Patents by Inventor Campbell H. Steketee, Jr.

Campbell H. Steketee, Jr. has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • 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.
  • Patent number: 5589131
    Abstract: A thermoplastic pipe for installation in an existing conduit is manufactured in folded form and spooled for storage. The pipe is then reheated to make it pliable for installation and pulled into the conduit for lateral periods. Steam under pressure is used to round the installed pipe. The leading end of the replacement pipe may be restricted by an end clamp which enables hot fluid to pass completely through the pipe and heat the full length, or by an inflatable plug which is displaced to the leading end of the replacement pipe after installation. Methods and apparatus for the manufacturing of the pipe include extruding heated thermoplastic pipe material through a die to form a tubular shape, shaping the resulting hot tubular plastic material in the molten state to the folded form and cooling to provide a pipe with a memory for the folded form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1996
    Assignee: NuPipe, Inc.
    Inventor: Campbell H. Steketee, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5587126
    Abstract: A thermoplastic liner for installation in an existing conduit is manufactured in folded form and spooled for storage. The liner is then reheated to make it pliable for installation and pulled into the conduit. Steam under pressure is used to round the installed pipe. The leading end of the liner may be restricted by an end clamp which enables hot fluid to pass completely through the pipe and heat the full length, or by an inflatable plug which is displaced to the leading end of the liner after installation. Methods and apparatus for the manufacturing of the liner include extruding heated thermoplastic pipe material through a die to form a tubular shape, shaping the extruded tubular plastic material to the folded form and cooling to provide a liner with a memory for the folded form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1996
    Assignee: NuPipe, Inc.
    Inventor: Campbell H. Steketee, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5447665
    Abstract: A thermoplastic pipe in a reduced shape having a memory for the reduced shape is heated to make it pliable for installation in an existing conduit to be lined. The pipe is then expanded by passing a heated fluid into a pipe, or by the use of an inflatable plug or rounding device. The length of pipe which has been installed can be removed by heating to a pliable state to cause the pipe to return at least partially to its reduced form and remove. This ability to remove an installed length of replacement pipe allows for removal of a replacement pipe which is damaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1995
    Assignee: NuPipe, Inc.
    Inventor: Campbell H. Steketee, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5397513
    Abstract: A thin, flexible tubular membrane provides a heat containment tube for inserting into and inflation within an underground conduit to be repaired. Folded rigid thermoplastic pipe is inserted into the tube while not and flexible. The tubular membrane is pressurized to exclude unwanted fluids from within the existing conduit. Hot steam is injected into the tube to heat the pipe full-length externally and internally until flexible. The pipe is then rounded and expanded against the walls of the conduit with the tube therebetween. The rounding and expanding of the pipe is carried out progressively by moving a plug through the pipe and by injecting hot steam under pressure behind the plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 14, 1995
    Assignee: NuPipe, Inc.
    Inventor: Campbell H. Steketee, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5368809
    Abstract: A thin, flexible tubular membrane provides a heat containment tube for inserting into and inflation within an underground conduit to be repaired. Folded rigid thermoplastic pipe is inserted into the tube while not and flexible. The tubular membrane is pressurized to exclude unwanted fluids from within the existing conduit. Hot steam is injected into the tube to heat the pipe full-length externally and internally until flexible. The pipe is then rounded and expanded against the walls of the conduit with the tube therebetween. The rounding and expanding of the pipe is carried out progressively by moving a plug through the pipe and by injecting hot steam under pressure behind the plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1994
    Assignee: NuPipe, Inc.
    Inventor: Campbell H. Steketee, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5244624
    Abstract: A thin, flexible tubular membrane provides a heat containment tube for inserting into and inflation within an underground conduit to be repaired. Folded rigid thermoplastic pipe is inserted into the tube while hot and flexible. The tubular membrane is pressurized to exclude unwanted fluids from within the existing conduit. Hot steam is injected into the tube to heat the pipe full-length externally and internally until flexible. The pipe is then rounded and expanded against the walls of the conduit with the tube therebetween. The rounding and expanding of the pipe is carried out progressively by moving a plug through the pipe and by injecting hot steam under pressure behind the plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1993
    Assignee: NuPipe, Inc.
    Inventor: Campbell H. Steketee, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5034180
    Abstract: A thin, flexible tubular membrane provides a heat containment tube for inserting into and inflation within an underground conduit to be repaired. Folded rigid thermoplastic pipe is inserted into the tube while hot and flexible. The tubular membrane is pressurized to exclude unwanted fluids from within the existing conduit. Hot stem is injected into the tube to heat the pipe full-length externally and internally until flexible. The pipe is then rounded and expanded against the walls of the conduit with the tube therebetween. The rounding and expanding of the pipe is carried out progressively by moving a plug through the pipe and by injecting hot steam under pressure behind the plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1991
    Assignee: NuPipe, Inc.
    Inventor: Campbell H. Steketee, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4867921
    Abstract: A thermoplastic pipe in a flattened and folded shape and of selected characteristics is formed by manufacturing it in this reduced shape. It is inserted in the flattened and folded shape and in a pliable state into a pipeline to be lined. It is then expanded and when set serves as a rigid or semi-rigid pipe within a pipeline capable of withstanding external hydrostatic and earth pressures. The thermoplastic pipe is heated during its installation for installing it into an existing pipeline and for expanding it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 19, 1989
    Assignee: Nu-Pipe, Inc.
    Inventor: Campbell H. Steketee, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4429720
    Abstract: An elongated, flexible body member has leading and trailing end portions and is expandable by air pressure. The body member includes conduits and fittings for allowing such expansion and also has conduits and fittings capable of air testing an area of pipe sealed off by ends of the body member and also capable of discharging grout in such sealed off area. An expandable propelling head is connected to the body member by a fluid operated double acting cylinder whereby upon selected inflation and deflation of the head and operation of the cylinder the body member can be propelled in a pipe. The connection between the propelling head and the body member is flexible to allow the assembly to negotiate bends in a pipe. The body member includes a mixing chamber for mixing a grout and a catalyst therefor prior to discharge into the pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1982
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1984
    Inventors: Richard D. Beck, Campbell H. Steketee, Jr.