US Patent 9052051 Apparatus and method for internal repair of conduits

An apparatus and method for internal repair of pipes and conduits, such as sewer pipes, pressurized water mains, water wells, and natural gas lines. The conduit repair apparatus includes a sleeve with locking mechanism to lock the sleeve in a tubular configuration. The sleeve is made of metallic or rigid plastic sheet having perforations. Some of the perforations are shaped like elongated slots and strips. A number of resilient O-rings are applied over the outer surface of the sleeve. A resilient membrane is applied over the O-rings. In one embodiment, a reinforcement band is used, and an additional layer of O-rings are included between the membrane and the reinforcement band.