DE102006036720A1 - Cable protective tube comprises a sensor and/or information carrier that is suitable for detecting measuring variable relevant for a capacity/function of tubes and that is integrated into the tube wall by plastic-technical forming process - Google Patents

Abstract

The cable protective tube comprises a semiconductor sensor (1a) and/or information carrier that is suitable for detecting measuring variable relevant for a capacity/function of tubes and that is integrated into the tube wall by a plastic-technical forming process during the production of the tubes. The sensor or information carrier consists of microchip or exists in a form of a microchip for storing data, which concerns for a characteristics of the tube, for the proper functioning of the tube or cable laid in the tube or cable line relevant measured variables. The cable protective tube comprises a semiconductor sensor (1a) and/or information carrier that is suitable for detecting measuring variable relevant for a capacity/function of tubes and that is integrated into the tube wall by a plastic-technical forming process during the production of the tubes. The sensor or information carrier consists of micro chip or exists in a form of a microchip for storing data, which concerns for a characteristics of the tube, for the proper functioning of the tube or cable laid in the tube or cable line relevant measured variables, or also data for relocation and installation, characterization and identification of cables laid in the cable line or for their maintenance relevant data. The sensor/information carrier is intended to detect or store a physical variable concerning a cable laid in this cable protective tube or a cable line laid in this. The sensor is suitable to detect a wavelength of light or other electromagnetic waves, which are guided by the cable or the cable line. The cable is made up of glass fibers, synthetic fibers, mineral polymer fibers or metals as conducting or transferring media. The sensor is worked in the production of the tubes into the non-plastic of the tube wall before its cooling. The tube is produced by an extruding and the sensor at the same time is extruded into the tube wall. The sensor is brought into the tube wall, so that it does not protrude out the tube wall outer radially and/or does not protrude over inner radially into the light cross-section of the tube. The tube is manufactured as endless tube in continuous manufacturing. The sensor or information carriers are arranged with distance to each other along a metrically fixed chain on a spiral line around the longitudinal axis of the tube in the tube wall. The sensors detect the strength of a signal guided in the cable or cable line or the amplitude of the cable or an electromagnetic wave led into the cable or the line. The sensor is provided to examine or to monitor the function or a property of the cable or the line. The sensor is equipped with means, which enables the precise discrimination orientation of this sensor by means of a satellite monitor. The sensor/information carrier comprises a small-dimensioned chip selected from chip scale packages (CSP), ball grid array (BGA), flip chip, memory chip or the like. The information stored in the sensor/information carrier is enquired by means of electro magnetic waves, magnetic induction or ultrasonic. The tube consists a jacket tube, which takes up a majority of interior tubes assigned by individual cables or groups of cables. The jacket tube has a round outline and takes up variable number of inner tubes, which are relocatable in the jacket tube in an axial direction.

Description

The The present invention relates to a process for producing a Pipe or container, which has at least one information carrier suitable is to capture and store information, as well as a pipe or a container which (r) is produced in particular by this process.

In the DE 196 01 651 A1 a sewer system is described with components in or on which a passive marking chip is arranged, on which data can be stored, changed or retrieved by means of an induction method. The marker chip is housed in a vibration resistant housing. The components of the sewage system are concrete pipes or manhole covers made of concrete.

The DE 103 33 203 A1 describes monitoring devices for load-bearing pipes that are used in the seawater area. These tubes are made of steel and are coated with a liquid plastic as a protective layer. Strain sensors for monitoring are encapsulated in a stainless steel housing, which includes a carrier plate, which is welded or glued to the tube surface of the steel tube.

The EP 0 799 411 B1 describes a pipe system in which two pipes are connected via a connecting piece, wherein the connecting piece on the inside has grooves in which helically wound wires are laid. The ends of these wires lead radially outward to the tubular connector protruding terminals. Power is applied to the wires from these terminals, causing the helical wires to fuse the plastic of the tubular connector in their vicinity and thus connect to that connector. The wires serve as a strain gauge. The known method has the disadvantage that the wires are not introduced in the manufacture of the tube in this, so that subsequent steps are required. The helical grooves also run the risk of changing the properties or specifications of the pipe. The terminals are on the outside radially, which is very problematic in the trenchless installation of such pipes. In addition, these are not tubes that can be manufactured endlessly and continuously, but rather shorter connecting pieces, into which tubes which have a smaller diameter are inserted.

