Abstract: A mobile cutter robot for making a hole is equipped with a rotary grinder assembly consisting essentially of an abrasive body having an axis of rotation, a ball bearing coaxially embedded in the surface of the abrasive body, and a tubular connector by which the rotary grinder assembly is detachably connected to a drive shaft of the cutter robot.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for lining an underground pipe are proposed: the pipe is plugged at a location upstream to a manhole; a three-pronged passage is installed whose first end penetrates the plug and opens in the interior of the pipe upstream to the plug and whose second end opens in the manhole at the level of the pipe, and whose third end opens in the atmosphere at a substantially high level; then the second end of the three-pronged passage is closed to cause the drain water to rise and go toward the third end of the three-pronged passage; the drain water is let to fall from the down-looking third end of the three-pronged passage into an upper end of a vertical eversion conduit provided in the manhole, thereby effecting eversion of a tubular liner into the vertical eversion conduit means; the tubular liner everting in the vertical eversion conduit is guided by a guide device such that at the lower end of the vertical eversion conduit the eversion head of the tubular liner is caused to turn orthogonally

Abstract: A tubular liner, for lining the inner wall of a pipe, comprises a plurality of composite liner tubes, each liner type contains an inner layer of a resin-absorbable sheet and an outer layer of hermetic plastic film. The composite liner tubes are joined by spirally stitched abutting ends. In an embodiment, the inner resin-absorbable sheets are joined. An adhesive can be applied to the inner and outer walls of the resin-absorbable sheet along the stitched spiral seam.

Abstract: A method for lining a manhole: (i) inserting into the manhole a tubular liner wet with a curable liquid resin; (ii) everting an inflatable plastic bag into the tubular liner by charging water in it; (iii) closing the open end of the everted bag to form a closed space inside the bag; (iv) supplying compressed air to the closed space to cause the plastic bag to inflate and press the liner against the manhole; and (v) curing the liquid resin to harden the liner; and further improvements include: plugging the main pipe with two plugs to isolate the manhole and stop the drain from wetting the manhole, but providing a hose penetrating through the plugs to allow the drain to flow past the manhole; partially filling the portion of the main pipe isolated between the two plugs with a liquid absorbent filler; the tubular liner has varied thickness increasing toward its lower end stepwise or continuously and has its lower opening covered up by a net attached to the lower end circumference of the liner.

Abstract: A bent pipe lining method which can get rid of bulky creases of the liner commonly formed at the bends of the pipe, and the method is characterized by a use of a flat belt that is hitched to the sewn-end of the liner bag, which pulls the flat belt inside itself as it is everted into the bent pipe; when the liner bag is hardened the flat belt is kept stretched so as to keep the bulky creases compressed and bent flatly.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a liner bag used for lining used underground pipes: (i) a long tube of a rectangular resin absorbent sheet, whose outer face is hermetically coated with a plastic film, is formed with a long cavity along the entire length of its seam by attaching a first reinforcer cover strip to the inner face of the resin absorbent sheet tube across the seam by welding only the lateral long side portions thereof; (ii) a second reinforcer strip is fixed in the long cavity by welding it to the resin absorbent sheet and the first reinforcer strip in a manner such that the second reinforcer strip is trapped between the resin absorbent sheet and the first reinforcer strip at a location underneath the seam; (iii) then, a first adhesive tape is applied to the surface of the plastic film in a manner so as to cover up the entire length of the seam and a wider second adhesive tape is applied to the surface of the plastic film over the first adhesive tape, the back of the first adhesive tape having a releasi

Abstract: A branch pipe lining method is provided which can directly achieve an air-tight connection between a pressure bag and a branch pipe liner bag in a simple structure without employing a conventional sealed tube. An open end of the pressure bag is attached to a set nozzle attached to a work robot which is movably installed in a main pipe. A branch pipe liner bag, impregnated with a thermosetting resin, is placed inside the pressure bag. The liner bag has a flange which is removably attached to the set nozzle by fitting a protrusion formed on a surface of the flange into a concave groove formed in the set nozzle. With the flange being closely contacted to the inner wall of the main pipe around a branch pipe opening, compressed air is supplied into the pressure bag to evert and insert the branch pipe liner bag into a branch pipe.

