The present invention provides a method of manufacturing a pipe liner for lining the inside of a pipe, for example a water or sewerage pipe requiring repair. The pipe liner is mainly formed of a fabric sleeve, or a plurality of fabric sleeves, and comprises a fluid-proof barrier coating on the inside surface of the pipe liner. The method involves arranging a strip of carrier material comprising a liquid sealant inside the fabric sleeve of the pipe liner and in registration with two opposing side edges of the sheet of fabric, facing an inner barrier coating of the fabric sleeve. The method can advantageously provide such a pipe liner with an inner barrier coating without everting the pipe liner after manufacture. The present invention may also provide a way of avoiding internal cross-welding of said pipe liners and a method for testing the integrity of the barrier coating of said pipe liners. The present invention also provides an apparatus for carrying out these methods.

A method for applying liners inside containers includes: providing a plurality of liners each having a bottom wall, a side wall, an upper opening opposite the bottom wall and a fold extending around the edge of the upper opening; placing the plurality of liners in at least one vertical stack in which the liners are upside down and one inside the other; pulling the liner at the top of the stack out of the stack in a vertical direction and overturning the liner so as to orient it vertically with the upper opening facing upwards; inserting a gripping tool into the liner and gripping the liner with the gripping tool; inserting the gripping tool and the liner held thereby inside a container and placing the liner inside the container; and releasing the liner into the container and removing the gripping tool from the container.

An expander of a tubular assembly having a tubular covering element inserted into a tubular element includes a tip for pushing a first internal wall of the tubular covering element towards a second internal wall of the tubular element so as to enable the adhesion of a first external wall of the tubular covering element to the second internal wall. The expander includes a rotary joint sliding along a first longitudinal axis, to which the tip is coupled so as to arrange the tip radially and enable it to rotate around the first axis. The expander further includes a sensor operatively connected to the tip to detect a radial displacement of the tip owing to a current thrust exerted by the tip, and a logic control unit operatively connected to the sensor and the tip to adjust a future thrust as a function of the radial displacement.

Methods and systems for installation of a liner inside a conduit (e.g., water pipe) to transport a fluid (e.g., potable water) to rehabilitate the conduit, in which the liner can be installed, and thus the conduit can be rehabilitated, more efficiently, including, for example, by further reducing an extent of digging that may have to be done, by testing more readily (e.g., pressure-testing for watertightness or other fluid-tightness once installed), and/or by adapting to a cross-sectional size of the conduit. Also, the liner may be thinner, interact better (e.g., less) with the fluid flowing through the conduit, and/or be otherwise designed to enhance its use and performance.

A method of lining a branch area in a pipeline using an inflatable bladder. The method includes steps of preparing a branch liner with resin and positioning the branch liner in a pipeline, inflating the bladder and running a flow of air and steam through the bladder while monitoring its temperature. After curing of the resin, temperature of the liner is monitored and the bladder is removed only after proper cooling of the liner.

Methods and systems for installation of a liner inside a conduit (e.g., water pipe) to transport a fluid (e.g., potable water) to rehabilitate the conduit, in which the liner can be installed, and thus the conduit can be rehabilitated, more efficiently, including, for example, by further reducing an extent of digging that may have to be done, by testing more readily (e.g., pressure-testing for watertightness or other fluid-tightness once installed), and/or by adapting to a cross-sectional size of the conduit. Also, the liner may be thinner, interact better (e.g., less) with the fluid flowing through the conduit, and/or be otherwise designed to enhance its use and performance.

A compression apparatus (10) for compressing a tubular structure (12) to be formed into a hollow structure (20) such as a pipe comprises contact elements (60) arranged in two sets, (61, 62). The contact elements (60) are adapted to move along a compression section (41) in a coordinated sequence, whereby a portion (12a) of the tubular structure (12) within the compression section (41) is compressed between pairs (63) of opposed contact elements. The apparatus (10) includes registration means (110) for causing respective pairs (63) of opposed contact elements (60) to be maintained in registration with each other while moving along the compression section (41).

A system and method of retroactively lining a vertical trash chute in a building. A tubular fabric liner is provided having a first open end and a second open end. The tubular fabric liner is infused with a resin. A first plug assembly is attached to the first open end. The tubular fabric liner is pulled through the vertical trash chute to position the tubular fabric liner in the trash chute. A second plug assembly is attached to the second open end. The tubular fabric liner is inflated. As it expands, the tubular fabric liner presses against the interior of the trash chute. This condition is maintained until the resin cures and bonds the tubular fabric liner to the trash chute. Once cured, the plug assemblies are removed, the tubular fabric liner is trimmed, and trash chute access openings are cut through the cured liner.

A system and method of retroactively lining a vertical trash chute in a building. A tubular fabric liner is provided having a first open end and a second open end. The tubular fabric liner is infused with a resin. A first plug assembly is attached to the first open end. The tubular fabric liner is pulled through the vertical trash chute to position the tubular fabric liner in the trash chute. A second plug assembly is attached to the second open end. The tubular fabric liner is inflated. As it expands, the tubular fabric liner presses against the interior of the trash chute. This condition is maintained until the resin cures and bonds the tubular fabric liner to the trash chute. Once cured, the plug assemblies are removed, the tubular fabric liner is trimmed, and trash chute access openings are cut through the cured liner.

A method of manufacturing a liner for reinforcing a pipe includes providing a continuous first reinforcing fibers extending in a first direction, moving the first reinforcing fibers in a machine direction such that the first direction is parallel to the machine direction, providing sheets of a material having second reinforcing fibers extending in a second direction, placing the sheets onto the moving first reinforcing fibers such that the second direction is substantially perpendicular to the first direction, and folding the sheets into a closed shape.