one or more outlet points. The flowable materials may be in the form of a gaseous products, liquids or solids, or a mixture thereof.

In a sewer system, the pipelines within a buildingare connected to the main sewer line outside the building by means of a branch line. The main sewer line is generally located underground in public land. The branch line is usually located underground and some of the pipelines within the building can also be located underground. As used hereinafter, the term "pipelines" is intended to include both the pipelines in the building and the branch line.

From time to time a section in the pipelines can become clogged or is leaking. Finding the location where the pipelines is clogged is extremely difficult.

Where a substantial length of the pipelines are underground, the task of locating the clogged or leaking section would involve considerable earth moving work to uncover the problem section of the pipelines. In view of the high costs in finding the location, it is generally preferred to install an inspection chamber in a relatively accessible part of the pipelines so that an inspection tool can be inserted into the pipelines for inspection and/or testing purposes. The same chamber is also used to insert tools for clearing blockages in the pipelines.

Recent Government regulations for sewer connections require the provision of an inspection chamber in pipelines when a new building is under construction.

But the location of the inspection opening is not usually marked so the above mentioned difficulty remains.

As the new regulations do not apply to existing buildings, a large number of owners of the buildings constructed before the introduction of the regulations choose notto install inspection chambers because of the high costs associated with such installations.

The inspection chamber known to the applicant is generally formed in a Tshaped joint having a horizontal conduit for connection in line with two adjacent pipes in the pipelines and a closeable vertical conduit with an access port for insertion of an plumbing tool into the pipelines. If the inspection chamber is to be located in a position between the ends of a pipe length then the pipe must be severed so that the joint can be connected in line. If the pipe is already joined to other pipes in the pipelines then a part of the pipe must be cut and removed so that the horizontal conduit of the T-shaped joint can be positioned for rejoining the cut section of the pipe.

4 To severe or cut the pipe a trench of sufficient depth and width must be dug so that a worker can use a cutting tool in the trench to completely severe or cut through the pipe. The trench must also be sufficiently long to allow the horizontal conduit of the T-shaped joint to be in position to join to the severed or cut sections in line. Accordingly, considerable resources must be extended in digging a trench to a size sufficient to use the cutting tool and to install the inspection opening.

As the pipe is severed or cut it inevitable that some of the flowable materials will escape into the trench if the pipe is underground, or onto the ground or floor if the pipe is above ground. This is undesirable, especially when the pipelines are for transferring sewer waste.

The severing or cutting process may deform or cause the pipe to move in a manner that would affect the flow of the materials. If burrs are left on the severed or cut sections of the pipe, flow of the materials can be hindered and thereby increasing the frequencies of blockages in the pipelines.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to alleviate or to reduce to a certain level one or more of the prior art disadvantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In one aspect therefore the present invention resides in a pipeline system for transferring a flowable material. The system includes a number of pipes arranged to transfer the flowable material from at least one source point to at least one outlet point. Each of said pipes has wall means around a passage through which the material flows. At least one of the pipes has an inspection chamber arranged for insertion of a plumbing tool into the pipe(s). The inspection chamber is formed with an opening in the wall means of said at least one pipe, and a hollow housing member having a lower end configured to provide a flow communication between the opening and the hollow of the housing member and to engage a perimeter of the wall means adjacentto the opening, securing means for securing said lower end to the wall means, an upper end configured as an access port for the plumbingtool, and a cap for removably capping said access port.

In another aspect therefore the present invention resides in a plumbing device for forming an inspection chamber of a pipe having wall means around a passage for a flowable material and an opening in the wall means. The device includes a hollow housing member having a lower end configured to provide a flow communication between the opening and the hollow of the housing member and to engage a perimeter of the wall means adjacent to the opening, securing means for securing said lower end to the wall means, an upper end configured as an access port for insertion of a plumbing tool into the pipe, and a cap for removably capping said access port.

