Patents Assigned to Insituform (Pipes & Structures) Ltd.
  • Patent number: 5655283
    Abstract: A corporation stop has a threaded stem with an enlarged, conical head portion and a neck portion of reduced size coaxially surrounded by a resilient sleeve member. A flat, annular compression ring rests above the sleeve member and has at least one notch formed radially in its outer edge and has on its lower side a sleeve receiving recess of a diameter greater than that of the annular opening to receive the upper end of the sleeve member. A clamp nut is engageable with the neck portion of the threaded stem. A saddle member having at least one tab projecting radially engages the notch in the compression ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 12, 1997
    Assignee: Insituform (Netherlands) B.V.
    Inventors: Franklin T. Driver, Joseph D. Carroll
  • Patent number: 5656117
    Abstract: A method of lining passageways, or pipelines, employs a pre-liner sleeve formed of a thin plastic material, which is applied to the inside surface of the passageway to be lined. During application of the pre-liner sleeve, it is held in a concertina-like folded condition in a magazine which is moved along the passageway by operation of air pressure which is applied from within the pre-liner sleeve, and which simultaneously inflates the pre-liner sleeve so that it communicates with the inside surface of the passageway. A spray head follows the magazine from within the inflated pre-liner sleeve and applies a hardenable composition, such as mortar, to the inside of the inflated pre-liner sleeve. The spray head is followed, in some embodiments, by a tube which is everted to communicate with the applied hardenable composition under air pressure. The tube holds the applied layer in position while it cures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 12, 1997
    Assignee: Insituform (Netherlands) B.V.
    Inventors: Eric Wood, deceased, Miranda J. Bull, administratrix
  • Patent number: 5624629
    Abstract: A liner for a lateral pipe which leads into a main pipe having at one end a collar for installation at the location where the lateral liner meets the main, the collar extending along the interior of the main seating against the opening of the lateral. The liner mounted in a launching device is installed by everting the liner through an opening in the collar by means of fluid under pressure supplied through a pressure pipe in the launching device, the launcher held in position by an inflatable bladder which is inflated by said fluid, and against the collar for sealing the lateral/main pipe junction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 29, 1997
    Assignee: Insituform (Netherlands) B.V.
    Inventor: Eric Wood
  • Patent number: 5597353
    Abstract: A compact apparatus for everting a liner utilizing fluid pressure after the liner has been aligned with the conduit to be lined is provided. The apparatus includes a sphincter valve with its axis aligned with the conduit to be lined and an eversion pressure chamber overlapping a portion of the sphincter valve for reducing the length of the apparatus and allowing positioning in a sewer manhole. A downtube is positioned at the input side of the sphincter valve which can extend to the top of the manhole. To install a liner, the apparatus is placed in the entrance manhole with the sphincter valve aligned with the axis of the sewer pipe, the liner is inserted into the downtube, turned to align with the sphincter valve and conduit and fluid pressure is applied to the valve to engage the flattened liner which after passing through the valve is everted by fluid pressure as it enters the sewer pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 28, 1997
    Assignee: Insituform (Netherlands) B.V.
    Inventor: Joseph A. Alexander, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5577864
    Abstract: The invention provides that where a main underground pipeline or passageway (10) is lined by a lining tube which extends over the connection of a lateral pipe (12) with the main pipeline or passageway (10), the lateral connection can be readily located and the lining tube (44) cut to re-establish the connection, if such as a steel ball or other deposit, which is radiation detectable, is placed on the surface of the pipeline or passageway (10) at a predetermined distance (77) from the said lateral connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1996
    Assignee: Insituform B.V.
    Inventors: Eric Wood, deceased, Miranda J. Bull, executrix
  • Patent number: 5546992
    Abstract: A dual containment pipe system suitable for installation into an existing conduit includes an impervious containment pipe adapted to be installed as a primary containment pipe and a crush-resistant and flexible spacer element disposed about the entire external circumference of the primary containment pipe. The spacer is formed of a plurality of spaced apart and parallel substantially crush-resistant longitudinal members with a plurality of spaced apart parallel flexible connecting ribs bonded thereto. The longitudinal members form a uniform space when the containment pipe suitable for installation of leak detection systems including cables or based on measuring pressure differentials. The new impervious primary containment pipe may be cured in place, folded and formed, diameter reduced pipe, or any other pipe suitable for pipeline rehabilitation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 20, 1996
    Assignee: Insituform (Netherlands) B.V.
