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 repair apparatus and method of repairing a main pipe and a lateral pipe is provided. The apparatus includes a packer assembly having a main bladder body with a cylindrical shape extending radially from and along the first axis for inflating in the main pipe. The packer assembly also has a lateral bladder body with a cylindrical shape extending radially from and along a second axis transverse to the first axis for inflating in the lateral pipe. A main liner is disposed about the main bladder body for adhering to the inner surface of the main pipe to repair the main pipe in response to the main bladder body being inflated. Similarly, a lateral liner is disposed about the lateral bladder body for adhering to the inside surface of the lateral pipe to repair the lateral pipe in response to the lateral bladder body being inflated.

An application device for applying information to a hardened lining element with at least one application apparatus, and a read-out device for reading out information applied to a lining element with at least one read-out apparatus.

A system and method for pipeline maintenance may include a payload and a transport module having the payload attached thereto. The transport module may include a plurality of movable arms each having at least one respective wheel. At least some of the wheels may be drive wheels which are operable in a first orientation to drive the transport module linearly along a length of a pipeline, and are further operable in a second orientation to drive the transport module circumferentially around an inner surface of the pipeline. At least some of the arms are operable to move the payload in a generally radial direction toward and away from an interior surface of the pipeline.

Provided is a pipe interior inspection robot that has characteristics of having an extremely simple device structure to easily achieve dustproof and waterproof properties, being able to pass through a pipe bent in any direction, and enabling the selection of the advancing direction. A pipe interior inspection robot for inspecting the inside of a pipe branched from a pipe header, the robot including: 1) a moving means having a structure capable of being introduced from a pipe base, which is an inlet of the pipe header, and capable of moving in the pipe header and being fixed to a pipe wall inside the pipe header at a desired position; 2) a mechanism for specifying a position of a pipe to be inspected; and 3) a mechanism for inspecting a condition inside the pipe to be inspected.

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.

An apparatus for repairing a junction between a main sewer pipe and a lateral sewer pipe comprises a tubular portion having opposite first and second ends. A collar extends outwardly from one of the first and second ends of the tubular portion. The tubular portion and the collar are formed of a curable, waterproof putty, such as an epoxy or silicate putty. The putty may also be a resin, such as a thermoset or other curable resin. The apparatus is positioned at the pipe juncture to prevent the migration of water through a damaged section of the pipe.

An apparatus and method for installing a liner in a pipe, including a flexible tube assembly (2) with a proximal and a distal end, where the proximal end is attached to a proximal collar fitting (3) and the distal end is attached to a distal collar fitting (4). An inflatable bladder (110) is disposed over the tube (2) and the ends of the bladder (110) are secured to the collar fittings (3,4) forming sealed connections with the collar fittings. The proximal collar fitting (3) has connection means to connect to a guide hose (5), and includes at least one conduit for a fluid to inflate the inflatable and deflate bladder.

The present invention is directed to methods for repairing pipes or pipe junctions. The methods include providing a launcher device having a bladder and a liner impregnated with a material capable of curing and hardening. The bladder includes a first end, a closed second end, and an opening proximal the closed second end. A portion of the bladder is positioned within the launcher device, a rope or a line is connected to the liner, and the rope or line is threaded through the opening in the bladder. The rope or the line is pulled until the liner is at least partially within the bladder, and the rope or line is removed. The pipe is repaired by positioning the liner against the wall of a pipe, and allowing a material capable of curing and hardening to cure and harden. The methods allow for the rapid reuse of the bladder.

An apparatus for repairing a junction between a main sewer pipe and a lateral sewer pipe comprises a tubular portion having opposite first and second ends. A collar extends outwardly from one of the first and second ends of the tubular portion. The tubular portion and the collar are formed of a curable, waterproof putty, such as an epoxy or silicate putty. The putty may also be a resin, such as a thermoset or other curable resin. The apparatus is positioned at the pipe juncture to prevent the migration of water through a damaged section of the pipe.