Grouting material delivery and application system

Abstract

A wetout funnel ( 82 ) including opposite walls ( 88 ) forming a v-shape with a slot ( 90 ) at the bottom of the v-shape and a squeegee ( 102 ) disposed at the slot ( 90 ) for controlling the coating of grouting material for a uniform covering on a liner ( 50 ) as it passes through the wetout funnel ( 82 ). A first ejector pipe ( 104 ) receives and dispenses grouting material ( 52 ) to coat one half of the exterior of the liner ( 50 ) and a second ejector pipe ( 106 ) receives and dispenses grouting material ( 52 ) to coat the opposite half of the exterior of the liner ( 50 ). The wetout funnel ( 82 ) is mounted on a supporting framework ( 84 ) that is positionable over a manhole. The supporting framework ( 84 ) has end pieces ( 92 ) movable to engage the edges of a liner ( 50 ) of different widths.

1 . An apparatus ( 20 ) for coating a collapsed liner ( 50 ) with a grouting material ( 52 ) comprising;
 a wetout funnel ( 82 ) for receiving grouting material ( 52 ) to coat both halves of a liner ( 50 ),   said wetout funnel ( 82 ) includes opposite walls ( 88 ) forming a v-shape with a slot ( 90 ) and a squeegee ( 102 ) at the bottom of the v-shape,   a first ejector pipe ( 104 ) having an inflow end ( 108 ) and an outflow end ( 110 ) for receiving and dispensing grouting material ( 52 ) into said wetout funnel ( 82 ) against one of said walls ( 88 ) to coat one half of the exterior of the liner ( 50 ),   a second ejector pipe ( 106 ) having an inflow end ( 108 ) and an outflow end ( 110 ) for receiving and dispensing grouting material ( 52 ) into said wetout funnel ( 82 ) against the other of said walls ( 88 ) to coat the opposite half of the exterior of the liner ( 50 ).   
     
     
         2 . An apparatus ( 20 ) as set forth in  claim 1  further including a feeder ( 112 ) defining an entry leg ( 114 ) for receiving grouting material ( 52 ) from the outlet pipe ( 80 ) and a first leg ( 116 ) in communication with said first ejector pipe ( 104 ) and a second leg ( 118 ) in communication with said second ejector pipe ( 106 ). 
     
     
         3 . An apparatus ( 20 ) as set forth in  claim 2  further including said first ejector pipe ( 104 ) and said second ejector pipe ( 106 ) being equal in volume and length for equal dispensing of grouting material ( 52 ) into the opposite sides of said wetout funnel ( 82 ) to coat the liner ( 50 ). 
     
     
         4 . An apparatus ( 20 ) as set forth in  claim 2  including a first conduit ( 120 ) interconnecting said first leg ( 116 ) to said inflow end ( 108 ) of said first ejector pipe ( 104 ) for conveying grouting material ( 52 ) to said first ejector pipe ( 104 ). 
     
     
         5 . An apparatus ( 20 ) as set forth in  claim 2  including the second conduit ( 122 ) interconnecting said second leg ( 118 ) to said inflow end ( 108 ) of said second ejector pipe ( 106 ) for conveying grouting from said feeder ( 112 ) to said second ejector pipe ( 106 ). 
     
     
         6 . An apparatus ( 20 ) as set forth in  claim 1  including the wetout funnel ( 82 ) having opposite walls ( 88 ) forming a v-shape angling inwardly from wide at the top and sloping downward at the bottom to form a trough shape with a slot ( 90 ). 
     
     
         7 . An apparatus ( 20 ) as set forth in  claim 6  including the wetout funnel ( 82 ) having a squeegee ( 102 ) disposed in said slot ( 90 ) for controlling the coating of the grouting material ( 52 ) and for a uniform covering on said liner ( 50 ) as it passes through said wetout funnel ( 82 ). 
     
     
         8 . An apparatus ( 20 ) as set forth in  claim 6  including the wetout funnel ( 82 ) having sheets of organic polymer ( 100 ) fastened to said opposite walls ( 88 ) for guiding the grouting material ( 52 ) from leaking out of said wetout funnel ( 82 ). 
     
     
         9 . An apparatus ( 20 ) as set forth in  claim 6  including the wetout funnel ( 82 ) having rollers ( 96 ,  98 ) being disposed in parallel and spaces relationship with one another and mounted on top and across said wetout funnel ( 82 ) directly above said squeegee ( 102 ) for guiding said liner ( 50 ) into said wetout funnel ( 82 ). 
     
