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.

The plug includes a rigid tapering frustum with an upstream end having a larger diameter than a downstream end. A bladder is located outboard of the frustum and preferably fastened to the frustum. The bladder preferably has a toroidal form. A fluid fill system extends into an interior of the bladder to provide fluid for inflating or deflating the bladder. When the bladder is inflated with fluid passing into the interior, an outer wall of the bladder is expanded against a wall of a pipe where the plug is located, to hold the plug in place. As pipeline fluid forces act downstream on the frustum of the plug, the frustum moves slightly downstream, exerting a radial force through the bladder and against the wall of the pipe, so that pressure within the pipe and upstream of the plug enhances radial force with which the bladder engages the pipe wall.

The present invention provides a method for sealing a leakage at a remote site in a pipe, the method including introducing a fluid carrier composition including a hardener, a resin and at least one of a multiplicity of plugging devices and a multiplicity of cut fibers into the pipe at the first site under pressure and allowing the fluid carrier to transport the at least one of the multiplicity devices and the multiplicity of fibers to the remote site, wherein the at least of the multiplicity of devices and the multiplicity of the cut fibers penetrates the leakage thereby sealing and curing the leakage.

The present invention provides a method for sealing a leakage at a remote site in a pipe, the method including introducing a fluid carrier composition including a hardener, a resin and at least one of a multiplicity of plugging devices and a multiplicity of cut fibers into the pipe at the first site under pressure and allowing the fluid carrier to transport the at least one of the multiplicity devices and the multiplicity of fibers to the remote site, wherein the at least of the multiplicity of devices and the multiplicity of the cut fibers penetrates the leakage thereby sealing and curing the leakage.

An isolation tool for positioning in a pipe bore and providing a sealing barrier extending transversely across the pipe bore for isolating a section of the bore during replacement of a pipe section includes: a pair of identical inflatable seals positioned in the tool mid-section by an annular subassembly which secures the seals in position, preventing them from dislodging into the internal tool cavity. Having inflatable seals allows flexibility since the tool can be used within a greater range of pipe diameters. The tool self-centers within the pipe in its proper position as gas is pumped into both seals simultaneously through a single gas inlet of a shared plumbing assembly, thereby enabling quick installation and removal. Moveable gripper inserts are tightened against the inner pipe surface to hold the tool stationary. Support leg assemblies assist tool installation and removal. The back plate defines multiple port connections. The tool is electronically monitored by a separate enhanced monitoring unit.

An isolation tool for positioning in a pipe bore and providing a sealing barrier extending transversely across the pipe bore for isolating a section of the bore during replacement of a pipe section includes: a pair of identical inflatable seals positioned in the tool mid-section by an annular subassembly which secures the seals in position, preventing them from dislodging into the internal tool cavity. Having inflatable seals allows flexibility since the tool can be used within a greater range of pipe diameters. The tool self-centers within the pipe in its proper position as gas is pumped into both seals simultaneously through a single gas inlet of a shared plumbing assembly, thereby enabling quick installation and removal. Moveable gripper inserts are tightened against the inner pipe surface to hold the tool stationary. Support leg assemblies assist tool installation and removal. The back plate defines multiple port connections. The tool is electronically monitored by a separate enhanced monitoring unit.

A ferrule coupling is easy to mount onto members to be coupled such as pipe conduits and apparatuses and can reliably maintain the sealability even when subjected to temperature rises and falls due to a sterilization process etc. A ferrule coupling has an annular male screw member which is provided on one of members to be coupled and has a thread formed on the outer peripheral surface, and an annular female screw member which is provided on the other of the members to be coupled and has a thread formed on the inner peripheral surface. The male screw member and the female screw member are screw-engaged with each other to thereby couple the members to be coupled with each other. The male screw member has a cut section at one part in the circumferential direction, and can be opened or closed such that the cut section widens or narrows.

A ferrule coupling is easy to mount onto members to be coupled such as pipe conduits and apparatuses and can reliably maintain the sealability even when subjected to temperature rises and falls due to a sterilization process etc. A ferrule coupling has an annular male screw member which is provided on one of members to be coupled and has a thread formed on the outer peripheral surface, and an annular female screw member which is provided on the other of the members to be coupled and has a thread formed on the inner peripheral surface. The male screw member and the female screw member are screw-engaged with each other to thereby couple the members to be coupled with each other. The male screw member has a cut section at one part in the circumferential direction, and can be opened or closed such that the cut section widens or narrows.

A seal assembly for establishing a seal in an annulus between a mandrel and a bore wall includes a mandrel, a radially expandable seal element mounted on the mandrel, and a setting arrangement mounted on the mandrel and being arranged to displace the seal element radially outwardly from a retracted configuration to an extended configuration. The expandable seal element defines a cup seal when in the extended configuration.

The present invention provides methods and systems for an upstream pipe plug that includes a first bulkhead, a second bulkhead, a vent pipe engaged to the second bulkhead, and an insertion pipe engaged to the second bulkhead.