Patent ID: 9086183
Filing Date: 2015-07-21
Classification: F16L

Abstract:
1. A method of lining an interior of a section of a pipe with a curable liner extending from a first access point to a second access point, the method comprising: providing individual bundles of fiber positioned in side-by-side engagement with respect to each other, the individual bundles in side-by-side engagement being stabilized together to form a fiber-laden fabric, the fiber-laden fabric having a length and a width, the individual bundles of fiber stabilized in side-by-side engagement extending along the width of the fiber-laden fabric, the individual bundles of fiber comprising fibers of at least one of carbon, glass, and aramid; impregnating the fiber-laden fabric with a curable binder; providing a carrier tube having a length for extending from the first access point to the second access point and having a hoop direction transverse to the length, the carrier tube being configured to remain attached to the fiber-laden fabric after curing of the binder; positioning the fiber-laden fabric onto the carrier tube by wrapping the fiber-laden fabric around the tube and overlapping longitudinal edge margins of the fiber-laden fabric in the hoop direction of the carrier tube such that the bundles of fiber stabilized in side-by-side engagement extend in the hoop direction of the carrier tube, the overlapped longitudinal edge margins of the fiber-laden fabric extending along the length of the carrier tube, the fiber-laden fabric positioned on the carrier tube having a length for extending from the first access point to the second access point; pulling the resin impregnated fiber-laden fabric on the carrier tube into the section of pipe such that it extends from the first access point to the second access point; radially expanding the carrier tube from a first diameter to a second diameter, such that the overlap of longitudinal edge margins of the resin impregnated fiber-laden fabric in the hoop direction of the carrier tube decreases and the resin impregnated fiber-laden fabric contacts an interior wall of the section of pipe when the carrier tube is radially expanded to the second diameter; while the resin impregnated fiber-laden fabric is in contact with the interior wall of the section of pipe, curing the binder impregnated in the fiber-laden fabric, the carrier tube remaining attached to the cured fiber-laden fabric inside the section of pipe after cure of the binder, thereby providing a cured liner inside the section of pipe extending from the first access point to the second access point.