Preparation of Cured in Place Liner Using Resin Impregnation Tower

Abstract

A method of continuously impregnating a resin impregnable cured in place liner in a resin impregnation tower is provided. 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 tower is filled with resin at a suitable height to provide a sufficient pressure head of resin to impregnate the resin impregnable material fully. The impregnated liner is suitable for inversion or the pull-in-and-inflate method of installation. For liners formed with an inner impermeable layer, the liner is suitable for curing with steam.

1 . A system for preparation of a fully impregnated cured in place liner having at least one layer of a resin impregnable material in tubular form and an outer impermeable coating, comprising
 a vertical column having an upper portion open to the atmosphere and a lower portion with an enclosed bottom, filled with a thermosetting resin at a height to provide a pressure head of resin sufficient to wet-out and impregnate the resin impregnable material in tubular form being fed into the upper portion of the column through the resin to the lower portion of the column and up through the resin to be removed from the upper portion of the column;   a supply holder for holding a length of an impermeable material;   a tubular former having an open inlet end and an open outlet end;   a sealing section for feeding a length of impermeable material to the inlet end of the tubular former;   forming the length of impermeable material into a tube about the tubular former; and   pulling means for withdrawing the impregnated inner tubular member with the tubular impermeable material wrapped thereon from the outlet end of the tubular former.   
   
   
       2 . The system of claim I, wherein the column is at least five feet in height. 
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1 , including a roller mounted in the lower portion of the column at a resin depth sufficient to impregnate the impregnable material for changing direction of the tubular material as the resin impregnable material passes through the resin in the column. 
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1 , including at least one pulling roller mounted at the top of the column for facilitating feeding the resin impregnable material into the upper portion of the column. 
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1 , including pulling means for facilitating withdrawal of the impregnable material exiting the column. 
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1 , including calibration means for controlling the amount of resin in the impregnated tubular material as it exits the column. 
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the calibration means is a pair of calibration rollers. 
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the sealing section seals the length of impermeable material into a tube as the impregnable material moves from the inlet end to the outlet end of the tubular former and envelops the inner tubular member. 
   
   
       9 . A system for preparation of a fully impregnated cured in place liner having at least one layer of a resin impregnable material and an inner impermeable layer in tubular form and an outer impermeable coating, comprising
 a vertical column having an upper portion open to the atmosphere and a lower portion with an enclosed bottom, filled with a thermosetting resin at a height to provide a pressure head of resin sufficient to wet-out and impregnate the resin impregnable material in tubular form being fed into the upper portion of the column through the resin to the lower portion of the column and up through the resin to be removed from the upper portion of the column;   a supply holder for holding a length of an impermeable material;   a tubular former having an open inlet end and an open outlet end;   a sealing section for feeding a length of impermeable material to the inlet end of the tubular former;   forming the length of impermeable material into a tube about the tubular former; and   pulling means for withdrawing the impregnated inner tubular member with the tubular impermeable material wrapped thereon from the outlet end of the tubular former.   
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the column is at least five feet in height. 
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 9 , including a roller mounted in the lower portion of the column at a resin depth sufficient to impregnate the impregnable material for changing direction of the tubular material as the resin impregnable material passes through the resin in the column. 
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 9 , including at least one pulling roller mounted at the top of the column for facilitating feeding the resin impregnable material into the upper portion of the column. 
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 9 , including pulling means for facilitating withdrawal of the impregnable material exiting the column. 
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 9 , including calibration means for controlling the amount of resin in the impregnated tubular material as it exits the column. 
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the calibration means is a pair of calibration rollers. 
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the sealing section seals the length of impermeable material into a tube as the impermeable material moves from the inlet end to the outlet end of the tubular former and envelops the inner tubular member.