Abstract: A padding machine for moving along a side of a ditch, scooping up excavated material from the side of the ditch, and sifting the excavated material into padding material for falling in the ditch comprises a frame comprising side frame members and frame rails spaced apart from the side frame members. A screening belt is driven around pulleys supported by the frame. The screening belt comprises a screen for collecting and conveying the excavated material upwardly. The screen comprises apertures for sifting the excavated material into padding material by permitting the padding material to fall through the apertures of the screen. The screen runs over the frame rails which support the screen. A discharge conveyor is mounted to the frame beneath an upper run of the screening belt. The discharge conveyor receives the padding material passing through the screen and discharges the padding material into the ditch.

Abstract: A device for indicating the passage of a pig beyond a predetermined location in a pipeline comprising a pig detector connected to a pipeline and communicating with the interior of the pipeline through an opening at the location. The device may comprise a trigger mounted in the pig detector and adapted to project into the interior of the pipeline, catch fingers mounted in the housing for movement toward and away from the central axis of the housing, a catch spring for urging the fingers towards the central axis, an attachment housing for attachment of the lower end of a push/pull extension cable for communicating with the trigger and an indicator, an upper housing for attachment of the upper end of the extension cable to the indicator, the indicator being slidably mounted within an indicator housing, and an indicator spring mounted within the indicator housing for urging the indicator beyond the indicator housing so as to be visible and to provide an indication that a pig has passed.

Abstract: A compact earth filtering machine adapted to engage with a base vehicle includes a frame including a guide structure for guiding earth being screened. A set of rollers is supported by the frame, with each roller associated with a corresponding sprocket. A mesh, forming a continuous loop and supported by the rollers, is provided for elevating and screening earth provided by the guide structure. A drive chain, coupled along an edge of the mesh, is adapted to engage the sprockets associated with the rollers. A driver is provided for rotating a selected one of the rollers and the associated sprocket to thereby cause the mesh to elevate and screen the earth provided by the guide structure. A transverse conveyor supported by the frame transports earth screened by the mesh to a discharge point adjacent to the compact filtering machine.

Abstract: A cleaning module for cleaning sewer pipes including sewer liner, and other types of conduits. The cleaning module may comprise a single hydraulically propelled unit, wedge-shaped and selected to fit pipe size. Pipeline walls are scoured by the slurry agitation produced by hydraulic pressure jets in the module. Alternatively, the module is assembled in situ and the relative size of components is selected depending upon the diameter of the pipeline. The module may comprise a front unit and rear unit or a frame assembly and a drive assembly. The modules contain a motor, preferably a hydraulic motor. The motor drives flails, thereby disintegrating solid waste or generating and propelling a sludge slurry. The slurry scours the pipeline walls by cavitation and abrasion action. Also disclosed are systems for cleaning a sewage line section and methods of their use.

Abstract: The apparatus of the invention is a segmented pig body having an electrical instrumentation subassembly mounted thereto. The subassembly consists of a plurality sensors for electromagnetically coupling to the inner surface of the pipeline, each of which generates a signal that varies as the localized relative permeability of the pipeline metal; an odometer assembly for generating correlating data; and an instrument for recording the signal and data for later analysis. The method of the invention comprises passing the pig through the pipeline while it is electromagnetically coupled by the sensors to the inner surface of the pipeline. During the pass, signals varying with the localized magnetic permeability of the pipeline wall and correlative data are generated and recorded. After the pass, the correlative data is used to correlate the signals to wall locations to locate stress occurrences.

Abstract: A pipeline inspection apparatus is disclosed for the detection of corrosion pit type defects, employing one or more ultrasonic transducers to produce a parallel beam for direction toward the pipe wall from inside a pipe, with a sufficiently large beam width to permit comparison of time displayed signal components in defect depth determination, with the signal propagating through a gaseous medium. An additional embodiment combines the same with photographic apparatus.

Abstract: A corrosion probe is disclosed which includes two permanent bar magnets in side-by-side relation, with opposite magnetic orientation and with poles of opposite polarity adjacent a sensing end of the probe, a sensing coil being disposed around the magnets adjacent the sensing end. The probe is disclosed in use in a pipe inspection pig for controlling operation of a camera.