Apparatus and method for sealing pipes and underground structures
View Patent ↗An apparatus and method for sealing pipes or underground structures is provided. In one embodiment, the end of a pipe is sealed by the use of a pipe liner and a sealing member. The sealing member may be a hydrophilic material, a hydrophobic material, a compressible material, or a paste. The sealing member is held in place by a mechanical fastener and a liner is installed adjacent the sealing member and against the wall of the pipe or other structure to be sealed. In another embodiment, a manhole is sealed by the use of a sealing member, a mechanical fastener, and a manhole liner.
1. An assembly for sealing a manhole comprising:
a sealing member having an outer profile approximately equal to an inner manhole diameter; and
a manhole liner, wherein the sealing member is positioned between the manhole liner and the manhole.
2. The assembly of claim l, further comprising a mechanical fastener adapted to retain the sealing member against a wall of the manhole.
3. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the sealing member is a tubular sleeve comprising a hydrophilic material.
4. The assembly of claim 3 , wherein the tubular sleeve is a molded hydrophilic neoprene rubber.
5. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the sealing member comprises an open-cell foam material.
6. The assembly of claim 5 , wherein the sealing member is impregnated with a hydrophilic or hydrophobic grout.
7. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the sealing member comprises a hydrophilic or hydrophobic paste.
8. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the sealing member comprises a compressible material.
9. The assembly of claim 2 , wherein the mechanical fastener comprises a retaining ring.
10. The assembly of claim 2 , wherein the mechanical fastener comprises a screw, nail, or anchor.
11. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the manhole liner is a cured-in-place manhole liner, a spray-on manhole liner, a cementitious manhole liner, a cast-in-place manhole liner, or a resin manhole liner.
12. An assembly for sealing a manhole and an adjacent pipe, comprising:
a first sealing member having an outer profile approximately equal to a pipe diameter;
a second sealing member having an outer profile approximately equal to a manhole diameter;
a first mechanical fastener adapted to retain the second sealing member against a wall of the manhole;
a pipe liner; and
a manhole liner.
13. The assembly of claim 12 , wherein the first sealing member comprises a tubular sleeve having a flange portion.
14. The assembly of claim 13 , wherein the first sealing member comprises a molded hydrophilic neoprene rubber.
15. The assembly of claim 12 , further comprising a second mechanical fastener adapted to retain the first sealing member against a wall of the pipe end.
16. A method for sealing a manhole comprising:
providing a sealing member having an outer profile approximately equal to a diameter of the manhole;
positioning the sealing member into the manhole adjacent an area of the manhole prone to water infiltration; and
pressing a manhole liner against the sealing member and at least a portion of a wall of the manhole.
17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising securing the sealing member within the manhole using a mechanical fastener against the inner wall of the sealing member.
18. The method of claim 16 , wherein the area of the manhole prone to water infiltration is between a bottom pan and a barrel of the manhole, between the barrel and a cone of the manhole, between the cone and an adjusting ring of the manhole, or the manhole casting.
19. The method of claim 16 , wherein the sealing member is a tubular sleeve comprising a hydrophilic material.
20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the tubular sleeve is a molded hydrophilic neoprene rubber.
21. The method of claim 16 , wherein the sealing member comprises an open-cell foam material.
22. The method of claim 21 , wherein the sealing member is impregnated with a hydrophilic or hydrophobic grout.
23. The method of claim 16 , wherein the sealing member comprises a hydrophilic or hydrophobic paste.
24. The method of claim 16 , wherein the sealing member comprises a compressible material.
25. The method of claim 16 , wherein the mechanical fastener comprises a retaining ring.
26. The method of claim 16 , wherein the mechanical fastener comprises a screw, nail, or anchor.
27. The method of claim 16 , wherein the manhole liner is a cured-in-place manhole liner, a spray-on manhole liner, a cementitious manhole liner, a cast-in-place manhole liner, or a resin manhole liner.
28. A method for sealing a manhole and a pipe adjacent the manhole comprising:
providing a first sealing member having a proximal end, a distal end, an inner wall, and an outer wall having a diameter approximately equal to the pipe diameter;
positioning the first sealing member into the pipe such that the proximal end is near an end of the pipe;
securing the first sealing member within the pipe using a first mechanical fastener against the inner wall of the first sealing member;
providing a pipe liner and pressing the pipe liner against the first sealing member;
providing a second sealing member having an outer profile approximately equal to a diameter of the manhole;
positioning the second sealing member into the manhole adjacent an area of the manhole prone to water infiltration; and
pressing a manhole liner against the second sealing member and at least a portion of a wall of the manhole.
29. The method of claim 28 , further comprising securing the second sealing member within the manhole using a second mechanical fastener against the inner wall of the second sealing member.