A pipe rehabilitation system and/or robot can be used inside a pipe to measure characteristics of branch conduits, install plugs into branch conduits before the pipe is lined with a liner, remove portions of plugs and liners after lining to restore fluid communication between the pipe and branch conduits, and/or install fittings into the branch conduits to connect the liner to the branch conduits. A probe can measure characteristics of a branch conduit. A tool can install plugs and/or fittings into the branch conduits. A linkage can connect a tool to a robotic tractor so that the connected elements can navigate through a main pipe. A visualization system can aid in aligning a robot with a branch conduit. Height-adjustable braces can support robotic tools in a pipe. A plug can include integrated locating features and/or movable parts that enable expanding the plug to seal with the branch conduit.

A drilling apparatus has a work robot mounting a drilling blade and moving inside a main pipe and a photodetector for detecting the contour of an opening image formed on the inner surface of a pipe lining material by illumination light. The opening image is scanned, and a two-dimensional image corresponding to the opening image is generated based on the contour points P0 to P8 detected by the photodetector for display on a display unit. The amount of positional deviation between the center of the two-dimensional image on the display unit and the axial center C of the rotary shaft of the drilling blade is calculated, and the pipe lining material is drilled by moving the drilling blade by the amount of positional deviation in a direction in which the positional deviation is eliminated.

The present disclosure relates to a method for repairing a partially collapsed pipe. The method comprises fitting a mesh stent around the outside of an actuation assembly of a pipe repair apparatus, and positioning the pipe repair apparatus within a portion of the pipe, at least a part of the portion of the pipe being partially collapsed. The method also comprises causing actuation between a retracted configuration and an extended configuration such that the partially collapsed part of the pipe changes from a partially collapsed form towards a non-collapsed form. The method also comprises removing the pipe repair apparatus from the pipe and leaving the mesh stent in the portion of the pipe.

Embodiments of a multi-diameter foam pig include a first set of radially spaced-apart, longitudinally extending, slots located toward a nose end of the pig and a second set of radially spaced-apart, longitudinally extending, slots located toward a tail end. Each set of slots ends at a band section of the pig so that, together, the two sets of slots do not traverse the entire length of the pig. A standard-length unit version of the foam pig includes only the first set of slots. A set of shorter, intermediate slots, offset in a circumferential direction from the first and second set of slots and partially overlapping those slots, may be included on the band section. Because of the slots, and because of open cell foam, the foam pig decreases or increases in diameter as it enters a different diameter run than the run just traveled.

A device for curing inner pipeline linings made with the use of a resin compound cured by electromagnetic radiation, the device being equipped with a central polyhedral body provided with LEDs generating the radiation by emitting waves with lengths from the range 200-500 nm, to cause curing of the resin compound. The LEDs are shielded with an element made of a transparent plastic or quartz glass with a body made of monolithic cylindrical solids having along the whole of length of their outside surfaces with radii identical flat facets-chords symmetrically distributed on the surfaces, to which detachably attached are plastic plates equipped with LEDs emitting electromagnetic radiation with definite range of wavelengths.

The present invention relates to an apparatus and a system for curing a liner extending in a pipeline or at least in part in a branch pipeline, where the liner includes a substance such as a synthetic resin suitable for being curable by exposure to electromagnetic radiation. The apparatus comprises an actuator constituting an electric, hydraulic or pneumatic actuator, and including an actuator member and an actuator axis substantially parallel to the axis of the pipeline when said apparatus is in its intended operational position in said main pipeline. The apparatus also comprises a light head having a light source for emitting electromagnetic radiation for curing said substance, and connected to the actuator member, where the actuator and actuator member are configured for applying a force to the light head in a direction substantially parallel to the actuator axis for displacement of the light head, such that the substance being cured as the light head moves through the pipeline and exposing the substance to electromagnetic radiation.

A pipe rehabilitation system and/or robot can be used inside a pipe to measure characteristics of branch conduits, install plugs into branch conduits before the pipe is lined with a liner, remove portions of plugs and liners after lining to restore fluid communication between the pipe and branch conduits, and/or install fittings into the branch conduits to connect the liner to the branch conduits. A probe can measure characteristics of a branch conduit. A tool can install plugs and/or fittings into the branch conduits. A linkage can connect a tool to a robotic tractor so that the connected elements can navigate through a main pipe. A visualization system can aid in aligning a robot with a branch conduit. Height-adjustable braces can support robotic tools in a pipe. A plug can include integrated locating features and/or movable parts that enable expanding the plug to seal with the branch conduit.

A flexible adaptive large length to thin ratio pipeline intelligent repair device is provided. The walking mechanism includes a walking bracket and a radius adjustment assembly. The radius adjustment assembly is located in the middle of the walking bracket. The first motor for driving the radius adjustment assembly is set in the middle of the walking mechanism, and the second motor for driving the movement of the walking bracket is set on the walking bracket. The ends of several groups of connecting rods are removably connected to the working part, which includes the pre-welding sandblasting mechanism, the heating mechanism and the welding repair mechanism. A positioning sensor is set on the walking bracket. The variable-diameter all-position intelligent pipe internal repair device can integrate pre-welding cleaning, preheating, welding repair and post-welding heat treatment.

The present disclosure relates to a method for repairing a partially collapsed pipe. The method comprises fitting a mesh stent around the outside of an actuation assembly of a pipe repair apparatus, and positioning the pipe repair apparatus within a portion of the pipe, at least a part of the portion of the pipe being partially collapsed. The method also comprises causing actuation between a retracted configuration and an extended configuration such that the partially collapsed part of the pipe changes from a partially collapsed form towards a non-collapsed form. The method also comprises removing the pipe repair apparatus from the pipe and leaving the mesh stent in the portion of the pipe.

A system and method for detecting passage of a pipeline pig, the system and method including a passive impulse detector [10] having a housing [13]; a non-intrusive connection [15] of the housing to an exterior wall [17] of a pipeline [P], at least one vibration sensor [11] housed by the housing; and signal processing [23] including at least one band pass filter [27] configured to receive data collected by the vibration sensor, the vibration sensor and band pass filter configured to monitor frequencies in a predetermined range indicating the impulse. The selected frequencies should be those more easily detectable above the baseline (signature or natural resonance) frequency of the section of pipeline being monitored. In some embodiments, the selected frequencies are lower frequencies. No portion of the passive pipeline pig signal intrudes into an interior of the pipeline.