Tubing everting apparatus, assemblies, and methods

An apparatus for everting a flexible tube liner, the apparatus comprising:

• a pressure chamber that defines an internal volume, wherein the pressure chamber is configured to be pressurized by a pressurizing fluid stream to provide a motive force for eversion of the flexible tube liner;
• a liner inlet port associated with a first side of the pressure chamber and configured to receive the flexible tube liner into the internal volume;
• an inlet sealing structure associated with the liner inlet port and configured to resist fluid flow therepast from the pressure chamber;
• a non-deflation valve that is spaced-apart from the inlet sealing structure and configured to selectively transition between an open state, in which the non-deflation valve permits the flexible tube liner to pass through the liner inlet port, and a closed state, in which the non-deflation valve restricts flow of the pressurizing fluid stream from the pressure chamber, via the liner inlet port, when the pressure chamber is pressurized by the pressurizing fluid stream and a tail end of the flexible tube liner has passed through the liner inlet port;
• wherein the non-deflation valve is configured to at least one of slide, pivot, and deform during transitioning between the open state and the closed state;
• and
• a liner outlet port associated with a second side of the pressure chamber and configured to permit the flexible tube liner to extend from the internal volume.

A method of operating an apparatus for everting a flexible tube liner, the method comprising:

• extending a leading end of the flexible tube liner through a liner inlet port of a pressure chamber of the apparatus, through an internal volume defined by the pressure chamber, and through a liner outlet port defined by the pressure chamber;
• forming an at least partial fluid seal between an inlet sealing structure that is associated with the liner inlet port of the pressure chamber and a portion of the flexible tube liner that extends therethrough, wherein the inlet sealing structure includes a pair of opposed sealing lips, and further wherein the forming the at least partial fluid seal includes pressing the pair of opposed sealing lips against opposed sides of the flexible tube liner;
• operatively attaching the leading end of the flexible tube liner to a liner attachment point of the apparatus;
• forming an at least partial fluid seal between the leading end of the flexible tube liner and the liner attachment point;
• lubricating the flexible tube liner with a lubricator of the apparatus, wherein the lubricator includes an atomizer configured to atomize a lubricant prior to application of the lubricant to the flexible tube liner, and further wherein the lubricating includes spraying atomized lubricant on the flexible tube liner prior to the flexible tube liner being received into the pressure chamber via the liner inlet port and the inlet sealing structure;
• and
• pressurizing the pressure chamber with a pressurizing fluid stream to provide a motive force for eversion of the flexible tube liner.