IP Library › Granted Patent US 8,465,690

Granted Patent B1

US 8,465,690 · App. 12/828,705 · Granted Jun 18, 2013

Fluid inversion liner apparatus

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Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 8,465,690
App. No.: 12/828,705
Granted: Jun 18, 2013
Kind: B1

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Abstract

A fluid inversion liner apparatus controls fluid loss to permit lining of pipe in smaller spaces by requiring less fluid. The apparatus includes a housing, a liner feeding assembly, and a nozzle. A tubular flexible liner is insertable through the liner feeding assembly. The liner has a first end couplable to the nozzle forming a fluid seal at the nozzle. A fluid injection port is provided for introducing fluid such as air or water into the housing. The liner feeding assembly is adjustable for conforming to the liner as the liner passes through the liner feeding assembly. Thus, fluid introduced into the housing through the fluid injection port is prevented from passing out of the housing through the liner feeding assembly. As a result, fluid pressure between the interior of the housing and the liner draws the liner through the liner feeding assembly and out of the nozzle.

Claims (107)

1. A fluid inversion liner apparatus comprising:

a housing;

a liner feeding assembly coupled to said housing;

a nozzle coupled to said housing;

a tubular flexible liner, said liner being insertable through said liner feeding assembly, said liner having a first end couplable to said nozzle forming a fluid seal at said nozzle;

a fluid injection port in said housing for introducing fluid into an interior of said housing; and

said liner feeding assembly being adjustable for conforming to said liner as said liner passes through said liner feeding assembly such that fluid introduced into said housing through said fluid injection port is prevented from passing out of said housing through said liner feeding assembly and whereby fluid pressure between said interior of said housing and said liner draws said liner through said liner feeding assembly and out of said nozzle;

said liner feeding assembly having a gasket through which said liner is fed into said housing, said gasket having an interior portion, an exterior portion, and a longitudinal slot;

wherein said exterior portion of said gasket is positioned in a static position against said housing, said interior portion abutting said longitudinal slot; and

said interior portion being adjustable to be pivoted downwardly towards said interior of said housing to selectively alter a size of said longitudinal slot.

2. The fluid inversion liner apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:

said liner feeding assembly having a pair of wedge members, said wedge members being positioned adjacent to said interior portion of said gasket; and

said liner feeding assembly having a wedge adjustment assembly for urging said pair of wedge members against said interior portion of said gasket whereby said interior portion of said gasket adjacent to said longitudinal slot is pivoted relative to an exterior portion of said gasket to adjust a size of said longitudinal slot.

3. The fluid inversion liner apparatus of claim 2 , further comprising:

said liner feeding assembly having a wedge cradling portion for supporting said pair of wedge members; and

said wedge adjustment assembly having a pair of wedge brackets coupled to said wedge cradling portion adjacent to said pair of wedge members such that said gasket urges said wedge members into contact with said pair of wedge brackets.

4. The fluid inversion liner apparatus of claim 3 , wherein said wedge brackets are adjustably coupled to said wedge cradling portion such that a distance between said wedge cradling portion and said pair of wedge brackets is adjustable.

5. The fluid inversion liner apparatus of claim 3 , further comprising:

said liner feeding assembly having a frame assembly coupled to said housing; and

said wedge cradling portion being removably coupled to said frame assembly.

6. The fluid inversion liner apparatus of claim 5 , further comprising:

said wedge cradling assembly including a pair of cradling members; and

said frame assembly including a pair of frame brackets positioned adjacent to said wedge cradling members such that said wedge cradling members are held against said exterior portion of said gasket.

7. The fluid inversion liner apparatus of claim 2 , further including a gasket stiffener plate positioned adjacent to said gasket around said longitudinal slot proximate a juncture between said exterior portion of said gasket and said interior portion of said gasket.

8. The fluid inversion liner apparatus of claim 1 , further including a lubrication injection port in said housing.

9. The fluid inversion liner apparatus of claim 1 , further including a fluid diversion member positioned in said interior of said housing, said fluid diversion member being positioned proximate said fluid injection port for diverting fluid injected into said interior of said housing towards said nozzle.

10. The fluid inversion liner apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said nozzle is removably coupled to said housing.