Also known from the prior art are methods for marking pipes in which circumferential bands of metal are applied to the outer surface of the pipe, for example in the flame spraying process. Such a method is in the WO 2005/001795 A2 described. Several such annular bands and spaces between them may form a machine-readable binary code. However, the reading of the information by means of a sensor head, which includes a laser, but can not usually be done when a pipe is laid horizontally in the ground. This known solution therefore serves to identify pipes before or during their installation, in particular for metallic drill pipes.

The DE 298 21 877 U1 describes industrial packaging containers in which transponders are mounted in a separate protection device in the region of a side wall of the container. The container wall has an indentation and the transponder is inserted into a sleeve or embedded in a damping material. The indentation is closed to the outside by a cover. By forming the container wall is changed in this area, in particular weakened. Since sleeves are inserted into the container wall or cover elements must be attached, this solution is not suitable for the continuous production of, for example, endless tubes.

The DE 43 01 035 A1 describes a device for detecting leaks in a conduit carrying a medium, in which sensor conductors are embedded in the intermediate space between an inner tube carrying the medium and an outer tube concentrically surrounding it. These sensor conductors are therefore not integrated into the pipe wall itself.

In the EP 0 525 594 A1 a method is described in which in addition to a pipe to be monitored in addition a sensor tube is laid. A tracer substance is added to the medium flowing in the pipeline, which is then detected by a detector located on the sensor tube.

The DE 101 44 552 A1 describes components of drive technology and cable construction such as hydraulic hoses, cables and seals, which consist of rubber or plastic-like materials and in which a transponder, sensor or data logger is arranged on the wall or in the wall. According to the embodiments of this application, for example, in a hollow chamber of a seal, a sensor can be installed, which is glued or fixed with silicone-like materials. These are methods of mounting the information carrier, which are not made directly in the production of such a seal but subsequently. This also applies to the only mentioned method of Einvulkanisie proceedings. Vulcanization is a process in which rubber is converted into rubber by heating with the help of sulfur and other additives. By forming sulfide bridges, the polymer chains are crosslinked.

Alternatively, in the DE 101 44 552 A1 also proposed to attach electronic components in prefabricated pockets or insert a copper wire as an antenna in a slot of a seal body. There is also talk of arranging transponders or sensors in a cable sheathing. However, it does not specify which material the cable sheath consists of and how the electronic components are introduced into this cable sheath.

The DE 20 2004 017 158 U1 describes a generic method of the type mentioned. There are tubular elements for the sewer construction made with electronic components for their monitoring. The electronic components can be arranged in seals used in the assembly of two channel components, plug-in parts or sleeves. For this cavities or holes are provided, in which the electronic components are glued. The electronic components can also be glued on the pipe wall outside or inside, but then have to be protected by a covering to avoid contact with the medium flowing through the pipe.

outgoing From the previously cited prior art, the object of the present invention therein, a method for producing a pipe or container to provide the type mentioned above, which is a Pipe or a container supplies, in which the information carrier integrated component of the pipe or container is and the characteristics and specifications of the pipe or container in the Regarding the transport of the medium flowing through or the inclusion of a Medium and the intended use (For example, trenchless laying pipes in the ground) by the information carrier not changed become.

task The present invention further, a pipe or a container with at least one information carrier available which, in particular, according to a method of the aforementioned Art was made, in which a retrieval of information stored on the information carrier is possible with comparatively simple means, in particular also after laying the pipe or container in the ground.

The solution This object is achieved by a method for producing a pipe or container the aforementioned genus with the characterizing features of claim 1 or a pipe or a container with the features of one of the claims 6 or 7.

One important aspect of the inventive solution is that the or the information carrier almost a complete one integrated component of the pipe or container are and usually can not be separated or removed from it. The one or more information carriers are located unlike the known solutions in the pipe wall and are due to the manufacturing process embedded there, that the pipe is not outwardly different from a tube without information carrier. By the information carrier become the intended properties and characteristics of the pipe are not affected or altered, so that for example, unlike the prior art, no restrictions given with respect to the pipe flowing through the media and no action to protect the information carrier must be taken. The mechanical properties of the tube are retained, for example ovality, Tensile strength, permissible Traction including Tensile force limit, etc. Tubes of the type according to the invention can thus, for example, the approval criteria meet for pressure pipes and otherwise according to the approval criteria for corresponding pipes this Art be judged with specific characteristics, resulting in the Practice has significant advantages. The solution according to the invention is therefore superior to all known solutions, where a changed Structure of the tube is necessary to attach the information carrier to a Pipe to install.

