Plastic and nonmetallic article shaping or treating: processes – Mechanical shaping or molding to form or reform shaped article – Reshaping running or indefinite-length work
Reexamination Certificate
2000-07-31
2002-07-23
Vargot, Mathieu D. (Department: 1732)
Plastic and nonmetallic article shaping or treating: processes
Mechanical shaping or molding to form or reform shaped article
Reshaping running or indefinite-length work
C264S036160, C264S322000, C425S011000, C425S182000, C425S343000, C425S385000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06423258
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention is concerned with lining of sewer pipes and the like and is more particularly concerned with providing a folded liner that can be pulled through a pipe for later expansion by conventional techniques.
Because of the expense of repairing and/or replacing defective sewer pipes and the like, an industry practice has developed in which the pipes are lined with a plastic liner, thereby to provide a new flow path within the defective pipe. In order to facilitate the pulling of the liner through the pipe, techniques have been developed for folding a flattened thermoplastic liner before it is introduced to the pipe so that the cross-dimensions of the liner, when folded, are substantially less than the cross-dimensions of the pipe. However, providing a folded liner efficiently, reliably, and economically has been a problem. The present invention is a solution to that problem.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In a broad sense, the invention concerns a machine and method of providing tubing that is folded about a longitudinal axis whereby the cross-section of the tubing assumes a configuration comprising overlapping loops. More particularly, the loops are formed as the tubing is fed in a first direction, and then the tubing is redirected and the orientation of the loops is changed.
In a preferred embodiment, a machine of the invention comprises an upper section and a lower section, which are preferably separable. As a heated flexible liner of flattened cross-section is fed into and through the upper section to the lower section, it is broadly indented at one side thereof and is then more acutely indented to fold the liner so that the cross-section assumes a configuration in which a pair of outer loops are disposed at opposite sides of a central loop along a substantially horizontal direction.
As the folded liner is fed through the lower section, it is redirected so that it is fed substantially horizontally, with the cross-sectional loops stacked substantially vertically. The liner fed from the lower section is cooled to reduce its flexibility, so that the cross-sectional configuration is maintained as the liner is drawn into and through a pipe, in a conventional manner.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, portions of the upper and lower sections can be displaced, and can also be removed, to facilitate initial entry of the liner into the upper section, and also to facilitate withdrawal of the machine from the liner after the liner has been drawn to a desired position in the pipe. After the liner has been installed in the pipe, and the machine withdrawn, a trailing portion of the liner can be cut and the liner can be heated and expanded by conventional techniques, thereby unfolding the liner and providing a round cross-section.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4009063 (1977-02-01), Wood
patent: 4064211 (1977-12-01), Wood
patent: 4135958 (1979-01-01), Wood
patent: 4207130 (1980-06-01), Barber
patent: 4385885 (1983-05-01), Wood
patent: 4390574 (1983-06-01), Wood
patent: 4401696 (1983-08-01), Wood
patent: 4429720 (1984-02-01), Beck et al.
patent: 4434115 (1984-02-01), Chick
patent: 4439469 (1984-03-01), Wood
patent: 4581085 (1986-04-01), Wood
patent: 4581247 (1986-04-01), Wood
patent: 4602974 (1986-07-01), Wood et al.
patent: 4622196 (1986-11-01), Wood
patent: 4626133 (1986-12-01), Waring
patent: 4637754 (1987-01-01), Wood
patent: 4655638 (1987-04-01), Waring
patent: 4668125 (1987-05-01), Long, Jr.
patent: 4680066 (1987-07-01), Wood
patent: 4685983 (1987-08-01), Long, Jr.
patent: 4752511 (1988-06-01), Driver
patent: 4758454 (1988-07-01), Wood
patent: 4776370 (1988-10-01), Long, Jr.
patent: 4778553 (1988-10-01), Wood
patent: 4786345 (1988-11-01), Wood
patent: 4836715 (1989-06-01), Wood
patent: 4863365 (1989-09-01), Ledoux et al.
patent: 4867921 (1989-09-01), Steketee, Jr.
patent: 4980116 (1990-12-01), Driver
patent: 4985196 (1991-01-01), Ledoux et al.
patent: 4991006 (1991-02-01), Wood
patent: 4998871 (1991-03-01), Ledoux
patent: 5034180 (1991-07-01), Steketee, Jr.
patent: 5044405 (1991-09-01), Driver et al.
patent: 5091137 (1992-02-01), Ledoux
patent: 5092756 (1992-03-01), Gau et al.
patent: 5108533 (1992-04-01), Long, Jr. et al.
patent: 5114634 (1992-05-01), McMillan et al.
patent: 5213727 (1993-05-01), Gargiulo
patent: 5244624 (1993-09-01), Steketee, Jr.
patent: 5256342 (1993-10-01), McMillan et al.
patent: 5273414 (1993-12-01), Gargiulo
patent: 5285741 (1994-02-01), Askin
patent: 5342570 (1994-08-01), Ledoux et al.
patent: 5346658 (1994-09-01), Gargiulo
patent: 5368809 (1994-11-01), Steketee, Jr.
patent: 5374174 (1994-12-01), Long, Jr.
patent: 5384086 (1995-01-01), Smith
patent: 5385173 (1995-01-01), Gargiulo
patent: 5393481 (1995-02-01), Wood
patent: 5397513 (1995-03-01), Steketee, Jr.
patent: 5403120 (1995-04-01), Stekette, Jr.
patent: 5407630 (1995-04-01), Smith
patent: 5409561 (1995-04-01), Wood
patent: 5447665 (1995-09-01), Steketee, Jr.
patent: 5487411 (1996-01-01), Goncalves
patent: 5510078 (1996-04-01), Smith et al.
patent: 5525049 (1996-06-01), Paletta
patent: 5546992 (1996-08-01), Chick et al.
patent: 5577864 (1996-11-01), Wood et al.
patent: 5587126 (1996-12-01), Steketee, Jr.
patent: 5589131 (1996-12-01), Steketee, Jr.
patent: 5624629 (1997-04-01), Wood
patent: 5656117 (1997-08-01), Wood et al.
patent: 5671778 (1997-09-01), Sakuragi et al.
patent: 5706861 (1998-01-01), Wood et al.
patent: 5736166 (1998-04-01), Polivka
patent: 5778938 (1998-07-01), Chick et al.
patent: 5810053 (1998-09-01), Mandich
patent: 5816293 (1998-10-01), Kiest, Jr.
patent: 5861116 (1999-01-01), Mandich
patent: 5934332 (1999-08-01), Rodriguez et al.
patent: 5971029 (1999-10-01), Smith et al.
patent: 5975878 (1999-11-01), Wood et al.
patent: 2 227 543 (1990-08-01), None
American Pipe & Plastics, Inc.
Miles & Stockbridge P.C.
Vargot Mathieu D.
LandOfFree
Machine and method for providing folded pipe liners does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Machine and method for providing folded pipe liners, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Machine and method for providing folded pipe liners will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2883696