Manhole liner and method of using the same
View Patent ↗A manhole liner and a method of using the same are provided. The manhole liner is sized substantially equally to the largest diameter of the manhole, so that the liner does not have to stretch to be pressed against the manhole wall. Additionally, the liner is impregnated with a resinous material capable of curing and hardening. A bladder, preferably stretchable circumferentially and having a diameter less than the smallest diameter of the manhole, is inserted into the liner. The bladder is expanded to press the liner against the wall of the manhole to dispense resinous material from the liner, while the liner is able to fold over itself in areas having a diameter less than the original diameter of the liner. Because the bladder stretches to produce a smooth outside surface, the resinous material will migrate to areas in the folds and will cure with a smooth interior surface.
1. A manhole liner for lining a manhole having varying diameters along a height of the manhole, the manhole having a largest diameter toward the bottom of the manhole, a smallest diameter toward the top of the manhole, and an intermediate diameter between the bottom and the top of the manhole, the manhole liner comprising:
a cured manhole liner positioned in the manhole;
wherein prior to curing, the manhole liner comprises: a non-stretchable manhole liner body extending to the bottom of the manhole and configured to be moved against walls of the manhole by an inflatable bladder having a first end, an opposite second end, and a bladder body therebetween that is configured to stretch circumferentially to move the manhole liner body; the manhole liner body having a substantially uniform diameter along its height that is substantially equal to or greater than the largest diameter of the manhole; the manhole liner body configured to conform to the varying diameters of the manhole without stretching by folding over on itself and creating bunches and folds upon being moved against the walls of the manhole by the bladder in areas where the diameter of the manhole liner body is greater than the diameter of the manhole; and the manhole liner being impregnated with a resinous material configured to cure or harden to create the cured manhole liner; and
wherein the cured manhole liner comprises areas where the manhole liner body has the bunches and folds and at least one area where the manhole liner body has no bunches and folds, the cured or hardened resinous material forming a continuous smooth inner surface in the areas where the manhole liner body has bunches and folds and in the at least one area where the manhole liner body has no bunches and folds, wherein the cured manhole liner is thicker in the areas where the manhole liner body has the bunches and folds in comparison with the at least one area where the manhole liner body has no bunches and folds.
2. The manhole liner of claim 1 , further comprising the manhole liner body being tubular shaped prior to curing.
3. The manhole liner of claim 2 , further comprising the manhole liner body having a seamless construction.
4. The manhole liner of claim 1 , wherein the manhole liner body does not form bunches and folds in the cured manhole liner where the diameter of the manhole liner body prior to curing is substantially equal to the diameter of the manhole.
5. The manhole liner of claim 1 , wherein prior to curing or hardening, the manhole liner body does not contain a resin impermeable coating, thereby allowing the resinous material to migrate from the manhole liner.
6. The manhole liner of claim 5 , wherein the diameter of the cured manhole liner at the largest diameter of the manhole is larger than the diameter of the manhole at the smallest and the intermediate diameters of the manhole.
7. A manhole liner for lining a manhole having varying diameters along a height of the manhole, the manhole having a largest diameter toward the bottom of the manhole, a smallest diameter toward the top of the manhole, and an intermediate diameter between the bottom and the top of the manhole, the manhole liner comprising:
a cured manhole liner positioned in the manhole;
wherein prior to curing, the manhole liner comprises: a non-stretchable manhole liner body configured to be positioned in the manhole and moved against walls of the manhole by an inflatable bladder having a first end, an opposite second end, and a bladder body therebetween that is configured to stretch circumferentially to move the manhole liner body; the manhole liner body having a smallest diameter along its height that is larger than the smallest diameter of the manhole; the manhole liner body configured to conform to the varying diameters of the manhole without stretching by folding over on itself and creating bunches and folds upon being moved against the walls of the manhole by the bladder in areas where the diameter of the manhole liner body is greater than the diameter of the manhole; and the manhole liner being impregnated with a resinous material configured to cure or harden to create the cured manhole liner and configured to migrate across the manhole liner, producing a continuous smooth finished inside surface;
wherein the cured manhole liner comprises areas where the manhole liner body has the bunches and folds and at least one area where the manhole liner body has no bunches and folds, the cured or hardened resinous material forming the continuous smooth finished inside surface in the areas where the manhole liner body has bunches and folds and in the at least one area where the manhole liner body has no bunches and folds, wherein the cured manhole liner is thicker in the areas where the manhole liner body has the bunches and folds in comparison with the at least one area where the manhole liner body has no bunches and folds.
8. The manhole liner of claim 7 , further comprising the manhole liner body being tubular shaped prior to curing.
9. The manhole liner of claim 7 , further comprising the manhole liner body having a seamless construction.
10. The manhole liner of claim 7 , wherein prior to curing, the diameter of the manhole liner body at the largest diameter of the manhole is substantially equal to the largest diameter of the manhole.
11. The manhole liner of claim 10 , wherein the manhole liner body does not form bunches and folds in the cured manhole liner where the diameter of the manhole liner body prior to curing is substantially equal to the diameter of the manhole.
12. A manhole liner for lining a manhole having varying diameters along a height of the manhole, the manhole having a largest diameter toward the bottom of the manhole, a smallest diameter toward the top of the manhole, and an intermediate diameter between the bottom and the top of the manhole, the manhole liner comprising:
a cured manhole liner positioned in the manhole;
wherein prior to curing, the manhole liner comprises: a non-stretchable manhole liner body extending to the bottom of the manhole and configured to be moved against walls of the manhole by an inflatable bladder having a first end, an opposite second end, and a bladder body therebetween that is configured to stretch circumferentially to move the manhole liner body; the manhole liner body having a substantially uniform diameter along its height; the manhole liner body configured to conform to the varying diameters of the manhole without stretching by folding over on itself and creating bunches and folds upon being moved against the walls of the manhole by the bladder in areas where the diameter of the manhole liner body is greater than the diameter of the manhole; and the manhole liner being impregnated with a resinous material configured to cure or harden to create the cured manhole liner; and
wherein the cured manhole liner comprises areas where the diameter of the manhole liner body was larger than the diameter of the manhole prior to curing such that the manhole liner body has the bunches and folds, and at least one area where the manhole liner body has no bunches and folds; wherein the cured manhole liner is thicker in the areas where the manhole liner body has the bunches and folds in comparison with the at least one area where the manhole liner body has no bunches and folds; and wherein the cured or hardened resinous material forms a continuous smooth inner surface in the areas where the manhole liner body has bunches and folds and in the at least one area where the manhole liner body has no bunches and folds.