Abstract: A method is proposed for lining a branch pipe from the main pipe; in particular a special sealing mechanism is adopted in attaching the collar of a liner bag onto the flange of a fluid pressure sealing nozzle: stopper tacks are embedded in the collar at appropriate locations, each of the stopper tacks having its bottom end exposed from the back face of the collar and connected with a string; the back face of the collar of the branch pipe liner bag is faced with the upper face of the flange of the fluid pressure sealing nozzle, which comprises a hollow cylindrical part, the flange extending perpendicularly from the side of the cylindrical part, at least one endless sealant laid on the upper face of the flange, and a string puller provided in the flange; the strings are engaged with the string puller; the string puller pulls the strings so that the collar and the flange are moved toward each other until sufficient sealing effect is obtained.

Abstract: A resin injection method and a pipeline repair method are provided for smoothly and rapidly performing setting of an open liner and for completing works such as eversion and insertion of the open liner even for a steeply inclined pipeline. An end portion of an open liner is everted such that the end is attached to one end of a pipe liner bag which has been introduced into a pipeline to be repaired. A resin is injected into the open liner from the other end thereof while the pipe liner bag is evacuated, thus injecting the resin into the pipe liner bag through the open liner. After the resin has been injected into the pipe liner bag 1 in the above-mentioned method, the open liner is everted by fluid pressure to be inserted into the pipe liner bag, whereby the resin is impregnated into the pipe liner bag. Then, the pipe liner bag is pressed against the inner wall of the pipeline 4, in which state the resin impregnated in the pipe liner bag is cured to repair the pipeline.

Abstract: A cutter robot used to operate in a horizontal pipe having a horizontally extending main body, a stand gear to support the main body aloft, and a head bearing a rotary grinder assembly, and this head consists of: (i) a motor having an upward output shaft to bear the grinder assembly locked about its end, (ii) two holders, and (iii) two vertically held piston cylinders, which are arranged such that the first piston cylinder connected to the main body has an upward piston rod, and the first holder means supported at the end of the upward piston rod of the first piston cylinder holds the second piston cylinder, and the second holder means supported at the end of the downward piston rod of the second piston cylinder holds the motor.

Abstract: An eversion nozzle used in the operation of repairing an underground tubular conduit by lining the inner wall of the tubular conduit with an everted tubular liner bag impregnated with a hardenable liquid resin: the inventive eversion nozzle is a hollow straight cylinder and its length L and inner diameter D hold:D/5<L<2D;a novel eversion method is also provided wherein the above eversion nozzle is utilized.

Abstract: An improved method for repairing a utility pipe such as underground sewer pipe to internally line the pipe with a tubular liner impregnated with a thermosetting resin, and in this method, a hot water hose having ejection holes is inserted in the tubular liner bag to eject hot water to effect hardening of the thermosetting resin and this hose is provided with numerous floats to float in the water even when the ejected water collects and floods inside the tubular liner bag; thus, efficient shooting of the hot water from the hot water hose is secured.

Abstract: A method of inspecting a pipe liner bag is provided for efficiently and accurately performing in parallel inspections for a hardened condition and air-tight sealing effect of the pipe liner bag. A main pipe and a branch pipe are lined with hardened pipe liner bags, and then all open ends of the pipe liner bags are air-tightly sealed by air plugs to define an air-tight sealed space S within the pipe liner bags. Then, while the pressure within the sealed space is decreased, the inspections are made for a hardened condition and air-tight sealing effect of the pipe liner bag. If the pipe liner bag includes incompletely hardened portions, such portions will be deformed due to compression buckling, so that the deformed portions can be readily found by a TV camera equipped with a light emitting unit. In this manner, a hardened condition of the pipe liner bag can be accurately inspected.

Abstract: A method for repairing a tubular conduit by lining the inner wall of the tubular conduit with a tubular liner bag impregnated with thermosetting liquid resin, having the steps of: (a) everting the tubular liner bag in the tubular conduit; (b) closing the open end of the tubular liner bag with a stationary lid thereby forming a closed space inside the tubular liner bag and the lid; (c) inserting a heat-resistive hose into the closed space through the lid; (d) inflating the tubular liner bag by charging a pressurized fluid into the closed space; and (e) supplying hot water via the heat-resistive hose to thereby heat and harden the liner bag; wherein the heat-resistive hose is slidably inserted through the lid, and is connected to the lid via a flexible inflatable sealing device such that when the pressurized fluid is charged into the closed space the sealing device is pressed to inflate externally from the lid thereby forcing the heat-resistive hose to slide externally.

