Method of installation of a flexible cured in place lateral seal in an existing main pipeline

• US 6,068,725 A
• Filed: 11/26/1997
• Issued: 05/30/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: INA Acquisition Corporation (Aegion Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Insituform Netherlands BV Incorporated (Insituform)
• Inventors: Murray, Kevin P., Tweedie, John, Severs, Kerry D., Smith, Philip M., Wells, Jeff P.
• Primary Examiner(s): AFTERGUT, JEFFRY H
• Application Number:
  US08/978,740
• Time in Patent Office: 916 Days
• Field of Search: 156/287, 156/294, 156/423, 264/269, 138/97, 138/98
• US Class Current: 156/287
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 55/179 specially adapted for bends, branch units, branching pipes or the like

Abstract

A method for installing and curing a cured in place lateral seal at the connection between a main pipeline and a lateral connection is provided. The method includes placing a resin impregnated lateral seal in the form of a top hat with a brim portion and short tubular portion onto a cylindrical flexible bladder cartridge having a tubular recess for receiving the tubular portion of the seal with the brim portion along the outer portion of the bladder, placing an assembly carrying the bladder to the location of the lateral and pressing the brim portion of the seal against the interior of the main pipeline and everting the tubular portion out of the tubular recess into a portion of the lateral to form the seal. Radiant energy, preferably, light is then applied to the resin to initiate the cure, the bladder is cooled and then deflated. A rapid cure using a light curable resin and exchanged of loaded cartridges allows installation of a number of laterals in the time it usually takes to cure a lining in a pipeline by use of heat alone.

Claims

1. A method of installation of a resin impregnated cured in place lateral seal for lining the connection between a main pipeline and a lateral pipeline, wherein the lateral seal includes a brim portion and a tubular portion, each having an impermeable layer on one side thereof, comprising:

placing a lateral seal which has been impregnated with a curable resin on a first inflatable bladder assembly having a lined recess with an inflatable arm which when inflated extends radially from the bladder, the impermeable layer of the brim portion facing the expandable bladder and the tubular portion of the seal inverted into the arm which is retracted into the recess in the bladder;

releasably securing the bladder assembly with impregnated lateral seal onto a displaceable sled;

inserting the bladder assembly with loaded seal and displaceable sled into a main pipeline from an access opening;

locating the sled and bladder assembly at the lateral connection at a point remote to the access opening;

positioning the resin impregnated brim portion against the interior of the main pipeline at the connection with the lateral pipeline;

inflating the bladder to press the resin impregnated brim portion against the interior of the main pipeline and everting the arm of the bladder out through the opening in the brim portion to evert the tubular portion of the seal into the entrance to the lateral pipeline;

continuing to apply pressure to the bladder to press the brim portion against the main pipeline and the tubular portion against the lateral pipeline;

applying radiant energy from a source within the bladder assembly onto the resin impregnated seal to initiate the resin cure;

allowing the resin to cure;

placing a second impregnated lateral seal on a second bladder cartridge during the time the first seal is being positioned and cured;

ceasing to apply radiant energy;

deflating the bladder and extended arm in the first bladder assembly;

removing the sled and first bladder assembly from the access opening;

removing the first bladder assembly from the sled; and

inserting the second bladder assembly with a second impregnated seal onto the sled for lining another connection between the main line and a lateral pipeline.

2. The method of installation of a lateral seal of claim 1, including curing the resin by applying visible light to initiate the cure of the resin.

3. The method of installation of a lateral seal of claim 2, further including the step of drawing a vacuum on the bladder after curing to deflate the bladder.

4. The method of installation of a lateral seal of claim 2, including the step of removing heat by circulating cooling air through the bladder assembly during curing.

5. The method of installation of a lateral seal of claim 1, including initiating the cure of the resin by applying light from within the bladder.

6. The method of installation of a lateral seal of claim 1, further including the step of drawing a vacuum on the bladder after curing to deflate the bladder.

7. The method of installation of a lateral seal of claim 1, including the step of removing heat by circulating cooling air through the bladder assembly during curing.

8. The method of installation of a lateral seal of claim 1, including the steps of installing a plurality of lateral seals successively.