Sealing Large-Diameter Cast-Iron Pipe Joints Under Live Conditions. (Quarterly Report, September 25, 2004-December 24, 2004).

Kothari, K. M. ; Pittard, G. T.

Technical Information Center Oak Ridge Tennessee

关键词: Gas utilities;    Gas distribution;    Pipe joints;    Cast-iron;    Gas pipelines;   

RP-ID  :  DE2005837017

学科分类：工程和技术（综合）

美国|英语

来源: National Technical Reports Library

【 摘 要 】

Utilities in the U.S. operate over 75,000 km (47,000 miles) of old cast-iron pipes for gas distribution. The bell-and-spigot joints that connect pipe sections together tend to leak as these pipes age. Current repair practices are costly and highly disruptive. The objective of this program is to design, test and commercialize a robotic system capable of sealing multiple cast-iron bell and spigot joints from a single pipe entry point. The proposed system will perform repairs while the pipe remains in service by traveling through the pipe, cleaning each joint surface, and installing a stainless-steel sleeve lined with an epoxy-impregnated felt across the joint. This approach will save considerable time and labor, avoid traffic disruption, and eliminate any requirement to interrupt service to customers (which would result in enormous expense to utilities).