In a further aspect therefore the present invention resides in a tool for cutting an opening in wall means of a pipe having a passage for a flowable material. The tool includes a hollow housing member having a lower end configured to engage a perimeter of the wall means and an upper end configured as an access port, and cutter means arranged to enter the access port for cutting an area of said wall means within said perimeter to thereby providing an opening in the wall means for 6 insertion of a plumbing tool into the pipe. Preferably, securing means is provided for securing said lower end to the wall means.

A seal may be arranged on the lower end for sealing said opening when the lower end engages said perimeter of the wall means.

The securing means may be in the form of a mechanical clamping arrangement for clamping the lower end to the wall means, or a chemical bonding agent for bonding the lower end to the wall means.

It is preferred that the clamping arrangement is removable so that the housing member can be moved from the opening.

Typically, the housing member has a conduit-shaped neck between the upper end and the lower end, and the lower end is in the form of a first saddleshaped member extending from said neck. Preferably, the lower end has a second saddle-shaped member which cooperates with the first saddle member to encircle said pipe, and the clamping arrangement is adapted to removably clamp the saddleshaped members together.

In a preferred form, each of said first and second saddle-shaped members has a pair of opposed longitudinal flanges, and the paired flanges of the first saddleshaped member are arranged to be in a facing relationship with the paired flanges of the second saddle-shaped member when positioned to encircle the pipe, and the clamping arrangement has a set of clamping members for clamping the facing flanges.

A cap seal may also be arranged on the cap so that when capped the hollow in the housing member is sealed.

7 It is preferred that the housing member and the cap have cooperative threaded parts so that cap can be threadedly moved to and from the capped position.

The cutter means may be adapted for cutting in a rotary motion and may have a cylindrical cutter body with a cutting edge along a free end thereof. The cutting edge is preferably serrated for cutting in a saw-like manner.

The opposite end of the cutter body may be fixed to a top member from which extends a coupling means for removably coupling to a driving means for driving the cutter body. It is preferred that the top member extends laterally from said cutter body so that the top member engages the upper end of the housing member to thereby prevent the cutter means from advancing further into the hollow following cutting the wall means to form the opening.

Advantageously, the cutter means has a pilot guide for guiding the cutting edge into the wall means. The pilot guide may be in the form of a pilot drill bit adapted for engaging said wall means prior to being cut by the cutting edge.

The coupling means can be a stud and the driving means can be a drill device adapted for coupling to the stud for driving the cutter means to rotate and thereby cutting the wall means in a rotary motion.

The cutter means may have retention means arranged downstream from said cutting edge so that the cut portion of the wall means is retained within the cutter body. The retention means is preferably deflectable and is normally biassed to extent radially in the cutter body. The deflectable retention means is arranged to be deflected by the cut portion when the cutter means is cutting into the wall means, and when the cutter means has cut through the wall means the cut portion being completely cut from the wall means travels past the retention means which then returns to its normally biassed position to retain the cut portion in the cutter body.

The retention means preferably includes a guide surface configured to guide said cut portion into the cutter body.

The top member may have one or more apertures for insertion of an elongated tool into the cutter body to cause the cut portion to be ejected from the cutter body.

