Corrugated metal pipe repair system and method

Abstract

Corrugated metal pipe repair system and method, an embodiment including the securing of one or more sheets to the corrugated pipe and over a damaged portion of the pipe including voids, the delivering of glass particles into the voids and possibly also cavities in ground adjacent to the corrugated metal pipe, and the delivering of a polymer that expands to fill at least a portion of the voids and possibly also a portion of the cavities not filled by the glass particles.

1 - 36 . (canceled) 
     
     
         37 . A method of repairing a corrugated metal pipe, comprising:
 positioning one or more flexible sheets against the corrugated metal pipe adjacent at least one void in the corrugated pipe;   overlapping an edge of the one or more flexible sheets with an adjacent sheet or the corrugated pipe;   securing the one or more sheets to the corrugated metal pipe and adjacent the at least one void; and   delivering a glass particles into the one or more voids.   
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , further comprising:
 delivering a polymer that expands to fill at least a portion of the one or more voids.   
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the securing of the one or more sheets over the void comprises holding the one or more flexible sheets against the void of the corrugated metal pipe with a hydraulic jack and then fastening the one or more flexible sheets to the corrugated metal pipe. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the hydraulic jack holds the one or more flexible sheets against the void of the corrugated metal pipe while the glass particles and the polymer are delivered under the one or more flexible sheets. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the delivering of the glass particles into the one or more voids occurs prior to the securing of the one or more flexible sheets. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the delivering of the polymer that expands to fill at least a portion of the one or more voids occurs prior to the securing of the one or more flexible sheets. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the securing of the one or more flexible sheets over the void of the corrugated metal pipe comprises fastening the one or more flexible sheets to the corrugated metal pipe using a powder-actuated tool. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the glass particles are delivered into the one or more voids by being propelled with a blasting machine; and the glass particles are configured to travel over a greater area in response to being propelled by the blasting machine and to migrate into areas farther from the void in which the glass particles are propelled. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the glass particles comprise blasting beads. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the polyurethane comprises a moisture-activated single component hydrophobic polyurethane. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein:
 the delivering of the glass particles into the one or more voids further comprises delivering the glass particles into one or more cavities in ground adjacent to the corrugated metal pipe; and   the delivering of the polymer that expands to fill at least the portion of the one or more voids further comprises delivering the polymer such that it expands into the one or more cavities in the ground adjacent to the corrugated metal pipe.   
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein the delivering of the glass particles into the one or more voids and the one or more cavities occurs prior to the securing of the one or more flexible sheets. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein the delivering of the polymer that expands to fill at least the portion of the one or more voids and expands into the one or more cavities is, at least in part, prior to the securing of the one or more flexible sheets. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 37 , further comprising:
 securing one or more slats to the corrugated metal pipe over the void of the corrugated metal pipe; and   wherein the securing of the one or more flexible sheets to the corrugated metal pipe and over the void of the corrugated metal pipe comprises securing at least one of the one or more flexible sheets to at least one of the one or more slats' and   securing one or more base plates each to at least one of the one or more flexible sheets.   
     
     
         51 . A system for repairing a corrugated metal pipe, comprising:
 one or more flexible sheets arranged adjacent to a void of the corrugated metal pipe and to be secured over the void of the corrugated metal pipe; and   a plurality of glass particles, the plurality of glass particles delivered into the void.   
     
     
         52 . The system of  claim 51 , further comprising:
 a polymer to be delivered to expand into at least a portion of the one or more voids.   
     
     
         53 . The system of  claim 52 , further comprising a hydraulic jack positioned to secure one or more flexible sheets being held by the hydraulic jack over the void of the corrugated metal pipe; and wherein the hydraulic jack is further to hold the one or more sheets against the void of the corrugated metal pipe while the glass particles and the polymer are to be delivered. 
     
     
         54 . The system of  claim 52 , further comprising a powder-actuated tool to fasten the one or more sheets to the corrugated metal pipe to secure the one or more sheets over the void of the corrugated metal pipe, wherein the one or more sheets comprises one or more holes for receiving a nozzle for directing the glass particles under the one or more sheets and into the one or more voids through the one or more holes. 
     
     
         55 . The system of  claim 52 , wherein the glass particles are chemically inert and contain less than one percent silica. 
     
     
         56 . The system of  claim 52 , wherein the polymer is a moisture-activated single component hydrophobic polyurethane; and wherein the moisture-activated single component hydrophobic polyurethane is dibutyl phthalate free.