Secondary containment system and method

For use in a secondary containment system for a primary pipe system including a primary pipe joint of selected shape in combination with secondary containment pipes of generally circular cross-sectional shape to be disposed around primary pipes, a secondary containment joint comprising two side-by-side joint sections fitted together on opposite sides of a central dividing plane and each having at least two socket ends of semi-circular cross-sectional shape having concave inner surfaces co-operating with the other pipe section to define at least two pipe sockets for receiving the ends of secondary containment pipes, each of said joint sections having:

• a set of laterally projecting flanges lying along said dividing plane and having locating surfaces facing toward said plane and abutting against the locating surfaces of the other joint section,
• shallow first grooves in said flanges spaced inwardly from the laterally outer edges thereof and extending along said flanges from adjacent the end of each socket end to the adjacent socket end on the same side of the joint section, said grooves defining first sealing passages between said flanges,
• shallow second grooves in the concave inner surfaces of said socket ends in the pipe sockets thereof extending across each socket end from the first sealing passage in the flange on one side of the joint section to the second sealing passage in the flange on the other side of the joint section and opening at each end into one of the first passages, said second grooves being positioned in said sockets to be substantially closed on one side by the end portion of a containment pipe on the socket, thereby to form second sealing passages encircling each of said sockets and communicating with said first grooves,
• and means defining ports opening into said sealing passages for injection of sealing cement therein to form a continuous adhesive seal surrounding the interior of the containment joint when a secondary containment pipe is fitted in each pipe socket.

For use in a secondary containment system for a primary pipe system including a primary pipe joint of selected shape in combination with secondary containment pipes of generally circular cross-sectional shape to be disposed around primary pipes, a secondary containment joint comprising a plurality of joint sections adapted to be fitted together around the primary pipe joint in abutting edge-to-edge relation to enclose the primary pipe joint and define pipe sockets for receiving end portions of the secondary containment pipes, said joint sections having part-circular sockets defining portions of sockets for receiving the secondary containment pipes, and opposed side edges disposed in abutting relation;

• means defining first internal sealing passages between said side edges along the sides of the secondary containment joint between said abutting side edges;
• means defining second internal sealing passages extending around said pipe sockets in said joint sections;
• and means defining at least one injection port for introducing adhesive sealing cement into and substantially filling said first and second passages when secondary containment pipes have been inserted in the sockets, thereby to join and seal said sections together and seal the secondary containment pipes in the sockets, said passages being substantially enclosed and fluid tight when the joint is assembled to minimize leakage of cement.

For use in a secondary containment system for a primary pipe system, in combination with secondary containment joints having pipe sockets of generally circular cross-sectional shape, a secondary containment pipe comprising a plurality of elongated pipe elements adapted to be fitted together around a primary pipe in abutting edge-to-edge relation to enclose the primary pipe in a flange-free sheath, said elements having:

• elongated bodies of part-circular cross-sectional shape with two longitudinal edges, each abutting against the adjacent edge of an adjacent pipe element;
• latching means along said longitudinal edges for latching the abutting edges together;
• means defining continuous internal sealing passages between said longitudinal edges, and including means for introducing adhesive sealing cement into said passages to substantially fill the latter, thereby to join and seal said elements together;
• each of said elements having, along one of its longitudinal edges, an internal sealing flap extending over the adjacent pipe element and into abutting engagement therewith, and each flap defining an internal sealing passage along the abutting edges.

For use in a secondary containment system for a primary pipe system including a primary pipe joint of selected shape in combination with secondary containment pipes of generally circular cross-sectional shape to be disposed around primary pipes, a secondary containment component comprising a plurality of parts adapted to be fitted together around a component of the primary system to cover the latter and having side edges disposed in abutting edge-to-edge relation;

• means defining substantially enclosed and substantially fluid tight continuous sealing passages along said edges for receiving and holding adhesive sealing cement for securing and sealing said parts together;
• means defining at least one cement injection port communicating with said passages for introducing the cement into the passages to substantially fill the latter and form a continuous fluid-tight seal;
• and
• means for holding said parts together prior to introduction of the cement and while the cement is setting;
• said passages being substantially enclosed and fluid tight along said edges when the parts are held together, to minimize leakage of adhesive cement during and after injection, but having clearance permitting the escape of air during such injection, to permit the flow of cement along the passages.

A secondary containment pipe joint section for use with a similar section to form a pipe joint, comprising:

• at least two half sockets of semi-circular cross-sectional shape having flat sides lying along a common plane including the axes of said half sockets, the half sockets being joined together by a joint body having edges lying along said common plane;
• said joint section having relatively wide side edges facing toward said plane and extending between adjacent sides of said half sockets, each of said side edges having surfaces lying along said plane for abutting engagement with opposed surfaces on a similar section, and means defining a shallow first groove extending along the edge from an end at one of the half sockets to an opposite end at the adjacent half socket;
• means defining a shallow second groove in each half socket extending across the half socket from one side edge to the other, and opening at each end into one of said first grooves;
• and injection means along said grooves for receiving fluid adhesive sealing cement therein when two joint sections are disposed in abutting side-by-side relation with pipes in the pipe sockets formed by pairs of half sockets.

The method of forming a secondary containment system around a primary pipe system having a primary pipe joint joining two or more primary pipes, comprising:

• providing a longitudinally divided secondary containment joint comprising a plurality of joint sections adapted to be fitted together in edge-to-edge relation around the primary joint, and having at least two pipe sockets for receiving secondary containment pipes, and forming first grooves between the abutting edges of said joint sections to define first internal sealing passages, and forming second grooves extending around the sockets to define second internal sealing passages around the ends of secondary containment pipes in the sockets;
• providing secondary containment pipes for fitting around the primary pipes and fitting closely in the sockets;
• positioning the joint sections around the primary pipe joint and the secondary containment pipes around the primary pipes, and clamping the joint sections together;
• injecting adhesive sealing cement in fluid form into the first and second internal sealing passages to substantially fill the latter and form adhesive seals between the abutting edges and around each pipe socket;
• and maintaining the clamping of the joint sections at least until the cement has set.

The method of forming a secondary containment system around a primary pipe system having primary pipe components joined by primary joint components, comprising:

• providing longitudinally divided secondary pipe and pipe joint components larger than the primary components and having the same general shape, to overlie and ensheath the primary components when the secondary components are disposed in edge-to-edge abutting relation, including pipe sockets in the pipe joint components;
• providing continuous sealing passages along the abutting edges and around the pipe sockets of the secondary components for receiving adhesive sealing cement;
• assembling the secondary components around the primary components with the secondary pipe components received in the secondary pipe joint components, and securing the secondary components together in a temporary fashion;
• substantially filling the continuous sealing passages with adhesive sealing cement to form continuous seals and secure the components together;
• and holding the secondary components together at least until the cement has set.

The method of forming a secondary containment system around a primary pipe system having primary pipe components joined by primary joint components, comprising:

• providing longitudinally divided secondary joint components larger than the primary joint components to be fitted together in edge-to-edge abutting relation around the primary joint components, and including pipe sockets;
• providing continuous sealing passages along the abutting edges and around the pipe sockets for receiving adhesive sealing cement;
• providing secondary containment pipe components for fitting around the primary pipe components and fitting closely in the pipe sockets;
• assembling the secondary components around the primary components with the secondary pipe components received in the secondary pipe joint components, and securing the secondary components together in a temporary fashion;
• substantially filling the continuous sealing passages with adhesive sealing cement to form continuous seals and secure the components together;
• and holding the secondary components together at least until the cement has set.