Abstract: A tubular liner bag is everted into a pipe to line the same, by first attaching an air hose end to the uneverted liner bag and then everting the tubular liner bag by water pressure provided into the manhole to the pipe. The head of the tubular liner bag is turned toward the pipe entrance when the head of the liner bag hits the inner wall of the pipe, and the tubular liner bag is everted into the pipe. The eversion is then stopped and the everted tubular liner bag is deformed to a J-shape with its head portion corresponding to the toe of the J-shape. Compressed air at a pressure not substantially greater than the pressure required to force the tubular liner bag to evert then exists in the toe section of the tubular liner bag but does not exist in the long-leg section.

Abstract: A pipe liner bag is provided for reliably lining a pipe into which water may penetrate. The pipe liner bag has a double layer structure including an inner layer of a tubular nonwoven fabric made of fine yarn of three deniers or less and an outer layer of a tubular nonwoven fabric made of fat yarn of 3-15 deniers. The tubular nonwoven fabric constituting the inner layer is impregnated with highly viscous and thixotropic hardenable resin mixed with granule fillers of a small diameter, while the tubular nonwoven fabric constituting the outer layer is impregnated with hardenable resin mixed with granule filler of a large diameter. After the pipe liner bag is everted and inserted into a pipe to be repaired by fluid pressure, the hardenable resin impregnated in the pipe liner bag is cured while maintaining the internal pressure thereof constant. When this pipe liner bag is used to repair a pipe from which a branch pipe is branched off, it can be integrated with a branch pipe liner bag.

Abstract: A branch pipe lining method of the invention utilizes a branch pipe liner bag impregnated with a hardenable resin and having a flange at one end thereof, wherein the flange is folded out and mounted to a fluid pressure sealing nozzle; the branch pipe liner bag is everted and insertied into a branch pipe; an upper end of the branch pipe liner bag is pulled up by a rope or the like with the flange thereof being secured on the inner wall of the main pipe; the fluid pressure sealing nozzle is removed from the branch pipe liner bag; a sealing pressure bag introduced into the main pipe is expanded to seal a lower opening of the branch pipe liner bag with the sealing pressure bag; the upper end of the branch pipe liner bag is closed, and the branch pipe liner bag is pressed against the inner wall of the branch pipe with a fluid pressure; and the hardenable resin impregnated in the branch pipe liner bag is hardened while the branch pipe liner bag is continuously being pressed against the inner wall of the branch pipe

Abstract: A branch pipe lining method ensures a reliable air-tight connection between a branch pipe liner bag and a fluid pressure sealing nozzle with a simple structure so that the branch pipe liner bag can be inserted into a branch pipe without fail. A branch pipe liner bag impregnated with a hardenable resin and having a flange at one end thereof is used for the branch pipe repair. The flange of the branch pipe liner bag is folded out to be mounted to a fluid pressure sealing nozzle. A close contact between the flange and the fluid pressure sealing nozzle is held by vacuum pressure. The branch pipe liner bag is then everted and inserted from a main pipe into a branch pipe toward the ground by a fluid pressure. The branch pipe liner bag is pressed onto the inner wall of the branch pipe by a fluid pressure, and the hardenable resin impregnated in the branch pipe liner bag is hardened while the bag itself is kept pressed onto the inner wall of the branch pipe.

Abstract: A method for lining a branch pipe comprising the steps of: preparing a tubular liner bag by sewing a rectangular nonwoven resin-absorbent fabric into a tubular shape with one end closed; attaching an impermeable plastic film over the external surface of this tubular liner bag; soaking the nonwoven resin-absorbent fabric with a hardenable fluid resin; everting the liner bag into the branch pipe until the eversion head of the liner bag is stopped by the inner wall of the main pipe; forcing the eversion head of the liner bag to turn downstream in the main pipe, thus allowing the the liner bag to evert entirely; hardening the hardenable fluid resin while inflating the liner bag; and removing that portion of the liner bag which protrudes into the main pipe.

Abstract: A tubular liner for lining the inner wall of a pipe such as sewer pipe made up of a flexible tubular resin-absorbent fabric to be impregnated with a thermosetting liquid resin and a tubular plastic film welded on the external surface of the tubular resin-absorbent fabric; also disclosed are the methods for making such tubular liner and for impregnating such tubular liner with the thermosetting liquid resin, and in particular the impregnation method is characterized by using a plurality of vacuum suction hoses.