The present invention comprises a method and means for repairing the wall of a manhole wherein a material capable of curing and hardening is adhered to the wall. An expandable bladder engages the curable and hardenable material and presses against and smoothes the material. The bladder may be chemically bonded to the curable and hardenable material or it may be mechanically bonded.

A hole former for use in casting a gasket within an opening of a structure of the type used in underground water systems, such as a manhole. The hole former includes a body defining a central axis and an outer peripheral surface, with at least one gasket retention element projecting radially outwardly from the outer peripheral surface to interface with a corresponding locating feature of the gasket. In this manner, axial shifting or movement of the gasket with respect to the hole former is restricted, thereby positively locating and retaining the gasket on the hole former before and during the casting process. The hole former may have a compound curvature, with the gasket retained around the periphery of the hole former in a compound curved configuration.

A manhole base assembly and a method for making the same, in which a non-cylindrical, low-volume concrete base is fully lined to protect the concrete against chemical and physical attack while in service. This lined concrete manhole base assembly may be readily produced using a modular manhole form assembly which can be configured for a wide variety of geometrical configurations compatible with, e.g., varying pipe angles, elevations and sizes. The form assembly is configurable to provide any desired angle and elevation for the pipe apertures using existing, standard sets of form assembly materials, and may also be used in conjunction with industry-standard cylindrical casting jackets for compatibility with existing casting operations. The resulting system provides for flexible construction of a wide variety of lined manhole base assemblies at minimal cost, reduced concrete consumption and reduced operational complexity. The modular nature of the production form assembly also facilitates reduced inventory requirements when various manhole base assembly geometries are needed.

A manhole liner and a method of using the same are provided. The manhole liner is sized substantially equally to the largest diameter of the manhole, so that the liner does not have to stretch to be pressed against the manhole wall. Additionally, the liner is impregnated with a resinous material capable of curing and hardening. A bladder, preferably stretchable circumferentially and having a diameter less than the smallest diameter of the manhole, is inserted into the liner. The bladder is expanded to press the liner against the wall of the manhole to dispense resinous material from the liner, while the liner is able to fold over itself in areas having a diameter less than the original diameter of the liner. Because the bladder stretches to produce a smooth outside surface, the resinous material will migrate to areas in the folds and will cure with a smooth interior surface.

A method of repairing a manhole is provided. A mastic material capable of curing and hardening as applied to a lower portion of the manhole, including the barrel, bench, and into at least one pipe line extending from the manhole. A resin saturated liner may also be included into a portion of the pipe extending from the manhole. A manhole liner saturated with a resinous material is then positioned in the manhole, and the manhole liner, pipe liner, and mastic material are configured to cure at approximately the same time to form a homogenous, repaired interior of the manhole, including a portion extending into the pipe. The pipe or pipes can then be repaired in a manner such as inverting a liner or bladder into the pipe. In the addition of an end seal at the juncture between the pipe and manhole is also contemplated for further sealing the juncture.

A method of repairing a manhole is provided. A mastic material capable of curing and hardening as applied to a lower portion of the manhole, including the barrel, bench, and into at least one pipe line extending from the manhole. A resin saturated liner may also be included into a portion of the pipe extending from the manhole. A manhole liner saturated with a resinous material is then positioned in the manhole, and the manhole liner, pipe liner, and mastic material are configured to cure at approximately the same time to form a homogenous, repaired interior of the manhole, including a portion extending into the pipe. The pipe or pipes can then be repaired in a manner such as inverting a liner or bladder into the pipe. In the addition of an end seal at the juncture between the pipe and manhole is also contemplated for further sealing the juncture.

A manhole base assembly and a method for making the same, in which a non-cylindrical, low-volume concrete base is fully lined to protect the concrete against chemical and physical attack while in service. This lined concrete manhole base assembly may be readily produced using a modular manhole form assembly which can be configured for a wide variety of geometrical configurations compatible with, e.g., varying pipe angles, elevations and sizes. The form assembly is configurable to provide any desired angle and elevation for the pipe apertures using existing, standard sets of form assembly materials, and may also be used in conjunction with industry-standard cylindrical casting jackets for compatibility with existing casting operations. The resulting system provides for flexible construction of a wide variety of lined manhole base assemblies at minimal cost, reduced concrete consumption and reduced operational complexity. The modular nature of the production form assembly also facilitates reduced inventory requirements when various manhole base assembly geometries are needed.

A liner for a manhole cover is made up of stackable sections. Each stackable section is formed of a plurality (e.g. 4) pieces. Each piece comprises a first arm and a second arm which are substantially perpendicular to one another, the first arm being longer than the second arm, and both arms comprising connection means to allow the pieces to be connected together. The respective dimensions of the first arm and the second arm are chosen such that, when the piece is incorporated into a stackable section comprising three other corresponding pieces that are connected to each other in a sequence of a second arm of one piece connected to the first arm of an adjacent piece to form a quadrilateral stackable section, a further corresponding piece can fit within the stackable section along an axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the first arm. Further corresponding pieces can thus be arranged within a complete stackable section to maximise the number of pieces that can be transported in a given space.

A trenchless method of installing a new poured-in-place manhole liner provides structural rehabilitation to an existing buried manhole, and is extended above the existing manhole to a higher pre-determined elevation to match the finished grade of a raised levee design. The new liner can be formed in a single or double stage process, which substantially eliminates trenching and excavation of soil, so that new levee soil is not disturbed. The process is faster and less expensive than building a totally new manhole, and maintains the structural integrity of the levee.

A new inner passageway through a pre-cast concrete structure damaged by corrosion may be formed by stackable inserts formed of polymer concrete. The inserts may be stacked in the old passageway through the pre-cast concrete structure such that an inner surface of the stacked inserts forms a new passageway through the pre-cast concrete structure. A grout may be poured between an outer surface of the stacked inserts and an inner surface of the pre-cast concrete structure forming the old passageway. The surfaces of the stackable inserts may have superior resistance to corrosive acids such that the need for future repair is greatly reduced. Suitable pre-cast concrete structures for rehabilitation include pre-cast concrete structures utilized in wastewater systems, including manholes and other similar structures. In this manner, the damaged pre-cast concrete structures do not need to be removed during the rehabilitation.