US 201600.

91129A1
(19) United States
(12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2016/0091129 A1
AN (43) Pub. Date: Mar. 31, 2016
(54) EXPANSION JOINT OF UNDERGROUND (52) U.S. Cl.
PPING HAVING AUTOMATICLOCKING CPC ............. FI6L 27/12 (2013.01); F16L 37/0847
STOPPERATTACHED THERETO (2013.01)
(71) Applicant: JOINT YOOCHANG THERMAL (57) ABSTRACT
SYSTEMS CO.,LTD., Gyeonggi-do Disclosed is an expansion joint of underground piping having
(KR) an automatic locking stopper attached thereto, the expansion
(72) Inventor: Chang Yup AN. Anyang-si (KR) joint having at least one stopping groove (22) formed along
the outer circumference of a slip pipe (20), and locking
(21) Appl. No.: 14/890,159 grooves (35. 23) formed such that locking members (36,25)
locked by being stopped in the stopping groove (22) are
(22) PCT Filed: May 8, 2014 accommodated therein and protrude therefrom on the inner
circumference of an entrance side of a stuffing box (30). Thus,
(86). PCT No.: PCT/KR2O14/OO4056 the provided expansion joint of underground piping having an
S371 (c)(1), automatic locking stopper attached thereto, has an automatic
(2) Date: Nov. 9, 2015 locking stopper for automatically locking a reverse move
ment due to a temperature change after absorbing an expan
(30) Foreign Application Priority Data sion amount up to a calculated expansion amount as a locking
member which is formed on the inner circumference of a
May 10, 2013 (KR) ........................ 10-2013-005298.9 stuffing box by a stopping groove formed along the outer
circumference of a slip pipe, through the expansion joint
Publication Classification having the stuffing box in which the slip pipe expands and is
transported, thereby guiding a plurality of expansion joints so
(51) Int. Cl. as to expand and absorb the expansion amount up to a calcu
FI6L27/12 (2006.01) lated expansion amount of piping and displaying a moving
FI6L 37/084 (2006.01) distance thereof.

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Patent Application Publication Mar. 31, 2016 Sheet 1 of 4 US 2016/0091129 A1

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Patent Application Publication Mar. 31, 2016 Sheet 2 of 4 US 2016/0091129 A1

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Patent Application Publication Mar. 31, 2016 Sheet 4 of 4 US 2016/0091129 A1

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US 2016/009 1129 A1 Mar. 31, 2016