The For example, the present invention is applicable to pipes or also containers, the gases, liquids, pasty Contain media or solids containing media (slurry) or transport, also in the printing area. The invention also comes in consideration for Pipes or optionally also containers in the vacuum area, for example, from 10 mbar to atmospheric pressure. Pipe or container with in the wall integrated information carriers or information carriers subject There are no restrictions with regard to application and type of use. They are suitable for example difficult soil types or soil classes as well as the most diverse Laying methods such as e.g. Horizontal drilling or abandoned installation or renovation methods such. Burst-lining or relining.

The one or more information carriers can be introduced into the wall of the pipe or container in the manufacture of the pipe or container by a plastic molding process. Preferably, the or the information carrier is incorporated in the still plastic plastic before it cools. Especially preferred is a manufacturing process in which the tube is extruded and the information carrier or carriers are thereby extruded into the tube wall.

One very important advantage of the method according to the invention is that it is possible the information carrier so in the pipe wall or tank wall integrate that the information carrier inside radially not protrudes into the tube cross-section and thus the complete free Lumen of the tube is preserved. Preferably, the information carrier is also externally on the tube not radially in front, which in particular problems in the Laying, z. B. damage of the information carrier be avoided. Due to the manufacturing process of the invention But it is also not necessary, holes or cavities for housing of the information carrier in provide the pipe wall or introduce later in this. For one thing would this makes the manufacturing process more complex and on the other would Thereby also the danger that the mechanical properties of the pipe would be changed, for Example by weakening the wall thickness in the area of cavities or holes or the like.

The Solution according to the invention allows a Production of continuous tubes in continuous production, whereby There are a whole series of advantages. The production is thereby efficient and in the laying of such a tube are not fasteners like sleeves or the like necessary and it accounts for seals in the connection areas. The process enables the large-scale Production of, for example, large-volume containers. A Processing or reworking after leaving the production line is usually no longer necessary. Pipes or containers of inventive type can with integrated information carriers unlimited Connection methods such as butt welding, mirror welding, electrical wire spiral welding, etc. be subjected.

at Introducing a plurality of information carriers in the pipe wall or container It is preferably provided that either the information carrier respectively spaced apart along a metric fixed chain in parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pipe or container in the pipe wall or container are arranged or a plurality of information carriers each spaced apart in a metric fixed chain on one spiral Line around the longitudinal axis of the pipe or container in the pipe wall or tank wall are arranged. The latter alternative has for example the advantage that in cable conduits in which the cable is twisted, a better detection of the information carrier by means of a monitoring device such as an antenna possible is.

The pipes according to the invention or container can in particular essentially of a polyolefin, in particular a polyethylene, polypropylene, or a polyvinyl chloride and the information carrier (s) are embedded in this plastic.

Particularly according to the invention preferred is the application in cable protection pipes, in particular for cables or cables with glass fibers, plastic fibers, mineral polymer fibers or metals as conducting or transmitting media.

At least one of the information carrier according to the invention can For example, include a microchip, suitable for storage of data for an identification or assignment of a pipe or container or For example, laid in a cable conduit or cables Wires or for whose maintenance concerns relevant data.

Come in accordance with the invention the most diverse information carriers for data storage into consideration. Preferably, as possible small sized chips of commercial design used as for example CSP (Chip Scale Packages), BGA (Ball Grid Arrays), Flip chips, memory chips or the like that come from different Applications such as memory cards, cameras, Camcorders, laptops, disk drives, etc. are known The invention is particularly applicable for cable protection tubes for fiber optic cable. This can for example, protective tubes for Cables or wires with free or sheathed glass fibers, glass fiber bundles, with a mineral or non-mineral polymeric layer coated glass fibers or the like. It is to be noted that fiber optic cables are very is delicate and expensive. Protection and supervision of serviceability of such Cables are so important. In this context comes the information carriers according to the invention special Meaning too. The cable protection tubes can be monitored so that the point, where there is a malfunction, can be located exactly distinctive, for example, via a Satellite monitoring system. This can be done so that a precise identification of a possibly damaged Fiber optic cable possible is. This is especially important because often in such Cable protection pipes a larger number be routed by cables or lines and only on accurate identification a damaged one Cable a targeted replacement of a buried cable is possible.

