US4713870A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Pipe repair sleeve apparatus and method of repairing a damaged pipe
Assignee: Raychem Corp
•
Filing: 1986-12-17
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Granted: 1987-12-22
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Expires: 2006-12-17
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed is a pipe repair sleeve apparatus. There is a draw means having expanding means on either end of the draw means. There is also an annular repair sleeve. The draw means is contained within the sleeve with at least a portion of each of the expanding means protruding outside of the sleeve. Then, the repair sleeve assembly is inserted within the damaged pipe. The draw means urges the expanding means toward one another and inwardly of the sleeve so that opposed ends of the sleeve are expanded outwardly into engagement with an inside diameter of the damaged pipe. Preferably, the draw means is made from a material which is a shape memory alloy. Also disclosed is a method of repairing a damaged pipe. This method specifies the steps necessary for installing the pipe repair sleeve apparatus.
Inventors
- 👤 Laszlo Szalvay
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 20:56
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16L; F16L55/00; F16L55/16; F16L55/179; F16L55/18; F28; F28F; F28F11/00; F28F11/02; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49718; Y10T29/49732; Y10T29/49826; Y10T29/49863; Y10T29/49865; Y10T29/49908; Y10T29/49909; Y10T29/49911; Y10T29/49938; Y10T29/4994
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
176 words
A method of repairing a damaged pipe, comprising the steps of: assembling a repair apparatus assembly comprising a draw rod having an expanding means on each end thereof and a repair sleeve having two ends, the draw rod being contained within the sleeve with at least a portion of each of the expanding means protruding outside of the sleeve; inserting the repair apparatus in the damaged pipe; axially moving the expanding means towards one another, thereby engaging the expanding means with the ends of the sleeve; further axially moving one expanding means toward the other expanding means while maintaining the other expanding means stationary, stopping movement of the one expanding means, then after the one expanding means stops moving, further axially moving the other expanding means toward the one expanding means while maintaining the one expanding means stationary, thereby fully expanding one end of the sleeve outwardly into engagement with the damaged pipe and then fully expanding the other end of the sleeve outwardly into engagement with the damaged pipe; and physically removing the draw rod.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
176 words
A method of repairing a damaged pipe, comprising the steps of: assembling a repair apparatus assembly comprising a draw rod having an expanding means on each end thereof and a repair sleeve having two ends, the draw rod being contained within the sleeve with at least a portion of each of the expanding means protruding outside of the sleeve; inserting the repair apparatus in the damaged pipe; axially moving the expanding means towards one another, thereby engaging the expanding means with the ends of the sleeve; further axially moving one expanding means toward the other expanding means while maintaining the other expanding means stationary, stopping movement of the one expanding means, then after the one expanding means stops moving, further axially moving the other expanding means toward the one expanding means while maintaining the one expanding means stationary, thereby fully expanding one end of the sleeve outwardly into engagement with the damaged pipe and then fully expanding the other end of the sleeve outwardly into engagement with the damaged pipe; and physically removing the draw rod.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of removing the draw rod includes removing at least one expanding means also.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
124 words
A method of repairing a damaged pipe, comprising the steps of: providing a repair apparatus assembly comprising a shape-memory alloy draw rod having an expanding means on each end thereof and a repair sleeve haivng two ends, the draw rod being contained within the sleeve with at least a portion of each of the expanding means protruding outside of the sleeve; inserting the repair apparatus assembly in the damaged pipe; warming the repair apparatus assembly, thereby axially moving the expanding means toward one another without the application of external mechanical means, thereby engaging the expanding means with the ends of the sleeve, and thereby fully expanding the ends of the sleeve outwardly into engagement with the damaged pipe; and physically removing the draw rod.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
124 words
A method of repairing a damaged pipe, comprising the steps of: providing a repair apparatus assembly comprising a shape-memory alloy draw rod having an expanding means on each end thereof and a repair sleeve haivng two ends, the draw rod being contained within the sleeve with at least a portion of each of the expanding means protruding outside of the sleeve; inserting the repair apparatus assembly in the damaged pipe; warming the repair apparatus assembly, thereby axially moving the expanding means toward one another without the application of external mechanical means, thereby engaging the expanding means with the ends of the sleeve, and thereby fully expanding the ends of the sleeve outwardly into engagement with the damaged pipe; and physically removing the draw rod.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 3 wherein the step of warming comprises exposing the repair apparatus assembly to a temperature above ambient temperature.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 3 further comprising the step of cryogenically cooling the repair apparatus assembly just prior to inserting the repair apparatus assembly in the damaged pipe.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the step of warming comprises exposing the repair apparatus assembly to ambient temperature.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
95 words
The method of claim 5 including providing the repair apparatus with two retention rings peripherally located with respect to said draw rod and distally located with respect to said expanding means such that one retention ring is positioned at one end of the draw rod and the other retention ring is positioned at the other end of the draw rod and wherein the method further comprises: positioning the retention rings adjacent the expanded ends of the sleeve; and subsequently expanding the rings, thereby locking the expanded ends of the sleeve in the fully expanded position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 7 wherein at least one of the retention rings comprises a shape-memory alloy and the step of expanding the rings comprises exposing the rings to ambient temperature.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the step of expanding the ends of the sleeve comprises fully expanding one end of the sleeve and then fully expanding the other end of the sleeve.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
95 words
The method of claim 3 including providing the repair apparatus with two retention rings peripherally located with respect to said draw rod and distally located with respect to said expanding means such that one retention ring is positioned at one end of the draw rod and the other retention ring is positioned at the other end of the draw rod and wherein the method further comprises: positioning the retention rings adjacent the expanded ends of the sleeve; and subsequently expanding the rings, thereby locking the expanded ends of the sleeve in the fully expanded position.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 8 wherein at least one of the retention rings comprises a shape-memory alloy and the step of expanding the rings comprises exposing the rings to a temperature above ambient temperature.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 3 wherein the step of removing the draw rod includes removing at least one expanding means.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
