Apparatus having a tubular inflatable bladder and a grout dispensing nozzle for connecting lateral branches to a relined main

Abstract

A method for connecting a lateral sewer line to a main sewer line which is relined with a plastic pipe liner, comprises plugging a lateral sewer line upstream of the main sewer line to seal off the lateral sewer line, spraying a grout material downstream of the location of the plug until the space between the main sewer line and the plastic pipe liner is filled, allowing the group material to set, removing the plug from the lateral sewer line and providing an opening through the grout material and the plastic pipe liner so that the lateral sewer line is connected to and in communication with the plastic pipe liner. An apparatus which is used to plug the lateral sewer line and dispense the grout material comprises a spray gun positioned within a tubular inflatable bladder where the nozzle for the spray gun is in front of the bladder. The apparatus also includes means for conveying compressed air to and for conveying compressed air from the inflatable bladder. The inflatable bladder expands within a lateral sewer line which is connected to the main sewer line when compressed air is conveyed to the inflatable bladder and means for conveying grout material under pressure to the spray gun is provided to dispense the grout material in the space between the main sewer line and the plastic pipe liner.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.