Apparatus and method for the robotic repairing of an underground pipe junction with removable heating element

A method for remotely installing a patch to an underground junction between a main pipeline and a lateral service line, comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a patch comprising:
• a tubular stem having a first end, a second end and a first length, for communication with the lateral service line;
• a convex flange having an exterior surface, an interior surface and a cutout portion operatively sized and interconnected to the first end of said tubular stem, wherein the second end of said tubular stem extends away from the exterior surface of said convex flange;
• and
• a sealing substrate positioned on said exterior surface of said convex flange for providing sealing engagement between said convex flange and an interior surface of the main pipeline;
• (b) determining a location of the junction between the main pipeline and the lateral service line;
• (c) removably attaching said patch to a support cage having a heating element;
• (d) positioning said patch proximate to the location of the underground junction;
• (e) activating a lateral extender to move said support cage from a first traveling position to a second engagement position so that said patch is positioned with said tubular stem within the lateral service line and said sealing substrate is positioned against an internal surface of the main pipeline proximate to said lateral service line;
• (f) providing a heat source to said sealing substrate through said heating element to accelerate the curing of said sealing substrate, wherein said patch becomes fixedly connected to the internal surface of the main pipeline;
• (g) deactivating the lateral extender to move said support cage from the second engagement position to the first traveling position;
• and
• (h) removing said lateral extender and said support cage from the main pipeline.