A method of joining together liner sections within a polymer-lined pipe energises an induction coil inside the pipe to spot-heat part of a circumferential interface between the liner sections. This melts and fuses the polymer material locally. The induction coil is then moved along the interface to heat other parts of the interface successively above the melting temperature. An apparatus for performing the method has a power supply for energising the induction coil and a drive system for moving the energised induction coil relative to a body of the apparatus. The apparatus may be configured as a carriage that is movable along the pipe.

A light head for use in relining a pipe is disclosed. The light head comprises a proximal end cap, a distal end cap, and at least one body between the proximal end cap and the distal end cap. The proximal end cap also has an air inlet. The body has a longitudinal hole extending from the proximal end cap through the centre of the body towards the distal end cap and at least one air channel extending radially from the longitudinal hole to a radial air outlet. The longitudinal hole is configured to receive air from the air inlet such that in use air from the air inlet passes through the body and exits at the radial air outlet. The body is configured for supporting at least one light emitting diode on the periphery of the body in order to emit light radially from the light head towards the pipe.

An in-pipe moving apparatus for passing through a pipe bent in any direction without control of the attitude of the apparatus is provided. The in-pipe moving apparatus may include at least three sets of tire-integrated wheel units arranged in series in a traveling direction and at least two sets of joint sections that pivotably link the at least three sets of tire-integrated wheel units to each other. Each of the at least three sets of tire-integrated wheel units includes a tire-integrated wheel, a drive section, a first frame fixed to the drive section, and at least one second frame pivotably attached to the drive section. A bending generator is provided between one of the first frames and one of the second frames in the at least three sets of tire-integrated wheel units and imparts tension for causing the first frames and the second frames to have a V-like bent shape.

The present application discloses a device and method for detecting and ablating hydrates in a natural gas pipeline. The device includes a transmission mechanism, a detection mechanism and an ablation mechanism. The detection mechanism and the ablation mechanism are both connected to the transmission mechanism through an elastic connector, such that the device can smoothly pass through bends in the natural gas pipeline. The transmission mechanism includes a universal wheel component, which forms static friction with an outer wall of an inner natural gas pipeline, such that the device can move along the inner natural gas pipeline. The detection mechanism detects the temperature of the natural gas pipeline and determines whether hydrates are generated in the natural gas pipeline to block the pipeline, and then the blockage is heated by the ablation mechanism to ablate the hydrates.

A light head for use in relining a pipe, the light head may include a proximal end cap, a distal end cap, at least one body, at least one LED-plate, and at least one spacer. The proximal end cap may include a fluid inlet. The body may be arranged between the proximal end cap and the distal end cap. The body may include a longitudinal passage extending from the proximal end cap to the center of the body. At least one lateral channel may extend from the longitudinal passage to an outlet. The LED-plate may include at least one light emitting diode. The spacer may be disposed between the LED-plate and the body. The longitudinal passage may be configured to receive fluid from the inlet such that the fluid hits the LED-plate.

Embodiments of a multi-diameter foam pig include a first set of radially spaced-apart, longitudinally extending, slots located toward a nose end of the pig and a second set of radially spaced-apart, longitudinally extending, slots located toward a tail end. Each set of slots ends at a band section of the pig so that, together, the two sets of slots do not traverse the entire length of the pig. A standard-length unit version of the foam pig includes only the first set of slots. A set of shorter, intermediate slots, offset in a circumferential direction from the first and second set of slots and partially overlapping those slots, may be included on the band section. Because of the slots, and because of open cell foam, the foam pig decreases or increases in diameter as it enters a different diameter run than the run just traveled.

A modular isolation robot includes a motor configured to drive at least a first wheel, wherein the first wheel is configured to contact an interior surface of a pipe. The robot further includes a first rubber expander configured to selectively expand from a first state to a second state, wherein a diameter of the rubber expander in the second state is equal to an inner diameter of the pipe, and at least a first interchangeable module, wherein the first interchangeable module is configured to house an electronic component. A system for performing maintenance operations within a pipeline includes a first modular isolation robot and a second modular isolation robot.

A motorized apparatus includes a body assembly and a maintenance device mounted to the body assembly. The maintenance device is configured to perform a service operation on a surface. The maintenance device extends from the body assembly at an angle. The motorized apparatus also includes a plurality of leg assemblies coupled to the body assembly and configured to support the body assembly and the maintenance device at a distance from the surface. The motorized apparatus further includes at least one actuator assembly coupled to the plurality of leg assemblies and configured to independently actuate each leg assembly of the plurality of leg assemblies. The at least one actuator assembly is configured to receive instructions related to a position of the maintenance device and actuate the plurality of leg assemblies to adjust an orientation of the body assembly and the maintenance device relative to the surface.

A cutter is provided for cutting through obstructions disposed in the interior of pipes ranging in size from approximately 8″ to approximately 15″ in diameter or from approximately 12″ to approximately 24″ in diameter. The cutter has been reduced in size relative to known root cutters to be capable of being used with smaller-diameter pipes, but is sufficiently powerful to cut through obstructions, such as mineral deposits, for example, that known flexible cutters capable of being used with these smaller-diameter pipes are incapable of cutting through.

A system and method for detecting passage of a pipeline pig, the system and method including a passive impulse detector [10] having a housing [13]; a non-intrusive connection [15] of the housing to an exterior wall [17] of a pipeline [P], at least one vibration sensor [11] housed by the housing; and signal processing [23] including at least one band pass filter [27] configured to receive data collected by the vibration sensor, the vibration sensor and band pass filter configured to monitor frequencies in a predetermined range indicating the impulse. The selected frequencies should be those more easily detectable above the baseline (signature or natural resonance) frequency of the section of pipeline being monitored. In some embodiments, the selected frequencies are lower frequencies. No portion of the passive pipeline pig signal intrudes into an interior of the pipeline.