EXPANSION JOINT OF UNDERGROUND for reasons such as the traffic congestion and the civil com
PIPNG HAVING AUTOMATICLOCKING plaint of construction area around, etc., therefore there is a
STOPPERATTACHED THERETO problem that there is not sufficient time to carry out the piping
preheating of pipelines in excavated State.
TECHNICAL FIELD 0007 Further, the repair method cannot process quickly
0001. The present invention relates to an expansion joint the emergent situation of fluid continuously leaked and it has
of buried piping having automatic locking stopper, and also many problems involving much manpower mobilization etc.
relates to a disposable expansion joint of buried piping (as in accordance with digging the entire buried piping system.
connection means applied to repair the buried piping system, 0008 Meanwhile, an expansion joint means of a bellows
it is an expansion joint structure that can be used only once in type has been known in the piping system in the related art.
the piping system absorbing expansion of the piping system 0009. It is comprised of the structure such as shown in the
like the existing piping system, by welding and fixing its accompanying drawings FIG. 1a to FIG. 1c. The method is
boundary surface in a situation where a slip pipe flexibly similarly developed and in use in Europe (Denmark, Ger
moves to the maximum to an inside diameter of a stuffing box, many, Sweden, etc.). In the expansion joint means of the
even though entire piping system expands to a calculated bellows type, the flexible bellows is connected between an
prestress. It is referred as the expansion joint, hereinafter.), inner and an outer pipes, and the bellows stretches (with
particularly, it relates to an expansion joint of buried piping expansion and contraction behavior) when thermal expansion
having automatic locking stopper which prevents a reverse occurs due to transported fluid of piping system, so that it is
movement depending on a temperature change of entire pip contracted corresponding to the ground contraction amount.
ing system, and also may indicate its expansion absorption However, since the bellows, major composition of the expan
movement length, through the expansion joint configured by sion joint means of the bellows type, is composed of stainless
several stoppers at each of expansion absorption displace steel and it is different material from piping of carbon steel
ments between a slip pipe and a stuffing box. material, it has the welding brittleness by different materials
and also a problem of the fatigue brittleness by continued use
BACKGROUND ART of bellows.
0002 Currently, an embedding method of a heating piping 0010. To solve the problem, while the entire piping system
for district heating used in Korea constructs a plurality of fluid has a designed pre-stress and behaves as preheated piping in
transport pipelines without an expansion joint by means of the state where a slip pipe maximally moves to internal diam
heat expansion constraint method (non-compensated eter of a stuffing box, by introducing the pre-stress by partial
method) and forms a fluid transport conduit. These conduit interval preheating using heat expansion constraint method
for fluid transport induces expansion thereof, when hot fluid (the non-compensated method) which designs and constructs
of about 120° C. Such as the fluid for district heating is used such that the stress by heat occurred in steel pipe is to be
within an allowable stress without additional mechanical
for a long period. The expansion of conduit causes crack and compensation device (bellows type expansion joint means,
damage of laid piping itself, or transported fluid is leaked to etc.), and it is required that more than the expansion amount
underground by even slight ground deformation because the should be absorbed, because each of expansion joint means
pipelines are abnormally distorted, then the fluid leaked to should absorb by a pre-calculated expansion amount So as to
underground flows out onto road and obstructs road traffic, preheat the long piping at the same time and equally, as in the
therefore energy is wasted by discharging the fluid of high outside.
temperature.
0003. In a method known to solve the problem, a repairing SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
has been made by excavating all the laid conduits, Solving the
cause of leakage (by piping replacement etc.). Subsequently
heating the piping to predetermined calculated preheating Objective of Invention
temperature by introducing the fluid about 60° C. or using 0011. The purpose of the present invention is to provide an
electricity, and then backfilling. expansion joint having automatic locking stopper, which
0004. However, the above conventional repair method has enables to construct underground buried pipeline in speedy
following problems. and precise manner so as to repair the piping to fit the
0005 First, in order to make the repaired pipeline return to designed dimensions in the early stage of construction of the
its original place, preheating for Sufficient time is required to piping system and constructs a plurality of expansion joints
make the piping system back into place. Such that there is a and then backfills, and which prior to that, make it possible
costincrease due to preheating itself, and besides, for keeping that each of the expansion joints absorbs the expansion
the entire preheating unit intervals in excavated State until the amount by a calculated expansion amount during the preheat
preheating is completed, there remains risks Such as traffic ing air transmission, and the expansion joint is prevented a
obstruction in downtown as well as falls of pedestrian. reverse movement by the calculated expansion amount Such
0006 Second, because of this repair work, there is that the expansion movement cannot be beyond.
incurred additional cost in accordance with increase of con
struction period, also the repair work results into cause of civil Measures to Achieve the Objective
complaint for traffic interference of downtown area, particu
larly, digging permission to make this piping repair work on 0012. An expansion joint of buried piping having auto
the existing traffic congestion roads in the downtown is matic locking stopper of the present invention to achieve the
approved by the road management office on condition that above purpose is achieved by expansion joint, wherein
both digging and backfilling are completed within the very 0013 at least one or more stopping groove is formed along
one day or on condition of night time digging and backfilling an inner and outer circumferences of a slip pipe, and
US 2016/009 1129 A1 Mar. 31, 2016