The subject of the present invention is Furthermore, a method for retrieving at least one piece of information from an information carrier in a tube or container produced by a method according to one of claims 1 to 5 or in a tube or container according to one of claims 6 or 7, characterized in that by means of at least one Signals stored in at least one arranged in the tube wall or container wall of the tube or container information carrier information is queried by means of a suitable transmitter / receiver device from a distance. This can for example be an antenna, by means of which one leaves a pipe or a container, which can also be done continuously. The query of the stored information can be done for example by means of electromagnetic waves, magnetic induction or ultrasound. It is advantageous if information stored in a plurality of information carriers arranged in the tube wall or container wall is retrieved. For example, you can arrange every 20 cm to every 50 cm an information carrier, on a straight line or a spiral line around the tube axis.

at Use of electromagnetic waves for the query are fundamentally different Frequencies, for example radio frequencies, microwaves etc. The location of the information carrier can with the help a satellite monitoring system (GPS). For buried pipes, it is very advantageous for cost reasons, if a malfunction is detectable and also an intervention to Damage repair possible can, without the soil where there is a fault is to be dug up. This sets in a variety misplaced cables and lines also their exact identification ahead, which by the inventive method for querying the information carrier possible is.

The in the subclaims mentioned features relate to preferred developments of the task solution according to the invention. Further Advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following Detailed description.

following The invention will be described with reference to embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. Showing:

1 a side view of a pipe according to a first Ausfürungsvariante of the present invention, wherein the pipe wall is shown partially cut to better illustrate the arrangement of the information carrier;

2 a corresponding cross-sectional view of a tube according to the variant of 1 ;

3 a side view of a tube according to an alternative variant of the present invention, again partially cut away to illustrate the position of the information carrier;

4 a corresponding cross-sectional view of a tube according to the variant of 3 ,

First, on the 1 and 2 Reference is made and explained in more detail with reference to this a first embodiment of the present invention. The tube according to the invention is shown schematically simplified. It is, for example, a pipe made of plastic, the wall of which is constructed, for example, in two layers, with an inner layer 3 which can extend over the majority of the material thickness of the pipe wall. For example, this inner layer exists 3 from a polyolefin. Furthermore, an outer layer 2 provided concentrically surrounding the inner layer. The outer layer 2 serves as a protective layer, against mechanical influences and other stresses and preferably consists of a material of sufficient hardness. However, the construction of the tube is only given by way of example here and is not of decisive importance for the present invention, which concerns the information carriers.

1 shows that a number of information carriers 1a are arranged in the longitudinal direction of each other at a distance from each other in the pipe wall. The arrangement of the information carrier thus runs parallel to the tube axis, the information carrier are in a linear arrangement, so that one can speak of a linear chain of information carriers. The pipe wall is where the information carrier 1a are arranged closed, that is, the information carrier are completely embedded in the pipe wall. Only for illustrative reasons, the tube is shown cut in the area of the information carrier, so you can see the location of Informatopnsträger. The tube is thus unchanged in its dimensions compared to a conventional tube of the same type in principle. The information carriers are on the outside of the tube just as little as inside. From the outside, the information carriers are generally not visible at all.

The arrangement of the information carrier 1a gets well from the sectional view according to 2 recognizable. The information carriers 1a lie for example in the inner layer 3 so that also the protective layer 2 is maintained and their function is not impaired. The information carrier does not influence a fluid flowing through the tube. The free lumen inside the tube is retained.

at the information carriers These are, for example, small-sized flat plate-like Metallic microchips with semiconductors that are suitable for the Function or properties of the pipe relevant physical To capture size and / or store data. It can, for example, microchips can be used as they come from different areas, such as smart cards, Cameras or the like are known.