The top member may include an upper plate and a lower annular plate with a central aperture. The lower plate is fixed to or removably secured to the cutter body and the upper plate is removably engage with the lower plate so that on removal of the upper plate the cut portion can be emptied through the central aperture.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In order that the present invention can be readily understood and put into practical effect the description will hereinafter refer to the accompanying drawings which illustrate non limiting embodiments of the present invention and wherein: Figure 1 is a schematic cut-away view of a prior art pipeline system incorporating a known inspection chamber; Figure 2 is a schematic cut-away view of a pipeline system incorporating an embodiment of inspection chamber according to the present invention; Figure 3 is an end elevation view of the inspection chamber shown in Figure 2 prior to being applied to the pipe system; 9 Figure 4 is a side elevation view of the inspection chamber shown in Figure 3; Figure 5 is an exploded view of the inspection chamber shown in Figure 4; Figure 6 is a sectioned side view of the inspection chamber shown in Figure 4; Figure 7 is a partial sectioned side view showing a rubber sealing ring fixed to the inspection chamber shown in Figure 3; Figure 8 is a partial sectioned side view showing a rubber sealing band as an alternative to the sealing ring shown in Figure 7; Figure 9 is a sectioned side view of the inspection chamber shown in Figure 2 Figure 10 is a sectioned side view showing a preferred form of the cutting tool being in the process of cutting an opening in a pipe for the inspection chamber shown in Figure 2; Figure 11 is a top view of the cutting tool shown in Figure Figure 12 is a side elevation view of a second preferred form of the cutting tool according to the present invention; Figure 13 is a side elevation view of a third preferred form of the cutting tool according to the present invention; Figures 14 and 15 are side elevation views of a fourth preferred form of the cutting tool according to the present invention; Figure 16 shows the bottom of the top member of the cutting tool shown in Figure 14; Figure 17 shows the top view of the lower member of the cutting tool shown in Figure 14; Figurel 8 is a side elevation view of a fifth preferred form of the cutting tool according to the present invention; Figure 18A is an elevation view of an embodiment of an alternative guide drill bit to that shown in Figure 18; Figure 19 is a schematic partial view of the pipeline system shown in Figure 2 with detailed illustration of the inspection chamber; Figures 20 and 21 are respective end and side views of another embodiment of the inspection chamber according to the present invention; and Figure 22 shows an application of the inspection chamber shown in Figures and 21.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Referring to the drawings and initially to Figure 1 there is shown a prior art pipelines system 100 having a T-shaped inspection chamber 102 connected in a cut branch line 104 by clamps 106. The pipe 104 is placed in the ground and below the ground surface 108. To install the inspection chamber 102, workers must first dig a pit 110 that is sufficiently deep and wide to enable a cutting tool such as a manual and/or a powered saw to cut a section of the pipe 104. The cut section is then discarded and the T-shaped inspection chamber 102 is fitted with two lengths of short pipe sections 114 in respective opposite ends of the horizontal conduit 112 of the chamber 102. The chamber 102 so fitted is then positioned in the pit 110 with its horizontal conduit 112 and the sections 114 in line with the pipe 104. The 11 sections 114 are subsequently joined to the cut pipe 104 by clamp members 106 which each have two halves with flanges 116 configured for clamping to clamping elements 118.

Referring now to Figure 2, the pipeline system 10 according to the present invention as shown has a pipe 104 and an inspection chamber 12 secured to the pipe 104 in position to allow a plumbing tool (notshown) to enter the pipe through an opening 105 formed in the wall of the pipe 104. As can be seen, the pit 110 for installing the chamber 12 is much smaller than that for the prior art system 100 shown in Figure 1. The chamber 12 itself is shorter that the prior art chamber 102 and no separate clamping members are needed for joining to the pipe 104.

Turning now to Figures 3 to 7 which illustrate one embodiment of the inspection chamber 12 according to the present invention. The chamber 12 has a hollow housing member 14 with an upper end 16, a lower end 18, and a neck joining the upper and lower ends 16,18.

The lower end 18 has a first saddle-shaped element 22 fixed to and extending laterally from the neck 20, and a second saddle-shaped element 24 for cooperatively joined to the first saddle-shaped element 22 to embrace the pipe 104.

Each of said elements 22 and 24 include a pair of opposed flanges with an inclined profile so that clamping force applied by clamping elements 30 can be adjusted by simply repositioning the elements 30 therealong. The elements 30 can be removed by sliding them out of engagement with the flanges 26 and 28.

The first saddle-shaped element 22 has a groove 32 (see Figure 7) in which is secured a rubber sealing ring 34 adapted to engage the pipe 104 adjacent to its 12 opening 105 for sealing thereof when the first and second elements 22 and 24 are joined by clamping.