0014 a locking member and a locking groove are formed having automatic locking stopper of another exemplary
which are corresponding to the stopping groove and simulta embodiment of the present invention is being used during
neously locked in an inner and outer circumference of a construction of the expansion joint of buried piping having
stuffing box. automatic locking stopper, which is after preheating.
0015. In an expansion joint of buried piping having auto 0023 FIG. 4 shows the state of installing an expansion
matic locking stopper of the present invention to achieve the joint and backfilling only piping system after excavating
above purpose, it is advisable that two or more stopping entire piping system, in construction method of a fluid trans
grooves are formed as a first stopping groove, a second stop port piping using an expansion joint of buried piping having
ping groove, and a third stopping groove, etc. at a predeter automatic locking stopper of the present invention.
mined distance to measure a deformed expansion length of 0024 FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of state wherein back
the expansion joint thereby indicating the displacement. filling of entire piping system including an expansion joint is
made, in construction method of a fluid transport piping using
Advantageous Effect an expansion joint of buried piping having automatic locking
0016. As described above, according to the present inven stopper of the present invention.
tion it is possible to repair the piping to fit the designed 0025 FIG. 6 shows the state that the piping system includ
ing an expansion joint prevents slip pipe from reversely mov
dimensions in an early stage of construction of the piping ing to locking State in a stuffing box due to thermal expansion
system in case that leakage occurs due to bending phenom during the fluid transport, in construction method of a fluid
enon by thermal expansion of a fluid transport piping system transport piping using an expansion joint of buried piping
and ground Subsidence etc., in particular it is possible to having automatic locking stopper of the present invention.
provide expansion joint of the underground buried pipeline in 0026 FIG. 7 is shows the state that the piping system
the speedy and precise manner, and it is possible to provide including an expansion joint prevents slip pipe from reversely
stable piping by providing a plurality of expansion joints moving to locking State in a stuffing box due to thermal
which automatically lock the reverse movement of the fluid expansion during the fluid transport, in construction method
transport inner pipe after absorbing the expansion amount by of a fluid transport piping using an expansion joint of buried
the calculated expansion amount (depending on the tempera piping having automatic locking stopper of another exem
ture change of the transported fluid). plary embodiment of the present invention.
0017 And also the present invention prevents the reverse
movement according to the slip action by piping system DETAILED DESCRIPTION
expansion due to various temperature drop, ground subsid
ence, and ground change etc. of the underground, of the 0027. Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present
buried piping, and the present invention indicates that invention will be described in detail with reference to the
expanded/contracted amount. Also, when the partial leakage accompanying drawings.
in the slip pipe and the stuffing box occurs, it is repaired by the 0028. In the accompanying drawings, FIG. 2a is enlarged
expansion joint structure of the present invention and while view of main portion of an expansionjoint while an expansion
according to the present invention movement by length of joint ofburied piping having automatic locking stopper of the
expanded/contracted slip pipe is made which is then welded present invention is being used during construction of the
to enable to work according to prestress of the existing piping expansion joint of buried piping having automatic locking
system. stopper before preheating, and FIG. 2b is enlarged view of
main portion of an expansionjoint while an expansionjoint of
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS buried piping having automatic locking stopper of the present
invention is being used during construction of the expansion
0018 FIGS. 1a, 1b and 1c are enlarged views of main joint of buried piping having automatic locking stopper after
portion of a conventionally known expansion joint of bellows preheating.
type. 0029. An expansion joint of buried piping having auto
0019 FIG. 2a is enlarged view of main portion of an matic locking stopper of the present invention according
expansion joint while an expansion joint of buried piping referring to the above drawings is,
having automatic locking stopper of the present invention is 0030 forming at least one or more stopping groove (22)
being used during construction of the expansion joint of bur along an outer circumference of a slip pipe (20), and forming
ied piping having automatic locking stopper, which is before a first locking groove (35) such that a first locking member
preheating. (36) engaged and locked in the stopping groove (22) is
0020 FIG. 2b is enlarged view of main portion of an accommodated therein and protrude therefrom on an inner
expansion joint while an expansion joint of buried piping circumference of an entrance side of a stuffing box (30). The
having automatic locking stopper of the present invention is stopping groove (22) is formed as a first stopping groove
being used during construction of the expansion joint of bur (221), a second stopping groove (222), and a third stopping
ied piping having automatic locking stopper, which is after groove (223), etc. at a predetermined distance to measure
preheating. deformed expansion length of expansion joint as the calcu
0021 FIG. 3a is enlarged view of main portion of an lated expansion amount. The length and distance of the stop
expansion joint while an expansion joint of buried piping ping grooves are applied to reflect the pre-designed value
having automatic locking stopper of another exemplary depending on the construction site conditions.
embodiment of the present invention is being used during 0031. In the accompanying drawings, FIG.3a is enlarged
construction of the expansion joint of buried piping having view of main portion of an expansionjoint while an expansion
automatic locking stopper, which is before preheating. joint of buried piping having automatic locking stopper of
0022 FIG. 3b is enlarged view of main portion of an another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is
expansion joint while an expansion joint of buried piping being used during construction of the expansion joint of bur
US 2016/009 1129 A1 Mar. 31, 2016

