Patents by Inventor William Lepola
William Lepola 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).
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Publication number: 20100301506Abstract: A control apparatus used in conjunction with tools and devices such as electrical power supplies, fluid pumps and vacuums for in situ repair of pipes. A method for controlling in situ repair of pipe using electrical power sources, fluid and pressure sources and flexible heat and inflation bladder installing thermal responsive repair materials and applying the repair material to the interior wall surface. The apparatus controls the inflation of the repair tool inserted into a pipe and the amount and rate of fluid pressure and maintenance of a selected pressure. The apparatus may also control the evacuation of the fluid from the bladder of the repair tool. The device controls the heating of the tool used in the installation of the repair material.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 22, 2010Publication date: December 2, 2010Inventors: William Lepola, Kenton L. Knoppel
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Patent number: 7789643Abstract: A control apparatus used in conjunction with tools and devices such as electrical power supplies, fluid pumps and vacuums for in situ repair of pipes. A method for controlling in situ repair of pipe using electrical power sources, fluid and pressure sources and flexible heat and inflation bladder installing thermal responsive repair materials and applying the repair material to the interior wall surface. The apparatus controls the inflation of the repair tool inserted into a pipe and the amount and rate of fluid pressure and maintenance of a selected pressure. The apparatus may also control the evacuation of the fluid from the bladder of the repair tool. The device controls the heating of the tool used in the installation of the repair material.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 2006Date of Patent: September 7, 2010Assignee: EMS Global Inc.Inventors: William Lepola, Kenton L. Knoppel
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Patent number: 7628943Abstract: A method and device is disclosed for inserting a flexible, inflatable and electrically heatable bladder conveying and installing a thermally responsive repair material into the interior of a pipe. The device is portable and can be used to repair pipe accessible from only one location.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 2008Date of Patent: December 8, 2009Assignee: Energy Maintenance Services I LLCInventors: Richard Blackmore, John Perry Nixon, William Lepola
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Patent number: 7628177Abstract: The invention comprises a lateral interface pipe repair device containing a housing with fluid sealable flexible walls dimensioned to fit within a main pipe and further comprising a first end and a second end wherein the first end and second end are held in fixed orientation by support rods and end plates external to the flexible housing. The device also includes a bladder mounting flange fluid sealably attached to the flexible housing wall, and a heatable and inflatable elastomeric bladder dimensioned to fit within the housing when the bladder is deflated and evertable through the bladder mounting flange into a lateral pipe when inflated.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 2007Date of Patent: December 8, 2009Assignee: Energy Maintenance Service I LLCInventor: William Lepola
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Patent number: 7527076Abstract: The invention discloses a vertical pipe lining method comprising placing a repair material having a first end and a second end into a pipe having a bottom opening and a top opening. The repair material is inflated to press the repair material against the inside wall surface of the pipe; and heated air is conveyed through the inflated repair material from the bottom opening to the top opening to cure or mold a thermal responsive component of the repair material to the pipe. The invention also teaches a repair material for vertically oriented pipes comprising a multi-layered lining comprising a first outer layer and a second inner layer wherein the first outer layer comprises a resin impregnated fiber and the second inner layer is air impermeable. The invention also teaches a system for repairing. vertical pipe utilizing a repair material inflation device, an air blower and an air heater.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2006Date of Patent: May 5, 2009Assignee: Energy Maintenance Service Group I LLCInventors: William Lepola, Kenton L Knoppel
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Patent number: 7523764Abstract: The invention comprises a fluid inflatable bladder with at least one electrical heating component comprised of carbon fibers. Also subject of the invention is an interior surface pipe repair material placement, transport and installation device for in situ pipe repair comprising an cylindrically shaped electrically resistive heatable bladder having an inflatable annulus with fixed diameter cone ends wherein the cone ends and the deflated bladder are dimensioned to fit within an interior of a pipe. The tapered cone ends facilitates maneuvering of the bladder within the pipe, and a middle segment of the bladder may be inflated to expand in a radial direction to press a repair material to the interior pipe surface. The invention includes fluid conveying components connectable to the inflatable annulus; and electrical power connector components connectable to resistive heating elements of the bladder.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2005Date of Patent: April 28, 2009Assignee: Energy Maintenance Services Group I, LLCInventors: William Lepola, John Perry Nixon