    Inventors: Douglas K. Chick, F. Thomas Driver
  • Patent number: 5510078
    Abstract: A lining process for a pipeline or passageway employs a resin impregnated lining tube which is everted into a collapsed preliner tube in the passageway to be lined. A constraining element allows the preliner tube to expand only in the vicinity of the everting face so that a pool of resin is formed between the everting face and the preliner tuber adjacent to the constraining element. In this manner, air is prevented from communicating with the everting face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 23, 1996
    Assignee: Insituform (Netherlands) B.V.
    Inventors: Edward P. Smith, Graham F. Towers
  • Patent number: 5494118
    Abstract: The invention provides that an underground through borehole (28) is formed with a reaming tool (24). It is filled with a viscous fluid and as soon as possible after being so filled, a flexible lining tube (32) is inserted into the borehole (28) to keep the surface from collapsing until a rigid service pipe (12) has been pulled or pushed into the borehole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 27, 1996
    Assignee: Insituform (Netherlands) B.V.
    Inventor: Eric Wood, deceased
  • Patent number: 5409561
    Abstract: An underground pipeline or passageway is lined by having a plastics film pre-liner tube applied thereto by inflation, and the tube whilst inflated has an applicator pulled therethrough from which a fluent curable or hardenable composition issues and is applied directly to the inside of the inflated tube to form a layer which cures or hardens to form a lining. Preferably a second tube is applied to the inside of the composition layer to hold it in position whilst it cures or hardens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1995
    Assignee: Insituform (Netherlands) B.V.
    Inventor: Eric Wood
  • Patent number: 5407630
    Abstract: A method for lining a passageway which includes providing a plurality of tube sections connected end to end, pulling a first tube section through the passageway in a collapsed condition and thereafter everting a second tube section into the interior of said collapsed first tube section to cause it to expand outwardly toward the interior walls of said passageway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 18, 1995
    Assignee: Insituform (Netherlands) BV
    Inventor: Edward P. Smith
  • Patent number: 5393481
    Abstract: The lining of a lateral pipe which leads into a main pipe is achieved by everting a resin impregnated tubular lining through an elbow in the main pipe, eversion being accomplished by a fluid under pressure supplied through a pressure pipe, the elbow being held in position by an inflatable bag which is inflated by said fluid, the bag sealing the lateral/main pipe junction, and the bag being such that at least one additional pressure pipe may extend past the seal arrangement so that at the same time that the first mentioned lateral lining is curing a second lateral may be similarly lined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1995
    Assignee: Insituform (Netherlands) BV
    Inventor: Eric Wood
  • Patent number: 5384086
    Abstract: The method provides that a pipeline (10) or passageway (10) wall is coated using a backstop means, a body of resinous material (6) and an everting tube (5). These items are located inside the passageway to be lined and moved there along with the backstop (1) providing support for the bulk of resin material and also applying pressure via the resin material onto the everting face (16). When the everting tube is a resin absorbent material, the presence of the bulk of the fluent material prevents air from becoming entrained in the everting face and prevents voids in final lining. The resin may be introduced via a tee piece (12) through the lag thereof while the everting tube is introduced along the arms of the tee.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 24, 1995
    Assignee: Insituform (Netherlands) BV
    Inventor: Edward P. Smith
  • Patent number: 5374174
    Abstract: An improved apparatus particularly well adapted for installing a liner within a service pipe having an access end and a terminal end, the liner having a part which is everted and then inflated by the insertion of a fluid thereinto, the fluid being thus inserted by way of a conduit movable into the everted liner part by sliding through the eversion apparatus, the apparatus being further provided with appropriately located winches for controlling the movement of that part into and out of the service pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1994
    Assignee: Insituform (Netherlands) B.V.
