Installation assemblies for pipeline liners, pipeline liners and methods for installing the same
DCFirst Claim
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1. An installation assembly for installing a liner in a pipeline, said installation assembly comprising:
- a bladder assembly to be inserted into a liner, said bladder assembly including;
an inflatable inner bladder having an installation end and a retrieval end and defining an internal reservoir; and
an outer bladder surrounding said inner bladder at least along a portion of the length thereof, said outer bladder having an end coupled to said inner bladder adjacent said installation end;
a fluid passage coupled to said inner bladder, said fluid passage for introducing fluid into said internal reservoir to inflate said inner bladder and expand a liner carried by said bladder assembly so that said liner can be brought into firm contact with an interior surface of said pipeline; and
a retrieval line for removing said bladder assembly from said pipeline, said retrieval line being coupled to the retrieval end of said inner bladder so that when said bladder assembly is removed from said liner with said inner bladder deflated, said outer bladder separates from said liner and inverts.
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Abstract
An installation assembly for installing a liner in a pipeline comprises an inner bladder having an installation end and a retrieval end. An outer bladder surrounds the inner bladder. The ends of the inner and outer bladders are coupled together adjacent the installation end. The inner bladder is coupled to an air source at a retrieval end and the outer bladder adjacent the retrieval end is free. Following installation and curing of the liner, the bladder assembly is retrieved by pulling on the retrieval end of the inner bladder, and upon retrieval, the outer bladder is inverted.
47 Citations
26 Claims
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1. An installation assembly for installing a liner in a pipeline, said installation assembly comprising:
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a bladder assembly to be inserted into a liner, said bladder assembly including;
an inflatable inner bladder having an installation end and a retrieval end and defining an internal reservoir; and
an outer bladder surrounding said inner bladder at least along a portion of the length thereof, said outer bladder having an end coupled to said inner bladder adjacent said installation end;
a fluid passage coupled to said inner bladder, said fluid passage for introducing fluid into said internal reservoir to inflate said inner bladder and expand a liner carried by said bladder assembly so that said liner can be brought into firm contact with an interior surface of said pipeline; and
a retrieval line for removing said bladder assembly from said pipeline, said retrieval line being coupled to the retrieval end of said inner bladder so that when said bladder assembly is removed from said liner with said inner bladder deflated, said outer bladder separates from said liner and inverts. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of installing a liner in a pipeline comprising the steps of:
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pulling a bladder assembly carrying a wetted liner in one direction into position in said pipeline, said bladder assembly including an inner bladder having an installation end and a retrieval end and an outer bladder surrounding said inner bladder and contacting an inner surface of said liner, said outer bladder having one end coupled to said inner bladder adjacent said installation end and an opposite free end;
introducing fluid into said inner bladder to inflate said inner bladder so that said bladder assembly expands to bring said liner into firm contact with an interior surface of said pipeline;
maintaining said bladder assembly in an inflated condition for a time period sufficient for said liner to cure;
deflating said inner bladder; and
retrieving said bladder assembly from said pipeline by pulling said bladder assembly in an opposite direction via said inner bladder so that when said inner bladder moves out of said liner, said outer bladder separates from said liner and inverts. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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11. An installation assembly for installing a liner at a junction between a main pipe and a lateral pipe, said installation assembly comprising:
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an inflatable bladder assembly for carrying a liner, said bladder assembly including a main portion and a lateral portion and defining an internal reservoir, said lateral portion including an inner bladder and an outer bladder, said outer bladder extending at least along a portion of the length of said inner bladder, said outer bladder and inner bladder being coupled adjacent a distal end of said lateral portion; and
a fluid passage coupled to said bladder assembly to introduce fluid into said internal reservoir and inflate the main and lateral portions of said bladder assembly thereby to expand said liner so that when said lateral portion extends into said lateral pipe and said main portion is in said main pipe, said liner is brought into contact with the interior of said main and lateral pipes and conforms to the shape of said junction. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of installing a liner having main and lateral portions at a junction between main and lateral pipes, said method comprising the steps of:
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pulling a bladder assembly carrying a wetted liner into said pipeline, said bladder assembly including a main portion and a lateral portion and defining an internal reservoir, said bladder assembly being positioned so that the lateral portion thereof extends into said lateral pipe and with the main portion thereof positioned in said main pipe, said lateral portion including an inner bladder and an outer sleeve surrounding said inner bladder;
introducing fluid into said bladder assembly to inflate said bladder assembly so that said bladder assembly expands to bring said liner into firm contact with interior surfaces of the main and lateral pipes and conform said liner to the shape of said junction;
maintaining said bladder assembly in an inflated condition for a time period sufficient for said liner to cure;
deflating said bladder assembly; and
retrieving said bladder assembly from said pipeline by pulling said bladder assembly from said liner, wherein when said bladder assembly is retrieved, said outer sleeve inverts. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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23. A bladder assembly for installing a liner within a pipeline comprising:
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an elongate bladder defining an internal reservoir and having a leading end and a trailing end;
a valve element coupled to said elongate bladder to permit the ingress and degress of fluid into said bladder thereby to inflate and deflate said bladder;
a sleeve generally surrounding said bladder, said sleeve being coupled to said bladder adjacent said leading end; and
an inversion element partially received by said sleeve and bladder adjacent said leading end. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26)
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Specification