A method for enlarging a crushed section of a ductile pipe. A wire rope having a bead or plurality of beads attached to the rope is placed in a ductile pipe. When a series of beads is used, each of the beads is sequentially larger. The wire rope is pulled through the crushed section, and the ductile pipe conforms to the larger diameter of the beads. The crushed section of pipe may be expanded so that a larger wire rope suitable for pipe extraction may be passed through. Alternatively, the pipe may be reformed and expanded to near or greater than its original size. The pipe may then be coated or a smaller slip-lined pipe may be placed within the original pipe.

Methods are disclosed for refurbishing an existing host pipe. According to presently preferred embodiments, a first phase is to make a longitudinal cut in the host pipe. A second phase is an expansion phase, wherein the host pipe is expanded, preferably nondestructively, via separation of the longitudinal cut. A third phase is to insert liner pipe sections into the expanded host pipe. In confined space environments, sections of liner pipe are concatenated end-to-end as they are inserted into the host pipe. In some embodiments, the expansion phase and the liner pipe section insertion phase may be combined. A fourth phase is to grout the annular space formed between the host pipe and the concatenated liner pipe sections.

A pipe carrier in an embodiment includes a pipe-carrying region in which forward and rear pipe lifting assemblies are arranged to lift and carry a pipe section. For example, the pipe-carrying region lies rearwards of the front traveling support of the pipe carrier, and forwards of the rear traveling support of the pipe carrier. The pipe carrier includes a modular extension assembly carrying an energy source for powering the pipe carrier, wherein the energy source is at least partially carried within the pipe-carrying region.

A system and method for pipe insertion in live gas mains includes isolating a section of the gas main and taking measurements of service line connection points. This data is then used to prepare a pipe to be inserted into the gas main by drilling holes and applying fittings at the appropriate locations. The prepared pipe is then inserted into the gas main and the service lines are connected to it without the need to excavate the street over each service connection. The inserted pipe is then fluidly connected to the cut ends of the gas main and gas flow is routed through the newly inserted pipe and the attached service lines, while gas continues to flow through the original portions of the gas main that still remain in service.

A device and method for securing a sleeve (for sacrificial wear and/or electrical isolation) inside a conduit. In one embodiment, the retention device sits adjacent one end of the sleeve and comprises a ring having a protuberance or lip extending parallel to and against the end of the sleeve, thus pressing the end of the sleeve against the inner surface of the conduit. This has the advantage, in situations where fluids are flowing through the conduit, of reducing the risk of fluids moving behind the sleeve and collapsing it inwardly.

Segments are linked in the circumferential direction to assemble a pipe unit, which is linked to another pipe unit in the pipe-length direction to assemble a rehabilitation pipe inside an existing pipe. Before the pipe unit is assembled or after the pipe unit has been assembled, a spacer is attached to the segment using a spacer holder to prevent the spacer from falling down from the segment. The pipe unit having the spacer attached to the segment is linked to the pipe units that have already been linked. The rehabilitation pipe is positioned relative to the existing pipe using the spacer that is attached to the segment. A filler is injected between the positioned rehabilitation pipe and the existing pipe.

A pipe carrier in an embodiment includes a pipe-carrying region in which forward and rear pipe lifting assemblies are arranged to lift and carry a pipe section. For example, the pipe-carrying region lies rearwards of the front traveling support of the pipe carrier, and forwards of the rear traveling support of the pipe carrier. The pipe carrier includes a modular extension assembly carrying an energy source for powering the pipe carrier, wherein the energy source is at least partially carried within the pipe-carrying region.

An apparatus and method for repairing a damaged host pipe, such as a culvert or other conduit and for installing one or more sensors to monitor one or more parameters within the host pipe. The method includes repairing the damaged host pipe by positioning one or more expandable ribs or sleeves within the damaged host pipe; expanding the one or more ribs or sleeves to move the one or more ribs or sleeves to an installation within the host pipe; installing sealant in spaces between the host pipe and the one or more ribs or sleeves; and attaching the one or more sensors to an inner wall of the host pipe or rib or sleeve or embedding the one or more sensors within the host pipe or rib or sleeve.

A system and method for pipe insertion in live gas mains includes isolating a section of the gas main and taking measurements of service line connection points. This data is then used to prepare a pipe to be inserted into the gas main by drilling holes and applying fittings at the appropriate locations. The prepared pipe is then inserted into the gas main and the service lines are connected to it without the need to excavate the street over each service connection. The inserted pipe is then fluidly connected to the cut ends of the gas main and gas flow is routed through the newly inserted pipe and the attached service lines, while gas continues to flow through the original portions of the gas main that still remain in service.

A system and method for pipe insertion in live gas mains includes isolating a section of the gas main and taking measurements of service line connection points. This data is then used to prepare a pipe to be inserted into the gas main by drilling holes and applying fittings at the appropriate locations. The prepared pipe is then inserted into the gas main and the service lines are connected to it without the need to excavate the street over each service connection. The inserted pipe is then fluidly connected to the cut ends of the gas main and gas flow is routed through the newly inserted pipe and the attached service lines, while gas continues to flow through the original portions of the gas main that still remain in service.