    Inventor: Charles A. Long, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5358359
    Abstract: In a tube eversion apparatus having a chamber in which eversion pressure is produced, that pressure is controllably sealed by providing curtain means communicating with the chamber through which the eversion tube slides and by providing inflatable means, preferably one on each side of the curtain means, which when inflated is caused to press against the curtain means, thereby to press the curtain means against the eversion tube sliding therethrough so as to produce the seal which maintains the eversion pressure in the chamber. A pair of sets of such inflatable means may be mounted on the apparatus one above the other with the individual sets of inflatable means being individually controlled, thus producing not only redundancy of the sealing means but also permitting enlarged or discontinuous portions of the eversion tube assembly to pass through the sealing means without interfering with the seal produced thereby.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 25, 1994
    Assignee: Insituform (Netherlands) B.V.
    Inventor: Charles A. Long, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5323723
    Abstract: The invention provides that a sewing machine is used for sewing the adjacent edges of a flat felt web which is folded to bring the edges together. The web moves past the sewing machine, and the sewing machine is mounted so as to reciprocate in a forward stroke in the direction of the web during the stitching, and to move rearward back to an initial position to effect the next stitch. The drive mechanism of the sewing machine is such that from the commencement of the forward stroke the machine is accelerated up to the speed of the web the needle penetrates the web and effects the stitch, the needle is removed from the web, and then is decelerated to zero before completing the backstroke. The invention also relates to an optical sensing mechanism for examining the presence of stitches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 28, 1994
    Assignee: Insituform (Netherlands) BV/SA
    Inventor: Michael Askin
  • Patent number: 5318395
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for porting lateral connections in a lined pipeline from the lateral side of the liner. An access hole is formed through the liner material covering the lateral connection. A cutting apparatus, such as a water cutter, is inserted through the access hole with the nozzle directed back towards the liner. Alternatively, the cutting apparatus can be fed through the lateral towards the lined opening. The inside surface of the lateral pipe is then used as a guide to aim the water jet at the precise location where the cut is desired as the nozzle is revolved around the inside surface of the lateral to cut the liner to the shape of the connection opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 7, 1994
    Assignee: Insituform Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Franklin T. Driver
  • Patent number: 5285741
    Abstract: The manufacture of flexible tubes of two or more layers of a material such as felt which can absorb synthetic resin comprises feeding a first web in the direction of its length and folding the web so that its edges came face-to-face and are sewn together by stitches which loop round said edges, the second layer being wrapped around the first and its edges sewn in a similar manner, the looped stitching being such that when the tube is inflated to circular form the extremities of the edges in the stitching loops in each layer come into butting contact, whereby there are no regions where the layer has a double thickness of material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 15, 1994
    Assignee: Insituform (Netherlands) B. V.
    Inventor: Michael Askin
  • Patent number: 5172730
    Abstract: An elongated fluid detection device, together with a body of absorbent material, is located between the inner surface of a pipe and an impervious liner spaced from the inner surface thereof, the detection device being operatively connected to an external station. The impervious layer may be of a type normally used for relining defective pipes in situ, and the body of absorbent material, together with the fluid detecting element, preferably substantially filling the cylindrical space between the inner surface of the pipe and the impervious liner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1992
    Assignee: Insituform of North American, Inc.
    Inventor: F. Thomas Driver
  • Patent number: 5154936
    Abstract: In a tube eversion apparatus a first chamber in which the eversion pressure is developed is controllably sealed by a sphincter-type valve, the valve being in turn actuated by pressure developed in a preferably separately controllable and adjustable second chamber, another chamber preferably being provided above the sphincter-type valve for containing a supply of liquid and limiting turbulence from any escape of fluid past the sphincter-type valve, the other chamber also providing apparatus for supplying heated fluid to a lay-flat hose adapted to be pulled through the spincter-type valve by the tube being everted. Use of the improved apparatus involves appropriate modifications of the usual eversion process involving applying and controlling the everting pressure and the pressure exerted against the sphincter-type valve by the fluid in the second chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1992
    Assignee: Insituform Licensees B.V.
    Inventors: F. Thomas Driver, Joseph A. Alexander, Lloyd G. Buchanan
  • Patent number: D373408
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1996
    Assignee: Insituform (Netherlands) BV
    Inventor: Eric Wood