US 7,000,643 B2Granted

Bladder system for conduit expansion

AssigneeUnderground Solutions Technologies Group, Inc.

InventorsBryan St. Onge, Henri St. Onge

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Abstract

Disclosed is a bladder system for use in conjunction with a conduit expansion process and system. In addition, the bladder system is in operative communication with an injection material handling system. The bladder system includes a bladder element with injection hardware positioned on one end and distal end hardware positioned on the other end. The injection hardware and the distal end hardware are integrally attached to the bladder element, and the bladder element is capable of expanding and contracting inside the liner conduit.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A bladder system for use in connection with a conduit expansion process, wherein a liner conduit is positioned at least partially within a host conduit, the bladder system comprising:

a bladder element having a first end and a second end;
injection hardware in fluid communication with the first end of the bladder element;
distal end hardware in fluid communication with the second end of the bladder element;
and
a control mechanism in communication with the injection hardware, the distal end hardware, the bladder element, an injection material handling system, or any combination thereof and configured to:
(i) communicate with and/or control the conduit expansion process, the injection hardware, the distal end hardware, the bladder element, the injection material handling system, or any combination thereof;
(ii) monitor at least one physical characteristic of at least one of the host conduit and the liner conduit;
(iii) track at least one physical characteristic of the conduit expansion process, the injection hardware, the distal end hardware, the bladder element, the injection material handling system, a material in contact with the injection hardware, a material in contact with the distal end hardware, or any combination thereof;
and (iv) store data directed at least one physical characteristic of the conduit expansion process, the injection hardware, the distal end hardware, the bladder element, the injection material handling system, the material in contact with the injection hardware, the material in contact with the distal end hardware, an operation parameter of the injection hardware, an operation parameter of the distal end hardware, or any combination thereof;
wherein at least one of the injection hardware and the distal end hardware include a communication device in wireless communication with the control mechanism and configured to at least one of transmit, process and receive signals;
wherein the injection hardware and the distal end hardware are integrally attached to the first end of the bladder element and the second end of the bladder element respectively.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

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Abstract

A bladder system for use in connection with a conduit expansion process, wherein a liner conduit is positioned at least partially within a host conduit, the bladder system comprising:

a bladder element having a first end and a second end;
injection hardware in fluid communication with the first end of the bladder element;
distal end hardware in fluid communication with the second end of the bladder element;
and
a control mechanism in communication with the injection hardware, the distal end hardware, the bladder element, an injection material handling system, or any combination thereof and configured to:
(i) communicate with and/or control the conduit expansion process, the injection hardware, the distal end hardware, the bladder element, the injection material handling system, or any combination thereof;
(ii) monitor at least one physical characteristic of at least one of the host conduit and the liner conduit;
(iii) track at least one physical characteristic of the conduit expansion process, the injection hardware, the distal end hardware, the bladder element, the injection material handling system, a material in contact with the injection hardware, a material in contact with the distal end hardware, or any combination thereof;
and (iv) store data directed at least one physical characteristic of the conduit expansion process, the injection hardware, the distal end hardware, the bladder element, the injection material handling system, the material in contact with the injection hardware, the material in contact with the distal end hardware, an operation parameter of the injection hardware, an operation parameter of the distal end hardware, or any combination thereof;
wherein at least one of the injection hardware and the distal end hardware include a communication device in wireless communication with the control mechanism and configured to at least one of transmit, process and receive signals;
wherein the injection hardware and the distal end hardware are integrally attached to the first end of the bladder element and the second end of the bladder element respectively.

8 more elements