# US 9,435,123 B2 · Repair and strengthening of structures with electrically-cured resin-impregnated wrap > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,435,123 B2 - Document ID: US9435123B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/146,562 - Filed: 2014-01-02 - Published: 2015-07-02 - Granted: 2016-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2014-01-02 - Applicants: Mohammad R. Ehsani - Inventors: Mohammad R. Ehsani - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9435123B2 ## CPC - E04C 5/076: {Specially adapted packagings therefor, e.g. for dosing} - B29C 63/0021: {with coherent impregnated reinforcing layers} - B29C 70/34: and shaping or impregnating by compression {, i.e. combined with compressing after the lay-up operation} - B32B 3/12: characterised by a layer of regularly- arranged cells, e.g. a honeycomb structure - B32B 5/022: {Non-woven fabric} - B32B 5/024: {Woven fabric} - B32B 5/26: another layer {next to it} also being fibrous or filamentary {(relative arrangement of fibres or filaments of different layers B32B5/12)} - F16L 55/1686: {by winding a tape} - F16L 57/02: against cracking or buckling - F16L 57/06: against wear (F16L57/04 takes precedence) - F16L 58/1063: {the coating being a sheet wrapped around the pipe} - B29C 63/06: around tubular articles - B29C 63/10: around tubular articles - B29K 2101/10: Thermosetting resins - B29K 2105/0872: {Prepregs} - B29L 2031/776: {Walls, e.g. building panels} - B32B 37/146: {whereby one or more of the layers is a honeycomb structure} - B32B 37/18: involving the assembly of discrete sheets or panels only - B32B 2262/0269: Aromatic polyamide fibres - B32B 2262/101: Glass fibres - B32B 2262/106: Carbon fibres, e.g. graphite fibres - B32B 2305/07: Parts immersed or impregnated in a matrix - B32B 2307/558: Impact strength, toughness - B32B 2419/00: Buildings or parts thereof - B32B 2607/00: Walls, panels - E04C 5/015: {Anti-corrosion coatings or treating compositions, e.g. containing waterglass or based on another metal (coating of discrete reinforcing elements C04B20/10)} - F16L 55/1656: {materials for flexible liners} - E04C: STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS; BUILDING MATERIALS (for bridges E01D; specially designed for insulation or other protection E04B; elements used as building aids E04G; for mining E21; for tunnels E21D; structural elements with broader range of application than for building engineering F16, particularly F16S) - 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) - B32B: LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM - F16L: PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL - B29K: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR {MOULDS, } REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS - B29L: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES ## Abstract A method and an article of manufacture are disclosed for reinforcing various structures, such as pipes, piles, walls, tanks, silos, chimneys, and the like, constructed from various materials including steel, concrete, masonry, wood, plastics, and the like. Some of the various structures may be used to transport water, gas, oil, and the like. One or multiple layers of various material sheets, each sheet having substantially the same or different properties, may be impregnated with resin and wrapped around or attached to the surface of a structure to be reinforced or to the surface of a spacer shell surrounding the structure and subjected to heat to cure the resin and to bond the reinforcement sheets to the structure or the spacer shell. The multiple layers together constitute a heat-cured structure reinforcement wrap (HRW) to reinforce the structure against external and internal loads, such as weight, impact load, blast load, internal pressure, ballistic load, and the like. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of reinforcing and/or repairing a structure using electricity-curable resin, the method comprising: providing a spacer shell around inside, outside, or both, of the structure such that the spacer shell may or not be attached to the structure; wrapping around, laying over, or attaching, overlappingly, a resin impregnated reinforcement sheet (HRW) to an inside or outside surface of the spacer shell surrounding the structure in a plurality of layers to achieve a strength per engineering design requirements, wherein the the resin is at least partially cured, when an electric current is conducted through the resin; and passing an electrical current through the resin impregnating at least a part of the HRW, to at least partially cure the resin, wherein the cured resin-impregnated reinforcement sheet provides substantially more strength to the structure than the spacer shell. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the HRW includes one or more layers of honeycomb or hollow-structure layer or is a lamination of multiple layers of sheets, or includes one or more layers of 3D fabric. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, further comprising filling some or all cells of the honeycomb or hollow-structure layer or the 3D fabric with at least one filler material. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the resin is cured as a direct or indirect result of electricity passing through the resin. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the HRW is made of glass, carbon, synthetic fiber of high tensile strength, or basalt fibers and the resin include carbon nanotubes. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein a space between the spacer shell and the structure is filled with grout or other curable material prior to or after curing the resin of the HRW. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the conduction of electricity through the resin is accomplished by incorporating wires, wire meshes, or electrodes into construction of the HRW or by placing wires, wire meshes, or electrodes over or under the HRW, and attaching the wires, wire meshes, or electrodes to positive and negative poles of a power supply, and wherein the wires, wire meshes, or electrodes are configured to be electrically in contact with the resin. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein wires, wire meshes, or electrodes placed over or under the HRW may be removed or left in place after at least partially curing the resin. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the HRW further comprises multiple layers of same or different materials that are laminated together before being applied to the surface or are one by one applied to the surface over each previous layer. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein controlling the current through the resin controls curing factors of the resin. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the HRW is impregnated after or before being wrapped around, laid over, or attached to the spacer shell. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the HRW is attached to the inside or outside surface of the spacer shell, or both. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of applying resin to the surface of the spacer shell prior to applying the HRW. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the at least partially cured HRW bonds or does not bond with the surface of the spacer shell.