Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
  • B29C63/00—Lining or sheathing, i.e. applying preformed layers or sheathings of plastics; Apparatus therefor
  • B29C63/26—Lining or sheathing of internal surfaces
  • B29C63/34—Lining or sheathing of internal surfaces using tubular layers or sheathings
  • B29C63/36—Lining or sheathing of internal surfaces using tubular layers or sheathings being turned inside out
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • D06G—MECHANICAL OR PRESSURE CLEANING OF CARPETS, RUGS, SACKS, HIDES, OR OTHER SKIN OR TEXTILE ARTICLES OR FABRICS; TURNING INSIDE-OUT FLEXIBLE TUBULAR OR OTHER HOLLOW ARTICLES
  • D06G3/00—Turning inside-out flexible tubular or other hollow articles
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16L—PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16L55/00—Devices or appurtenances for use in, or in connection with, pipes or pipe systems
  • F16L55/16—Devices for covering leaks in pipes or hoses, e.g. hose-menders
  • F16L55/162—Devices for covering leaks in pipes or hoses, e.g. hose-menders from inside the pipe
  • F16L55/165—Devices for covering leaks in pipes or hoses, e.g. hose-menders from inside the pipe a pipe or flexible liner being inserted in the damaged section
  • F16L55/1651—Devices for covering leaks in pipes or hoses, e.g. hose-menders from inside the pipe a pipe or flexible liner being inserted in the damaged section the flexible liner being everted
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29L—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES
  • B29L2023/00—Tubular articles
  • B29L2023/005—Hoses, i.e. flexible

