Rupture-resistant fluid transport and containment system

Abstract

Fluid transport and containment systems are protected from rupture related to an expanded volume within the systems. A fluid transport system, such as a water supply pipe, has a relief channel along its length configured for expanding outwardly when fluids contained in the pipe freeze and expand. A unitary pipe configuration including a pipe wall and an integral core structure that can be sealed at each end provides a means for expansion sufficient to resist freeze-induced rupture. Such pipe configurations can be used with conventional pipes and pipe fittings and with adapters adapted to fit both the improved pipes and conventional pipes and pipe fittings.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A fluid transport system having an internal volume, the system resistant to rupture due to expansion of the internal volume, comprising: 
 a pipe having a length and a pipe wall, the pipe wall having an inside surface and an outside surface and two adjacent edges along the length of the pipe forming an open seam;    a core structure connected to the inside surface of the pipe wall along the length of the pipe and having an open seam contiguous with the open seam in the pipe wall; and    a hollow expansion channel along the length of the pipe defined by the core structure, wherein the pipe has a center along the length of the pipe and the pipe wall and the core structure are expandable outwardly from the center of the pipe in the direction of the open seams, and wherein when the internal volume expands, the pipe wall and core structure expand sufficiently to accommodate the expanded volume and resist rupture of the system.    
     
     
         2 . The fluid transport system of  claim 1 , wherein the pipe and the core structure comprise an integral pipe unit.  
     
     
         3 . The fluid transport system of  claim 2 , the integral pipe unit having an original non-expanded position, and the expanded internal volume is caused by freezing of fluid inside the pipe, wherein the integral pipe unit comprises a configuration having elasticity sufficient to expand outwardly greater than the expanded internal volume caused by the freezing of the fluid and to contract to approximately the original non-expanded position when the frozen fluid thaws.  
     
     
         4 . The fluid transport system of  claim 3 , wherein the fluid inside the pipe is water and the integral pipe unit is sufficiently expandable to accommodate an expanded volume of at least 10% when the water freezes.  
     
     
         5 . The fluid transport system of  claim 1 , the hollow expansion channel having open ends adaptable for sealing, the system further comprising a plug sealably contacting each end of the expansion channel.  
     
     
         6 . The fluid transport system of  claim 5 , wherein the plug is solid.  
     
     
         7 . The fluid transport system of  claim 5 , wherein the plug is hollow.  
     
     
         8 . The fluid transport system of  claim 5 , the pipe being connectable to another pipe with pipe fittings each having an internal volume, wherein the plug has a portion for inserting into the end of the expansion channel and a compressible portion for protruding into adjacent pipe fittings so that when the volume in the pipe fittings expands, the compressible portion compresses to accommodate the expanded volume and resist rupture of the system.  
     
     
         9 . The fluid transport system of  claim 8 , wherein the compressible portion of the plug for protruding into adjacent pipe fittings is tapered.  
     
     
         10 . The fluid transport system of  claim 5 , the system further comprising an adapter for fitting the pipe to a conventional pipe, the adapter having a first end comprising a shape adapted to form a sealable fit with the pipe and a second end comprising a shape adapted to form a sealable fit with the conventional pipe.  
     
     
         11 . The fluid transport system of  claim 10 , the pipe having an end, wherein the first end of the adapter comprises an integral plug for sealably contacting the end of the expansion channel and wherein the first end of the adapter is larger than the pipe for sealably fitting over the end of the pipe.  
     
     
         12 . The fluid transport system of  claim 10 , the pipe being connectable to another pipe with pipe fittings, wherein the second end of the adapter comprises a shape adapted to form a sealable fit with the pipe fittings, the second end further comprising a compressible portion for protruding into adjacent pipe fittings so that when the volume in the pipe fittings expands, the compressible portion compresses to accommodate the expanded volume and resist rupture of the system.  
     
     
         13 . The fluid transport system of  claim 1 , wherein the pipe and the core structure comprise a thermoplastic material.  
     
     
         14 . The fluid transport system of  claim 13 , wherein the thermoplastic material is polyvinyl chloride.  
     
     
         15 . The fluid transport system of  claim 1 , wherein the pipe and the core structure comprise a metallic material.  
     
     
         16 . The fluid transport system of  claim 1 , wherein the pipe and the core structure comprise a unitarily extruded material.  
     
     
         17 . The fluid transport system of  claim 1 , wherein the pipe and the core structure comprise an injection molded material.  
     
     
         18 . The fluid transport system of  claim 1 , wherein the pipe, the core structure, and the plug at each end of the expansion channel comprise a smooth central passageway substantially free of surface irregularities adapted to transport liquid with a minimum of frictional losses.  
     