     
         10 . An apparatus ( 20 ) for coating a collapsed liner ( 50 ) with a grouting material ( 52 ) comprising;
 a support ( 22 ) extending along an axis between a first end ( 24 ) and a second end ( 26 ),   a power supply ( 28 ) and an air compressor ( 29 ) mounted on said first end ( 24 ) of said support ( 22 ) for supplying electrical power and compressed air,   a crane assembly ( 30 ) mounted adjacent said power supply ( 28 ) on said support ( 22 ) and connected to said power supply ( 28 ) for hoisting articles,   said crane assembly ( 30 ) including a mast ( 32 ) extending vertically from said support ( 22 ) and a boom ( 34 ) mounted and cantilevered to said mast ( 32 ) and extending from a near end ( 36 ) adjacent said mast ( 32 ) to a far end ( 38 ),   said crane assembly ( 30 ) including a trolley ( 40 ) movably supported by said boom ( 34 ) for moving back and forth on said boom ( 34 ) and a pulley ( 42 ) supported by said trolley ( 40 ) and a cable ( 44 ) extending along the length of said boom ( 34 ) and through said pulley ( 42 ) to a hook ( 46 ) on the end of the cable ( 44 ) for lifting and lowering objects,   a tank ( 66 ) having a top end ( 68 ) and a bottom end ( 70 ) opposite said top end ( 68 ) and installed upon said support ( 22 ) between said reel ( 54 ) and said second end ( 26 ) of said support ( 22 ) and for dispensing a grouting material ( 52 ) at said bottom end ( 70 ),   a pump ( 72 ) mounted on said support ( 22 ) between said tank ( 66 ) and said second end ( 26 ) of said support ( 22 ) and connected to said power supply ( 28 ) and having a suction ( 74 ) and a discharge ( 76 ),   an inlet pipe ( 78 ) interconnecting said bottom end ( 70 ) of said tank ( 66 ) and said suction ( 74 ) of said pump ( 72 ) for moving the grouting material ( 52 ) from said tank ( 66 ) to said pump ( 72 ),   an expandable pipe system ( 48 ) for insertion into a conduit,   said expandable pipe system ( 48 ) presenting a liner ( 50 ) with an exterior surface ( 56 ) surrounding a center opening ( 58 ) and extending between opposite liner ends ( 60 ),   said exterior surface ( 56 ) presenting a liner width (W) extending across said center opening ( 58 ) and a liner length (L) extending along the center opening ( 58 ),   said liner ( 50 ) being formed of a polymer material,   said exterior surface ( 56 ) defining a plurality of grooves ( 62 ) spaced from one another and each extending radially into said exterior surface ( 56 ),   a reel ( 54 ) storing said liner ( 50 ) in a flattened condition and having a base ( 64 ) on said support ( 22 ) forward of said tank ( 66 ) and of said pump ( 72 ) for allowing said reel ( 54 ) to rotate relative to said base ( 64 ) for dispensing lengths of liner ( 50 ) from said reel ( 54 ),   a supporting framework ( 84 ) movable from a stored position on said second end ( 26 ) of said support ( 22 ) during transport and a working position over a manhole,   a wetout funnel ( 82 ) on said supporting framework ( 84 ) for disposition above a manhole,   said wetout funnel ( 82 ) having opposite walls ( 88 ) forming a v-shape angling inwardly wide at the top and sloping downward narrow at the bottom to form a trough shape with a slot ( 90 ),   a limit switch ( 83 ) for controlling the level of the grouting material in said wetout funnel ( 82 ),   a squeegee ( 102 ) disposed at said slot ( 90 ) for controlling the coating of the grouting material ( 52 ) for a uniform covering on said liner ( 50 ) as it passes through said wetout funnel ( 82 ),   sheets of organic polymer ( 100 ) fastened to said opposite walls ( 88 ) for preventing the grouting material ( 52 ) from leaking out of said wetout funnel ( 82 ),   said supporting frame  84  having end pieces ( 92 ) movable to engage the edges of said liner ( 50 ) of different widths,   a bracket ( 94 ) mounted onto each of said end pieces ( 92 ),   a first roller ( 96 ) mounted on top and across of said wetout funnel ( 82 ) and attaching to each of said brackets ( 94 ) of said end pieces ( 92 ),   a second roller ( 98 ) mounting on top and across of said wetout funnel ( 82 ) and attaching to each said brackets ( 94 ) of said end pieces ( 92 ),   said rollers ( 96 ,  98 ) being disposed in parallel and spaced relationship with one another for guiding said liner ( 50 ) between said rollers ( 96 ,  98 ) into said wetout funnel ( 82 ),   a roller-guide ( 86 ) mounted on said supporting framework ( 84 ) above said wetout funnel ( 82 ) for guiding said liner ( 50 ) from said reel ( 54 ) and between said rollers ( 96 ,  98 ) and into said wetout funnel ( 82 ) for coating said liner ( 50 ) before being drawn into the conduit,   an outlet pipe ( 80 ) interconnecting said discharge ( 76 ) of said pump ( 72 ) and for conveying said grouting material ( 52 ) from said pump ( 72 ),   a first ejector pipe ( 104 ) of a constant diameter having an inflow end ( 108 ) and an outflow end ( 110 ) for dispensing grouting material ( 52 ) into said wetout funnel ( 82 ) against one of said walls ( 88 ) on one half of the exterior of said liner ( 50 ),   a second ejector pipe ( 106 ) of a constant diameter having an inflow end ( 108 ) and an outflow end ( 110 ) for dispensing grouting material ( 52 ) into said wetout funnel ( 82 ) against the other of said walls ( 88 ) on the other half of the exterior of said liner ( 50 ),   said ejector pipes ( 104 ,  106 ) being disposed in parallel and spaced relationship with one another for dispensing grouting material ( 52 ) into said wetout funnel ( 82 ),   a feeder ( 112 ) defining an entry leg ( 114 ) and a first leg ( 116 ) and a second leg ( 118 ) disposed at ninety degrees relative to one another and diverging from said entry leg ( 114 ),   a first conduit ( 120 ) interconnecting said first leg ( 116 ) of said feeder ( 112 ) to said inflow end ( 108 ) of said first ejector pipe ( 104 ) for conveying grouting material ( 52 ) from said feeder ( 112 ) to said first ejector pipe ( 104 ),   a second conduit ( 122 ) interconnecting said second leg ( 118 ) of said feeder ( 112 ) to said inflow end ( 108 ) of said second ejector pipe ( 106 ) for conveying grouting material from said feeder ( 112 ) to said second ejector pipe ( 106 ),   a first union ( 124 ) having a nut threaded joining a female section and a male section where both comprise an inner diameter and an outer diameter forming a tubular body portion of uniform diameter and having threads on said outer diameters of said female section and male section to receive the nut for disassembly,   said outlet pipe ( 80 ) connecting said discharge of said pump ( 72 ) to the end of said first union ( 124 ),   a first coupling ( 126 ) comprising an inner diameter and an outer diameter forming a tubular body portion of a uniform diameter provided with ends of reduced diameter adapted to telescope into receiving pipe ends,   the end of said first coupling ( 126 ) receiving the other end of said first union ( 124 ),   the opposite end of said first coupling ( 126 ) receiving said entry leg ( 114 ) of said feeder ( 112 ),   a second coupling ( 128 ) comprising an inner diameter and an outer diameter forming a tubular body portion of uniform diameter provided with ends of reduced diameter adapted to telescope into receiving pipe ends,   the end of said second coupling ( 128 ) receiving said first leg ( 116 ),   a first bend ( 130 ) comprising an inner diameter and an outer diameter forming a tubular body portion of uniform diameter having straight sections at each of the ends and a curved section of a radius of forty-five degrees at the middle of the body portion to allow a change of direction in the flow of grouting material ( 52 ),   the other end of said second coupling ( 128 ) receiving the end of said first bend ( 130 ),   a third coupling ( 132 ) comprising an inner diameter and an outer diameter forming a tubular body portion of uniform diameter provided with ends of reduced diameter adapted to telescope into receiving pipe ends,   the end of said third coupling ( 132 ) receiving the other end of said first bend ( 130 ),   a second union ( 134 ) having a nut threaded and joining a female section and a male section where both comprise an inner diameter and an outer diameter forming a tubular body portion of uniform diameter and having threads on said outer diameters of said female section and male section to receive the nut for assembly and disassembly,   the end of said second union ( 134 ) connecting to the other end of said third coupling ( 132 ),   a fourth coupling ( 136 ) comprising an inner diameter and an outer diameter forming a tubular body portion of uniform diameter provided with ends of reduced diameter adapted to telescope into receiving pipe ends,   the end of said fourth coupling ( 136 ) inserting into the other end of said second union ( 134 ),   a first elbow ( 138 ) comprising an inner diameter and an outer diameter forming a tubular body portion of