Apparatus and method for internal repair of conduits

摘要

An apparatus and method for internal repair of pipes and conduits, such as sewer pipes, pressurized water mains, water wells, and natural gas lines. The conduit repair apparatus includes a sleeve with locking mechanism to lock the sleeve in a tubular configuration. The sleeve is made of metallic or rigid plastic sheet having perforations. Some of the perforations are shaped like elongated slots and strips. A number of resilient O-rings are applied over the outer surface of the sleeve. A resilient membrane is applied over the O-rings. In one embodiment, a reinforcement band is used, and an additional layer of O-rings are included between the membrane and the reinforcement band.

主权项

1. An apparatus for internal repair of pipes and conduits comprising:
a metal core coiled around a longitudinal axis adapted to be installed within a conduit at a repair site; a sealing structure surrounding said core, said sealing structure designed to prevent conduit-conveyed fluid from escaping from the conduit at the repair site, said sealing structure comprising:
a plurality of solid resilient O-rings applied over the outer surface of the core;a resilient sealing membrane applied over the O-rings; anda reinforcement band applied over the resilient sealing membrane; said metal core being structured and arranged to be moved from a coiled pre-installed configuration to an expanded, coiled, and sealed installed configuration; said core comprising pressure-equalizing open perforations extending through the metal core, said pressure-equalizing open perforations being structured and arranged to equalize internal pressure with an external pressure around said core during both (1) said movement from the pre-installed configuration to the installed configuration, and (2) after said movement, while in the installed configuration; said pressure-equalizing open perforations comprising a plurality of perforations extending along a majority of a circumference of the metal core.