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.
Apparatus (140) for inserting a side, e.g. consumer service or other branch, connection conduit or liner (300) into a side, e.g. consumer or other branch connection pipeline (C) in the making of a service connection between the side connection pipeline (C) and a main pipeline (101), wherein the apparatus (140) comprises: propulsion means (110) for propelling the apparatus (140) along the main pipeline (101) to a site at which the service connection is to be made; and traction means (160) for engaging the side connection conduit/liner (300) directly, or more preferably indirectly via an elongate spring-based puller member (220), from within the main pipeline (101) and inserting, such as by drawing/pulling or pushing, the side connection conduit/liner (300) through the side connection pipeline (C) by traction from within the main pipeline (101).
An apparatus (130) for installing a connection fitting (300) into an aperture (400A) formed in a wall of a main pipeline (101) in the making of a service connection between a side connection, e.g. a consumer service connection, pipeline (C) and the main pipeline (101), wherein the apparatus (130) comprises: propulsion means (110) for propelling the apparatus (130) along the main pipeline (101) to a site at which the service connection is to be made; and installation means for installing, from within the main pipeline (101), at least a portion of the connection fitting (300N) into the aperture (400A). In embodiments the installation means may comprise: (i) a storage device (200), e.g. a linear storage rack (204), for storing at least one connection fitting (300) intended for installation; (ii) a conveyance device (220) for conveying a connection fitting (300) to be installed from the storage device (200) to an installation location, e.g. an installation pad or platform (242); and (iii) an insertion device (240), e.g. a scissor lift mechanism (250), for inserting the connection fitting (300) conveyed to the installation pad or platform (242) from the installation pad or platform (242) into the aperture (400A) formed in the wall of the main pipeline (101). Optionally one or more welds (320PW, 320SW) may be effected to complete the making of a fluid-tight service connection via the fitting (300) thus installed.
F16L 55/26 - Pigs or moles, i.e. devices movable in a pipe or conduit with or without self-contained propulsion means
B65G 25/10 - Conveyors comprising a cyclically-moving, e.g. reciprocating, carrier or impeller which is disengaged from the load during the return part of its movement the carrier or impeller having identical forward and return paths of movement, e.g. reciprocating conveyors having impellers, e.g. pushers with impeller pivotally mounted on a reciprocating bar
A robot drive assembly (110) for moving a robot (100) along a substantially cylindrical pipeline within the pipeline, the assembly comprising first and second body portions (110A, 110B), the first body portion (110A) being arranged to be rotated about a longitudinal axis of the assembly relative to the second body portion (110B) by drive means (110M1), wherein the first body portion (110A) has at least one drive roller (111R) coupled thereto, the robot (100) being configured such that rotation of the first body portion relative to the pipeline and second body portion about a longitudinal axis of the first body portion causes the at least one drive roller (111R) to rotate in contact with an inner wall of the pipeline about a roller axis oriented such as to cause simultaneous rotation and translation of the first body portion (110A) with respect to the pipeline.
patents