11. The fluid inversion liner apparatus of claim 2 , further including each of said pair of wedge members having a head portion and an extension portion, each said extension portion having a planar surface abutting said exterior portion of said gasket.

12. The fluid inversion liner apparatus of claim 4 , further comprising:

said wedge adjustment assembly including a pair of gross adjustment handles; and

wherein each gross adjustment handle being operationally coupled to an associated one of said wedge brackets such that turning of said gross adjustment handles adjusts said distance between said wedge cradling portion and said pair of wedge brackets.

13. The fluid inversion liner apparatus of claim 12 , further comprising:

said wedge adjustment assembly including a pair of fine adjustment screws;

wherein each fine adjustment screw being operationally coupled to an associated one of said wedge brackets such that turning of said fine adjustment screws adjusts said distance between said wedge cradling portion and said pair of wedge brackets; and

wherein rotation of said fine adjustment screws produces a smaller adjustment to said distance between said wedge cradling portion and said pair of wedge brackets than an equal amount of rotation of said gross adjustment handles.

14. The fluid inversion liner apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said gasket is removable from said housing and interchangeable with another gasket accommodating a size of said liner.

15. A fluid inversion liner apparatus comprising:

a housing;

a liner feeding assembly coupled to said housing;

a nozzle coupled to said housing;

a tubular flexible liner, said liner being insertable through said liner feeding assembly, said liner having a first end couplable to said nozzle forming a fluid seal at said nozzle;

a fluid injection port in said housing for introducing fluid into an interior of said housing;

said liner feeding assembly being adjustable for conforming to said liner as said liner passes through said liner feeding assembly such that fluid introduced into said housing through said fluid injection port is prevented from passing out of said housing through said liner feeding assembly whereby fluid pressure between said interior of said housing and said liner draws said liner through said liner feeding assembly and out of said nozzle;

said liner feeding assembly having a gasket, said gasket having an interior portion, an exterior portion, and a longitudinal slot;

wherein said exterior portion of said gasket is positioned in a static position against said housing;

said liner feeding assembly having a pair of wedge members, said wedge members being positioned adjacent to said interior portion of said gasket;

said liner feeding assembly having a wedge cradling portion for supporting said pair of wedge members;

wherein said wedge brackets are adjustably coupled to said wedge cradling portion such that a distance between said wedge cradling portion and said pair of wedge brackets is adjustable;

said liner feeding assembly having a frame assembly coupled to said housing;

said wedge cradling portion being removably coupled to said frame assembly;

said wedge cradling assembly including a pair of cradling members;

said frame assembly including a pair of frame brackets positioned adjacent to said wedge cradling members such that said wedge cradling members are held against said exterior portion of said gasket;

a gasket stiffener plate positioned adjacent to said gasket around said longitudinal slot proximate a juncture between said exterior portion of said gasket and said interior portion of said gasket;

a lubrication injection port in said housing;

a fluid diversion member positioned in said interior of said housing, said fluid diversion member being positioned proximate said fluid injection port for diverting fluid injected into said interior of said housing towards said nozzle;

wherein said nozzle is removably coupled to said housing;

each of said pair of wedge members having a head portion and an extension portion, each said extension portion having a planar surface abutting said exterior portion of said gasket;

said wedge adjustment assembly including a pair of gross adjustment handles;

said wedge adjustment assembly including a pair of fine adjustment screws;

16. A method of lining a structure by fluid inversion lining, the steps of the method comprising:

extending a liner through a fluid injection lining apparatus comprising

a housing;

a liner feeding assembly coupled to said housing;

a nozzle coupled to said housing;

a tubular flexible liner, said liner being insertable through said liner feeding assembly, said liner having a first end couplable to said nozzle forming a fluid seal at said nozzle;

a fluid injection port in said housing for introducing fluid into an interior of said housing;

wherein said liner feeding assembly is adjustable for conforming to said liner as said liner passes through said liner feeding assembly such that fluid introduced into said housing through said fluid injection port is prevented from passing out of said housing through said liner feeding assembly whereby fluid pressure between said interior of said housing and said liner draws said liner through said liner feeding assembly and out of said nozzle;