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.

A controlled bending device in the form of an elongate member including a series of blocks configured to direct and/or control an extent of bending of the elongate member. The present invention further relates to a sealing packer for use in installing a flexible liner into a junction between a main pipe and a branch pipe, the sealing packer incorporating the bending device in a flexible lateral arm thereof to facilitate guidance of the flexible lateral arm into the branch pipe when the sealing packer is inserted (pushed or pulled) through the main pipe.

A liner assembly and method for lining a damaged pipe junction between a main and lateral pipe is provided. The liner assembly includes a main liner member and a lateral liner tube. A collar disposed near the juncture between the main liner member and lateral liner tube is impregnated with a liquid hydrophobic or hydrophilic material capable of curing in a flexible or rigid state with the material expanding in the presence of water. The hydrophobic or hydrophilic material can also be applied without the use of the collar. When the liner assembly is pressed against the main and lateral pipes, a portion of the hydrophilic or hydrophobic material is forced into the damaged pipe junction.

The invention relates to a clearing device for the rehabilitation of a pipeline, especially for clearing a branching-off in a pipeline system rehabilitated by means of a tubular liner, comprising at least one clearing device, which is movably mounted by at least one degree of freedom, and a slope sensor located on the clearing device.

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.

An apparatus for installing a connection fitting into an aperture formed in a wall of a main pipeline in the making of a service connection between a side connection and the main pipeline includes propulsion means for propelling the apparatus along the main pipeline to a site at which the service connection is to be made, and installation means for installing, from within the main pipeline, at least a portion of the connection fitting into the aperture. The installation means may include a storage device for storing at least one connection fitting intended for installation, a conveyance device for conveying a connection fitting to be installed from the storage device to an installation location, and an insertion device for inserting the connection fitting conveyed to the installation pad or platform from the installation pad or platform into the aperture formed in the wall of the main pipeline.

A travelling device for an apparatus for rehabilitating pipelines, including an adjustable undercarriage and a support device to which the undercarriage is fastened. The undercarriage includes a plurality of wheel sets, each wheel set having at least two wheels, wherein the wheels of a wheel set are rotatably mounted on a wheel holding element. The wheel holding element includes a spacer positioned intermediate the at least two wheels, the spacer configured so that the wheels of the wheel sets do not jam in the pipeline when moving the device.

In one aspect, a bit for removing a plug from a branch conduit extending from a main pipe has a boring head at a distal end portion of a shaft configured to bore a pilot hole in the plug. A catch on the shaft is configured to pass through the pilot hole and then engage the plug after the pilot hole is bored for pushing the plug proximally. A burr proximal of the boring head is configured to remove a portion of the plug to separate a removable section from a durable section of the plug. In a method of restoring fluid communication between a main pipe and a branch conduit, the bit bores a pilot hole with the boring head, separates the removable section from the durable section with the burr, and then with the catch, withdraws the removable section only.

The present disclosure relates to a device for assessing the condition of a pipeline containing a liquid, the device comprising an actuatable maneuvering means configured 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. The present disclosure relates to a method for maneuvering a device comprising transmitting an electronic signal, receiving the signal, and actuating maneuvering means on the device to generate a force sufficient to alter the path of the device in a direction around the pipeline feature based on information related by the received signal. In aspects, the method comprising identifying a pipeline feature by directing one or more of a camera, sonar sensor, or time of flight sensor disposed on a device towards the intended path.

In one aspect, a bit for removing a plug from a branch conduit extending from a main pipe has a boring head at a distal end portion of a shaft configured to bore a pilot hole in the plug. A catch on the shaft is configured to pass through the pilot hole and then engage the plug after the pilot hole is bored for pushing the plug proximally. A burr proximal of the boring head is configured to remove a portion of the plug to separate a removable section from a durable section of the plug. In a method of restoring fluid communication between a main pipe and a branch conduit, the bit bores a pilot hole with the boring head, separates the removable section from the durable section with the burr, and then with the catch, withdraws the removable section only.