Plugging Apparatus, System and Method for Pipe Lining Applications

Abstract

A plugging apparatus adapted to plug service lateral openings in the interior of a pipe and a method of plugging service lateral openings, the plugging apparatus having a housing, transport mechanisms mounted to said housing, the transport mechanisms adapted to move the housing through a pipe having service lateral openings, a rotatable manipulator compartment mounted to the housing, the manipulator compartment containing a robotic arm assembly having a plug gripping assembly and an extension assembly; the housing retaining plugs and one or more plug loading actuators adapted to individually advance each of the plugs into the manipulator compartment and the plug gripping assembly, the extension assembly being adapted to extend a plug positioned in the plug gripping assembly radially from the manipulator compartment and into one of the service lateral openings in the pipe.

Description

[0001]This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62 / 504,068, filed May 10, 2017, U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62 / 620,171, filed Jan. 22, 2018, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62 / 635,794, filed Feb. 27, 2018, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]This invention relates broadly to the field of linings for internal pipe surfaces and methods of applying these linings, and more particularly relates to such linings adapted and adaptable for use in the structural repair or remediation of degraded, damaged or leaking pipes. In particular, the invention relates to Sprayed-In-Place-Pipe (SIPP) lining methods, systems and technologies. The invention most particularly relates in general to methods and apparatuses for temporarily blocking the openings of service laterals, i.e., smaller diameter lateral pipes connected to the wall of a larger mainline pipe, when the S...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

This patent describes an apparatus, system, and method to easily reinstate service laterals after repairing or remedying mainline pipes. The apparatus is semi-autonomous or fully autonomous, self-powered or pushed / pulled, and navigates in the mainline pipe to locate the opening of the service laterals. When a service lateral is detected, the apparatus inserts a plug to block the opening, preventing any flow or leakage from the service lateral. The plug members are liquid-soluble and made with a hydrophobic coating to repel the lining material, so they can be dissolved when liquid is again passed through the service lateral or mainline pipe to contact the non-coated surfaces of the plug members. This improves the quality and efficiency of the repair process.

Problems solved by technology

In the municipal and industrial sectors, there are pipe systems that are degrading such that they fall below standards due to corrosion or crack propagation.

The coating / lining is typically not intrusive to the performance of the service, i.e., the lining does not block the opening, however one can still have issues with liquid flow leaking from these service laterals.

This water or moisture negatively affects the surface of the mainline pipe being lined, and may cause adhesion and / or foaming issues, and may impede complete curing of the coating.

A current issue when installing a semi-structural (Class III) or fully structural (Class IV) system, which is becoming more prevalent in the industry, is that the services laterals do get either partially or fully blocked, since the liner volume / thickness in this case is significantly greater than that needed in remediation of a Class I or II system.

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