An installation device for installing a branch liner in a branch point of a pipeline is disclosed. The device has a body with an inlet defined therein for fluids and a turning knob is rotatable relative to the body. The turning knob is attached to a first shaft and the opposite end of the first shaft is attached to a first barrel. The device further comprises a second barrel and a second shaft attached between said barrels. The device further comprises a duct extending between the body and the first barrel forming a passage for fluids from the inlet of the body to an area between said first barrel and said second barrel.

A method for the rehabilitation of a pipeline with a lining element made of a resin-absorbing material, comprising the following steps: Impregnating the lining element with a hardenable resin; inserting the lining element into the pipeline and positioning the lining element at the pipeline section to be rehabilitated; pressing the lining element against the inner wall of the pipeline; hardening the lining element; and applying at least one information parameter to the lining element subsequent to its hardening.

A method and means for repairing the junction of a main and lateral pipe are provided. A repair assembly includes a launcher device, a bladder assembly surrounding the launcher device, and a liner assembly surrounding the bladder assembly. The bladder assembly is frangibly connected to the launcher device to maintain the position of the bladder assembly relative to the launcher device during transport and positioning of the assembly. Likewise, the liner assembly, which includes main and lateral liner members, is frangibly connected to the bladder assembly. The frangible connections allow the position of the repair assembly to be maintained. The frangible connections can be broken, such as by inflation and/or tearing or pulling apart of the components of the repair assembly. Thus, the invention provides a way to mitigate the movement of components of the repair assembly during transport and positioning of the repair assembly.

The present invention is an improved method and assembly for repairing a pipe or the junction of two pipes, such as sewer pipes. The assembly includes a launcher device having a launcher device body, a launcher device opening disposed on the launcher device body, and a main bladder substantially surrounding the launcher device body. The main bladder includes an opening that substantially aligns with the launcher device opening. The assembly further includes an absorbent liner and a lateral bladder having a tubular lateral bladder body portion and a flange portion. The flange portion of the lateral bladder is attached to the exterior of the launcher device body. A method of using the assembly includes impregnating the liner with resinous material; inserting at least a portion of the liner into the lateral bladder; inflating the bladders; pressing the liner against the pipe; and allowing the resinous material to cure and harden.

A pipe pig is provided with linked wheels, and at least a central wheel of the linked wheels is pivotally linked to adjacent wheels through a spring loaded connection that biases the central wheel out of straight line alignment with the adjacent wheels. The pipe pig may be used to negotiate tight bends in a pipe and carry sensing electronics.

A method and assembly for sealing an opening in a pipe wherein the opening is a damaged/cracked section in a length of pipe or the junction between a main pipe and a lateral pipe. The assembly includes a sealing member attached to a positioning tube such as preliner. The sealing member is combined with the preliner so that when the assembly is positioned in the main pipe, the sealing member corresponds with the opening. The sealing member is sized such that it extends along the main pipe on opposite sides of the opening. A mainline liner is installed within the preliner. In some embodiments, after the mainline liner cures and hardens, a cutter is used to cut an opening in the mainline liner, preliner, and sealing member to reinstate service to the lateral pipe. The sealing member remains in place around the periphery of the lateral pipe junction to act as a water stop at the opening.

An apparatus and method is provided for repairing an underground structure such as a pipe or manhole. The apparatus includes a liner assembly made of resin absorbent material. Some embodiments may further include a bladder assembly to help position the liner and press the liner against the walls of the underground structure. A sealing member is positioned in the underground structure. In some embodiments the sealing member is a separate member made from a compressible material, an absorbent material, or a hydrophilic or hydrophobic material. In other embodiments the sealing member is a portion of the liner assembly. The sealing member includes one or more channels adapted to receive a semi-liquid such as a hydrophilic or hydrophobic paste or grout. The semi-liquid is capable of swelling in response to being exposed to another liquid, such as water, and forms a seal between the liner assembly and the host pipe/manhole.

One embodiment provides a system, including: an inspection platform configured to move through underground infrastructure; an imaging device coupled to the inspection platform; the imaging device comprising a camera housing that arranges an array of four or more cameras in a predetermined configuration; the camera housing comprising a plurality of apertures, wherein each aperture houses a respective camera therein with a viewing axis offset about 30 degrees to about 120 degrees from a viewing axis of an adjacent camera within the array; and circuitry that operates the imaging device to capture a plurality of images using the four or more cameras; where the circuitry captures the plurality of images for a composite image of an interior region of the underground infrastructure, and where the region is larger than a single viewing field of any of the four or more cameras. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

The present invention relates to a method for automatically uncovering a branch of a pipe system that is renovated with a lining tube, comprising the following steps, in particular in this sequence: a) providing an uncovering device, including a data processing unit, in the renovated pipe and arranging the uncovering device in front of the branch to be uncovered; b) inputting by means of an input unit a geometric shape to be uncovered; c) uncovering the branch by means of automatic milling, controlled by the data processing unit, of sections of the lining tube along the input geometric shape, using an uncovering unit of the uncovering device.

The invention relates to a sewer rehabilitation method, wherein a rehabilitation tool (5) is introduced, by means of a robot (2) that can be moved in a sewer main line (3) of a sewerage system, into a house sewer line (9) leading into said sewer main line (3), rehabilitation work is carried out in the house sewer line (9) by means of the rehabilitation tool (5), and the rehabilitation tool (5) is removed from the house sewer line (9) by means of the robot (2) once rehabilitation work is completed. The aim of the invention is to provide a viable and cost-effective sewer rehabilitation method and corresponding system enabling sewer rehabilitation work being carried out in the house sewer line (9) starting from the sewer main line (3). For this purpose, the robot (2) picks up the rehabilitation tool (5) and transports it through the sewer main line (3) to the mouth of the house sewer line (9), introduces the rehabilitation tool (5) into the house sewer line (9) and puts it down, advances the rehabilitation tool (5) in the house sewer line (9) up to a defective point (10) and retracts the tool from the house sewer line (9) and picks it up again once rehabilitation work is completed. The invention further relates to a sewer rehabilitation system comprising a robot (2) that can be moved in a sewer main line (3) of a sewerage system and a rehabilitation tool (5) that can be introduced into a house sewer line (9), the robot (2) having a remotely controllable gripping member (4) with which the rehabilitation tool (5) can be gripped.