Device and Method for Repairing Pipe

Abstract

A liner tube is provided for repairing either a single pipe line or a main pipe line having a lateral pipe line connected thereto. The liner tube assembly includes a liner tube impregnated with a liquid material capable of curing and hardening. The liner tube includes a gasket or band of hydrophilic paste positioned about the juncture of the pipe lines. The gasket or bands form a tight seal between the liner tube and the pipe line.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of repairing a main pipe and a lateral pipe connected thereto and in communication therewith to form a pipe juncture, comprising:
 taking a bladder assembly comprising a main bladder tube and a lateral bladder tube;   taking a liner assembly comprising a main liner member and a lateral liner tube in communication with one another at a liner juncture;   impregnating the liner assembly with a material capable of curing and hardening;   applying a hydrophilic paste to the liner assembly about at least a portion of the liner juncture;   positioning the liner assembly at least partially into the main pipe after applying the hydrophilic paste;   expanding the bladder assembly to position the lateral liner tube against the lateral pipe and the main liner member against the main pipe with the hydrophilic paste at least partially disposed between the main liner member and the main pipe; and   allowing the material capable of curing and hardening to cure and harden.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the hydrophilic paste is applied on the main liner member. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the hydrophilic paste is spaced apart from the liner juncture on the main liner member. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the hydrophilic paste fully encircles the liner juncture. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the hydrophilic paste is applied to form a ring or band around the liner juncture. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the paste is applied at least partially on both the main liner member and the lateral liner tube. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the main liner member forms a tube. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising removing the bladder assembly from the main pipe and the lateral pipe. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the lateral line tube is inverted into the lateral pipe. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the liner assembly is impregnated with a material capable of curing and hardening before the hydrophilic paste is applied to the liner assembly. 
     
     
         11 . A method of repairing a main pipe and a lateral pipe connected thereto and in communication therewith to form a pipe joint, comprising:
 taking a liner assembly comprising a main liner member and a lateral liner tube in communication with one another at a liner juncture;   impregnating the liner assembly with a material capable of curing and hardening;   applying a hydrophilic paste to the liner assembly;   positioning the liner assembly at least partially into the main pipe after applying the hydrophilic paste;   positioning the lateral liner tube against the lateral pipe and the main liner member against the main pipe with the hydrophilic paste at least partially disposed between the main liner member and the main pipe; and   allowing the material capable of curing and hardening to cure and harden.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the hydrophilic paste is applied on the main liner member. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the hydrophilic paste is spaced apart from the liner juncture on the main liner member. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the hydrophilic paste fully encircles the liner juncture. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the hydrophilic paste is applied to form a ring or band around the liner juncture. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the paste is applied at least partially on both the main liner member and the lateral liner tube. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the main liner member forms a tube. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the lateral line tube is inverted into the lateral pipe. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the liner assembly is impregnated with a material capable of curing and hardening before the hydrophilic paste is applied to the liner assembly. 
     
     
         20 . A method of repairing a main pipe and a lateral pipe connected thereto and in communication therewith to form a pipe joint, comprising:
 taking a repair assembly comprising a bladder assembly and a liner assembly, the bladder assembly including a main bladder tube and a lateral bladder tube extending from the main bladder tube, and the liner assembly including a main liner member at least partially surrounding the main bladder member and a lateral liner tube extending from the main liner member;   impregnating the liner assembly with a material capable of curing and hardening;   applying a hydrophilic paste on the main liner member at least partially around a liner juncture between the main liner member and the lateral liner tube;   positioning the liner assembly at least partially into the main pipe after applying the hydrophilic paste;   positioning the repair assembly in a pipe such that the lateral liner tube is inverted through the liner juncture and against the lateral pipe and the main liner member is pressed against the main pipe with the hydrophilic paste between the main liner member and the main pipe; and   allowing the material capable of curing and hardening to cure and harden.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  wherein the liner assembly is impregnated with a material capable of curing and hardening before the step of positioning the applying the hydrophilic paste. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20  wherein the main liner member is formed as a tube. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 20  wherein the bladder assembly positions the lateral liner tube and the main liner member. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23  wherein the bladder assembly is removed from the lateral pipe and the main pipe after the material has cured and hardened.