ied piping having automatic locking stopper before preheat sion joint of buried piping having automatic locking stopper
ing, and FIG. 3b is enlarged view of main portion of an of the present invention, is preheating the entire piping system
expansion joint while an expansion joint of buried piping to the pre-calculated preheating temperature in the state that
having automatic locking stopper of another exemplary the expansion joint is installed, thereby making thermal
embodiment of the present invention is being used during expansion of the thermal system, so that it makes each of the
construction of the expansion joint of buried piping having slip pipes (20) of the expansion joints of the entire piping
automatic locking stopper after preheating. system closely contact and maintain into the stuffing box
0032. An expansion joint of another exemplary embodi (30).
ment of an expansion joint system of buried piping having 0038. Further, the preheating the piping system step of the
automatic locking stopper of the present invention according present invention is executed based on what is shown on
referring to the above drawings is, drawings following the below detailed steps.
0033 forming at least one or more stopping groove (32) 0039 That is, first, a first expansion joint (1) of a first
along an inner circumference of the stuffing box (30), and position comprising a first slip pipe (20) and a first stuffing
forming a second locking groove (23) Such that a second box (30), and a first piping part comprising the expansion
locking member (25) engaged and locked in the stopping joint (1) and connected thereto are preheated.
groove (32) is accommodated therein and protrude therefrom
on an outer circumference of an entrance side on front end of 0040. Next, an expansion joint (2) of a second position
the slip pipe (20). A plurality of stopping grooves (32) is comprising a second slip pipe (20) and a second stuffing box
numerously formed as a first stopping groove (321), a second (30), and a second piping part comprising the expansion joint
stopping groove (322), and a third stopping groove (323), etc. (2) and connected thereto are preheated.
at a predetermined distance to measure deformed expansion 0041. Next, the expansion joint (2) of a third position
length of expansion joint as the calculated expansion amount. comprising a third slip pipe (20) and a third stuffing box (30),
The length and distance of the stopping grooves are applied to and a third piping part comprising the expansion joint (2) and
reflect the pre-designed value depending on the construction connected thereto are preheated.
site conditions. 0042. Next, an expansion joint (n-1) of a (n-1)th position
0034. A construction method of an expansion joint system comprising a (n-1)th slip pipe (n-1) and a (n-1)th stuffing
of buried piping having automatic locking stopper of the box (n-1), and a (n-1)th piping part (n-1) comprising the
present invention comprises the steps of installing the expan expansion joint (n-1) and connected thereto are preheated. In
Sion joint, preheating the piping System, backfilling, and con the same manner as the above procedure, an expansion joint
firming the reverse movement. (n) of a (n)th position comprising a (n)th slip pipe (n) and a
0035. In the accompanying drawings, FIG. 4 is the state of (n)th stuffing box (n), and a (n)th piping part (n) comprising
installing an expansion joint and backfilling only piping sys the expansion joint (n) and connected thereto are preheated.
tem after excavating entire piping system, in construction Thus, by electrical preheating sequentially and continuously
method of a fluid transport piping of downtown underground from the first expansion joint of a plurality of the expansion
using an expansion joint of buried piping having automatic joints until the slip pipe of the last expansion joint reaches an
locking stopper of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a inner stopper of its stuffing box, and thereby moving into
schematic diagram of state wherein backfilling of entire pip contracted State sequentially and step by step, the entire pip
ing system including an expansion joint is made, in construc ing system from the first piping part (1) to the (n)th piping part
tion method of a fluid transport piping using an expansion (n) is sequentially preheated and contracted.
joint ofburied piping having automatic locking stopper of the 0043. According to the drawings, the backfilling step (step
present invention, FIG. 6 is a view indicating the state that the c), in the construction method of a fluid transport piping of
piping system including an expansion joint prevents slip pipe downtown underground using an expansion joint of buried
from reversely moving to locking state in a stuffing box due to piping having automatic locking stopper of the present inven
thermal expansion during the fluid transport, in construction tion, is backfilling (landfill) the expansion joint part which is
method of a fluid transport piping using an expansion joint of excavated after finishing the preheating the pipeline step, over
buried piping having automatic locking stopper of the present the entire piping system, such as shown in the FIG. 5.
invention, and FIG. 7 is a view indicating the state that the
piping system including an expansion joint prevents slip pipe 0044 According to the drawings, the confirming the
from reversely moving to locking state in a stuffing box due to reverse movement step (step d), in the construction method of
thermal expansion during the fluid transport, in construction a fluid transport piping of downtown underground using an
method of a fluid transport piping using an expansion joint of expansion joint of buried piping having automatic locking
buried piping having automatic locking stopper of another stopper of the present invention, is a step which confirms the
exemplary embodiment of the present invention. movement length after a given period, of the buried piping
0036. According to the drawings, the installing the expan system with the naked eye, and confirms the reverse move
sion joint step (step a) in the construction method of a fluid ment length of the stuffing box through the first stopping
transport piping of downtown underground using the expan groove (221), the second stopping groove (222), and the third
sion joint of the present invention is installing the expansion stopping groove (223) formed step by Step on the slip pipe
joints to enable the slip pipes (20) of the expansion joint of (20), thereby confirming the reverse movement length of
buried piping having automatic locking stopper to enter the buried State of the piping system.
stuffing box (30) in the state that only an expansion joint 0045. As shown in the FIG. 6, in case that the reverse
installation section is excavated, such as shown in the FIG. 4. movement of the slip pipe (reverse slip) occurs due to Sudden
0037 According to the drawing, the preheating the piping temperature drop and ground change inflicted on the piping
system step (step b), in the construction method of a fluid system in the buried State, the slip pipe moves backward
transport piping of downtown underground using an expan (reverse movement), and the reverse movement is stopped by
US 2016/009 1129 A1 Mar. 31, 2016

