Fiberglass Enclosures with Watertight Risers and Methods of Making and Using Same

Abstract

In one aspect, a method for providing an enclosure is disclosed, which method in one embodiment may include: providing a container having an access opening; providing a channel around the access opening of a size and strength sufficient to retain therein a selected amount of an adhesive and to support weight of a riser; placing the selected amount of the adhesive in the channel; placing an end of the riser in the channel after placing the adhesive in the channel; aligning the riser in the channel; and curing the adhesive with the riser aligned in the channel to provide a watertight connection between an inside of the access opening and an outside of the riser.

1 . A method of providing an enclosure, comprising:
 providing a container having an access opening;   providing a channel around the access opening of a size and strength sufficient to retain therein a selected amount of an adhesive and an end of a riser;   placing the selected amount of the adhesive in the channel;   placing an end of the riser in the channel;   aligning the riser in the channel; and   curing the adhesive with the riser aligned in the channel to provide a watertight connection between the access opening and the aligned riser.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein placing the selected amount of adhesive in the channel comprises placing the adhesive as one of: before placing the riser in the channel; after placing the riser in the channel; and partially before and partially after placing the riser in the channel. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the riser is made from at least one of:
 fiberglass; plastic; polyurethane; a composite material; a combination of a metallic and non-metallic material.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the end of the riser in the channel includes one of: a straight edge; a corrugation; a rib; a fin; and a selected protrusion. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the end of the riser in the channel has gaps between at least two sides of the channel and wherein the method further comprises causing the adhesive to fill such gaps before curing the adhesive in the channel. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the opening includes a collar and the channel is placed on one of: an outer surface of the collar; an inner surface of the collar; and on both an inside surface and an outside surface of the collar. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 placing the selected amount of the adhesive in the channel;   placing an end of the riser in the channel;   aligning the riser in the channel; and   causing the adhesive to fill substantially all open spaces between the riser and the channel and curing the adhesive with the riser aligned in the channel to provide a watertight connection between the access opening and the aligned riser are performed at a field location.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the channel is dimensioned to transfer substantial 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the channel is dimensioned to accommodate risers having corrugations, ribs and fins of at least 1 inch wide. 
     
     
         10 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a container having an access opening;   a channel around the access opening having an adhesive therein; and   a riser having an end secured in the channel, wherein the end of the riser is placed in the adhesive in the channel and the riser is aligned while curing the adhesive on an inside and an outside of the end of the riser, thereby forming a watertight connection between the access opening and the riser.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the access opening includes a collar and the channel is affixed on one of: outside of the collar; inside of the collar; and on both inside and outside the riser. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the channel includes a base, an inner lip and an outer lip and wherein the channel transfers substantially all the weight of the riser to the collar. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the adhesive surrounds the end of the riser in the channel. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the riser is made from at least one of: fiberglass; plastic; polyurethane; a composite material; a combination of a metallic and non-metallic material. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the end of the riser in the channel includes one of: a straight edge; a corrugation; a rib; a fin; and a selected protrusion. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the riser is placed, secured and aligned in the field. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the container is one of: a manhole; a container for storage of liquid underground; a container for storage of liquid above ground; a sump; and a tubular structure. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the channel is dimensioned to accommodate risers having corrugations, ribs and fins, at least 1 inch wide.