Definitions

• This invention relates to the production of lining tubes, and particularly to the production of lining tubes for installation into a pipeline or passageway for the rehabilitation thereof.
• the lining tubes to which this invention relates in one known form comprise an outer impervious lining and an inner layer or layers of resin absorbent material e.g. needled felt saturated with synthetic resin, and this lining tube has generally been applied by a method disclosed in United Kingdom Patent Specification No 1,449,455.
• the tube is everted under fluid pressure so that the needled felt layer(s) lies against the surface of the passageway and the impervious layer lies to the inside of the newly resurfaced passageway.
• This lining is then "cured in place” by the application of heated fluid to the inside of the tube so that the synthetic resin sets and creates a new lining on the wall of the passageway.
• a resin impregnated lining tube is provided with prelining tube by the introduction of a stack or roll or otherwise compacted length of prelining tube material into one end of the resin impregnated lining tube followed by the gradual eversion of the prelining tube material onto the inner surface of the resin impregnated lining accompanied by the relative displacement of the stack or roll or otherwise compacted length of prelining tube material and the said lining tube in the direction of the length of the resin impregnated lining tube.
• the said compacted length of preliner is preferably held in place by confining meanswhereas the said lining tube is moved over the said length of preliner and past the said confining meansduring application of the preliner.
• the compacted length of preliner is preferably introduced within a vertically disposed length of the resin impregnated lining tube and as the the lining tube is moved upwards, the prelining tube is caused to evert onto the inner surface of the lining tube gravitationally, preferably by providing a quantity of liquid to the outside of the prelining tube where it is compacted and inside the everting portion of the prelining tube.
• the lining tube can be caused to move by being pulled through an upper pair of rollers and a lower pair of rollers, between which the lining tube is caused to inflate by virtue of said liquid.
• This section between the pairs of rollers might be aptly described as an eversion balloon.
• the eversion liquid will contain and perhaps buoyantly support the compacted length of prelining tube so that the compacted length freely unravels as eversion takes place and also the compacted length is maintained separate from the upper pair of rollers by gravitational forces.
• the eversion liquid preferably has some lubricating properties.
• the upper pair of rollers may be driven rotationally to pull the assembled lining tube with the prelining tube through the mechanism as it grips the lining tube above the eversion balloon.
• a float with significant weight may be provided above the stack or roll or otherwise compacted length of preliner to ensure that, although it may be buoyantly supported in the liquid, the compacted length remains substantially submerged therein.
• the eversion balloon may be located in a nitrogen spray tank used to cool the lining, the upper and lower roller arrangement being disposed within the tank.
• the cooled environment in the tank chills the lining tube so that undesired onset of curing of the resin within the tube is delayed. Without chilling the tube to a cold temperature before it is transported to the installation site, there may in some circumstances be a chance that the resin will set to some extent during transport, rendering the tube useless.
• preliner takes place over a limited length section of the lining tube so that, progressively, the lining tube with the applied preliner can be folded or rolled up ready for transportation, and so that it is not necessary to lay out the lining tube to its entire length for the application of the preliner.
• the preliner can readily be applied in factory conditions. It can be unfolded or unwound as the application of the preliner is taking place, and immediately folded or rewound after the application of the preliner along the said section of the lining tube.
• the length of the preliner will be equal to the length of the lining tube at least and the lining tube and preliner may have lead in portions to facilitate the commencement of the operation.
• the application of the preliner may take place at the same time as the lining tube is being impregnated with synthetic resin.
• the resulting composite lining comprising the lining tube and preliner will be impregnated with synthetic resin and will have a preliner applied thereto so that when eventually the composite lining is applied to a pipeline or passageway by eversion, the preliner will lie to the outside of the impregnated layer and will prevent the raw resin from contacting the pipeline or passageway surface and will prevent escape of resin into the lateral connections.
• the preliner over said limited length may be inflated alternatively by air trapped in said limited length whilst the progressive everting of the preliner takes place and the preliner is applied to the inner surface of said lining tube.
• Fig. 1 shows a lining tube useable in the invention
• Fig. 1A shows an enlarged section of the ringed portion of the tube of Fig. 1.
• Fig. IB is a sectional elevation of the lining tube in inflated condition
• Fig. 2 shows how a lining tube may be impregnated with a resin
• Fig. 2A shows in enlarged section, the ringed portion of Fig. 2;
• Fig. 3 illustrates a prelining tube folded cantilever fashion into a stack for use in the present invention
• Fig. 3A shows a sectional view of the prelining tube shown in Fig. 3;
• Fig. 4 shows in sectional view a stack of prelining tube and the open end of a lining tube immediately prior to the insertion of the prelining tube stack into the lining tube according to the present invention
• Fig. 4A shows in enlarged detail a portion of the prelining tube section ringed in Fig. 4;
• Fig. 5 shows in sectional view the prelining tube being applied to the inside surface of the lining tube
