US2106004A - Device used for coating the interior of a water main - Google Patents

Description

58.31.18, 1938. {NGLEE 2,105,004-

DEVICE USED FOR COATING THE INTERIOR OF WATER MAIN I Filed May 20, 1957 .24 4 4 i R k M I3 /5 :2 1. 5J7 '\nlffnnrrnn\fin'unn \ummnum mum 2l 4 Z w mimmm W! V CLINTON INGLEJE. INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Jan'. 1a, 1938 UNITED STATES DEVICE USED FOR COATING THE INTERIOR OF A WATER MAIN Clinton Inglee, New York, N. Y., asslgnor to National Water Main Cleaning 00., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application May 20, 1937, Serial No. 143,636

8 Claims. My invention relates to a device for depositing a protective coating on the inner face oi! metalconduits and particularly to conduits oi the type used as water mains.

More particularly this invention pertains to a device of this character, which is adapted to be drawn through a water main, and which in passing deposits the coating on the interior of the latter by means of electrolysis from a colloidal solution or emulsion of fluxed bitumen and other ingredients in an aqueous medium.

- Itis the purpose of my invention to provide a negativelycharged cathode consisting of a flexible spring-like conducting section having longitudinally spaced radially disposed insulated centering springs to supportthe flexible section and prevent contact thereof with the interior of the conduit, and inflated rubber headers at opposite ends of the cathode to form close contact with the conduit and provide a moving chamber to receive the electrolytic solution and carry it along with the cathode during the electrolytic process.

One embodiment of my invention is described in the following specification, set forth in the appended claims and illustratively exemplified in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure l is a substantially longitudinal sectional view of a straight section of metal conduit with coating apparatus and electrolytic solution therein:

Figure 2 is a substantially longitudinal sectional view of a curved or elbow section of pipe showing the coating apparatus in elevation therein; and

Figure 3 is a substantially transverse sectional view taken on lines 3-3 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawing, Ill denotes the straight section of water main in Figure 1 and Ma the curved section in Figure 2.

The coating or depositing apparatus according to the present invention, comprises a flexible central cylindrical core ll consisting of a length of helicallycoileri wire of, electrically conducting material, embraced exteriorly at opposite ends and centrally thereofby collars H of insulating material. Centering spring arms l3 are attached to each collar l2 and normally flare outwardly and rearwardly to contact the inner face of the conduit and support the core ll centrally thereof. The rings or collars i2 at opposite ends have each a bail H, the forward bail receiving a link coupling l attached to the trailing end of the cable l6 by means of which the entire apparatus is towed through the main. The rear bail carries a coupling l1 and short link section oi. cable 3. Both cables l6 and I! carry and project through rubber headers l9 each of which consists of an inflated bag or cylindrically shaped member having a tubular passage 20 axially 5 thereof to allow the cable to pass through and provide a liquid contact between the wall of the passage 20 and that 01' the cable. Each header i9 is provided with a. valve 2| for inflating and deflating purposes and the leading header accommodates an insulated wire .22 leading from an electric generator (not shown) to the forward end of the flexible conducting core II. The trailing header is held to its cable i8 by means of a disc 23 against which the header abuts and a nut and washer 24 attaching the disc 23 to the end'of the cable.

In operation. the cable i6 is placed in a section.

. of the pipe or water main to be coated interiorly and the forward header i9 is inflated to close the bore of the main beyond the apparatus. The insulated wiret22 provides the negative electrical charge to the flexible core Ii while the conduit or main itself forms the anode. The apparatus is drawn or pulled into the main III by means 25 of the cable 16 until the trailing header is is just short of entering the main. The electrolytic solution is then fed into the space between the headers until the chamber is full.

The current is applied and the depositing or electrolytic process starts to set up a coating upon the interior wall of the main. This operation continues within the confines of the two headers as the apparatus is pulled slowly through the main.

The advantttge oi the flexible core cathode resides in its ability to traverse almost any angle without danlggioi touching the wall of the conduit and ca g a short circuit vin the line. the central suspe 'ion of the core being insured by 40 the centering I ring arms l3.

