Pipes and tubular conduits – Repairing
Patent
1991-02-11
1993-04-20
Bryant, III, James E.
Pipes and tubular conduits
Repairing
138 98, 405154, 4051501, 156287, F16L 5516
Patent
active
052033775
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to the process of refurbishing damaged conduits, pipelines and sewer pipes through the application of a reinforced lining to their inner walls by means of an inflatable form.
The refurbishment of cracked, broken or eroded pipelines or sewer pipes through so-called soft lining methods involving the application of a reinforced lining to their inner walls is well known in the art. Two principal methods are employed the inversion of a tube of thermosetting resin-impregnated reinforcement fabric into a section to be relined from an external position by means of a head of water, and the application of a layer of thermosetting resin-impregnated reinforcement material to the inner walls of a section to be relined by means of a form inflatable by air or water pressure. In both cases, curing of the thermosetting resin may be accelerated by circulation of hot water, air or steam through said inflatable form.
A shortcoming exists in the second method described in which an inflatable form is employed in that, particularly with repeated use, the external material of the form may develop an affinity for the resins employed in the relining process and may thus bond to the new lining This renders difficult the stripping and removal of the form after curing of the resin. Additionally, the arrangement of some inflatable forms is such that an even distribution of hot water or other inflation medium cannot be achieved through their internal spaces during the curing process The result is that some parts of the new lining remain uncured at the end of the normal process time A further shortcoming of known systems is that the inflatable forms employed completely fill a pipeline or sewer pipe during the relining process, interrupting all flow Bypassing of the section being refurbished is thus often a necessity Inflatable forms which embody a coaxial duct capable of sustaining a flow through a section of pipeline or sewer pipe whilst it is being refurbished are known in the art. However, rigid coaxial ducts are employed making the forms likewise rigid and thus difficult to insert into a pipeline or sewer pipe section from the usual access means.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention aims at providing an apparatus for the refurbishment of pipelines and sewer pipes through the application of a layer of thermosetting resin-impregnated reinforcement material to their inner walls by means of an inflatable form which may be readily and reliably stripped from a refurbished section and which embodies a coaxial duct capable of sustaining a flow of water or sullage through the form whilst it is in use. Preferably the invention also may be rendered flexible or more or less rigid as circumstances dictate
According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided apparatus for applying in situ a repair material to a repair zone of an inner wall of a conduit, said apparatus comprising a core member, a radially expandable device located outwardly of said core member extending axially along said core member and at least partially circumferentially around said core member, said radially expandable device having an outer surface portion connected to said core member only at or adjacent one axial end of said outer surface portion of the radially expandable device. Conveniently, the radially expandable device comprises an inflatable element defining an annular or part annular enclosed space extending axially along said core member. Preferably the inflatable element comprises inner and outer flexible sheets connected to said core member at adjacent axial positions with the annular or part annular enclosed space being located between said inner and outer flexible sheets. In a still further preferred embodiment a flexible shroud member is arranged over and outwardly of said inflatable element, said flexible shroud member forming said outer surface portion. The arrangement of the inflatable element, preferably a tube, thus defined enables the tube, upon deflation, to be peeled away from
REFERENCES:
patent: 2324520 (1943-07-01), Lamson
patent: 3669099 (1972-06-01), Silverman
patent: 4770562 (1988-09-01), Muller et al.
patent: 4778553 (1988-10-01), Wood
patent: 4980116 (1990-12-01), Driver
patent: 5052445 (1991-10-01), Berchem
Barry Bros. Specialised Services Pty. Ltd.
Bryant III James E.
Linek Ernest V.
O'Connell Robert F.
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