The upper end 16 forms an access port 36 for insertion of a plumping tool therethrough when performing an inspection or testing task in the pipelines 104.

The upper end 16 is externally threaded at 38. A cap 40 has complimentary threaded region for removably capping the access port 36. In this embodiment the cap 40 also carries a rubber sealing ring 42 for engaging the neck 20 when capped.

Figure 8 shows an L-shaped sealing band 35 being applied for sealing the opening 105.

Figure 9 shows the inspection chamber 12 secured to the pipe 104. As can be seen, the pipe 104 is clamped between the first and second saddle-shaped elements 22 and 24. In the clamped position, the sealing ring 34 engages perimeter of the opening 105 and thereby sealing against any flow of materials from escaping out of the pipe 104.

Figure 10 illustrates cutting tool 50 for cutting an opening 105 in the wall of the pipe 104. In this embodiment, the tool 50 includes the same housing member 14 as described earlier and a cutting implement 52. The housing 14 is secured to the pipe 104 at the position where an inspection chamber 12 is desired.

The cutting implement 52 coupled to a driving apparatus (not shown) such as a powered drill, is then inserted into the hollow of the housing member 14 for cutting the wall of the pipe 104 to form the opening 105.

The cutting implement 52 has a cylindrical hollow body 54 with a cylindrical band 56 extending from one end of the body 54 and a circular member 13 58 attached to the other end of the body 54. The free end of the band 56 is serrated to form a cutting edge 60 and downstream from the cutting edge 60 is retaining means 62 for retaining a cut portion or portions 107 of the pipe wall. The circular member 58 has an upstanding stud 64 for coupling to the chuck of a drill and is configured to engage the free end of the neck 20 so as to prevent the implement 52 from being fully inserted into the hollow of the housing member. The body 54 and the band 56 are dimensioned so that the member 58 engages the neck 20 when the cutting edge 60 completes the cutting process and the cut portion(s) 107 is retained behind the retaining means 62.

In the Figure 10 embodiment, the retaining means 62 are in the form of spaced lugs with their inner surface inclined so as to guide the cut portion(s) 107 to move into the band 56 but preventing the cut portion(s) from moving out of the interior of the band 56. In Figure 12, the retaining means 62 is in the form of spaced tabs that are normally spring biassed to extend into the interior of the band 56. The biassed tabs can retract to be substantially parallel with the side wall of the band 62 to allow the cut portion(s) 107 to move into the interior and will return to their normally biassed position when the cut portion(s) 107 has moved past them. In Figure 13, the retaining means 62 is in the form of an internal thread configured to guide the cut portion(s) to rotatably move into the interior and to retain the cut portion(s) therein.

Turning to Figure 11, there is shown a top view of the circular member 58.

As can be seen, the circular member 58 has four spaced holes 66 for an elongated tool such as a screw driver to enter the interior of the band 56 to forcibly remove the cut portion(s) out of the interior.

Referring now to Figures 14 to 17 which illustrate another preferred form of the circular member 58. In the shown form, the member 58 has an annular ring 68 fixed to the body 54 and a top plate 70 removably fixed to the ring 68. The annular ring 68 has a peripheral wall 72 abouta central hole 74. Four oval shaped apertures 76 are spaced arranged in the peripheral wall 72. The plate 70 has four spaced projections 78 arranged to be received in the apertures 76 as shown in Figure The projections 78 are shaped for interference fitting with the apertures 76 so that some force is required to separate the plate 70 from the ring 68 and at the same time provide positive engagement between the plate 70 and the ring 68 when the implement 50 is driven to cut the pipe 104.

When the plate 70 is separate from the ring 68, the cut portion(s) 107 can be easily removed through the central hole 74.

