Pipe repair vehicle and method

摘要

An electrically remote-controlled vehicle or pig is hydraulically actuated and is adapted to work with lining equipment for lining the interior of a branch pipe. The lining equipment includes a hydraulic anchoring press 74 for pressing an end flange of a tubular lining (Fig 19) against a pressing plate 66. A hydraulic counter press 76 counteracts the force of the anchoring press 74. A sealing tube (Fig 20) having an embedded electric heater is bonded to an end of the tubular lining material with a low-melting bonding agent. The lining is forced into the branch pipe by pressurized fluid and pressed against the inside wall of the branch pipe. Then, the lining is warmed by a heated pressurized fluid to be hardened. Subsequently, electrical current is provided to the heater in the sealing tube so that the bonding agent is melted and the sealing tube is separated from the lining.