Resin impregnation tower for cured in place liner

Abstract

A resin impregnation tower for continuously impregnating the resin impregnable layer of a tubular cured in place liner is provided. The tower is of a height to provide sufficient resin pressure head to impregnate the resin impregnable layer fully. A cured in place liner having at least one layer of resin impregnable material is fed into the top of the tower, drawn down about a roller at the bottom, removed from the top of the tower and then wrapped with an outer impermeable coating. The impregnated liner is suitable for pull-in-and-inflate method of installation or may be inverted. For liners formed with an inner impermeable layer, the liner is suitable for curing with steam.

1 . An apparatus for impregnating a resin impregnable material, comprising an enclosed vertical column of sufficient height to impregnate the resin impregnable material, the column having an upper portion and a lower portion, the tubular material to be fed into the upper portion of the column to the lower portion and removed from the upper portion of the column after passing through resin therein.  
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the column has a substantially rectangular cross-section with two opposed side walls and two opposed edge walls.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the column is at least five feet in height.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the column has an open top and the impregnable material is fed into the open top.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , including a roller mounted in the lower portion of the column at a depth sufficient to impregnate the impregnable material for changing direction of the tubular material as it passes through the column.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , including at least one pulling roller mounted at the top of the column.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , including a roller at one side wall to facilitate entry of the impregnable material into the column.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , including a pair of cooperating rollers for facilitating the impregnable material entering the column.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein at least one of the rollers is a drive roller.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , including a pair of compression rollers mounted at the top of the column for facilitating withdrawal of the impregnated material as it exits the column.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein at least one of the compression rollers are drive rollers.  
     
     
         12 . An apparatus for impregnating a tubular resin impregnable material, comprising a hollow vertical tower of sufficient height to impregnate the resin impregnable material, the tower having a roller at a lower portion for changing direction of the tubular material as it is fed into the upper portion of the column to the lower portion and removed from the upper portion of the column after passing through resin in the tower.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the tower has a substantially rectangular cross-section and with two opposed side walls and two opposed edges.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the tower is at least five feet in height.  
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the tower has an open top and at least one roller mounted at the top adjacent one of the side walls and the tubular member is fed over the roller and into the tower at the top.  
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , further including at least one pulling roller mounted at the top of the tower.  
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , including two rollers at the top of the tower.  
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17  wherein both rollers are pulling rollers.  
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , further including a pair of compression rollers mounted at the top of the tower for the impregnated tubular material to pass therethrough as it is removed from the tower.  
     
     
         20 . A resin impregnation tower for impregnating a cured in place liner including at least one layer of resin impregnable material comprising a vertical column of sufficient height to impregnate the resin impregnable layer, the column having a roller at a lower portion for changing direction of the tubular material as it is fed into the upper portion of the column to the lower portion and pulled out of the upper portion of the column after passing through resin in the tower.