• Fig. 6 shows how a float may be provided above the stack of preliner.
• Fig. 7 is a sectional view showing how a lining tube may be provided with a preliner in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention.
• Fig. 7A is a sectional elevation taken on the line IV-IV of Fig. 7.
• Figs. 8 to 13 respectively show in a series of steps, how the preliner may be used to establish the positioning of the preliner on the inner surface of the lining tube.
• a lining tube (2) is shown as being folded concertina fashion, although it could be rolled on a drum or reel, and it is in the condition in which it is flexible but dry insofar as it has not been impregnated with the synthetic resin.
• the enlarged detail shown in Figs. 1A and IB illustrates the construction of the lining tube and it comprises an outer membrane or coating (5), and an inner layer (7) of resin absorbent material such as a fibrous sheet structure made up of one or more layers of fibrous felts such as a polyester felt.
• the resin is pumped into the end of the tube indicated by reference (3), and the tube is then fed as shown in Fig.
• a quantity (13) of the synthetic resin inside the tube at the bulged portion is a quantity (13) of the synthetic resin, and the resin thoroughly impregnates the absorbent layer (7) so as thoroughly to impregnate same with the resin.
• Air can be expelled from the felt layer (7) by maintaining the tubing under vacuum pressure during the resinating process, and the resulting lining tube will be devoid of air, and preferably the ends will be sealed to prevent further ingress of air.
• the tube (2) may, as indicated in dotted lines at reference (15) be folded concertina fashion into a sack. Alternatively, it may be rolled up for storage and/or transportation.
• the prelining tube (8) is compacted in the manner shown in Figs.
• the prelining tube is first folded longitudinally into the H shaped cross section shown in Fig. 3A, and is then folded laterally concertina fashion to the stacked configuration of Fig. 3.
• the width of the stack is in this configuration less than the internal diameter of the prelining tube (8), and therefore one end of the prelining tube can be inverted and pulled up into a cup shaped form to surround the stack (10), as shown in Fig. 4, in which condition the prelining tube (8) is in a prepared state for insertion into the open end (12) of the mesh impregnated lining tube (2) .
• the lining tube Prior to this insertion however the lining tube must be also prepared for the insertion of the prelining stack (10), and the end (12) of the resin impregnated lining tube (2) is fed through lower rollers (14) , which grip the lining tube with a force that is both sufficient to resist the ingress of air into the centre of the lining tube, but this force is not sufficient to squeeze the resin from the needled felt layer (7) .
• the end (12) is then opened out after a short length of the lining tube (2) has been drawn through the rollers (14), and the prelining stack (10) is inserted into this open end (12) so that the cup shape of everted preliner (8) lies against the inner surface of the lining layer (2) .
• Fig. 4A shows the prelining tube (8) comprising a tube of thin strong and flexible material such as the material sold under the name "Valeron” (trade mark) .
• cup shaped everted prelining section is then filled with a quantity of liquid (18) which urges the preliner (8) against the inner surface of the lining tube (2) , and this gradual input of liquid into the cup section (16) effectively expels the majority of the air caught between the lining tube and the adjacent prelining tube.
• the prelining stack (10) also rises away from the bottom of the prelining cup as it begins to be buoyantly supported by the everting water (18).
• the free edges (20) and (22) of the prelining tube (8) and lining tube (2) respectively are preferably taped together or otherwise sealed to prevent further ingress of air into the lining tube (2).
• a vertical pulling action is effected in this preferred embodiment by the use of an opposed pair of driven upper rollers (28) through which the lining tube with preliner (38) is driven and urged into a flattened condition by the action of the rollers (28).
• the application of a preliner to the lining tube (2) can be progressively effected merely by rotation of the upper rollers (28), and the lining tube with preliner (38) may subsequently be stacked concertina fashion onto a pallet (30) for transportation to the site of installation.
• a more reliable arrangement as shown in Fig. 6 includes a heavy float (42) which is placed on top of the stack (10).
• the float (10) ensures that the preliner stack (10) cannot be caught between the upper driven rollers (28) during operation, and this is achieved by maintaining the stack (10) below the surface of the liquid (18).
• the eversion liquid (18) has lubricating properties, so that the travelling preliner tube (16) slides smoothly past the confined stack (10) during operation.
• the inflated section of tubings (2) and (8) between the lower pair of rollers (14) and the upper pair of rollers (28) might be referred to as an eversion balloon (40), and this eversion bubble might be contained within a nitrogen spray cabinet (32).
• This nitrogen spray cabinet (32) serves to provide a cold environment whereby the lining tube can be chilled prior to transportation so that the potential lifetime of the resin impregnated soft tube is extended. Without this chilling, the resin might set under the influence of the ambient temperature, and if the tube does set during transportation and prior to insertion into the pipeline or passageway to be lined, the lining tube may become transparent, as it cannot be effectively everted into the pipeline or passageway to be lined.
• cooling cabinet (32) is suitably positioned around the eversion balloon, however it is to be noted that the rate of cooling of the lining tube is to be coordinated with the rate of transit of the lining tube (2) through the spray cabinet, thereby ensuring that the eversion liquid (18) is not frozen under the influence of the cooling cabinet temperature.
