Patents Assigned to INA Acquisition Corp.
  • Patent number: 7866968
    Abstract: Installation of a flexible cured in place liner by inverting the liner utilizing an inversion sleeve assembly with an installation apparatus having at least one selectively operable rigid gland. The sleeve assembly includes a sleeve portion of an absorbable material secured in an apparatus with an inversion boot fitted at the distal end with an inlet port for inversion and/or curing fluid. The sleeve assembly and apparatus are particularly well suited for inverting with air and curing the liner with steam introduced through a perforated lay flat hose using an apparatus with two glands. The installation sleeve is the same dimension as the liner to be installed and is reusable thereby substantially reducing the set up time to install using the dual gland apparatus. Preferably, the flexible sleeve is a length of dry cured in place liner inverted on to itself to expose two impregnable surfaces. The sleeve may have a built in fluid inlet port for use with a dual gland apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: INA Acquisition Corp.
    Inventors: Franklin Thomas Driver, Neil T. Birchler, Kyle M. Costa, Richard C. Polivka, Weiping Wang
  • Patent number: 7857932
    Abstract: A resin impregnated cured in place liner having an everted outer impermeable coating is provided. A roll of a continuous length of resin impregnable material is formed into a tube. An impermeable film or wrapping is formed into a tube about a tubular former, sealed and continuously everted about the inner tubular member travelling in an opposite direction so that the everted wrapping envelopes the inner tubular member. Alternatively, the inner tubular member may be passed into a stuffer tube having an impermeable tube thereon that is everted onto the moving tubular member to encapsulate the inner tubular member. The inner tubular member may be passed through an open resin impregnation tank to impregnate the impregnable material prior to everting the outer layer thereon. The inner tubular member may have an inner layer of impermeable material bonded thereto. It may be formed into a tube with the impermeable layer on the outside and continuously everted to place the impermeable layer on the inside of the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: INA Acquisition Corp.
    Inventors: Franklin Thomas Driver, Weiping Wang
  • Publication number: 20100207380
    Abstract: A welded joint of a lined pipeline has a main pipe and an extension piece having a generally tubular shape, an inner wall and an annular weld connecting the extension piece to the main pipe. A liner extends through the main pipe and partially into the extension piece. A compression ring includes a flange and a compression portion. The compression portion engages the liner internally and compresses the liner radially outwardly against the extension piece so that the liner is sealed with the compression ring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2008
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Applicant: INA ACQUISITION CORP.
    Inventors: Matthew Venable, Randall Egner
  • Patent number: 7766048
    Abstract: A process for lining an existing pipeline or conduit with a flexible resin impregnated cured in place liner by pulling in the liner and inflating a resin impregnated inflation bladder with air and curing the liner with flow-through steam without loss of pressure is provided. The liner includes a resin absorbent material in tubular form with an impermeable membrane forming an outer layer. The inflation bladder also includes a resin absorbent material in tubular form with an impermeable membrane forming an outer layer and an exhaust assembly at the trailing end and is passed through a pressurized inversion apparatus into the collapsed liner. As the bladder reaches the distal end, the exhaust assembly exits the everting bladder and is coupled to an exhaust hose. Steam is then introduced the inversion apparatus to cure the resin and is exhausted through the exhaust tube. After cure, steam is replaced with air to cool the liner and the ends are cut to restore service through the host pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: INA Acquisition Corp.
    Inventors: Franklin Thomas Driver, Weiping Wang, Joseph M. Coyne
  • Publication number: 20090289451
    Abstract: A T-nut assembly for reinstating a sealed connection in a lined conduit is provided. The assembly includes a rigid T-nut having a hollow tubular region with an engagement surface at one end and a base with an opening therethrough at the other. The base has a larger diameter than the tubular region. The T-nut includes an integral shoulder around the tubular member at the base and has a larger diameter than the tubular region and less than the base. The outside of the shoulder has a wall extending above the shoulder to form an annular recess at the engagement end. A substantially rigid sealing washer is placed in the annular recess and a compressible gasket is placed on the base about the shoulder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2009
    Publication date: November 26, 2009
    Applicant: INA Acquisition Corp.
    Inventors: Keith B. Oxner, Richard C. Polivka, Stephen B. Heuiser, Neil T. Birchler
  • Patent number: 6682264
    Abstract: A method for the trenchless installation of new underground pipe accurately on line and on grade by microtunneling to install a pilot tube, installing a drill string along the pilot pipe line using a directional drilling machine, installing a back reamer to the drill string and using a directional drilling machine to pull back the reamer and install a product pipe behind the reamer. A pilot tube is installed on line and on grade by utilizing the guidance system of a microtunneling apparatus to install a pilot tubes between jacking and target shafts. A drill string is installed to displace the pilot tubes and a back reamer is attached to the drill string with a product pipe attached to the reamer. The reamer may be pulled using any suitable pulling device such as a directional drilling machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: INA Acquisition Corp.
    Inventor: John Hamilton McGillis
  • Patent number: 6176525
    Abstract: A method for installing a flange on the end of a tubular member lined with a thermoplastic liner is provided. The flange is formed with a groove having extrusion openings extending from the front to the rear surface of the flange, the groove for receiving the reformed end of the liner which is forced into the extrusion openings and extends above the front surface of the flange to provide a surface for securing with a corresponding flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2001
    Assignee: INA Acquisition Corp.
    Inventors: James S. McMillan, Simon Tarsha
  • Patent number: 6135748
    Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing a liner for installation in an existing conduit in reduced form. The apparatus includes an extruder for extruding heated thermoplastic pipe material through a die to form a tubular shape, a shaping station for shaping the extruded tubular plastic material to the reduced form, a cooling station to cool the liner so that the liner maintains the reduced form and a reheating station to render the liner pliable to be put in suitable form for storage. The liner may be spooled on itself in a layered condition or on a solid spool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2000
    Assignee: INA Acquisition Corp.
    Inventor: Campbell H. Steketee, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6089275
    Abstract: A form of folded thermoplastic pipe is disclosed for use in repairing a pipeline. Also disclosed are methods and apparatuses especially for installing the thermoplastic pipe in an existing underground pipeline, such as a service lateral, having access from only one end and a bend along its length. The thermoplastic pipe is manufactured in folded form so as to have a folded memory, and spooled for storage in such form. The folded pipe is reheated to make it pliable for installation, and is pulled into the lateral from the access opening using a cable-and-pulley arrangement anchored temporarily at the intersection of lateral and main pipelines. When the folded pipe is installed in the lateral, it is rounded and cured in its rounded shape by passing steam under pressure through passages along the folds of the pipe while its leading end is restricted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2000
    Assignee: INA Acquisition Corp.
    Inventor: Campbell H. Steketee, Jr.