Method of repairing a manhole chimney using a stretchable sleeve

Abstract

A method of repairing and renewing a manhole chimney utilizes a circumferentially stretchable liner sleeve which is inserted into the manhole and pressed by an inflatable bladder into engagement with the walls of the manhole chimney. The sleeve is coated with an uncured resin, which is allowed to cure as the sleeve is pressed against the chimney walls, thereby attaching the sleeve to the walls of the manhole chimney. The stretchable sleeve eliminates air spaces between the sleeve and the chimney walls, and precludes formation of undesirable folds in the sleeve. The sleeve stretches circumferentially up to 150% of its unstretched diameter, while having a substantially unstretchable length.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A manhole liner for repairing a wall of a manhole having varying diameters along its height, comprising:
 a sleeve having a resin-impregnable side and an opposite coating side, the sleeve having an original constant diameter along its length; and   the sleeve being stretchable along its height for contact with the wall of the manhole at the varying diameters concurrently.   
     
     
         2 . The manhole liner of  claim 1  wherein the coating of the coating side is a resin impermeable coating. 
     
     
         3 . The manhole liner of  claim 2  wherein the coating is a polymer film. 
     
     
         4 . The manhole liner of  claim 3  wherein the polymer film is elastic. 
     
     
         5 . The manhole liner of  claim 1  wherein the sleeve is stretchable to a diameter 150% greater than its original constant diameter. 
     
     
         6 . The manhole liner of  claim 1  wherein the resin-impregnable side of the sleeve comprises a fabric fiber material. 
     
     
         7 . The manhole liner of  claim 1  further comprising a resin impregnated in the resin-impregnable side of the sleeve. 
     
     
         8 . The manhole liner of  claim 7  wherein the resin is a thermal-set resin. 
     
     
         9 . The manhole liner of  claim 1  wherein the original constant diameter is less than or equal to the smallest diameter of the wall of the manhole. 
     
     
         10 . A sleeve for lining a wall of a manhole having varying diameters along its height to repair the wall, comprising:
 a tubular fabric fiber material having an original constant diameter along the length of the sleeve, the original constant diameter being smaller than the smallest of the varying diameters of the manhole; and   the fabric fiber material capable of stretching circumferentially to contact the sleeve with the wall of the manhole at the varying diameters concurrently while the length of the sleeve does not substantially decrease.   
     
     
         11 . The sleeve of  claim 10  wherein the fabric fiber material is resin-impregnable. 
     
     
         12 . The sleeve of  claim 10  further comprising an impermeable coating at least partially surrounding one side of the fabric fiber material. 
     
     
         13 . The sleeve of  claim 12  wherein the fabric fiber material is positioned adjacent the wall of the manhole. 
     
     
         14 . The sleeve of  claim 13  wherein the manhole has a symmetrical cross-sectional appearance. 
     
     
         15 . A method of repairing a wall of a manhole having varying diameters along the height of the manhole, comprising:
 a sleeve having a resin-impregnable side and an opposite coating side, the sleeve having an original constant diameter along its length and stretchable along its height for contact with the wall of the manhole at the varying diameters concurrently;   applying a resin to the resin-impregnable side of the sleeve;   positioning the sleeve in the manhole;   pressing the resin-impregnable side of the sleeve into contact with the wall of the manhole along the varying diameters of the manhole; and   allowing the resin to cure and harden to attach the sleeve to the wall of the manhole such that the sleeve is in contact with the wall along the length of the sleeve.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the sleeve is inverted into the manhole to position the resin-impregnable side of the sleeve adjacent the wall of the manhole. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising inserting an expandable bladder into the sleeve adjacent the coating side of the sleeve. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the expandable bladder is adapted to expand along the varying diameters of the wall of the manhole. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising inflating the expandable bladder to press the resin-impregnable side of the sleeve into contact with the wall of the manhole along the length of the sleeve. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising removing the bladder from the manhole after the resin has cured and hardened.