• the lining tube (2) and prelining tube (8) are preferably approximately equal in length, and when the insertion process is complete the sealed end of the lining tube 2 will meet with the preliner's trailing end (36) which should preferably be sealed to prevent ingress of the air (34) or the everting liquid (18) between the prelining tube (8) and lining tube (2) during the eversion of the coating (8). However when this eversion is complete the seals will be broken to allow the everting liquid (18) and the remaining air (34) inside the eversion balloon to escape.
• the trailing edges of the lining tube with preliner (38) will then preferably be taped or otherwise sealed to further prevent the ingress of air into the resin layer (7).
• Fig. 7 shows a further embodiment of the invention
• the preliner (132) which is stacked concertina fashion (it may alternatively be rolled) as indicated at (134) inside the section (126).
• the stacked preliner (132) is held in a polypropylene case (133) which is open at the left hand end.
• the left hand end of the preliner (132) is shown as being everted at (136) against the inner surface of the tube (2) as the section (126) progresses relatively to the length of the lining tube and the preliner (132) therefore progressively everts onto the inner surf ce of the tube (2) , and the tube (132) in fact embraces the interior of section (126) and eventually emerges with the tube (2) through the roller pair (128) so that as shown by reference (138) the emerging composite lining comprises the outer impregnated lining tube with the applied preliner.
• section (126) is provided with a rolling pig (140) which is an inflatable bag turned upon itself as shown, and the pig serves to maintain the internal pressure, and' provide a means over which the everting preliner and the travelling outer tube can pass in travelling to the nip between rollers (128).
• a rolling pig 140 which is an inflatable bag turned upon itself as shown, and the pig serves to maintain the internal pressure, and' provide a means over which the everting preliner and the travelling outer tube can pass in travelling to the nip between rollers (128).
• the section (126) is shown as being supported on conveyor (142) so that the section (126) does not sag.
• the flexible tube (134) may be folded longitudinally as well as being folded concertina fashion in order conveniently to be located inside the section (126).
• the application of the preliner may take place after the impregnation as indicated by Fig. 2, or simultaneously with the impregnation of Fig. 2, in which case there would be a further machine or station defined by the section (126) downstream of the station adjacent rollers (9) where the application of the resin takes place.
• the lining tube may be restacked.
• Figs. 8 to 13 show a further method of enabling the application of the preliner to take place. Although there are differences between the arrangement shown in Figs. 8 to 13 and Figs. 1 to 7, these are differences of detail and not of principle. The method described in relation to and as illustrated in Figs. 8 to 13 can be applied to the arrangements shown in Figs. 1 to 7.
• Figs. 8 to 13 respectively show a sequence of steps for arranging for the preliner to be pre-assembled and inserted in the impregnated lining tube.
• Fig. 8 the preliner (100) is shown and it is folded concertina fashion in its centre portion (102) and it has a' leading end (104) and a trailing end (106).
• the trailing end (106) initially is everted over the concertina portion (102) and its extremity is taped so as to form a throat or collar (103) through which the tube (102) can be pulled as eversion takes place.
• the leading end (104) is now everted over the entire assembly so that its extremity (112) as shown in Fig. 11 can be connected to an air pipe (114). Air is injected into the enclosure defined by the everted leading end (104) to inflate same. The air pipe is removed from the extremity (112) and the extremity (112) is sealed to trap the air in the end (104). The end (104) can now be fed by the rollers (120) as shown in Fig. 12 and the leading end (116) fed into the everting preliner as shown in Figs. 11 and 12, to move the same.
• Nip and feed rollers (120) as shown in Fig. 12 are used to feed the preliner between the rollers (120), and to feed out the concertined section of the preliner through the collar (103) which applies a drag force, formed by the taping of the extremity of the trailing end (106).
• This causes the lining tube (118) to be fed as shown by arrow (120) over the inflated leading end (104) of the preliner tube until the position in Fig. 13 is reached when the impregnated lining tube (118) is also being fed through the rollers with the preliner.
• the rolling pig as shown in Fig. 7 may also be provided inside the inflated enclosure defined by the leading end (104) of the preliner.
• the resulting liner tube with applied preliner can be used directly for eversion into a pipeline or passageway for the lining of same, for purposes here and before described, but the lining has the advantage that it can be stored until ready for use.
• the felt layer (7) will not absorb air at the everting face during its various compressions and deformation under the everting forces because of the adjacent impermeable layer (8), which is effectively incorporated into the lining tube during production by the process of the present invention.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Textile Engineering (AREA)
• Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
• Lining Or Joining Of Plastics Or The Like (AREA)

Priority Applications (1)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=26302757

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (4)

Cited By (5)

Citations (2)

• 1994
  • 1994-01-15 TW TW083100307A patent/TW253867B/zh active
  • 1994-04-11 AU AU64356/94A patent/AU6435694A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1994-04-11 WO PCT/GB1994/000762 patent/WO1994023934A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 1994-04-12 IL IL10929594A patent/IL109295A0/xx unknown

Patent Citations (2)

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