Apparatus and method for repairing the junction of a sewer main and lateral pipe

A method of repairing a first pipe and a second pipe, comprising:

• providing a launcher device having a launcher device body with a launcher device opening disposed therein, a main bladder substantially surrounding the launcher device body and having a main bladder opening, and a tubular lateral bladder body combined with the launcher device to form a lateral bladder;
• placing the lateral bladder within the launcher device body;
• impregnating a first liner with a resinous material capable of curing and hardening;
• inserting at least a portion of the first liner into the lateral bladder;
• inflating the main bladder;
• inflating the lateral bladder, forcing the lateral bladder and at least the portion of the first liner through the launcher device opening and the main bladder opening, pressing the first liner against the pipe;
• allowing the resinous material capable of curing and hardening in the first liner to cure and harden;
• removing the bladder from the first pipe so it can be reused to line the second pipe;
• placing the lateral bladder within the launcher device body;
• impregnating a second liner with a resinous material capable of curing and hardening;
• inserting at least a portion of the second liner into the lateral bladder;
• inflating the main bladder;
• inflating the lateral bladder, forcing the lateral bladder and at least the portion of the second liner through the launcher device opening and the main bladder opening, pressing the second liner against the second pipe;
• allowing the resinous material capable of curing and hardening in the second liner to cure and harden;
• removing the bladder from the second pipe.

A method of repairing a first pipe and a second pipe, comprising:

• providing a launcher device having a launcher device body with a launcher device opening disposed therein, a main bladder substantially surrounding the launcher device body and having a main bladder opening, and a tubular lateral bladder body combined with the launcher device to form a lateral bladder;
• placing the lateral bladder within the launcher device body;
• impregnating a first liner with a resinous material capable of curing and hardening;
• inserting at least a portion of the first liner into the lateral bladder;
• inflating the main bladder;
• inflating the lateral bladder, forcing the lateral bladder and at least the portion of the first liner through the launcher device opening and the main bladder opening, pressing the first liner against the first pipe, wherein inflation of the main bladder is independent from inflation of the lateral bladder so that pressure in the main bladder can be different from pressure in the lateral bladder;
• and
• allowing the resinous material capable of curing and hardening in the first liner to cure and harden;
• removing the bladder from the first pipe so it can be reused to line the second pipe;
• placing the lateral bladder within the launcher device body;
• impregnating a second liner with a resinous material capable of curing and hardening;
• inserting at least a portion of the second liner into the lateral bladder;
• inflating the main bladder;
• inflating the lateral bladder, forcing the lateral bladder and at least the portion of the second liner through the launcher device opening and the main bladder opening, pressing the second liner against the second pipe, wherein inflation of the main bladder is independent from inflation of the lateral bladder so that pressure in the main bladder can be different from pressure in the lateral bladder;
• and
• allowing the resinous material capable of curing and hardening in the second liner to cure and harden;
• removing the bladder from the second pipe.