300 words
A method of repairing a damaged pipe, comprising the steps of: assembling a repair assembly comprising a draw rod having expanding means on each end thereof; two retention rings peripherally located with respect to the draw rod and distally located with respect to the expanding means such that one retention ring is at one end of the draw rod and the other retention ring is at the other end of the draw rod; and a repair sleeve having two ends; the draw rod contained within the sleeve with the retention rings and at least a portion of each of the expanding means protruding outside of the sleeve; inserting the repair apparatus assembly in the damaged pipe; axially moving one expanding means and one retention ring toward the other expanding means and the other retention ring while axially moving the other expanding means and the other retention ring toward the one expanding means and the one retention ring; further axially moving one expanding means and one retention ring toward the other expanding means and the other retention ring while maintaining the other expanding means and the other retention ring stationary, stopping movement of the one expanding means and the one retention ring, then after the one expanding means and the one retention ring stops moving, further axially moving the other expanding means and the other retention ring toward the one expanding means and the one retention ring while maintaining the one expanding means and the one retention ring stationary, thereby fully expanding the ends of the sleeve outwardly into engagement with the damaged pipe, and thereby positioning the retention rings adjacent the fully expanded ends of the sleeve; subsequently expanding the rings, thereby locking the expanded ends of the sleeve in the fully expanded position; and physically removing the draw rod.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
300 words
A method of repairing a damaged pipe, comprising the steps of: assembling a repair assembly comprising a draw rod having expanding means on each end thereof; two retention rings peripherally located with respect to the draw rod and distally located with respect to the expanding means such that one retention ring is at one end of the draw rod and the other retention ring is at the other end of the draw rod; and a repair sleeve having two ends; the draw rod contained within the sleeve with the retention rings and at least a portion of each of the expanding means protruding outside of the sleeve; inserting the repair apparatus assembly in the damaged pipe; axially moving one expanding means and one retention ring toward the other expanding means and the other retention ring while axially moving the other expanding means and the other retention ring toward the one expanding means and the one retention ring; further axially moving one expanding means and one retention ring toward the other expanding means and the other retention ring while maintaining the other expanding means and the other retention ring stationary, stopping movement of the one expanding means and the one retention ring, then after the one expanding means and the one retention ring stops moving, further axially moving the other expanding means and the other retention ring toward the one expanding means and the one retention ring while maintaining the one expanding means and the one retention ring stationary, thereby fully expanding the ends of the sleeve outwardly into engagement with the damaged pipe, and thereby positioning the retention rings adjacent the fully expanded ends of the sleeve; subsequently expanding the rings, thereby locking the expanded ends of the sleeve in the fully expanded position; and physically removing the draw rod.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 13 wherein at least one of the retention rings comprises a shape-memory alloy and the step of expanding the retention rings comprises exposing the retention rings to a temperature above ambient temperature.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 13 wherein at least one of the retention rings comprises a shape-memory alloy and the step of expanding the retention rings comprises exposing the retention rings to ambient temperature.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 13 wherein the step of expanding the ends of the sleeve comprises fully expanding one end of the sleeve and then fully expanding the other end of the sleeve.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 13 wherein the step of removing the draw rod includes removing at least one expanding means.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
124 words
A method of repairing as damaged pipe, comprising the steps of: cryogenically cooling a repair apparatus assembly comprising a shape-memory alloy draw rod having expanding means on each end thereof and a repair s1eeve having two ends, the draw rod being contained within the sleeve with at least a portion of each of the expanding means protruding outside of the sleeve; inserting the repair apparatus assembly in the damaged pipe; warming the repair apparatus assembly, thereby axially moving the expanding means toward one another without the application of external mechanical means, thereby engaging the expanding means with the ends of the sleeve, and thereby fully expanding the ends of the sleeve outwardly into engagement with the damaged pipe; and physically removing the draw rod.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
124 words
A method of repairing as damaged pipe, comprising the steps of: cryogenically cooling a repair apparatus assembly comprising a shape-memory alloy draw rod having expanding means on each end thereof and a repair s1eeve having two ends, the draw rod being contained within the sleeve with at least a portion of each of the expanding means protruding outside of the sleeve; inserting the repair apparatus assembly in the damaged pipe; warming the repair apparatus assembly, thereby axially moving the expanding means toward one another without the application of external mechanical means, thereby engaging the expanding means with the ends of the sleeve, and thereby fully expanding the ends of the sleeve outwardly into engagement with the damaged pipe; and physically removing the draw rod.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 18 wherein the step of warming comprises exposing the repair apparatus assembly to ambient temperature.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 18 wherein the step of expanding the ends of the sleeve comprises fully expanding one end of the sleeve and then fully expanding the other end of the sleeve.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
94 words
The method of claim 18 including providing the repair apparatus with two retention rings peripherally located with respect to said draw rod and distally located with respect to said expanding means such that one retention ring is at one end of the draw rod and the other retention ring is at the other end of the draw rod and wherein the method further comprises: positioning the retention rings adjacent the fully expanded ends of the sleeve; and subsequently expanding the rings, thereby locking the expanded ends of the sleeve in the fully expanded position
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 21 wherein at least one of the retention rings comprises a shape-memory alloy and the step of expanding the rings comprises exposing the rings to ambient temperature.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 18 wherein the step of removing the draw rod includes removing at least one expanding means.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-12-21 | 1991-06-22 | 1991-12-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-12-21 | 1995-06-22 | 1995-12-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-12-21 | 1999-06-22 | 1999-12-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |