Granted Patent B2

US 7,527,076 · App. 11/334,578 · Granted May 5, 2009

Abstract

Claims (23)

1. A vertical pipe lining method comprising:

a. positioning a tubular shaped repair material having a first end and a second end by pulling the repair material into a substantially vertical oriented pipe from a first pipe opening through the pipe to a second pipe opening where one pipe opening is a bottom opening relative to the other top opening and the repair material comprises a multi-layered lining of a first outer layer comprising a thermally responsive component and an air impermeable second inner layer;

b. inflating the repair material by adding air to the repair material to press the first outer layer of the repair material against the pipe;

c. conveying heated air through the inflated repair material from the bottom opening to the top opening to cure or mold a thermal responsive component of the repair material to the pipe; and

d. constricting the second end of the repair material by placing an air pressure regulating valve and the second end of the repair material traverses from the first pipe end to the upper second pipe end.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the heating thermal responsive component is cured within a range of 200 to 400 degrees F.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the air is added to the interior of the repair material without use of an inflation bladder or inflation device.

4. A substantially vertical pipe lining method comprising:

a. placing an inflation canister proximate to an opening of the pipe wherein the canister comprises a deployment port through which repair material can be unwound from an internal canister spool as it is deployed by air pressure, a first end of the repair material attached to the deployment port, a closed or constricted second end of the repair material within the canister wherein the second end is attached to a tether extending from the deployment port;

b. pressurizing the canister with air;

c. everting the repair material from the canister into the pipe opening;

d. using the tether to guide the everting repair material in the pipe;

e. continuing the eversion process until the repair material emerges from the second pipe opening;

f. modifying the second end of the repair material to install an air pressure regulator valve; and

g. conveying heated air through the inflated repair material from the bottom opening to the top opening to cure or mold a thermal responsive component of the repair material to the pipe.

5. A building or residence substantially vertical pipe repair system comprising:

a. accessing two openings of a substantially vertical pipe wherein one first pipe opening is above the other second pipe opening;

b. inserting an air inflatable repair material thorough one pipe opening so that the repair material extends from the first pipe opening to the second pipe opening;

c. attaching an air blower and heater to one first end of the repair material to inflate the repair material and cure or mold thermal responsive components within the repair material; and

d. attaching an air pressure regulating valve to a second end of the repair material to control the air pressure within the repair material.

6. The system of claim 5 further comprising constricting a second end of the repair material.

7. The system of claim 6 further comprising constricting the second end of the repair material by attaching a tube with a closed end to the end of the repair material.

8. The system of claim 6 further comprising constricting the second end of the repair material by attaching a component with a smaller opening for the flow of air.

Assignments (9)