Abstract: A heater of an external tubular sleeve for repairing a longitudinal section of defective hollow pipe has a frame for encompassing the sleeve when operationally positioned. Each of several burners spaced at intervals about the frame as nozzle for heating the sleeve, and a novel baffle located intermediate the nozzle and sleeve when operationally positioned, for heat dispersal over the sleeve. Each baffle has staggered vents for passing flame from the nozzle onto the sleeve, to avoid cold spots on the sleeve below the baffle, and has a central shaped deflector proximate the vents and facing the nozzle. Flame from the nozzle impacts the deflector and redirects toward the vents and periphery, of the baffle, to avoid point heating below the nozzle and provide diffused flame uniformly over the sleeve. Changing deflector and vent features can influence desired flame dispersal characteristics.

Abstract: An external sleeve arrangement for repairing a defective length of pipe has top and bottom segments for substantially encircling the pipe, where the bottom segment in addition has connector plates welded on either side. When the pipe and sleeve segments are made of a similar material, the sleeve segments are made thicker than the pipe wall, up to three times as thick or more, so that upon heating the sleeve segments for a given time they stretch relative to the pipe. After joining the stretched sleeve segments with the connector plates to form a continuous circumferential sleeve, the sleeve is cooled to provide an enhanced interference fit to reinforce the defective length of pipe. Prior to heating, the sleeve segments are clamped about the pipe using a clamping mechanism employing lugs connected to the segments and screw jacks engaging those lugs to draw the segments tight to the pipe.

Abstract: An external sleeve arrangement for repairing a defective length of pipe has top and bottom segments for substantially encircling the pipe, where the bottom segment in addition has connector plates welded on either side. When the pipe and sleeve segments are made of a similar material, the sleeve segments are made thicker than the pipe wall, up to three times as thick or more, so that upon heating the sleeve segments for a given time they stretch relative to the pipe. After joining the stretched sleeve segments with the connector plates to form a continuous circumferential sleeve, the sleeve is cooled to provide an enhanced interference fit to reinforce the defective length of pipe. Prior to heating, the sleeve segments are clamped about the pipe using a clamping mechanism employing lugs connected to the segments and screw jacks engaging those lugs to draw the segments tight to the pipe.

Abstract: In an external steel sleeve for reinforcing or for providing a seal to prevent leakage in a pipe, the sleeve consists of steel plate material that is shaped and sized to encircle a portion of the length of the pipe. The top and bottom halves of the sleeve each consist of steel shaped plate, and the bottom half in addition has zippers welded on either side. The sleeve may be installed while the carrier pipe is under operating pressure and temperature. Following cleaning of the pipe and sleeve surfaces, if necessary, including cleaning of any external anomalies on the section of pipe to be reinforced, an epoxy filler material is applied to the pipe over the area to be covered by the sleeve. The top and bottom halves of the sleeve are then placed around the pipe and initially tightened using hydraulic jacking devices.