Irrigation pipe liner

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10139034-B2
Application number	US-201615257477-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 6, 2016
Priority date	Sep 6, 2016
Publication date	Nov 27, 2018
Grant date	Nov 27, 2018

Abstract

A pipe liner for lining a fluid-carrying pipe, the pipe liner comprising an elongated flexible conduit and a flexible flange. The flexible conduit includes an outer wall forming an open-ended central channel for allowing fluids to be pumped therethrough. The flexible flange extends radially from one end of the elongated conduit and includes a number of fastener holes. The flexible conduit and the flexible flange are configured to be collapsed and pulled through the pipe such that the flexible flange can be connected to a rigid flange of the pipe via the fastener holes. The pipe liner is less prone to leak and is easier to transport and install.

First claim

Having thus described various embodiments of the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent includes the following:

1. A pipe liner for lining a fluid-carrying pipe, the pipe liner comprising:
an elongated flexible conduit having an outer wall forming an open-ended central channel, the outer wall having a first end and a second end opposite the first end; and
a flexible flange extending radially from one of the first end and the second end of the outer wall, the flexible flange being stitched to the outer wall of the flexible conduit and including a number of fastener holes for anchoring the pipe liner to a rigid flange of the pipe, the pipe liner being configured to be pulled though the pipe in a collapsed configuration and expanded to a non-collapsed configuration when the flexible conduit is aligned with the pipe and the flexible flange is positioned near a rigid flange of the pipe.

2. The pipe liner of claim 1 , wherein the outer wall is reinforced with through-tile-weave material.

3. The pipe liner of claim 1 , wherein one of the first end and the second end is configured to be attached to a hose barb for connecting the pipe liner to a fluid source.

4. The pipe liner of claim 1 , wherein the flexible flange is integrally formed with the outer wall.

5. The pipe liner of claim 1 , wherein the flexible flange is formed of a different material than the outer wall.

6. The pipe liner of claim 1 , wherein the flexible flange has a shape that coincides with a shape of the pipe flange when the flexible flange is in the non-collapsed configuration.

7. A pipe liner for lining a pipe of an irrigation system, the pipe liner comprising:
an elongated flexible conduit having an outer wall forming an open-ended central channel, the outer wall having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and a number of outlet openings spaced along a length of the conduit;
a flexible flange extending radially from one of the first end and the second end of the outer wall, the flexible flange including a number of fastener holes for anchoring the liner to a rigid flange of the pipe, the pipe liner being configured to be pulled though the pipe in a collapsed configuration and expanded to a non-collapsed configuration when the flexible conduit is aligned with the pipe and the flexible flange is positioned near a rigid flange of the pipe; and
a plurality of connectors each having a first end inserted into one of the outlet openings and a second end extending radially outward from the outer wall, the second end of the connector being configured to extend through an opening in the pipe so as to be connectable to a sprinkler.

8. The pipe liner of claim 7 , wherein the second end of each connector is threaded.

9. The pipe liner of claim 7 , wherein the outer wall of the flexible conduit further comprises a reinforcement layer extending around the outlet opening for reducing localized stress in the outer wall near the outlet opening.

10. The pipe liner of claim 9 , wherein the reinforcement layer is heat seared to the outer wall.

11. The pipe liner of claim 7 , wherein one of the first end and the second end of the outer wall is configured to be frictionally attached to a hose barb for connecting the pipe liner to a fluid source, the flexible flange being integrally formed with the flexible conduit.

12. The pipe liner of claim 7 , wherein the flexible flange has a shape that coincides with a shape of the rigid pipe flange.

13. The pipe liner of claim 7 , wherein the outer wall and the flexible flange are at least partially formed of through-tile-weave material.

14. The pipe liner of claim 7 , wherein the flexible conduit and flexible flange are configured to be flattened.

15. The pipe liner of claim 14 , wherein the outer wall further comprises a reinforcement layer extending around the outlet opening, the reinforcement layer being heat seared to the outer wall for reducing localized stress in the outer wall near the outlet opening, one of the first end and the second end of the outer wall being configured to be frictionally attached to a hose barb for connecting the pipe liner to a fluid source, the flexible flange being integrally formed with the flexible conduit and having a shape that coincides with a shape of the rigid pipe flange.

16. A method of lining a pipe of an irrigation system, the method comprising the steps of:
collapsing an elongated flexible conduit and a flexible flange of a pipe liner such that the flexible flange fits through the pipe, the flexible conduit including an outer wall forming an open-ended central channel and having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the flexible flange extending radially from the first end, the second end being a non-flanged end;
connecting the non-flanged end to a hose barb;
unfolding or unrolling the flexible pipe liner from a folded or rolled up configuration;
urging the flexible flange through the pipe until the flexible flange is positioned externally near an end of the pipe with the flexible conduit extending through the pipe;
expanding the flexible flange to a non-collapsed configuration;
aligning fastener holes of the flexible flange with fastener holes of a rigid flange of the pipe;
aligning a connector of the flexible pipe liner with a through-hole of the pipe, the connector extending radially from an outlet opening of the flexible pipe liner;
pulling the connector through the through-hole of the pipe; and
attaching a sprinkler to the connector.

Assignees

• Lindsay Corp

Inventors

• Korus Thomas J

Classifications

• A01G25/092

  movable around a pivot centre · CPC title

• F16L55/1652

  the flexible liner being pulled into the damaged section · CPC title

• F16L11/122

  Hoses provided with integrated fixing means, e.g. hooks · CPC title

• F16L58/1018 Primary

  the protective layer being fixed by means of anchoring devices · CPC title

• F16L55/1656

  materials for flexible liners · CPC title