     
         19 . The fluid transport system of  claim 5 , wherein the system comprises a plurality of the plugs, further comprising a means for packaging the plurality of plugs and inserting one of the packaged plurality of plugs into each end of the expansion channel.  
     
     
         20 . The fluid transport system of  claim 19 , wherein the means for packaging and inserting plugs comprises a first length of the plurality of plugs having each of the plurality of plugs connected sequentially end to end by material adaptable for breaking, wherein a plug at the end of the first length of plugs is inserted into the end of the expansion channel and the inserted plug is broken away from the first length of plugs at the connecting material to provide a second length of plugs ready for repeating the insertion and breaking away steps.  
     
     
         21 . The fluid transport system of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid transport system is a plumbing system.  
     
     
         22 . The fluid transport system of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid transport system is a fire sprinkler system.  
     
     
         23 . The fluid transport system of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid transport system is an irrigation system.  
     
     
         24 . A fluid transport system having an internal volume, the system resistant to rupture due to expansion of the internal volume, comprising: 
 a pipe having a length and a pipe wall, the pipe wall having an inside surface and an outside surface and two adjacent edges along the length of the pipe forming an open seam;    a core structure connected to the inside surface of the pipe wall along the length of the pipe and having an open seam contiguous with the open seam in the pipe wall; and    a hollow expansion channel along the length of the pipe defined by the core structure,    wherein the pipe and the core structure comprise an integral pipe unit, wherein the pipe has a center along the length of the pipe and the integral pipe unit is expandable outwardly from the center of the pipe in the direction of the open seams, and wherein when the internal volume expands, the integral pipe unit expands sufficiently to accommodate the expanded volume and resist rupture of the system.    
     
     
         25 . The fluid transport system of  claim 24 , the hollow expansion channel having open ends adaptable for sealing, the system further comprising a plug sealably contacting each end of the expansion channel.  
     
     
         26 . The fluid transport system of  claim 25 , wherein the plug is solid.  
     
     
         27 . The fluid transport system of  claim 25 , wherein the plug is hollow.  
     
     
         28 . The fluid transport system of  claim 25 , the pipe being connectable to another pipe with pipe fittings, wherein the plug has a portion for inserting into the end of the expansion channel and a compressible portion for protruding into adjacent pipe fittings so that when the volume in the pipe fittings expands, the compressible portion compresses to accommodate the expanded volume and resist rupture of the system.  
     
     
         29 . The fluid transport system of  claim 28 , wherein the compressible portion of the plug for protruding into adjacent pipe fittings is tapered.  
     
     
         30 . The fluid transport system of  claim 25 , the system further comprising an adapter for fitting the pipe to a conventional pipe, the adapter having a first end comprising a shape adapted to form a sealable fit with the pipe and a second end comprising a shape adapted to form a sealable fit with the conventional pipe.  
     
     
         31 . The fluid transport system of  claim 30 , the pipe having an end, wherein the first end of the adapter comprises an integral plug for sealably contacting the end of the expansion channel and wherein the first end of the adapter is larger than the pipe for sealably fitting over the end of the pipe.  
     
     
         32 . The fluid transport system of  claim 30 , the pipe being connectable to another pipe with pipe fittings each having an internal volume, wherein the second end of the adapter comprises a shape adapted to form a sealable fit with the pipe fittings, the second end further comprising a compressible portion for protruding into adjacent pipe fittings so that when the volume in the pipe fittings expands, the compressible portion compresses to accommodate the expanded volume and resist rupture of the system.  
     
     
         33 . The fluid transport system of  claim 24 , wherein the integral pipe unit comprises a thermoplastic material.  
     
     
         34 . The fluid transport system of  claim 33 , wherein the thermoplastic material is polyvinyl chloride.  
     
     
         35 . The fluid transport system of  claim 24 , wherein the integral pipe unit comprises a metallic material.  
     
     
         36 . The fluid transport system of  claim 24 , wherein the integral pipe unit comprises an extruded material.  
     
     
         37 . The fluid transport system of  claim 24 , wherein the in tegral pipe unit comprises an injection molded material.  
     
     
         38 . The fluid transport system of  claim 25 , wherein the integral pipe unit and the plug at each end of the expansion channel comprise a smooth central passageway substantially free of surface irregularities adapted to transport liquid with a minimum of frictional losses.  
     
     
         39 . The fluid transport system of  claim 25 , wherein the system comprises a plurality of the plugs, further comprising a means for packaging the plurality of plugs and inserting one of the packaged plurality of plugs into each end of the expansion channel.  
     
