Patent ID: 8066499
Filing Date: 2011-11-29
Classification: B29C,F16L,Y10T

Abstract:
1. An air inversion and steam cure apparatus for installing a resin impregnated cured in place pipe liner, the apparatus comprising: a frame having an entry opening for securing a free end of the liner thereto; a first selectively operable gland mounted to the frame at a point spaced apart from the entry opening to allow a flattened inverted liner to pass when open and to engage the liner to form a fluid tight seal about the liner passed therethrough when closed; and a second selectively operable gland mounted to the frame downstream from the first gland to allow the liner to invert therebetween when open and to rigidly engage the liner to form a fluid tight seal about the liner passed therethrough when closed, the frame between the first and second gland being open to allow access to the liner passed therethrough; each of the first and second glands having a first and a second rigid gland member with at least one of the gland members selectively displaceable relative to the other gland member to vary a gap between the gland members of the respective gland, the rigid gland members of the first gland having a compressible material mounted on opposing faces of the gland members, the rigid gland members of the second gland having opposed rigid metal contact surfaces adapted to contact the liner while maintaining a selectively adjustable gap defining a space for the liner between the rigid metal contact surfaces; and a gap adjustment device comprising structure positioned for operative engagement by the gland members of the second gland as the gap between the gland members decreases to maintain at least a minimum amount of separation between the members of the second gland.