Method and apparatus for the installation of a liner within a conduit

A method of installing a flexible liner impregnated with a thermosetting bonding resin into a manhole to be lined comprising:

• (a) making a liner of resin absorbent material to have the shape and substantially the same dimensions as the side walls of the manhole, but including a bottom wall portion,
• (b) impregnating the liner with a thermosetting bonding resin in an uncured condition,
• (c) causing material in a pipe to which the manhole connects to bypass the junction where the manhole connects to the pipe,
• (d) attaching one end of the liner to an annular flange above the manhole opening,
• (e) securing positioning cables at several points to the side walls and bottom wall portion of the liner, the positioning cables being secured to one end of a feed control cable, the other end of the feed control cable being wound upon a cable reel means,
• (f) inverting the liner into the manhole at a controlled feed rate, the feed rate being controlled by reel control means which controls the rate at which the feed control cable is unwound from the reel means to thereby control the tension of the feed control cable and the feed rate of the liner,
• (g) expanding the liner against the walls of the manhole by pressurized fluid,
• (h) retaining the liner in place within the manhole by mechanical abutment means,
• (i) curing the resin by heating it to the curing temperature by heated fluid, and
• (j) after the resin is cured, removing the curing fluid and the mechanical abutment means, and trimming any excess portions of the liner, including the bottom wall, so that the lined manhole is in substantially unblocked communication with the pipe.

Apparatus for installing a flexible tubular liner having a leading end and a trailing end within a pipe comprising:

• means including a source of pressurized fluid for defining a pressurized region and for generating fluid pressure to insert the liner into the pipe;
• an insertion conduit having an entry end and an exit end, the exit end of the insertion conduit communicating with the pipe;
• means on the entry end of the insertion conduit for sealingly clamping the leading end of the liner to the entry end of the insertion conduit and for creating a fluid tight seal between the liner and the entry end of the insertion conduit;
• a first feed control means for substantially continuously controlling the feed rate of the liner as one portion of the liner is inserted into the pipe, the first feed control means comprising;
• conveyor means having a pair of hydraulically actuated rollers and a plurality of idler rollers, and
• a pair of idler nip roller assemblies including at least one nip roller juxtaposed in aligned spaced relationship to the conveyor means, each idler nip roller assembly cooperating with the conveyor means to adjust the direction of movement of the liner to provide positive control of the liner feed rate;
• and
• a second feed control means for substantially continuously controlling the feed rate of the liner as the other portion of the liner is inserted into the pipe.