protruding of the first locking member (36) on the stopping and contraction by excavating the expansion joint part, which
groove (22) formed in the slip pipe (20) of the expansion joint makes it possible having more precise data on the operation
of the present invention. and maintenance of the buried piping.
0046 That is, as shown in the FIG. 6, it is possible to
confirm the backward deformed length of the expansionjoint,
i.e. its amount of displacement after excavating with the DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS
naked eye, because the first stopping groove (221), the second 1, 2,3 ... n - 1, n: expansion joint 10: piping
stopping groove (222), and the third stopping groove (223) 20: slip pipe 30: stuffing box
etc. are formed at the predetermined segmented distance. 40: main packing 21: outside of slide
That is, the situation shown in the FIG. 6 can confirm the 22, 23: stopping groove 221, 321: first stopping groove
amount of displacement, because it is stopped on the second 222, 322: Second stopping groove 223,323: third stopping groove
23: Second locking groove 23: connecting part
stopping groove (222). 25: second locking member 31: packing engaging groove
0047. Meanwhile, in the confirming the reverse movement 33: stopper 34: inside of slide
step (step d), in the construction method of a fluid transport 35: first locking groove 36: first locking member
piping of downtown underground using an expansion joint of 42: Secondary packing
buried piping having automatic locking stopper of the present
invention, the slip pipe (20) is entered along an inner circum What is claimed is:
ference of the stuffing box (30) and the second locking mem 1. An expansion joint of buried piping having automatic
ber (25) operates the locking on the stopping groove (32), as locking stopper, wherein
in accompanying drawing, FIG. 7. The operation is moved as a first stopping groove (221), a second stopping groove
the expansion length by the first stopping groove (321), the (222), and a third stopping groove (223) are formed at a
second stopping groove (322), and the third stopping groove predetermined distance along an outer circumference of
(323), and a moving distance thereof is confirmed through a a slip pipe (20),
side of slide (21) of the slip pipe (20) (displaying the scale). a first locking member (36) which is engaged and locked in
0.048. An expansion joint of buried piping having auto the first stopping groove (221), the second stopping
matic locking stopper of the present invention and a construc groove (222), and the third stopping groove (223) is
tion method of the expansion joint of buried piping having formed on an inner circumference of an entrance side of
automatic locking stopper using the same which are com a stuffing box (30), and
prised in this manner includes a stopping device automati wherein said first locking member (36) is protrudably
cally implementing locking to prevent a reverse movement in accommodated in the first locking groove (35) and mea
case that the reverse movement occurs depending on the Sures a deformed length by locking during expansion
temperature change after absorbing the expansion by the deformation of the slip pipe (20).
calculated expansion amount, therefore they can prevent the 2. An expansion joint of buried piping having automatic
reverse movement of the slip pipe (reverse slip) occurring due locking stopper according to claim 1, wherein a first stopping
to Sudden temperature drop and ground change inflicted on
the piping system in the buried State and a plurality of expan groove (321), a second stopping groove (322), and a third
sion joints can maintain the expansion amount absorbed by stopping groove (323) are formed along an inner circumfer
the calculated expansion amount. ence of the stuffing box (30), and a second locking member
0049. Therefore, backward movement is made depending (25) which is engaged and locked in the first stopping groove
on the expansion of the pipeline that the piping in the buried (321), the second stopping groove (322), and the third stop
state received in stopping grooves formed step by step on the ping groove (323) is protrudably accommodated in a second
expansion joint, so that it is possible promptly responding to locking groove (23) on an outer circumference of the slip pipe
natural expansion and contraction of the underground buried (20).
piping, and also it enables to confirm a level of the expansion