Abstract: A folded annular gasket is cast into an opening in the wall of a manhole and held in a compressed state by an annular support. The annular support includes a helical strip which can be stripped apart to remove the annular support from within the annular folded gasket. A pipe to be connected to the manhole is inserted into the annular support. After the pipe is inserted in the annular support, the annular support is stripped out from between the folded annular gasket and the pipe. Removal of the annular support causes the folded annular gasket to press against the pipe and thereby form a seal. Removal of the annular support can also cause the folded annular gasket to invert. The inverted part of the annular gasket can be clamped to the pipe and function as a boot or sleeve.

Abstract: A sealing assembly and method in which an elastomeric sealing sleeve is stretched over a strippable core, one end of the sleeve sealed to a hole in manhole structure either by casting in or by an expandable clamp. A pipe is inserted in the core and the core stripped out by tearing along a helical preweakening to allow the other end of the sleeve to constrict onto the pipe.

Abstract: An integrally molded compression ring for exerting an outwardly, radially directed force on an inner surface of a gasket to compress the gasket into sealing engagement with a wall of an opening. The compression ring is made from a one-piece body or strip of resiliently flexible material that has a substantially continuous and uninterrupted exterior circumferential surface. Lugs formed on an interior portion of the strip cooperate with a force expansion unit to move the ring into an expanded position. A recess may also be provided in one end of the strip for cooperating with the force expansion unit. Projections integrally molded on an interior portion of the strip and on an exterior portion adjacent an end of the strip engage one another to lock the ring in an expanded position. Guiding structure may be formed on the strip that prevent lateral movement of the ends of the strip relative to one another when the strip is formed into a ring.

Abstract: A radially expandable device for exerting an outward expansion of a seal to establish a pipe joint including a band having inner and outer ends wrapped to overlap. A pivot link hinged to the inner band end has serrations which engage locking serrations on the inside of the outer band end and swings out as the band inner end is forced out with a hydraulic jack to an expanded locked condition, in which the pivot link extends circumferentially. The radial expansion is accomplished with lower friction as the frictional resistance created by contact with seal is reduced, and simplified installation equipment may be used.

Abstract: An integrally molded compression ring for exerting an outwardly, radially directed force on an inner surface of a gasket to compress the gasket into sealing engagement with a wall of an opening. The compression ring is made from a one-piece body or strip of resiliently flexible material that has a substantially continuous and uninterrupted exterior circumferential surface. Lugs formed on an interior portion of the strip cooperate with a force expansion unit to move the ring into an expanded position. A recess may also be provided in one end of the strip for cooperating with the force expansion unit. Projections integrally molded on an interior portion of the strip and on an exterior portion adjacent an end of the strip engage one another to lock the ring in an expanded position. Guiding structure may be formed on the strip that prevent lateral movement of the ends of the strip relative to one another when the strip is formed into a ring.

Abstract: An apparatus for outwardly radially compressing a gasket into sealing engagement with a wall of an opening includes a continuous strip of resiliently flexible material having first and second ends and first and second members. The first and second members are made from a different material than the strip and are respectively attached to the first and second ends of the strip to thereby form a ring. The first and second members are configured to include locking structure that both fixes the ring in an expanded position adjacent to the gasket and secures against contraction of the ring by the gasket. The apparatus may be made from a plurality of continuous strips of resiliently flexible material and have structure for aligning and securing the first end of each one of the strips adjacent the second end of another of the strips to form a closed ring. The aligning and securing structure includes at least one set of the first and second members.

Abstract: An arrangement for radially expanding a tubular gasket includes a sliding sleeve and a compression sleeve. The sliding sleeve is formed of a thin membrane of relatively rigid material, such as nylon, hypalon or polyester. The sliding sleeve is positioned adjacent an inner surface of that portion of the tubular gasket to be expanded. The compression sleeve is disposed immediately adjacent the sliding sleeve such that the sliding sleeve serves as a slip plate for the compression sleeve when the sleeves are expanded against the inner surface of the tubular gasket. The sliding sleeve may be attached to or integrally molded into the inner surface of the tubular gasket. Another aspect of the invention involves forming the compression sleeve so as to allow it to be locked in any one of a plurality of expanded positions.

Abstract: Improvements in the technique of sliplining a buried pipe, so as to minimize adverse affects of differences in expansion and contraction of the old and new pipe, while maintaining seals at the ends thereof is disclosed employing at each pipe end a sleeve-like pliable gasket, which is expanded outwardly into contact with the inner surface of the old pipe, and somewhat beyond the end of the old pipe, is contracted inwardly into contact with the other surface of the new or sliplined pipe. The sleeve-like gasket can compensate for thermally induced pipe line and liner axial length changes, without breaking the seal between the two, while seal installation is facilitated by the accessability of the sleeve-like gaskets extending beyond the ends of the old pipe.

Abstract: Improvements in the technique of sliplining a buried pipe, so as to minimize adverse affects of differences in expansion and contraction of the old and new pipe, while maintaining seals at the ends thereof is disclosed employing at each pipe end a sleeve-like pliable gasket, which is expanded outwardly into contact with the inner surface of the old pipe, and somewhat beyond the end of the old pipe, is contracted inwardly into contact with the other surface of the new or sliplined pipe. The sleeve-like gasket can compensate for thermally induced pipe line and liner axial length changes, without breaking the seal between the two, while seal installation is facilitated by the accessability of the sleeve-like gaskets extending beyond the ends of the old pipe.

Abstract: This invention relates to a radially expandable locking sleeve device and to a gasket apparatus for providing a fluid tight seal between a pipe and a porthole in the wall of a manhole riser. The gasket is in the form of a tubular element of elastomeric material. An annular recess is provided in the inner surface of the gasket near one end for receiving a radially expandable split sleeve having interlocking end portions. The outer circumferential surface of the locking sleeve is so arranged as to continue uninterruptedly across the area of the interlocking end portions, and the end portions when engaged lock against both lateral displacement and circumferential collapsing of the sleeve.