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Patent number: 7517212Abstract: A method and device is disclosed for inserting a flexible, inflatable and electrically heatable bladder conveying and installing a thermally responsive repair material into the interior of a pipe. The device is portable and can be used to repair pipe accessible from only one location.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2005Date of Patent: April 14, 2009Assignee: Energy Mainteance Services Group I, LLCInventors: Richard Blackmore, John Perry Nixon, William Lepola
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Patent number: 7514653Abstract: A tube shaped and fluid inflatable and electrically heatable in-situ pipe repair device comprising a first outer elastomeric tube layer and a resistive heating component comprised of electrically conductive fibers braided over an elastomeric core. The tube shaped device also contains an inner annulus. The device is fluid sealable and is connectible to a fluid supply and vacuum source. It is also connectible to an electrical power source. The device may also comprise two tube shaped layers configured to fit snuggly together with a resistive heating component held between the two layers. The resistive heating component may be a braided fiber-elastomeric core combination or a conductive fiber configured in a sinusoidal wave or similar pattern.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 2006Date of Patent: April 7, 2009Assignee: Energy Maintenance Services Group I LLCInventor: William Lepola
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Publication number: 20090014080Abstract: A method and device is disclosed for inserting a flexible, inflatable and electrically heatable bladder conveying and installing a thermally responsive repair material into the interior of a pipe. The device is portable and can be used to repair pipe accessible from only one location.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 19, 2008Publication date: January 15, 2009Inventors: Richard Blackmore, John Perry Nixon, William Lepola
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Publication number: 20070272679Abstract: A tube shaped and fluid inflatable and electrically heatable in-situ pipe repair device comprising a first outer elastomeric tube layer and a resistive heating component comprised of electrically conductive fibers braided over an elastomeric core. The tube shaped device also contains an inner annulus. The device is fluid sealable and is connectible to a fluid supply and vacuum source. It is also connectible to an electrical power source. The device may also comprise two tube shaped layers configured to fit snuggly together with a resistive heating component held between the two layers. The resistive heating component may be a braided fiber-elastomeric core combination or a conductive fiber configured in a sinusoidal wave or similar pattern.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 21, 2006Publication date: November 29, 2007Inventors: William Lepola, Bruce Bond
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Publication number: 20070261222Abstract: The invention subject of this disclosure is for an in situ pipe repair lateral interface device comprising a housing component comprising fluid inflation components and a bladder mounting flange and a housing extension fluid sealably attachable to the housing and containing a heatable and inflatable bladder that may be attached to the bladder mounting flange.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 9, 2007Publication date: November 15, 2007Inventor: William Lepola
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Publication number: 20070261751Abstract: The invention comprises a lateral interface pipe repair device containing a housing with fluid sealable flexible walls dimensioned to fit within a main pipe and further comprising a first end and a second end wherein the first end and second end are held in fixed orientation by support rods and end plates external to the flexible housing. The device also includes a bladder mounting flange fluid sealably attached to the flexible housing wall, and a heatable and inflatable elastomeric bladder dimensioned to fit within the housing when the bladder is deflated and evertable through the bladder mounting flange into a lateral pipe when inflated.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 9, 2007Publication date: November 15, 2007Inventor: William Lepola
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Patent number: 7267739Abstract: The apparatus and method for eliminating ground water infiltration while stabilizing the ground and repairing underground pipe/conduit and connections is taught in this art. The steps are to first inject, under pressure, expandable structural foam in the space adjacent and outside the pipe while blocking any infiltration of the foam into the interior of the pipe, conduit or connection. Concurrently or separately the inside diameter of the pipe is receiving a structural repair. The result is stabilized ground, elimination of ground water infiltration and repair of the host pipe conduit or connection. The invention also teaches a novel method of utilizing a tensioned and compressive support on the outer pipe surface.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2004Date of Patent: September 11, 2007Assignee: Verline, Inc.Inventors: Richard Blackmore, William Lepola
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Publication number: 20070163665Abstract: The invention discloses a vertical pipe lining method comprising placing a repair material having a first end and a second end into a pipe having a bottom opening and a top opening. The repair material is inflated to press the repair material against the inside wall surface of the pipe; and heated air is conveyed through the inflated repair material from the bottom opening to the top opening to cure or mold a thermal responsive component of the repair material to the pipe. The invention also teaches a repair material for vertically oriented pipes comprising a multi-layered lining comprising a first outer layer and a second inner layer wherein the first outer layer comprises a resin impregnated fiber and the second inner layer is air impermeable. The invention also teaches a system for repairing. vertical pipe utilizing a repair material inflation device, an air blower and an air heater.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 18, 2006Publication date: July 19, 2007Inventors: William Lepola, Kenton Knoppel
