# US 11,674,628 B2 · Method, apparatus and system for lining conduits > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,674,628 B2 - Document ID: US11674628B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/639,886 - Filed: 2018-08-20 - Published: 2020-09-24 - Granted: 2023-06-13 - Earliest claimed: 2017-08-18 - Assignees: Moray Group, LLC - Applicants: The Moray Group, LLC - Inventors: Kevan Taylor - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11674628B2 ## CPC - F16L 55/1651: {the flexible liner being everted} - B29C 63/36: being turned inside out {(for platic tubes in general B29C67/0018)} - G06T 1/20: Processor architectures; Processor configuration, e.g. pipelining - G06T 15/06: Ray-tracing - G06T 17/005: {Tree description, e.g. octree, quadtree} - B29C 65/1406: {Ultraviolet [UV] radiation} - B29C 65/4845: {Radiation curing adhesives, e.g. UV light curing adhesives} - B29C 66/301: {Three-dimensional joints, i.e. the joined area being substantially non-flat (B29C66/5223, B29C66/5224, B29C66/5225 take precedence)} - B29C 66/5221: {for forming coaxial connections, i.e. the tubular articles to be joined forming a zero angle relative to each other} - B29C 66/612: {Making circumferential joints} - B29C 2035/0827: {using UV radiation} - G06T 2210/12: Bounding box - F16L: PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) - G06T: IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL ## Abstract Methods, apparatus or equipment and systems for lining conduits, e.g., preferably subterranean pipelines and passageways, such as sewers, with a liner impregnated with a curable resin in order to secure the conduit against ingress or egress of liquids. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An assembly for repairing a hollow conduit having an inside wall surface, said assembly comprising: a tubular liner having a first portion and a second portion, the tubular liner impregnated with a light-activated resin; an inversion apparatus having an opening and a gas inlet port, wherein a seal is formed between the opening and the first portion of the tubular liner to allow inversion pressure to be communicated from the inversion apparatus to the tubular liner; a light curing activator having a first portion and a second portion, said light curing activator combined with the second portion of the tubular liner; wherein the light curing activator comprises a flexible hollow tube having an outside surface and a plurality of lights inside a water tight translucent sleeve combined with the flexible hollow tube, the flexible hollow tube adapted to expand under pressure from a first position wherein the plurality of lights are farther from the inside wall surface of the hollow conduit to a second position wherein the plurality of lights are closer to the inside wall surface of the hollow conduit. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1 further comprising one or more centralizers combined with the outside surface of the flexible hollow tube. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The assembly of claim 2 where the one or more centralizers are wound around the flexible hollow tube in a spiral configuration. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1 further comprising reflecting tape combined with the light curing activator to help disperse light. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1 wherein the light curing activator includes a printed flexible UV light circuit. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The assembly of claim 5 wherein the printed flexible UV light circuit is wound around the outside surface of the flexible hollow tube in a spiral configuration. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The assembly of claim 5 wherein the printed flexible UV light circuit has a first length and the translucent sleeve has a second length, the first length being longer than the second length. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1 wherein the first portion of the light curing activator is a first end and the second portion of the light curing activator is a send end, the assembly further comprising a two way continuous power circuit, said power circuit having wires in communication with the first end and the second end of the light curing activator to provide power to both ends. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The assembly of claim 8 wherein the power circuit is one of a low power direct current electrical supply and a battery. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1 wherein the first portion of the tubular liner has a leading end and the second portion of the tubular liner has a trailing end. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1 wherein the water tight translucent sleeve is combined with the outside surface of the flexible hollow tube. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, wherein the gas inlet port is configured to receive pressurized gas. ### Claim 13 An assembly for repairing a hollow conduit having an inside wall surface, said assembly comprising: a tubular liner impregnated with a light-activated resin; an inversion bladder having a first portion and a second portion; an inversion apparatus having an opening and a gas inlet port, wherein a seal is formed between the opening and at least one of the tubular liner and the inversion bladder to provide inversion pressure between the inversion apparatus and at least one of the tubular liner and the inversion bladder; a light curing activator having a first portion and a second portion, said light curing activator combined with the second portion of the inversion bladder; wherein the light curing activator comprises a flexible hollow tube having an outside surface and a plurality of lights inside a water tight translucent sleeve combined with the outside surface of the flexible hollow tube. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The assembly of claim 13 further comprising one or more centralizers combined with the outside surface of the flexible hollow tube. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The assembly of claim 14 where the one or more centralizers are attached to the flexible hollow tube in a spiral configuration. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The assembly of claim 13 further comprising reflecting tape combined with the light curing activator to help disperse light. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The assembly of claim 13 wherein the light curing activator includes a printed flexible UV light circuit. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The assembly of claim 17 wherein the printed flexible UV light circuit is wound around the outside surface of the flexible hollow tube in a spiral configuration. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The assembly of claim 17 wherein the printed flexible UV light circuit has a first length and the translucent sleeve has a second length, the first length being longer than the second length. ### Claim 20 (depends on 13) The assembly of claim 13 further comprising a two way continuous power circuit, and wherein the light curing activator has a first end and a second end, said power circuit having wires in communication with the first end and the second end of the light curing activator to provide power to both ends. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The assembly of claim 20 wherein the power circuit is one of a low power direct current electrical supply and a battery. ### Claim 22 (depends on 13) The assembly of claim 13 wherein the first portion of the inversion bladder is a leading end and the second portion of the inversion bladder is a trailing end. ### Claim 23 (depends on 13) The assembly of claim 13, wherein the gas inlet port is configured to receive pressurized gas. ### Claim 24 An apparatus for repairing a hollow conduit having an inside wall surface, said apparatus comprising: a light curing activator having a first portion and a second portion, said light curing activator adapted to be combined with one of a liner tube and an inversion bladder; wherein the light curing activator comprises a flexible hollow tube having an outside surface and a plurality of lights inside a water tight translucent sleeve combined with the outside surface of the flexible hollow tube, the flexible hollow tube adapted to expand under pressure from a first position wherein the plurality of lights are farther from the inside wall surface of the hollow conduit to a second position wherein the plurality of lights are closer to the inside wall surface of the hollow conduit. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The apparatus of claim 24 further comprising one or more centralizers combined with the outside surface of the flexible hollow tube. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The apparatus of claim 25 where the one or more centralizers are attached to the flexible hollow tube in a spiral configuration. ### Claim 27 (depends on 24) The apparatus of claim 24 further comprising reflecting tape combined with the light curing activator to help disperse light. ### Claim 28 (depends on 24) The apparatus of claim 24 wherein the light curing activator includes a printed flexible UV light circuit. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The apparatus of claim 28 wherein the printed flexible UV light circuit is wound around the outside surface of the flexible hollow tube in a spiral configuration. ### Claim 30 (depends on 28) The apparatus of claim 28 wherein the printed flexible UV light circuit has a first length and the translucent sleeve has a second length, the first length being longer than the second length. ### Claim 31 (depends on 24) The apparatus of claim 24 further comprising a two way continuous power circuit, and wherein the light curing activator has a first end and a second end, said power circuit having wires in communication with the first end and the second end of the light curing activator to provide power to both ends. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) The apparatus of claim 31 wherein the power circuit is one of a low power direct current electrical supply and a battery. ### Claim 33 An apparatus for repairing a portion of hollow conduit having a wall, said apparatus comprising: a pipe rehabilitation packer having a bladder configured to expand toward the wall, wherein the bladder is translucent, tubular, and flexible; and a light curing activator positioned within the bladder; wherein the light curing activator has a length and is configured to receive power at more than one location along the length. ### Claim 34 (depends on 33) The apparatus of claim 33 wherein the light curing activator has a first end and a second end and the light curing activator is configured to receive power at the first end and the second end. ### Claim 35 (depends on 33) The apparatus of claim 33 wherein the light curing activator has a length that is longer than a length of the flexible bladder, and the light curing activator is configured to coil by expanding the bladder under pressure from a first position to a second position.