The desirab 'ty of confining the coating solutions to the sp ce between the headerswill be readily appreci ted since it is obvious that the quantity of electrolyte necessary for use in the present apparatus is a great deal less than would be required were .the trailing header not used. This is particularly true when the conduit is angular or disposed in the shape of an elbow,- in which case the chamber between the headers can be filled with the electrolyte and caused to traverse the conduit in a relatively small quantity, as illustrated inFigure 2. Without this disposition of the headers it would be necessary to practically fill the entire conduit with'the solution in order to insure complete deposit entirely over the interior surface.

v hold the electrolyte from seeping out of the chamber formed between the two headers.

Having described my invention and the manner in which the same operates, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:-

1. An apparatus for electrodepositing a protective coating from an electrolyte on the interior surfaces of metal'conduits in which the latter receives a ositive electric charge, comprising a negatively charged flexible cathode traversing said conduit, and nonconductive centering means carried by the flexible cathode and supporting the same at spaced intervals between its ends and throughout its length against contact with the conduit.

2. An apparatus for electrodepositing a protective coating from an electrolyte on the interior surface of ametal conduit in which the latter receives a positive electric charge, comprising a negatively charged flexible cathode formed from a length of helically wound conducting material and nonconductive centering members carried by the flexible cathode and supporting the same at spaced intervals between its ends and throughout its length against contact with the conduit.

. 1 3.-An' apparatus for electrodepositing a proconduit, insulated spring centering devices car-- ried at spaced intervals about said cathode between the endsthereof to prevent contact of the latter with the surface oi the conduit and a cable to draw the cathode through the conduit.

4. An apparatus for electrodepositing a protective coating from an electrolyte on the interior surface of a metal conduit in which the lating said conduit, non-conducting centering means carried by the flexible cathode and supporting the same at spaced intervals between the ends and throughout its length against contact with the conduit and resilient header members under compression to engage the surface of the conduit at opposite ends of the flexible cathode to confine the electrolytic solution to the space surrounding the cathode during movement of the latter throughout the conduit, each of said headers comprising an inflated rubber bag.

5. An electrodepositing apparatus, as claimed in claim 4, in which each of said inflated rubber bags has a tubular core open at its ends, said apparatus comprising further a link for the trailing end of the cathode projecting through the tubular core of the rear header and being arranged to drag the latter along with the cathode, and a' cable connection at the leading end of the apparatus projecting through the tubular core of the leading header and being connected to the forward endof the cathode, the walls of the tubular cores closely embracing the link and cable to form a seal against leakage of the electrolyte solution therethrough.

6. An electrodepositing apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, in which said centering means comprises insulating bands encircling the cathode at spaced intervals throughout its length, spring arms mounted on the bands and projecting rearwardly and radially to yieldably engage and traverse the interior surface of the conduit to center the cathode.-

7. An electrodepositing apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, in which said centering means comprises insulating bands encircling the, cathode at spaced intervals throughout its length, spring arms mounted on the bands and projecting rearwardly and radially to yieldably engage and traverse the interior surface of the conduit to center the cathode, a bale for each end band, a cable projecting through the forward header and connected to the forward bale whereby the apparatus is drawn through the conduit, a link connection with the rearward bale projecting through the rear header to cause the same to be dragged along with the cathode.

8. An electrodepositing apparatus, as claimed in claim 4, in which each of said inflated rubber bags has a tubular core open at its ends, said apparatus comprising further a link for the trailing end of the cathode projectingthrough the tubular core of the rear header and being arranged to drag the latter along with the cathode, and a cable connection at the leading end of the apparatus projecting through the tubular core of the leading header and being connected to the forward end of'the cathode, the wallsof the tubular cores closely embracing the link and cable to form a seal against leakage of the electrolyte solution therethrough, and an insulated wire connected to said cathode and projected through the tubular core of the leading header adjacent the saidcable.

CLINTON INGLEE.

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