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Patent number: 7135087Abstract: The apparatus and method for eliminating ground water infiltration while stabilizing the ground and repairing underground pipe/conduit and connections is taught in this art. The steps are to first inject, under pressure, expandable structural foam in the space adjacent and outside the pipe while blocking any infiltration of the foam into the interior of the pipe, conduit or connection. Concurrently or separately the inside diameter of the pipe is receiving a structural repair. The result is stabilized ground, elimination of ground water infiltration and repair of the host pipe conduit or connection.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 2004Date of Patent: November 14, 2006Assignee: Verline Inc.Inventors: Richard Blackmore, William Lepola
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Publication number: 20060174957Abstract: A method of repairing an intersection of a first conduit and a second conduit that includes the steps of providing a repair material configured to conform to an intersection of a first conduit and a second conduit and impregnating the repair material with a heat curable resin. The method further includes positioning the repair material at the intersection of the conduits and compressing the repair material against said intersection with a structure having a plurality of electrically conductive fibers. Electric current is applied to the conductive fibers to resistively heat the fibers to facilitate curing of the resin in the repair material.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 4, 2006Publication date: August 10, 2006Inventors: Richard Blackmore, Mark Sloan, William Lepola
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Publication number: 20060151037Abstract: A control apparatus used in conjunction with tools and devices such as electrical power supplies, fluid pumps and vacuums for in situ repair of pipes. A method for controlling in situ repair of pipe using electrical power sources, fluid and pressure sources and flexible heat and inflation bladder installing thermal responsive repair materials and applying the repair material to the interior wall surface. The apparatus controls the inflation of the repair tool inserted into a pipe and the amount and rate of fluid pressure and maintenance of a selected pressure. The apparatus may also control the evacuation of the fluid from the bladder of the repair tool. The device controls the heating of the tool used in the installation of the repair material.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 10, 2006Publication date: July 13, 2006Inventors: William Lepola, Kenton Knoppel
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Publication number: 20060130923Abstract: The invention comprises an in situ pipe repair device and method for placement, transport and installation of a pipe repair material onto the interior pipe surface. The invention comprises a fluid inflatable bladder with at least one electrical heating component comprised of carbon fibers. The device of the invention includes a closeable fluid access port that can convey a fluid into the inflatable annulus, and cone ends that are attachable to the bladder ends wherein the diameter of the cone bases are at least as large as a middle segment diameter of the deflated bladder. The invention further comprises an in situ pipe repair device including an inflation component of first end piece and a second end piece, each having a fixed dimension and wherein at least one end piece has a fluid access port and at least one electrical conductor access. Also included is a cylinder component that is fluid impermeable with an expandable diameter and is fluid sealably attachable to the end pieces.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2005Publication date: June 22, 2006Inventors: William Lepola, John Nixon
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Publication number: 20060048832Abstract: A method and device is disclosed for inserting a flexible, inflatable and electrically heatable bladder conveying and installing a thermally responsive repair material into the interior of a pipe. The device is portable and can be used to repair pipe accessible from only one location.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 1, 2005Publication date: March 9, 2006Inventors: Richrd Blackmore, John Nixon, William Lepola
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Publication number: 20040231789Abstract: The apparatus and method for eliminating ground water infiltration while stabilizing the ground and repairing underground pipe/ conduit and connections is taught in this art. The steps are to first inject, under pressure, expandable structural foam in the space adjacent and outside the pipe while blocking any infiltration of the foam into the interior of the pipe, conduit or connection. Concurrently or separately the inside diameter of the pipe is receiving a structural repair. The result is stabilized ground, elimination of ground water infiltration and repair of the host pipe conduit or connection. The invention also teaches a novel method of utilizing a tensioned and compressive support on the outer pipe surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 8, 2004Publication date: November 25, 2004Inventors: Richard Blackmore, William Lepola