System for providing heated fluid utilizing exothermic chemical reaction for curing resin in pipe liner/repair process

• US 6,652,690 B1
• Filed: 03/06/2001
• Issued: 11/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dwayne Rovira
• Original Assignee: Dwayne Rovira
• Inventors: Rovira, Dwayne
• Primary Examiner(s): Maki, Steven D.
• Application Number:
  US09/799,904
• Time in Patent Office: 994 Days
• Field of Search: 156/94, 156/156, 156/287, 156/294, 264/36.17, 264/36.22, 264/269, 138/97, 138/98, 126/263.05
• US Class Current: 156/94
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 35/04 using liquids, gas or steam
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 35/041 using liquids
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 63/28 applied by "rubber" bag or diaphragm
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 73/30 for local pressing or local heating
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 73/32 using an elastic element, e.g. inflatable bag
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 55/1652 the flexible liner being pulled into the damaged section

Abstract

A “chemical heater” in the form of a cartridge containing an exothermic agent such as sodium hydroxide (caustic) soda, or the like, which, when infused into water, releases heat in the form of an exothermic reaction. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, a cartridge is provided which contains the exothermic material. Water or the like is then directed through said cartridge so that the exothermic material dissolves, providing a solution of water infused with the exothermic material. The solution is heated by virtue of the exothermic reaction, said solution passing out of the cartridge and into a bladder located in a pipe, filling same. Situated about the bladder is a patch or sleeve of material including heat cured resin, which is urged to line the pipe by virtue of the bladder inflating, while simultaneously heated to cure same by virtue of the heated solution. Upon curing of the resin, the bladder is deflated and the fluid drained or otherwise disposed of, with the cured resin sleeve or patch remaining in place lining the pipe. The bladder may then be removed. An alternative design of the invention teaches a bladder configured to receive the exothermic material, allowing the bladder to inflate and provide an exothermically heated solution to heat the bladder simultaneously.

Claims

1. The method of lining a passage having an inner wall in the ground utilizing a bladder having an intake hose and a resin infused patch situated about said bladder within said passage, comprising the steps of:

a. providing a container having an exothermic material situated therein, the container having an exit port communicating with the intake hose of the bladder;

b. providing a flow of fluid through said container, so as to dissolve said exothermic material with said fluid, so as to provide an exothermically heated solution;

c. directing said exothermically heated solution through said intake hose and into the bladder, so as to fill the bladder with said exothermically heated solution, providing a filled bladder;

d. allowing said filled bladder to force said resin infused patch to said inner wall of said passage;

while

e. allowing said exothermically heated solution to heat and thermoset said resin.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said exothermically heated solution has an alkalinity, and wherein there is included after step “

e”

the additional step “

f”

of adjusting the alkalinity of said exothermically heated solution, providing a neutralized solution, and draining said neutralized solution.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein step “

b”

further includes the step of filtering particulates from said exothermically heated solution, providing a filtered, exothermically heated solution, and wherein in step “

c”

there is further provided the step of directing said filtered, exothermically heated solution through said intake hose into said bladder, so as to inflate said bladder with said filtered, exothermically heated solution.

4. The method of remediating a passage, comprising the steps of:

a. providing a cartridge having first and second ends, and a material containment area situated therebetween, said containment area comprising filtering means for filtering particulates;

b. placing a quantity of exothermic material into said material containment area of said cartridge;

c. providing a flow of water into said material containment area of said cartridge, so as to mix said water with said exothermic material, allowing an exothermic reaction caused by the mixing of said exothermic material with said water to create heat, providing a heated solution;

d. directing said heated solution through said containment area, providing a heated, filtered solution, then directing said heated, filtered solution through an intake hose into a bladder situated in a passage, so as to provide a heated bladder;

e. allowing said inflated, heated bladder to position a thermosetting material against the inside wall of said passage, and allowing heat from said bladder to cure said thermosetting material.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said exothermic material is caustic soda, and wherein there is further provided the step “

f”

after step “

e”

of adjusting the alkalinity of said heated solution so as to form a neutralized solution, and draining said neutralized solution.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein in step “

f”

there is further provided the step of placing a quantity of alkalinity adjusting material in said material containment area of said cartridge, and step “

g”

of providing a flow of water into said material containment area of said cartridge, and mixing said water with said alkalinity adjusting material, forming an alkalinity adjusting solution, and mixing said alkalinity adjusting solution with said heated solution so as to form a neutralized solution.

7. The method of remediating a passage, comprising the steps of:

a. providing a bladder having an intake port, first and second ends, and a passage therebetween;

b. providing a cartridge having first and second ends, and an exothermic material containment area therebetween, said first end of said cartridge having a fluid inflow port, said fluid inflow port directing fluid to an infusing pipe situated within said exothermic material containment area, said infusing pipe having formed therein a plurality of fluid flow apertures for infusing water into said exothermic material containment area;

an outflow port; and

filtering means for preventing the flow of solids through said outflow port;

c. placing a quantity of exothermic material into said exothermic material containment area of said cartridge;

d. providing a flow of water into said cartridge, mixing said water with said exothermic material, and allowing an exothermic reaction caused by the mixing of said exothermic material with said water to create heat, providing a heated solution;

e. allowing said filtering means to filter said heated solution, providing a filtered, heated solution, and directing said filtered heated solution through the intake port of the bladder so as to heat said bladder, providing a heated bladder, while allowing said flow of water to inflate said bladder, providing an inflated bladder;

f. allowing said inflated bladder to position a thermosetting material against the inside wall of a passage, and allowing said heated bladder to cure said thermosetting material.