Apparatus, methods, and liners for repairing conduits

Abstract

A method of repairing an intersection of a first conduit and a second conduit that includes the steps of providing a repair material configured to conform to an intersection of a first conduit and a second conduit and impregnating the repair material with a heat curable resin. The method further includes positioning the repair material at the intersection of the conduits and compressing the repair material against said intersection with a structure having a plurality of electrically conductive fibers. Electric current is applied to the conductive fibers to resistively heat the fibers to facilitate curing of the resin in the repair material.

1 . A method of repairing an intersection of a first conduit and a second conduit comprising the steps of: 
 (a) providing a repair material configured to conform to an intersection of a first conduit and a second conduit;    (b) impregnating said repair material with a heat curable or formable resin;    (c) positioning said repair material at said intersection;    (d) compressing said repair material against said intersection with a structure having a plurality of electrically conductive fibers; and    (e) applying an electric current to said conductive fibers to resistively heat said fibers to facilitate curing or forming of said resin in said repair material.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 (a) providing an inflatable bladder for compressing said repair material against said intersection; and    (b) inflating said bladder.    
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 (a) forming a flange in said repair material; and    (b) compressing said flange against a portion of said first conduit proximate to said intersection.    
   
   
       4 . A method for repairing an intersection of a first conduit and a second conduit comprising the steps of: 
 (a) placing a heat curable or formable repair material on an inflatable bladder wherein the bladder contains electrically conductive components for resistive heating;    (b) placing the bladder substantially within a housing;    (c) positioning the housing within a first conduit proximate to the intersection with a second conduit;    (d) inflating the bladder so that it extends out of the housing and into the second conduit;    (e) using the inflated bladder to press the repair material to a portion of a wall surface of the second conduit; and    (f) applying electric current to the electrically conductive components of the bladder.    
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4  further comprising the steps of: 
 (a) forming a flange on the repair material;    (b) using a component extendable from the housing to press the flange to a portion of a wall surface of the first conduit;    (c) applying electric current to electrically conductive heating elements within the component.    
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the positioning of the housing proximate to the intersection of the first and second conduit further comprises extending a heatable caul plate component from the housing.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the step of placing the repair material on the bladder further comprises wrapping of the repair material around the inflated bladder followed by the step of deflating the bladder and retracting the bladder and repair material into the housing.