System and method for sealing an annular space of a sewer connection line

Abstract

A system and method for reducing the amount of infiltrate entering a sewer system is provided. The system generally comprises a locking sleeve, hydrophilic gasket, and a locking mechanism, wherein a lateral porthole of said locking sleeve is surrounded by said hydrophilic gasket. The system is preferably installed at a lateral line connection point, wherein a hydrophilic gasket located around the lateral porthole creates the water barrier that prevents infiltrate from entering a newly refurbished host pipe through the hole cut to reestablish flow from the lateral line to the host pipe at the lateral line connection point.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 ) A system for reducing infiltrate within a wastewater management system comprising:
 a circular sleeve configured to be used with a cured in place pipe and comprising an inner cavity, first open end, second open end, and lateral porthole,
 wherein said lateral porthole of said circular sleeve extends from an exterior surface of said circular sleeve to said inner cavity; and 
   an expandable seal secured to said exterior surface of said circular sleeve and around said lateral porthole,   wherein said expandable seal is configured to reduce an amount of infiltrate entering said lateral porthole by creating a water barrier between said exterior surface of said circular sleeve and a host pipe.   
     
     
         2 ) The system of  claim 1 , wherein said circular sleeve comprises a coiled wall having a locking mechanism secured to an interior surface of said coiled wall. 
     
     
         3 ) The system of  claim 2 , wherein said locking mechanism comprises at least two slotted grooves and at least two locking gears configured to follow said at least two slotted grooves from a first point to a second point, causing a diameter of said coiled wall to expand. 
     
     
         4 ) The system of  claim 1 , wherein said expandable seal is ring-shaped and has a thickness of at least two inches. 
     
     
         5 ) The system of  claim 4 , wherein said expandable seal has an internal diameter and an external diameter, wherein said internal diameter is at least four inches larger than a diameter of said lateral porthole. 
     
     
         6 ) The system of  claim 1 , wherein said circular sleeve is made from a malleable metal selected from a group consisting of soft stainless steel sheet metal and aluminum. 
     
     
         7 ) The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a second expandable seal secured to an interior surface of said circular sleeve around said lateral porthole, wherein said second expandable seal is configured to create a water barrier between said circular sleeve and a cured-in-place pipe. 
     
     
         8 ) The system of  claim 7 , wherein said second expandable seal is ring-shaped and comprises an internal diameter that is wider than said lateral porthole. 
     
     
         9 ) The system of  claim 1 , wherein said circular sleeve is configured in a way such that a diameter of said circular sleeve expands when a force is applied against an interior surface of said circular sleeve in an outward direction. 
     
     
         10 ) A system for reducing infiltrate within a wastewater management system comprising:
 an expandable sleeve configured to be secured within a host pipe,
 wherein said expandable sleeve comprising a coiled wall and a lateral porthole extending from an exterior surface of said coiled wall to an inner cavity of said coiled wall, 
 wherein said expandable sleeve is configured in a way such that a diameter of said expandable sleeve expands when a force is applied against an interior surface of said expandable sleeve, 
 wherein said expandable sleeve is configured in a way such that said diameter may increase but is prevented from decreasing once increased; and 
   an expandable seal secured to said exterior surface of said expandable sleeve and around said lateral porthole,   wherein said expandable seal is configured to reduce an amount of infiltrate entering said lateral porthole by creating a water barrier between said exterior surface of said expandable sleeve and a host pipe.   
     
     
         11 ) The system of  claim 10 , wherein said expandable seal is ring-shaped and has a thickness of at least two inches. 
     
     
         12 ) The system of  claim 11 , wherein said expandable seal has an internal diameter and an external diameter, wherein said internal diameter is at least four inches larger than a diameter of said lateral porthole. 
     
     
         13 ) The system of  claim 10 , wherein said expandable sleeve is made from a malleable metal selected from a group consisting of soft stainless steel sheet metal and aluminum. 
     
     
         14 ) The system of  claim 10 , further comprising a second expandable seal secured to an interior surface of said expandable sleeve around said lateral porthole, wherein said second expandable seal is configured to create a water barrier between said expandable sleeve and a cured-in-place pipe. 
     
     
         15 ) The system of  claim 14 , wherein said second expandable seal is ring-shaped and comprises an internal diameter that is wider than said lateral porthole. 
     
     
         16 ) The system of  claim 10 , wherein a locking mechanism of said expandable sleeve allows said diameter of said expandable sleeve to increase but not decrease. 
     
     
         17 ) A method for sealing an annular space within a sewer connection line, comprising steps of:
 obtaining an annular space sealing apparatus comprising a circular sleeve and expandable seal,
 wherein said expandable seal is positioned around a lateral porthole of a coiled wall of said circular sleeve; 
   securing said annular space sealing apparatus within a host pipe having a lateral line;
 wherein said lateral porthole and said expandable seal are positioned around a lateral line connection point created between said host pipe and said lateral line, 
   installing a cured-in-place pipe through said host pipe and said annular space sealing apparatus; and   cutting a hole into said cured-in-place pipe at said lateral porthole to reestablish flow from said lateral line to said host pipe.   
     
     
         18 ) The method of  claim 17 , wherein said circular sleeve is configured in a way such that a diameter of said circular sleeve expands when a force is applied against an interior surface of said circular sleeve in an outward direction. 
     
     
         19 ) The method of  claim 18 , wherein a locking mechanism of said circular sleeve allows said diameter of said circular sleeve to increase but not decrease. 
     
     
         20 ) The method of  claim 19 , wherein said locking mechanism comprises at least two slotted grooves and at least two locking gears configured to follow said at least two slotted grooves from a first point to a second point, allowing said diameter of said circular sleeve to increase.