In the Figure 18 embodiment of the cutting implement 50, the stub 64has an axial through passage 80 for receiving a pilot drill bit or nail 82, and a lateral threaded hole 84 for a screw (not shown) to engage the bit or nail 82 for fixing it in position. The drill bit or nail 82 extends past the cutting edge 60 so that the drill bit or nail 82 can penetrate the wall of the pipe 104 and thereby fixing the cutting path of the cutting edge An alternative guide drill bit 82 is shown in Figure 18A. This guide bit 82 has a slanting indentation 83 shaped to receive the screw passing through the lateral threaded hole 84. The indentation 83 has a relatively deep part with a steep edge to prevent the guide bit 82 from falling through the passage 80. The other end of the bit 82 has a series of cutting teeth 87 and a retention lug 89 down stream of the teeth 87. The retention lug 89 points in an angularly upward direction to retain a cut section of the pipe 104, thereby preventing the cut section from falling into the pipe 104.

Figure 19 shows the inspection chamber 12 is capped with a cap following removal of the cutting member 52.

Figures 20 to 22 illustrate a further embodiment of the inspection chamber 12 according to the invention. In this embodiment the housing member 14 has a neck 20 between a top end 16 and a lower end 18. The top end 16 is substantially as hereinbefore described. The lower end 18 is shaped to conform substantially to the exterior surface of the wall of the pipe 104 so that the lower end 18 rests snugly on the pipe 104. Suitable adhesive means 122 is then used to bond the lower end 18 to the pipe 104. When the adhesive is cured, a cutting member 52 as above described is used to cut an opening 105 for insertion of a plumbing tool.

Alternatively, the hole 105 can be precut before fixing the lower end 18 to the pipe 104.

Before applying the adhesive means 122, the surface of the pipe 104 to be engaged with the lower end 18 can be cleaned and primed with a PVC priming fluid which contains methyl ethyl keytone before placing the lower end 18 thereon.

The lower end 18 when placed on the pipe 104 is then applied with the adhesive means such as that sold under the brand Fuller POW'RBOND which contains a-

CYANOACRYLATE.

16 Whilst the above has been given by way of illustrative example of the present invention many variations and modifications thereto will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the broad ambit and scope of the invention as herein set forth.

Claims (24)

1. A pipeline system for transferring a flowable material, the system including a number of pipes arranged to transfer the flowable material from at least one source point to at least one outlet point, each of said pipes having wall means around a passage through which the material flows; at least one of the pipes has an inspection chamber arranged for insertion of a plumbing tool into the pipe(s), the inspection chamber being formed with an opening in the wall means of said at least one pipe, and a hollow housing member having a lower end configured to provide a flow communication between the opening and the hollow of the housing member and to engage a perimeter of the wall means adjacent to the opening, securing means for securing said lower end to the wall means, an upper end configured as an access port for the plumbing tool, and a cap for removably capping said access port.

2. A plumbing device for forming an inspection chamber of a pipe having wall means around a passage for a flowable material and an opening in the wall means, the device including a hollow housing member having a lower end configured to provide a flow communication between the opening and the hollow of the housing member and to engage a perimeter of the wall means adjacent to the opening, securing means for securing said lower end to the wall means, an upper end configured as an access port for insertion of a plumbing tool into the pipe, and a cap for removably capping said access port.

3. A tool for cutting an opening in a pipe having wall means defining a passage therein for a flowable material, the tool includes a hollow housing member having 18 a lower end configured to engage a perimeter of the wall means and an upper end configured as an access port, and cutter means arranged to enter the access port for cutting an area of said wall means within said perimeter to thereby providing an opening in the wall means for insertion of a plumbing tool into the pipe.

4. The invention according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein a seal is arranged on the lower end for sealing said opening when the lower end engages said perimeter of the wall means. The invention according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the housing member has a conduit-shaped neck between the upper end and the lower end, and the lower end is in the form of a first saddle-shaped member extending from said neck.

6. The invention according to claim 5 wherein the lower end has a second saddle-shaped member which cooperates with the first saddle member to encircle said pipe,

7. The invention according to any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein securing means is provided for securing said lower end to the wall means.

8. The invention according to claim 7 wherein the securing means is in the form of a mechanical clamping arrangement for clamping the lower end to the wall means, or a chemical bonding agent for bonding the lower end to the wall means.

9. The invention according to claim 8 wherein the clamping arrangement is removable so that the housing member can be moved from the opening. 19 The invention accordingly to claim to claim 8 or 9 when appended to claim 6 wherein the clamping arrangement is adapted to removably clamp the saddle- shaped members together.

11. The invention according to claim 10 wherein each of said first and second saddle-shaped members has a pair of opposed longitudinal flanges, and the paired flanges of the first saddle-shaped member are arranged to be in a facing relationship with the paired flanges of the second saddle-shaped member when positioned to encircle the pipe, and the clamping arrangement has a set of clamping members for clamping the facing flanges.

12. The invention according to any one of claims 1 to 11 wherein a cap seal is arranged on the cap so that when capped the hollow in the housing member is sealed.

13. The invention according to any one of claims 1 to 12 wherein the housing member and the cap have cooperative threaded parts so that cap can be releaseably moved to and from the capped position.

14. The invention according to claim 3 wherein the cutter means is adapted for cutting in a rotary motion and having a cylindrical cutter body with a cutting edge along a free end thereof. The invention according to claim 14 wherein the cutting edge is serrated for cutting in a saw-like manner.

16. The invention according to claim 14 or 15 wherein the opposite end of the cutter body being fixed to a top member from which extends coupling means for removably coupling the cutter body to a driving means for driving the cutter body.

17. The invention according to claiml6 wherein the top member extends laterally from said cutter body so that the top member engages the upper end of the housing member to thereby prevent the cutter means from advancing further into the hollow following cutting the wall means to form the opening.

18. The invention according to any one of claims 14 to 17 wherein the cutter means has a pilot guide for guiding the cutting edge into the wall means.

19. The invention according to claim 18 wherein the pilot guide having a retention portion for retaining the cut portion of the wall means. The invention according to claim 18 or 19 wherein the pilot guide is in the form of a pilot drill bit adapted for engaging said wall means prior to being cut by the cutting edge.

21. The invention according to claim 16 wherein the coupling means is a stud and the driving means is a drill device adapted for coupling to the stud for driving the cutter means to rotate and thereby cutting the wall means in a rotary motion.

22. The invention according to claim 3 wherein the cutter means having retention means arranged downstream from said cutting edge so that the cut portion of the wall means is retained within the cutter body.

23. The invention according to claim 22 wherein the retention means is arranged to be deflectable and is normally biassed to extent radially in the cutter body, and in cutting the deflectable retention neans is deflected by the cut portion and when the cutter means has cut through the wall means the cut portion being completely cut from the wall means, travels past the retention means which then returns to its normally biassed position to retain the cut portion in the cutter body. 21

24. The invention according to claim 23 wherein the retention means includes a guide surface configured to guide said cut portion into the cutter body. The invention according to claim 3 wherein the top member having one or more apertures for insertion of an elongated tool into the cutter body to cause the cut portion to be ejected from the cutter body.

26. The invention according to claim 25 wherein top member includes an upper plate and a lower annular plate with a central aperture, the lower plate being fixed to or removably secured to the cutter body and the upper plate being removably engaged with the lower plate so that on removal of the upper plate the cut portion can be emptied through the central aperture.

27. A pipeline system for transferring a flowable material substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings, with the exception of Figure 1.

28. A plumbing device for forming an inspection chamber of a pipe substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings, with the exception of Figure 1.

29. A tool for cutting an opening in a wall of a pipe substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 10 to 18A of the drawings. DATED this 4th day of April 2003 JAMES LEE GARDINER By his Patent Attorneys INTELLEPRO