Patent Publication Number: US-11643801-B1

Title: System and method for sealing an annular space of a sewer connection line

Description:
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The subject matter of the present disclosure refers generally to a process for sealing the point at which a lateral sewer line connects to the main sewer line during the rehabilitation of the main sewer line. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Partial or complete plumbing pipe replacement can be incredibly expensive. A cost-effective method for replacing damaged pipes is cured in place pipe lining (CIPP), which is just as durable as replacement pipes when installed properly. However, when CIPP liners are used to refurbish damaged main sewer lines, the cured in place pipe liner does not bond to the old pipes. This process typically involves inserting a liquid epoxy resin impregnated liner into the main sewer line and then inflating it via air or water pressure. The liner presses the liquid resin impregnated liner against the interior walls of the old pipe to ensure the new cured in place pipe lining is as close to the size of the old pipe as possible. The liquid resin is then cured in order to harden the liner, resulting in a refurbished pipe that should last for a number of years. 
     Unfortunately, CIPP liners often shrink during the curing process, reducing the quality of the seal between the CIPP liner and old pipes. This shrinkage of the CIPP liner creates an annular space between the CIPP liner and the old pipe that infiltrate can travel through until it enters the sewer system at the point in which the lateral line enters the new CIPP liner. This infiltrate can create multiple problems ranging from overflow of the sewer system to a reduction of the effectiveness of municipal wastewater treatment facilities. In areas with high rainfall, infiltration of the groundwater into the sewer mainline can be especially bad as the water seeps into the annular space between the old pipes and CIPP liner and makes its way into the mainline. This results in diluted wastewater, which can negatively affect the ability to treat said wastewater at wastewater treatment facilities. When rainfall is particularly heavy in these areas, sanitary sewer overflows create a number of environmental issues that may result in hefty fines from the Environmental Protection Agency if the cause of the overflow is not properly addressed. Additionally, overflows can result in contaminated drinking water in some areas, potentially making this issue a public health hazard as well. 
     Accordingly, there is a need in the art for an improved process for installing CIPP liners that may reduce or eliminate the amount of infiltrate entering the sewer system. 
     SUMMARY 
     A system and method for reducing the amount of infiltrate entering a sewer system is provided. In one aspect, the invention prevents infiltrate from entering the wastewater management system by blocking the annular space around the point at which a lateral line connects to a main sewer line. In another aspect, the invention pertains to the manner in which an annular space sealing apparatus is installed within a main sewer line prior to refurbishment of said main sewer line. Generally, the system of the present disclosure is designed to create water barriers between itself, the host pipe, and a new pipe installed using a cured in place pipe (CIPP) technique. The system is preferably installed around a lateral line connection point and generally comprises a locking sleeve having a locking mechanism and lateral porthole, wherein a hydrophilic gasket located around the lateral porthole creates the water barrier that prevents infiltrate from entering a newly lined pipe through the hole cut to reestablish flow from the lateral line to the wastewater treatment system at the lateral line connection points. 
     The locking sleeve is preferably configured to secure the annular space sealing apparatus to the interior of a host pipe. The locking sleeve comprises a coiled wall and a locking mechanism secured to the interior surface of said coiled wall, wherein said interior surface is within a cavity created by said coiled wall. The locking mechanism comprises at least two slotted straps and at least two locking gears that are secured to the interior surface of the coiled wall. The at least two locking gears are configured to follow the at least two slotted grooves from a first point to a second point, which cause the diameter of the coiled wall to expand. Because the diameter of the locking sleeve is designed to expand, the diameter of the coiled wall is smaller than the diameter of the host pipe prior to installation to make installation easier. Once expanded, the locking mechanism prevents the coiled wall from decreasing in diameter. 
     Once the annular space sealing apparatus is placed in position within the host pipe at the lateral line connection point, a resin impregnated liner may be installed within said host pipe. The resin impregnated liner comprises a felt tube and a curable material, wherein said curable material hardens after undergoing a curing process. Two methods are preferably used to install the liner within the host pipe: Pull Through and Inversion. The pull through method involves threading the resin impregnated liner through the host pipe from an upstream access point to a downstream access point and then curing it. The inversion technique involves inserting a rolled resin impregnated liner through the host pipe using water, air, or steam and then curing it. By placing the annular space sealing apparatus at various lateral line connection points throughout the host pipe, the amount of infiltrate entering the wastewater management system will be reduced due to the hydrophilic gasket absorbing the water and expanding, which creates a water barrier around the hole cut into the newly lined pipe when reestablishing flow from the lateral lines. 
     The foregoing summary has outlined some features of the process of the present disclosure so that those skilled in the pertinent art may better understand the detailed description that follows. Additional features that form the subject of the claims will be described hereinafter. Those skilled in the pertinent art should appreciate that they can readily utilize these features for designing or modifying other structures for carrying out the same purpose of the system and process disclosed herein. Those skilled in the pertinent art should also realize that such equivalent designs or modifications do not depart from the scope of the process of the present disclosure. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present disclosure will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where: 
         FIG.  1    is a diagram illustrating a system embodying features consistent with the principles of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  2    is a diagram illustrating a system embodying features consistent with the principles of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  3    is a diagram illustrating a system embodying features consistent with the principles of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  4    is a diagram illustrating a system embodying features consistent with the principles of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  5    is a diagram illustrating a system embodying features consistent with the principles of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  6    is a diagram illustrating a system embodying features consistent with the principles of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  7    is a flow chart illustrating certain method steps of a method embodying features consistent with the principles of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  8    is a flow chart illustrating certain method steps of a method embodying features consistent with the principles of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the Summary above and in this Detailed Description, and the claims below, and in the accompanying drawings, reference is made to particular features, including process steps, of the invention. It is to be understood that the disclosure of the invention in this specification includes all possible combinations of such particular features. For example, where a particular feature is disclosed in the context of a particular aspect or embodiment of the invention, or a particular claim, that feature can also be used, to the extent possible, in combination with/or in the context of other particular aspects of the embodiments of the invention, and in the invention generally. Where reference is made herein to a process comprising two or more defined steps, the defined steps can be carried out in any order or simultaneously (except where the context excludes that possibility), and the process can include one or more other steps which are carried out before any of the defined steps, between two of the defined steps, or after all the defined steps (except where the context excludes that possibility). 
     The term “comprises” and grammatical equivalents thereof are used herein to mean that other components, steps, etc. are optionally present. For example, a system “comprising” components A, B, and C can contain only components A, B, and C, or can contain not only components A, B, and C, but also one or more other components. As used herein, the term “lateral lines” and grammatical equivalents thereof may refer to pipes that carry wastewater from residential areas and businesses. For instance, lateral lines running from residential households may connect the residential households to the main sewer line so that wastewater may be transferred from the residential households to the local wastewater treatment facility. As used herein, the term “main sewer line” and grammatical equivalents thereof may refer to large pipes or open channels that collect the wastewater from the lateral lines and transfer said wastewater to lift stations, force mains, etc. For instance, an underground main sewer line may collect wastewater from a plurality of lateral lines within a neighborhood so that it may be transferred to a local wastewater treatment facility. 
     As used herein, the term “access point” and grammatical equivalents thereof may refer to an entry port that allows for inspection of and repair of lateral lines. As used herein, the term “connection point” and grammatical equivalents thereof may refer to the point at which a lateral line connects to a main sewer line. For instance, a user may use an access point to inspect and repair a main sewer line in order to inspect and repair said main sewer line. As used herein, the term “infiltrate” and grammatical equivalents thereof may refer to groundwater that enters the wastewater management system via cracks, leaky pipe joints, connection failures, deteriorated manhole covers, etc. For instance, a damaged main sewer line buried in a region with a high water table may receive ground water that dilutes wastewater of the wastewater treatment system of which the main sewer line is a part of and causes overflows of wastewater into the surrounding area. 
       FIGS.  1 - 8    illustrate embodiments of an annular space sealing apparatus  100  and methods for connecting said annular space sealing apparatus  100  to a main line.  FIG.  1    is a top perspective view of an annular space sealing apparatus  100 , wherein the annular space sealing apparatus  100  is configured to be secured within a mainline of a sewer system.  FIG.  2    is an exploded view of an annular space sealing apparatus  100 .  FIG.  3    is a perspective view of the lateral porthole  105 B of the annular space sealing apparatus  100 .  FIG.  4    is a cross sectional view of an annular space sealing apparatus  100  used in combination with a resin impregnated liner  415  at a lateral line connection point  510  to prevent infiltrate  505  from entering a sewer system.  FIG.  5    is an illustration of a refurbished sewer system with and without the use of a later line connection apparatus  100 .  FIG.  6 A-D  illustrates the manner in which the annular space sealing apparatus is installed with a cured in place pipe liner.  FIGS.  7  and  8    illustrate various methods that may be carried out by a user using the system described herein. It is understood that the various method steps associated with the methods of the present disclosure may be carried out by a user using the systems shown in  FIGS.  1 - 6   . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS.  1 - 6   , the annular space sealing apparatus  100  comprises a locking sleeve  105 , hydrophilic gasket  110 , and a locking mechanism  115 , wherein a lateral porthole  105 B of said locking sleeve  105  is surrounded by said hydrophilic gasket  110 . The hydrophilic gasket  110  is preferably located on an exterior surface of the locking sleeve  105  in order to create a watertight seal between the locking sleeve  105 , cured-in-place pipeline, and the host pipe  405  but some preferred embodiments may also comprise a hydrophilic gasket  110  surrounding the lateral porthole  105 B about the interior surface of the locking sleeve  105 . The hydrophilic gasket  110  preferably creates a continuous seal about the entire circumference of the lateral porthole  105 B. The hydrophilic gasket  110  may be any shape so long as it surrounds the lateral porthole  105 B, but in a preferred embodiment, the hydrophilic gasket  110  is the shape of a ring with the thickness of the ring being at least two inches and the internal diameter of the ring being at least four inches larger than the diameter of the lateral porthole  105 B, as illustrated in  FIG.  3   . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS.  1  and  2   , the locking sleeve  105  comprises a coiled wall  105 A having a lateral porthole  105 B that is configured in a way that allows the annular space sealing apparatus  100  to be secured to the interior of a main sewer line. The material in which the coiled wall  105 A of the locking sleeve  105  is comprised is preferably a metal having malleable properties, such as soft stainless steel sheet metal or aluminum. The shape of the locking sleeve  105  is preferably round and can increase in diameter via manipulation by a user. The locking mechanism  115  is secured to and/or part of the interior surface of said coiled wall  105 A, wherein said interior surface is within a cavity created by said coiled wall  105 A, as illustrated in  FIG.  1   . The locking mechanism  115  comprises at least two slotted grooves  115 A and at least two locking gears  115 B that are secured to the interior surface of the coiled wall  105 A. The at least two locking gears  115 B are configured to follow the at least two slotted grooves  115 A from a first point to a second point, causing the diameter of the coiled wall  105 A to expand. In a preferred embodiment, internal pressure asserted against the interior surface of the coiled wall  105 A causes the coiled wall  105 A to increase its diameter by forcing the at least two locking gears  115 B from a first point to a second point about the slotted grooves  115 A. As the diameter of the coiled wall  105 A expands, the hydrophilic gasket  110  located on the exterior surface of the coiled wall  105 A contacts the interior surface of the main sewer line, creating a watertight barrier therebetween. In another preferred embodiment, as illustrated in  FIG.  3   , a second hydrophilic gasket  205  about the lateral porthole and located on the interior surface may create a water barrier between the coiled wall  105 A and a cured in place pipe. 