The information carriers according to the invention are therefore, as can be seen in particular 2 detects embedded in the pipe wall, which happens in the manufacture of the pipe in a plastic molding process. As a result, it is not necessary to provide grooves or holes or other cavities in the tubular body or introduce later. Also, it is not necessary to attach the information carrier outside or inside of the pipe wall, so that the associated aforementioned disadvantages omitted. The introduction of the information carrier can be carried out during the extrusion of the tube, for example, by the mass of the still plastic plastic plastic at appropriate time intervals, the information carrier 1a are supplied, whereby the information carriers are embedded in the mass of the cooling plastic and thus enclosed in a defined position captive and protected in the pipe wall.

The 3 and 4 show a further alternative variant of the solution according to the invention, which differs from the variant described above in that the information carrier 1b are arranged non-linearly and axially parallel in the longitudinal direction of the tube, but on a spiral line which winds around the tube axis. Otherwise, the pipe construction with inner layer 3 and outer protective layer 2 as in the embodiment described above. The tube was also shown here cut open only for purposes of demonstration, so as to the location of the information carrier 1b can recognize. In fact, the pipe wall is closed to the outside and smooth.

4 shows schematically simplifies the position of the information carrier 1b when looking in the longitudinal direction of the tube axis. Since the information carriers are arranged on a spiral line around the tube axis, information carriers are located over the length of the tube in the various circumferential positions, which has the advantage of better detection, since the information carriers can thus be detected from all sides of the tube.

Claims (15)

Method for producing a pipe or container which has at least one information carrier which is suitable for capturing and storing information, characterized in that during production of the pipe or container made of plastic by a plastic-technical shaping method the at least one information carrier ( 1a . 1b ) in the pipe wall ( 3 ) or container wall is introduced. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one information carrier ( 1a . 1b ) in the still plastic plastic of the pipe wall ( 3 ) or container wall is incorporated prior to its cooling. A method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the tube or the container is extruded and the at least one information carrier ( 1a . 1b ) is extruded into the pipe wall or container wall. Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the at least one information carrier ( 1a . 1b ) into the pipe wall ( 3 ) or container wall is introduced so that it does not project beyond the pipe wall or container wall radially on the outside and / or radially inside does not protrude into the clear cross-section of the tube or container. Method according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized that the tube is manufactured as an endless tube in continuous production becomes. Pipe or container, in particular produced by a method according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that this (r) a plurality of information carriers ( 1a . 1b ), each spaced from each other along a metric fixed chain parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pipe or container in the pipe wall ( 3 ) or container wall are arranged. Pipe or container, in particular produced by a method according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that this (r) a plurality of information carriers ( 1a . 1b ) each spaced apart in a metric fixed chain on a helical line about the longitudinal axis of the tube or container in the tube wall ( 3 ) or container wall are arranged. Pipe or container according to one of claims 6 or 7, characterized in that this (r) substantially from a polyolefin, in particular a polyethylene, polypropylene, or a polyvinyl chloride and the or the information carrier in these Plastic are embedded. Pipe according to one of claims 6 to 8, characterized that this is a cable protection tube, especially for cables or cables with glass fibers, plastic fibers, mineral polymer fibers or metals as conducting or transmitting media. Pipe or container according to one of the claims 6 to 9, characterized in that at least one of the information carrier a small dimensioned chip includes, in particular selected from CSP (Chip Scale Packages), BGA (Ball Grid Arrays), Flip Chips, Memory Chips or the like. Pipe or container according to one of the claims 6 to 10, characterized in that at least one information carrier a Microchip includes, suitable for storing data necessary for identification or assignment of a pipe or container or of example cables or cables laid in a cable duct or for their Maintenance related data concern. Pipe or container according to one of the claims 6 to 11, characterized in that at least one information carrier with Equipped or equipped combined, the exact differential location of this information carrier, in particular by means of a satellite monitoring system enable. Method for retrieving at least one piece of information from an information carrier in a tube or container produced by a method according to one of claims 1 to 5 or in a tube or container according to one of claims 6 to 12, characterized in that by means of at least one signal in at least one in the pipe wall ( 3 ) or container wall of the tube or container arranged information carrier information stored by means of a suitable transmitter / receiver device can be queried from a distance. Method according to claim 13, characterized in that in the information carrier ( 1a . 1b ) stored information by means of electromagnetic waves, magnetic induction or ultrasound are queried. A method according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that by means of an antenna, which travels a path along the pipe or container, in a plurality in the pipe wall ( 3 ) or container wall arranged information carrier ( 1a . 1b ) information is queried.