Patent ID: 7172369
Filing Date: 2007-02-06
Classification: F16L

Abstract:
1. A method of lining a host pipe having a cylindrical cross-section and connecting the lined host pipe with a lateral pipe, comprising the steps of: (a) removing an intermediate section of the host pipe at a location in general registration with the lateral pipe, thereby leaving spaced apart opposed ends of the host pipe; (b) removing an end portion of the lateral pipe and forming a connecting end on the remaining portion of the lateral pipe; (c) securing a split sleeve to the opposed ends of the host pipe to form a continuation of the host pipe, the split sleeve including first and second longitudinally extending halves; (d) inserting a thermoplastic liner having a non-cylindrical cross-section into the host pipe and split sleeve; (e) reforming the liner within the host pipe and split sleeve to generally conform the liner to the inner diameter of the cylindrical host pipe and the inner diameter of the split sleeve; (f) removing at least one of the first and second split sleeve halves thereby generally registering a side portion of the reformed liner and the connecting end of the lateral pipe with one another; (g) fusing a thermoplastic pipe section to the registering side portion of the reformed liner; (h) forming an opening in the registering side portion of the reformed liner so that the liner is in communication with the pipe section fused to the liner; (i) securing a third split sleeve half and one of the first and second split sleeve halves between the opposed ends of the host pipe, whereby the third split sleeve half is overlying the registering side portion of the reformed liner, the third split sleeve half having a lateral pipe extension receiving the thermoplastic pipe section fused to the liner; (j) providing a first flange on a distal end of the fused pipe section; (k) coupling the lateral pipe extension to the connecting end of the lateral pipe.