Claims
- 1. A tubular inversion liner for conduits, including at least one liner block, comprising:
(a) a first flexible fabric layer fastened to a first glass fiber containing layer; (b) a second flexible fabric layer fastened to a second glass fiber containing layer; (c) said first and second flexible fabric layers and said first and second glass fiber containing layers fastened together whereby said first and second glass fiber containing layers face one another and are sandwiched between said first and second flexible fabric layers; (d) a third flexible fabric layer comprising a substantially fluid impermeable layer joined thereto, said third flexible fabric layer joined to said second flexible fabric layer, so that said substantially fluid impermeable layer becomes the outermost layer, and the first flexible fabric layer becomes the innermost layer of said inversion liner prior to inversion.
- 2. The tubular inversion liner of claim 1 wherein said first, second or third flexible fabric layers comprise a felt.
- 3. The tubular inversion liner of claim 2 wherein said first and second glass fiber layers comprise chopped glass fibers and glass roving.
- 4. The tubular inversion liner of claim 1 wherein said substantially fluid impermeable layer comprises a resinous membrane or coating.
- 5. The tubular inversion liner of claim 4 wherein said resinous coating comprises a polyurethane coating which is adhered to a first surface portion of said third flexible fabric layer.
- 6. The tubular inversion liner of claim 1 wherein said first and second flexible fabric layers comprise a polyester needled felt, and said first and second glass fiber containing layers are sewn or stitched thereto.
- 7. The tubular inversion liner of claim 1 wherein said liner is impregnated with a heat-curable resin, and cured to produce a flexural modulus of at least about 500 ksi.
- 8. The tubular inversion liner of claim 7 including a second liner block bonded to said first flexible fabric layer, said second liner block comprising a third and a fourth glass fiber containing layer sandwiched between a second and a third flexible fabric layer, said at least one liner block sewn, heat, flame or adhesive bonded to said second liner block prior to inversion.
- 9. The tubular inversion liner of claim 1 having an inversion rate which is at least 10% faster than the inversion rate for a 100% polyester felt liner of like dimensions.
- 10. A method of lining a conduit, comprising:
(a) providing a tubular inversion liner comprising a first flexible fabric layer fastened to a first glass fiber containing layer; a second flexible fabric layer fastened to a second glass fiber containing layer; said first and second flexible fabric layers and said first and second glass fiber containing layers fastened together whereby said first and second glass fiber containing layers face one another and are sandwiched between said first and second flexible fabric layers; a third flexible fabric layer comprising a substantially fluid impermeable layer joined thereto, said third flexible fabric layer joined to said second flexible fabric layer so that said substantially fluid impermeable layer becomes the outermost layer, and said first flexible fabric layer becomes the innermost layer of said tubular inversion liner prior to inversion; and a heat-activatable or light-activatable resinous saturant disposed within one or more of the first, second and third flexible fabric layers; (b) inserting said inversion liner into a conduit by an inversion process wherein said first flexible fabric layer and said substantially fluid impermeable layer become inverted to reverse their radial positions; (c) heat-activating or light-activating said heat-activatable or light-activatable resinous saturant to cure same.
- 11. The method of claim 10 wherein said insertion step (b) comprises employing a pressurized fluid to invert the inversion liner and expand it into close proximity with an inner wall of said conduit.
- 12. The method of claim 11 wherein said pressurized fluid is left in contact with said inversion liner until said resinous saturant is cured.
- 13. The method of claim 10 wherein said heat-activatable or light-activatable resinous saturant comprises a polyurethane, polyester, vinyl ester, or epoxy.
- 14. A tubular inversion liner for conduits, comprising:
a first flexible fabric layer containing a polyester felt stitched to a first plurality of glass fibers; a second flexible fabric layer containing a polyester felt stitched to a second plurality of glass fibers; said first and second flexible fabric layers and said first and second plurality of glass fibers stitched together whereby said first and second plurality of glass fibers face one another and are sandwiched between said first and second flexible fabric layers; and a third flexible fabric layer containing a polyester felt and first and second opposing surfaces thereon, said first of said surfaces heat bonded to said second flexible fabric layer and said second surface provided with a substantially fluid impermeable resinous material.
- 15. The inversion liner of claim 14 wherein said plurality of glass fibers comprise chopped glass fibers and glass roving.
- 16. The inversion liner of claim 14 wherein said first and second pluralities of glass fibers comprise a thickness of less than about 5 mm.
- 17. The inversion liner of claim 14 having an inversion rate which is at least 10% faster than inverting a 100% polyester felt liner of like dimensions.
- 18. An invertible glass-faced liner, comprising:
a first glass fiber containing layer; a first flexible fabric layer fastened to said first glass fiber containing layer; a second flexible fabric layer disposed over said first flexible fabric layer; a second glass fiber containing layer disposed over said second flexible fabric layer and fastened thereto; a third flexible fabric layer disposed over said second glass fiber containing layer and fastened thereto; a fourth flexible fabric layer disposed over said third flexible fabric layer and fastened thereto; and a substantially fluid impermeable layer joined to said fourth flexible fabric layer, said substantially fluid impermeable layer becoming the innermost layer of said inversion liner after inversion.
- 19. The glass-faced inversion liner of claim 18 wherein said liner is at least partially impregnated with a heat curable or light curable resin and cured to form a composite having a flexural modulus of at least about 700-800 ksi.
- 20. The glass faced inversion liner of claim 18 wherein said third flexible fabric layer comprises a first veil or first thin felt having a thickness of less than 1 mm.
- 21. The glass faced inversion liner of claim 20 wherein said veil or thin felt is heat bonded to said fourth flexible fabric layer.
- 22. The glass-faced inversion liner of claim 20 wherein said third and fourth flexible fabric layers and said substantially fluid impermeable layer have a total thickness of less than 2.0 mm.
- 23. The glass-faced inversion liner of claim 20, further comprising a second veil or second thin felt having a thickness of less than 1 mm bonded to said first glass fiber containing layer.
- 24. A substantially fluid impermeable liner material comprising: a thin felt having a thickness of about 0.1-3.0 mm, said thin veil or felt having first and second surfaces thereon, said first surface comprising a flame-bondable resinous fiber, and said second surface being at least partially penetrated or coated by a resinous material to form a fluid barrier.
- 25. The substantially fluid impermeable liner material of claim 24 wherein said resinous material is a film, membrane, coating or saturant which is integrally adhered to said second surface.
- 26. A tubular inversion liner for conduits comprising:
(a) a pair of liner blocks, each block having first and second flexible fabric layers and a glass-containing layer sandwiched therebetween, said flexible fabric layers containing flame or adhesive bondable fibers; (b) at least one further liner block disposed between said pair of liner blocks and flame or adhesive bonded thereto; (c) a thin veil or felt having an impermeable layer heat or adhesively bonded to a first surface of a first said pair of liner blocks; (d) wherein said glass-containing layers are disposed within about 2.5 mm from an exterior surface portion of said liner.
RELATED APPLICATION DATA
[0001] This application is related to commonly assigned U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,836,357; 5,931,199; 5,911,246; and 5,873,391 which are all hereby incorporated by reference.