System and arrangement for conduit reparation

Abstract

Disclosed is a system and arrangement for conduit expansion for use in expanding a liner conduit within a host conduit. The system includes injection hardware positioned on a first end of the liner conduit and the host conduit, and distal end cap hardware positioned on a second end of the host conduit and liner conduit. Both the injection hardware and the distal end cap hardware are in communication with a control mechanism for use in monitoring and/or controlling the operating parameters of the system.

1 . An arrangement for use in connection with a conduit reparation process having a target conduit with a first end and a second end, the arrangement comprising: 
 injection hardware in operative communication with the first end of the target conduit;    distal end hardware in operative communication with the second end of the target conduit; and    a control mechanism in communication with at least one of the injection hardware and the distal end hardware and configured to at least one of communicate with and control at least one of the conduit reparation process, the injection hardware and the distal end hardware.    
   
   
       2 . The arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the target conduit is a host conduit, the conduit reparation process including positioning a liner conduit within a host conduit, wherein the injection hardware is in operative communication with the host conduit and the liner conduit at an injection end, and the distal end hardware is in operative communication with the host conduit and the liner conduit at a distal end.  
   
   
       3 . The arrangement of  claim 2 , wherein a material is injected through the injection hardware into an inner area of the liner conduit, the material is at least one of a gas, a liquid, a solid, a semi-solid, a mechanism and an object.  
   
   
       4 . The arrangement of  claim 3 , wherein the material is heated water.  
   
   
       5 . The arrangement of  claim 3 , wherein the control mechanism is configured to at least one of: 
 (i) monitor at least one physical characteristic of at least one of the injected material and recycled material;    (ii) control at least one physical characteristic of at least one of the injected material and recycled material;    (iii) monitor at least one physical characteristic of the reparation process;    (iv) control at least one physical characteristic of the reparation process;    (v) monitor at least one physical characteristic of at least one of the host conduit and the liner conduit; and    (vi) control at least one physical characteristic of at least one of the host conduit and the liner conduit.    
   
   
       6 . The arrangement of  claim 3 , wherein the injection hardware comprises: 
 a material injection connection element configured to connect to an injection hose and provide fluid communication between the injection hose and the inner area of the liner conduit; and    a control device configured to control flow characteristics of the material through the injection hardware.    
   
   
       7 . The arrangement of  claim 6 , wherein the control device is configured to control the flow characteristics of at least one of the injected material and recycled material.  
   
   
       8 . The arrangement of  claim 3 , wherein the injection hardware comprises at least one measurement device configured to measure at least one physical characteristic of at least one of the injected material, the reparation process, the host conduit and the liner conduit.  
   
   
       9 . The arrangement of  claim 8 , wherein the measurement device measures at least one of the pressure and the temperature of the injected material.  
   
   
       10 . The arrangement of  claim 8 , wherein the measurement device measures a surface temperature of at least one of the host conduit and the liner conduit.  
   
   
       11 . The arrangement of  claim 3 , wherein the injection hardware comprises a communication device in communication with the control mechanism and configured to at least one of transmit, process and receive signals.  
   
   
       12 . The arrangement of  claim 11 , wherein the communication device is configured to wirelessly communicate with the control mechanism.  
   
   
       13 . The arrangement of  claim 3 , wherein the injection hardware comprises at least one expansion restriction mechanism in operable communication with at least one of the host conduit and the liner conduit, the expansion restriction mechanism configured to control at least one of later expansion and circumferential expansion.  
   
   
       14 . The arrangement of  claim 3 , wherein the injection hardware comprises a tapered transition collar device positioned substantially adjacent a first end of the host conduit and configured to provide a surface to which the liner conduit may expand against.  
   
   
       15 . The arrangement of  claim 3 , wherein the injection hardware comprises a liner conduit hose positioned within the liner conduit and having a plurality of orifices positioned thereon, such that injected material is inserted into the liner conduit hose and exits through at least one of the plurality of orifices, thereby contacting an internal surface of the liner conduit.  
   
   
       16 . The arrangement of  claim 3 , wherein the distal end hardware comprises a cap element configured to prevent the injected material from exiting the liner conduit.  
   
   
       17 . The arrangement of  claim 3 , wherein the distal end hardware comprises at least one measurement device configured to measure at least one physical characteristic of at least one of the injected material, the reparation process, the host conduit and the liner conduit.  
   
   
       18 . The arrangement of  claim 17 , wherein the measurement device measures at least one of the pressure and the temperature of the injected material.  
   
   
       19 . The arrangement of  claim 17 , wherein the measurement device measures a surface temperature of at least one of the host conduit and the liner conduit.  
   
   
       20 . The arrangement of  claim 3 , wherein the distal end hardware comprises a communication device in communication with the control mechanism and configured to at least one of transmit, process and receive signals.  
   
   
       21 . The arrangement of  claim 20 , wherein the communication device is configured to wirelessly communicate with the control mechanism.  
   
   
       22 . The arrangement of  claim 3 , wherein the distal end hardware comprises at least one expansion restriction mechanism in operable communication with at least one of the host conduit and the liner conduit, the expansion restriction mechanism configured to control at least one of later expansion and circumferential expansion.  
   
   
       23 . The arrangement of  claim 3 , wherein the distal end hardware comprises a tapered transition collar device positioned substantially adjacent a second end of the host conduit and configured to provide a surface to which the liner conduit may expand against.  
   
   
       24 . The arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the control mechanism is in wireless communication with at least one of the injection hardware and the distal end hardware.  
   
   
       25 . The arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the injection hardware and the distal end hardware further comprise a communication device in communication with the control mechanism and configured to at least one of transmit, process and receive signals.  
   
   
       26 . The arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the control mechanism is a computing device.  
   
   
       27 . The arrangement of  claim 26 , wherein the computing device is at least one of a portable computer, laptop, a PDA, a palmtop, a computer, a personal computer, a networked computer and a server.  
   
   
       28 . The arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the control mechanism is loaded with control software configured to enable the control mechanism to at least one of: 
 (i) receive and process signals transmitted from at least one of the injection hardware and the distal end hardware;    (ii) transmit signals to at least one of the injection hardware and the distal end hardware;    (iii) monitor at least one physical characteristic of at least one of the reparation process, the injection hardware, the distal end hardware, a material in contact with the injection hardware, a material in contact with the distal end hardware;    (iv) track at least one physical characteristic of at least one of the reparation process, the injection hardware, the distal end hardware, a material in contact with the injection hardware, a material in contact with the distal end hardware;    (v) control at least one physical characteristic of at least one of the reparation process, the injection hardware, the distal end hardware, a material in contact with the injection hardware, a material in contact with the distal end hardware;    (vi) control operation of at least one component of at least one of the injection hardware and the distal end hardware;    (vii) storing data directed to at least one physical characteristic of at least one of the reparation process, the injection hardware, the distal end hardware, a material in operation parameter of the injection hardware and an operation parameter of the distal end hardware.    
   
   
       29 . The arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein a material is injected through the injection hardware into an inner area of the liner conduit, the material is at least one of a gas, a liquid, a solid, a semi-solid, a mechanism and an object.  
   
   
       30 . The arrangement of  claim 29 , wherein the material is at least one of water, heated water and steam.