uniform diameter having straight sections at each of the ends and a curved section of a radius of ninety degrees at the middle of the body portion to allow a change of direction in the flow of grouting material ( 52 ),   the other end of said fourth coupling ( 136 ) receiving the end of said first elbow ( 138 ),   a fifth coupling ( 140 ) comprising an inner diameter and an outer diameter forming a tubular body portion of uniform diameter provided with ends of reduced diameter adapted to telescope into receiving pipe ends,   the other end of said first elbow ( 138 ) connecting to the end of said fifth coupling ( 140 ),   a third union ( 142 ) having a nut threaded joining a female section and a male section where both comprise an inner diameter and an outer diameter forming a tubular body portion of uniform diameter and having threads on said outer diameters of said female section and male section to receive the nut for disassembly,   the other end of the fifth coupling ( 140 ) connecting to the end of a third union ( 142 ),   the other end of said third union ( 142 ) connecting to said inflow end ( 108 ) of said first ejector pipe ( 104 ),   said first ejector pipe ( 104 ) cylindrical in shape and disposed about an Axis A,   a sixth coupling ( 144 ) comprising an inner diameter and an outer diameter forming a tubular body portion of uniform diameter provided with ends of reduced diameter adapted to telescope into receiving pipe ends,   the end of said sixth coupling ( 144 ) receiving said second leg ( 118 ),   a second bend ( 146 ) comprising an inner diameter and an outer diameter forming a tubular body portion of uniform diameter having straight sections at each of the ends and a curved section of a radius of forty-five degrees at the middle of said body portion to allow a change of direction in the flow of grouting material ( 52 ),   the other end of said sixth coupling ( 144 ) receiving the end of said second bend ( 146 ),   a seventh coupling ( 148 ) comprising an inner diameter and an outer diameter forming a tubular body portion of uniform diameter provided with ends of reduced diameter adapted to telescope into receiving pipe ends,   the end of said seventh coupling ( 148 ) receiving the other end of said second bend ( 146 ),   a fourth union ( 150 ) having a nut threaded and joining a female section and a male section where both comprise an inner diameter and an outer diameter forming a tubular body portion of uniform diameter and having threads on the outer diameters of said female section and male section to receive the nut for assembly and disassembly,   said nut acting as a connector for disassembly and assembly during cleaning and rearrangement,   the end of said fourth union ( 150 ) connecting to the other end of said seventh coupling ( 148 ),   an eighth coupling ( 152 ) comprising an inner diameter and an outer diameter forming a tubular body portion of uniform diameter provided with ends of reduced diameter adapted to telescope into receiving pipe ends of another source,   the other end of said fourth union ( 150 ) connecting to the end of said eighth coupling ( 152 ),   a second elbow ( 154 ) comprising an inner diameter and an outer diameter forming a tubular body portion of uniform diameter having straight sections at each of ends and a curved section of a radius of ninety degrees at the middle of said body portion to allow a change of direction in the flow of grouting material ( 52 ),   the other end of said eighth coupling ( 152 ) receiving the end of said third elbow,   a ninth coupling ( 156 ) comprising an inner diameter and an outer diameter forming a tubular body portion of uniform diameter provided with ends of reduced diameter adapted to telescope into receiving pipe ends,   the other end of said second elbow ( 154 ) connecting to the end of said ninth coupling ( 156 ),   a fifth union ( 158 ) having a nut threaded joining a female section and a male section where both comprise an inner diameter and an outer diameter forming a tubular body portion of uniform diameter and having threads on said outer diameters of said female section and male section to receive the nut for disassembly,   the other end of said ninth coupling ( 156 ) connecting to the end of said fifth union ( 158 ),   the other end of said fifth union ( 158 ) connecting to said inflow end ( 108 ) of said second ejector pipe ( 106 ),   said second ejector pipe ( 106 ) cylindrical in shape and disposed about an Axis B.