     In one preferred embodiment, the annular space sealing apparatus  100  may be designated for a specific diameter range. For instance, an annular space sealing apparatus  100  may be configured to fit a host pipe  405  having a diameter between 6 inches and 12 inches but may come in any diameter that fits a main sewer line. The at least two slotted grooves  115 A may be of a length that allows the diameter of the coiled wall  105 A to extend to the diameter of the host pipe  405 . The diameter of the lateral porthole  105 B is preferably four inches wider than the diameter of the lateral line  305  connecting to the host pipe. The larger diameter will make alignment of the lateral porthole  105 B at the lateral line connection point  510  easier for a technician attempting to install the annular space sealing apparatus  100  within the host pipe  405  so that it does not block flow from the lateral line  305  into the new resin impregnated liner  415 . Once the annular space sealing apparatus  100  is placed in position within the host pipe  405  at the lateral line connection point  510 , the resin impregnated liner  415  may be installed within said host pipe  405 . In a preferred embodiment, the resin impregnated liner  415  comprises a felt tube and a curable material, wherein said curable material hardens after undergoing a curing process. Materials that may be used to make the felt tube, include, but are not limited to, polyester, fiberglass cloth, spread tow carbon fiber, or another rother resin-impregnable substance. Materials that may be used as the curable material include, but are not limited to, epoxy, polyester and vinyl ester, and silicate resin. In a preferred embodiment two methods may be used to install the liner within the host pipe  405 : Pull Through and Inversion. 
     The pull through method involves threading the resin impregnated liner  415  through the host pipe  405  from an upstream access point to a downstream access point or vice versa. Once the liner has been threaded through the host pipe  405 , it is inflated. In some preferred embodiments, an air compressor inflates the liner. In another preferred embodiment, a bladder  315  is used to inflate the liner. In embodiments with a bladder  315 , the internal bladder  315  located within an interior space of the liner may be inflated using a pump, which presses the resin impregnated liner  415  against the host pipe  405  so that it may be cured. In a preferred embodiment, the pump may inflate the bladder  315  with air, water, or steam, wherein the bladder  315  is made from a material such as silicon to prevent the adhesion of the bladder  315  to the resin impregnated liner  310  as said resin impregnated liner  415  cures. The bladder  315  is preferably inflated with a hot material to increase the rate at which the curable material cures. The bladder  315  remains inflated until the resin is cured and is then removed. The inversion technique involves inserting a rolled resin impregnated liner through the host pipe  405  using water, air, or steam. As the rolled liner is filled with air, it unrolls though the host pipe  405  from an upstream access point to a downstream access point. Once unrolled, the host pipe  405  is left filled with fluid until the curable material hardens; however, some embodiments may require that the bladder  315  inflate the resin impregnated liner  415  with a room temperature fluid so that a plumbing pipe inspection crawler  605  having UV lights secured thereto may be used to harden a curable material that is UV reactive. 
     As the resin impregnated liner  415  cures, an annular space  410  will form between the host pipe  405  and the cured resin impregnated liner  415 . However, by installing the annular space sealing apparatus  100  about a lateral line connection point  510  of the main sewer line prior to installation of the resin impregnated liner  415 , the amount of infiltrate  505  entering the wastewater management system  400  will be reduced or eliminated. As the annular space  410  fills with infiltrate  505 , the hydrophilic gasket  110  will absorb the water and expand, creating a watertight barrier therebetween that prevents said infiltrate  505  from entering through the hole cut into the cured resin impregnated liner  415 , which is cut to reestablish flow from the lateral line  305  to main sewer line. Because a plurality of annular space sealing apparatus  100  may need to be installed throughout the host pipe  405  prior to installation of the resin impregnated liner  415 , a plurality of watertight barriers may be formed when refurbishing the host pipe  405 . Additionally, each watertight barrier of the plurality of watertight barriers will provide additional friction as the watertight barrier expands between the host pipe  405  and the cured resin impregnated liner  415 , reducing the likelihood of rotation of the annular space sealing apparatus  100  that might cause the lateral porthole  105 B to become misaligned with the lateral line connection point  510 . 
