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.

A sewer line root cleaning and repair system includes a root cleaner having a first body and a second body connected by a flexible connector. A flexible rotating member extending from a pneumatic motor in the first body extends through the flexible connector and the second body. The flexible rotating member terminates beyond the second body in a series of bristles. As the root cleaner moves through a sewer line a set of wheels on the first body extends outward, centering the first body in the sewer line as the bristles spin at high RPM centering the second body in the sewer line and scouring the sewer line free of roots including small root hairs. Afterward, a coating sprayer is inserted into the sewer line, connected to a coating supply and air supply, and the coating is sprayed under pressure to line the inner surface of the sewer line.

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 device for assessing the condition of a pipeline containing a liquid is provided. The device includes an actuatable maneuvering module to generate a force sufficient to move the device from one side to another side along a horizontal plane and to move the device from top to bottom along a vertical plane, or any combinations thereof, so as to maneuver the device.

A liner tube is provided for repairing either a single pipe line or a main pipe line having a lateral pipe line connected thereto. The liner tube assembly includes a liner tube impregnated with a liquid material capable of curing and hardening. The liner tube includes a gasket or band of hydrophilic paste positioned about the juncture of the pipe lines. The gasket or bands form a tight seal between the liner tube and the pipe line.

An assembly for relining a junction between a branch pipeline and a main pipeline comprises a seal installation device capable of moving within the main pipeline to the junction. The seal installation device includes a curable seal for being placed and pressed onto the junction and optionally for extending into the branch pipeline. The assembly further comprises a light curing device for being introduced into the seal installation device within the main pipeline and the branch pipeline for curing the seal.

A method and system for locating a branch conduit opening into a main pipe following lining the main pipe with a liner includes moving a robot down the lined main pipe and scanning the liner using an infrared scanner mounted on the robot. A temperature drop outside the liner as compared to the adjacent surfaces to acquire infrared data is sensed with an infrared scanner. The infrared data is compared with other location data regarding the branch conduit opening and a branch conduit opening location outside of the liner is determined based on the infrared data and the other data. In another aspect, the infrared scanner is tuned to more particularly sense temperatures associated with the presence of a branch conduit opening.

A robot and method of controlling a tool carried by a robot in a main pipe where the tool is operable to extend into a branch conduit extending from the main pipe. The robot can be moved to a location in the main pipe corresponding to a branch conduit opening location where the branch conduit opens into the main pipe by referencing a digital map of the main pipe. The tool can be extended from the robot toward the branch conduit opening at an angle corresponding to an angle the branch conduit makes with the main pipe so as to reduce the likelihood of contact of the tool with a wall of the branch conduit.

A method for mounting a marker to a specific area in a pipeline and/or sewer system, wherein an inspection and/or maintenance system in the pipe-line and/or sewer system is brought into the region of the specific area, and the inspection and/or maintenance system mounts the marker to the specific area, wherein the marker comprises an RFID transponder, is provided. A method for detecting a marker in a pipeline and/or sewer system, a method for renovating a portion of a pipeline or sewer system, and devices for mounting the marker at the predetermined area in the sewer and for detecting the mounted marker are also provided.

A robot applicable to synchronous patrol of a long branch pipeline and a main pipeline includes a walking apparatus and detection apparatuses located on a top of the walking apparatus, where the detection apparatuses accompany the walking apparatus to patrol the main pipeline. The robot further includes a sub-walking apparatus located at a front end of the walking apparatus, where front wheel obstacle-crossing apparatuses of the walking apparatus are also capable of limiting the sub-walking apparatus while crossing an obstacle in the main pipeline, and when the branch pipeline is encountered, the front wheel obstacle-crossing apparatuses are lifted to a certain height, a bin outlet of the sub-walking apparatus is released, and the sub-walking apparatus is separated from the walking apparatus and independently patrols the branch pipeline.