Method, apparatus and product for improved pipe-to-manhole sealing

In a method of yieldably and flexibly joining together a pipe member and an enclosure member having an opening defined by a circular edge by means of a flexible tubular connector member the steps of:

• loosely fitting one end of said tubular connector member inside the opening;
• then internally clamping said end of the tubular connector member against the circular edge in sealed relationship therewith, by pressure exerted radially of said opening and normal to the axis of said tubular connector member;
• then inserting an end portion of the said pipe inside the tubular connector member to extend well within said opening and up to the end of said tubular member,
• and thereafter externally clamping an opposite end of the tubular connecting member around the outer surface of said pipe.

A method of attaching a flexible tubular connector member to an enclosure body having a hole therein which comprises the steps of:

• locating an end of the flexible tubular connector member in the hole;
• then applying pressure in a radial direction, normal to the axis of said hole and to the axis of said connector member, against the inner surface of said connector member to expand the said end thereof into tightly sealed engagement with the edge ofthe hole,
• and internally clamping said end in said expanded, tightly, sealed condition within said hole,
• said steps of expanding and clamping being accomplished by hydraulic jack pressure exerted against the toggle arms of a split clamp band until the toggle arms are moved radially outwardly beyond centre to a locked expanded position.

Apparatus for sealably and flexibly joining together a pipe member and an enclosure body formed with a hole which is defined by a circular edge, said apparatus comprising:

• a flexible, elongated, tapered, tubular boot of elastic, rubber-like material, having a small cylindrical, pipe-clamping end, a large cylindrical hole-clamping end and a tapered portion extending between said ends to provide for flexing displacement of one end with respect to the other,
• external clamping means mounted around the pipe clamping end;
• internal clamping means supported inside the hole clamping end, said means including a radially expandable clamp means adapted to increase in diameter and lock in increased diameter condition;
• and a fluid pressure actuated member, mounted within the hole clamping end of said boot, and in engagement with said expandable clamp means for applying pressure thereto to expand and seal said end in said hole.

In combination:

• a reinforced concrete manhole riser having an upstanding cylindrical wall with an inner face and a smooth surfaced, circular, cored hole of predetermined diameter,
• a sewer pipe having one end, of predetermined diameter substantially less than the diameter of said hole, received within said hole substantially flush with said inner face of said riser,
• a tubular, elastic, flexible sleeve, or boot, having a large end loosely fitting in said hole, an opposite small end loosely fitting around said sewer pipe and a tapered portion between said ends,
• external clamp means extending around the small end of said sleeve for clamping said end tightly, and sealably, around said pipe,
• internal clamp means extending circumferentially around the inside of the large end of said sleeve, said means having a normal unexpanded diameter but being locked in an expanded condition to compress the material of said sleeve against the smooth surface of said hole to seal and clamp said large end therein.

A connector boot device for sealably joining a pipe to a reinforced concrete manhole riser formed with a hole which is defined by a smooth, core-drilled, circular edge,

• said connector boot device comprising a flexible, elastomeric, elongated tubular body having a large holeclamping end of substantially less outside diameter than the inside diameter of said hole;
• a smaller pipe-clamping end and an intermediate tapered body portion extending between said ends;
• internal clamping means mounted inside said hole clamping end for expanding said end radially, in a direction normal to the central longitudinal axis of said body to compress and clamp the material thereof against the smooth circular edge of said hole in clamped, tightly sealed relation therewith and
• external clamping means, mounted around the small pipe clamping end of the connector boot device for sealably clamping said end around said pipe member.