     
         40 . The fluid transport system of  claim 39 , wherein the means for packaging and inserting plugs comprises a first length of the plurality of plugs having each of the plurality of plugs connected sequentially end to end by material adaptable for breaking, wherein a plug at the end of the first length of plugs is inserted into the end of the expansion channel and the inserted plug is broken away from the first length of plugs at the connecting material to provide a second length of plugs ready for repeating the insertion and breaking away steps.  
     
     
         41 . The fluid transport system of  claim 24 , wherein the fluid transport system is a plumbing system.  
     
     
         42 . The fluid transport system of  claim 24 , wherein the fluid transport system is a fire sprinkler system.  
     
     
         43 . The fluid transport system of  claim 24 , wherein the fluid transport system is an irrigation system.  
     
     
         44 . A fluid container having an internal volume, the container resistant to rupture due to expansion of the internal volume, comprising: 
 a plurality of sides, one of the plurality of sides having a length and an inside surface and two adjacent edges along the length of the one side forming an open seam;    a core structure connected to the inside surface and along the length of the one side and having an open seam contiguous with the open seam in the one side; and    a hollow expansion channel along the length of the one side defined by the core structure,    wherein the one side and the core structure comprise an integral unit, wherein the integral unit is expandable outwardly in the direction of the open seams, and wherein when the internal volume expands, the integral unit expands sufficiently to accommodate the expanded volume and resist rupture of the system.    
     
     
         45 . The fluid container of  claim 44 , the integral unit having an original non-expanded position, and the expanded internal volume is caused by freezing of fluid inside the container, wherein the integral unit comprises a configuration having elasticity sufficient to expand outwardly greater than the expanded internal volume caused by the freezing of the fluid and to contract to approximately the original non-expanded position when the frozen fluid thaws.  
     
     
         46 . The fluid container of  claim 45 , wherein the fluid inside the container is water and the integral unit is sufficiently expandable to accommodate an expanded volume of at least 10% when the water freezes.  
     
     
         47 . The fluid container of  claim 44 , the hollow expansion channel having open ends adaptable for sealing, the container further comprising a plug sealably contacting each end of the expansion channel.  
     
     
         48 . The fluid container of  claim 47 , wherein the plug is solid.  
     
     
         49 . The fluid container of  claim 47 , wherein the plug is hollow.  
     
     
         50 . The fluid container of  claim 44 , wherein the container comprises a thermoplastic material.  
     
     
         51 . The fluid container of  claim 50 , wherein the thermoplastic material is polyvinyl chloride.  
     
     
         52 . The fluid container of  claim 44 , wherein the container comprises a metallic material.  
     
     
         53 . The fluid container of  claim 44 , wherein the container comprises an extruded material.  
     
     
         54 . The fluid container of  claim 44 , wherein the container comprises an injection molded material.  
     
     
         55 . A fluid transport system having an internal volume, the system resistant to rupture due to expansion of the internal volume, comprising a pipe having a length and a pipe wall, the pipe having a center along the length of the pipe, the pipe wall comprising at least one depression toward the center and along the length of the pipe, each of the at least one depression defining an external expansion channel, wherein the pipe wall is expandable outwardly from the center of the pipe in the direction of the at least one depression, and wherein when the internal volume expands, the pipe wall expands sufficiently to accommodate the expanded volume and resist rupture of the system.  
     
     
         56 . The fluid transport system of  claim 55 , the pipe wall having an original non-expanded position, and the expanded internal volume is caused by freezing of fluid inside the system, wherein the pipe wall comprises a configuration having elasticity sufficient to expand outwardly greater than the expanded internal volume caused by the freezing of the fluid and to contract to approximately the original non-expanded position when the frozen fluid thaws.  
     
     
         57 . The fluid transport system of  claim 56 , wherein the fluid inside the system is water and the pipe wall is sufficiently expandable to accommodate an expanded volume of at least 10% when the water freezes.  
     
     
         58 . The fluid transport system of  claim 55 , the system further comprising an adapter for fitting the pipe to a conventional pipe, the adapter having a first end comprising a shape adapted to form a sealable fit with the pipe and a second end comprising a shape adapted to form a sealable fit with the conventional pipe.  
     
     
         59 . The fluid transport system of  claim 58 , the pipe having an end, wherein the first end of the adapter comprises an integral plug for sealably contacting the end of the expansion channel and wherein the first end of the adapter is larger than the pipe for sealably fitting over the end of the pipe.  
     
     
         60 . The fluid transport system of  claim 58 , the pipe being connectable to another pipe with pipe fittings, wherein the second end of the adapter comprises a shape adapted to form a sealable fit with the pipe fittings, the second end further comprising a compressible portion for protruding into adjacent pipe fittings so that when the volume in the pipe fittings expands, the compressible portion compresses to accommodate the expanded volume and resist rupture of the system.