       FIG.  7    provides a flow chart  700  illustrating certain method steps that may be used to carry out the process of installing an annular space sealing apparatus  100  within a host pipe  405 . Step  705  indicates the beginning of the method. During step  710 , a user may obtain an annular space sealing apparatus  100  and a pipe inspection crawler  605  configured to install said annular space sealing apparatus  100 . The user may then secure the annular space sealing apparatus  100  to the pipe inspection crawler  605  in a way such that the pipe inspection crawler  605  may increase the diameter of the annular space sealing apparatus  100  within the host pipe  405  during step  715 . In a preferred embodiment, the pipe inspection crawler  605  may increase the diameter of the annular space sealing apparatus  100  using an inflatable bladder. Once secured thereto, the user may place the pipe inspection crawler  605  within the host pipe  405  during step  720  and subsequently proceed to control the pipe inspection crawler  605  until it reaches the point within the host pipe  405  that the user would like to secure the annular space sealing apparatus  100  thereto during step  725 . In a preferred embodiment, the annular space sealing apparatus  100  is installed by the pipe inspection crawler  605  at the lateral line connection point  510 . 
     The user may then operate the pipe inspection crawler  605  in way that causes the pipe inspection crawler  605  to increase the diameter of the annular space sealing apparatus  100  during step  730 , wherein the diameter is increased until the hydrophilic gasket  110  is in contact with the inner surface of the host pipe  405  and around the lateral line connection point  510 . Once the diameter of the annular space sealing apparatus  100  has been expanded, the user may disengage the pipe inspection crawler  605  from the annular space sealing apparatus  100  during step  735 . Once disengaged the user must perform a query to determine whether an additional annular space sealing apparatus  100  must be installed within the host pipe  405  at a lateral line connection point  510  during step  740 . Based on the results of the query, the user may take an action during step  745 . If the user determines that an additional annular space sealing apparatus  100  must be installed within the host pipe  405 , the user may retract the pipe inspection crawler  605  during step  750  and subsequently proceed to step  715 . If the user determines that no additional annular space sealing apparatus  100  must be installed within the host pipe  405 , the user may proceed to terminate method step  755 . 
       FIG.  8    provides a flow chart  800  illustrating certain method steps that may be used to carry out the process of installing a resin impregnated liner  415  within a host pipe  405 . Step  805  indicates the beginning of the method. During step  810 , the user may install at least one annular space sealing apparatus  100  within the host pipe  405  in a way that will reduce the amount of infiltrate  505  that enters the wastewater management system. In a preferred embodiment, an annular space sealing apparatus  100  is installed at the lateral line connection point  510 . The user may then obtain a resin impregnated liner  415 , bladder  315 , and pump during step  815 . During step  820 , the user may use one of the pull through technique or the inversion technique to install the resin impregnated liner  415  within the host pipe  405  having at least one annular space sealing apparatus  100  installed therein. The user may then cure the resin impregnated liner  415  within the host pipe  405  during step  825 . Once cured, the user may use a pipe inspection crawler  605  to cut a hole into the cured resin impregnated liner  415  at the lateral line connection point  510  to reestablish flow from the lateral line  305  to the sewer system during step  830 . After flow has been reestablished, the user may proceed to terminate method step  835 . 
     Although the systems and processes of the present disclosure have been discussed for use within the wastewater management field, one of skill in the art will appreciate that the inventive subject matter disclosed herein may be utilized in other fields or for other applications in which wastewater management is needed. The implementations set forth in the foregoing description do not represent all implementations consistent with the subject matter described herein. Instead, they are merely some examples consistent with aspects related to the described subject matter. Although a few variations have been described in detail above, other modifications or additions are possible. In particular, further features and/or variations can be provided in addition to those set forth herein. For example, the implementations described above can be directed to various combinations and subcombinations of the disclosed features and/or combinations and subcombinations of several further features disclosed above. In addition, the logic flow depicted in the accompanying figures and/or described herein do not necessarily require the particular order shown, or sequential order, to achieve desirable results. It will be readily understood to those skilled in the art that various other changes in the details, materials, and arrangements of the parts and process stages which have been described and illustrated in order to explain the nature of this inventive subject matter can be made without departing from the principles and scope of the inventive subject matter.