Apparatus for installing slipliners in pipes

A method for installing a slipliner in a host pipe, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing a gripper assembly operative to advance said slipliner in a generally linear direction therethrough;
• positioning said gripper assembly in generally linear adjustment with a mouth opening of a host pipe;
• resiliently compressing said slipliner in a fixed-size gap between opposing gripper members in said gripper assembly, said gap being sized smaller than a diameter of said slipliner so that said slipliner is deflected by a predetermined amount so as to establish a firm engagement therewith;
• and
• operating said gripper assembly so as to advance said slipliner therethrough and into an interior of said host pipe through said mouth opening thereof.

An apparatus for installing a slipliner inside a host pipe, said apparatus comprising:

• a gripper assembly that advances said slipliner in a longitudinal direction, said gripper assembly comprising:
• a plurality of gripper members that engage an exterior surface of said slipliner, said gripper members each comprising:
• a generally semi-circular jaw portion that engages said exterior surface of said slipliner, said semi-circular jaw portions of said gripper member defining a gap between said opposing sides of said receiving area, said gap being less than an external diameter of said slipliner so that said slipliner is resiliently compressed between said semi-circular jaw portions to establish a firm engagement therewith;
• means for advancing said gripper members along a longitudinal length of said slipliner, said means for advancing said gripper members comprising:
• first of second elongate flexible transmission members having said grippers members mounted thereto, said flexible transmission members being positioned on opposing sides of a receiving area through which said slipliner passes;
• means for driving said flexible transmission members so as to advance said gripper members in a linear direction along said opposing sides of said receiving area of said receiving area in engagement with said slipliner;
• and
• means for pressing said jaw portions of said gripper members against said exterior surface of said slipliner, said means for pressing said jaw portions of said gripper members against said exterior surface of said slipliner comprising:
• a plurality of rollers that engage said gripper members on a side opposite said exterior surface of said slipliner;
• a boom assembly that lowers said gripper assembly into an access opening so as to position said gripper assembly substantially level with a mouth opening of said host pipe therein;
• and
• a vehicle having said boom assembly mounted thereto so that said boom and gripper assemblies can be transported to a location proximate said access opening.

An apparatus for installing a slipliner inside a host pipe, said apparatus comprising:

• a gripper assembly that advances said slipliner in a longitudinal direction;
• a plurality of gripper members that engage an exterior surface of said slipliner;
• said gripper members each comprising:
• a generally semi-circular jaw portion that engages said exterior surface of said slipliner, said semi-circular jaw portions of said gripper members defining a gap between said opposing sides of said receiving area, said gap being less than an external diameter of said slipliner so that said slipliner is resiliently compressed between said semi-circular jaw portions to establish a firm engagement therewith;
• means for advancing said gripper members along a longitudinal length of said slipliner;
• means for pressing said jaw portions of said gripper members against said exterior surface of said slipliner, said means for pressing said jaw portions of said gripper members against said exterior surface of said slipliner comprising:
• a plurality of rollers that engage said gripper members on a side opposite said exterior surface of said slipliner;
• a boom assembly that lowers said gripper assembly into an access opening so as to position said gripper assembly substantially level with a mouth opening of said host pipe therein;
• and
• a vehicle having said boom assembly mounted thereto so that said boom and gripper assemblies can be transported to a location proximate said access opening.

An apparatus for installing a slipliner inside a host pipe, said apparatus comprising:

• a gripper assembly that advances said slipliner in a longitudinal direction;
• a plurality of gripper members that engage an exterior surface of said slipliner in said slipliner members each comprising:
• a generally semi-circular jaw portion that engages said exterior surface of said slipliner, said semi-circular jaw portions of said gripper members defining a gap between said opposing sides of a receiving area through which said slipliner passes, said gap being less than an external diameter of said slipliner so that said slipliner is resiliently compressed between said semi-circular jaw portions to establish a firm engagement therewith;
• means for advancing said gripper members along a longitudinal length of said slipliner;
• and
• means for pressing said jaw portions of said gripper members against said exterior surface of a said slipliner, said means for pressing said jaw portions of said gripper members against said exterior surface of said slipliner comprising:
• a plurality of rollers that engage said gripper members on a side opposite said exterior surface of said slipliner.