Patent ID: 9546753
Date: 2017-01-17
CPC Classifications: B29C,F16L,Y10T

Claim:
1. Apparatus for driving a flexible tubular comprising: at least a first pair of resilient and contra-rotating tracks having a nip formed therebetween through which the flexible tubular is frictionally driven, each track being continuous and forming a parallel and linear engagement portion for engaging the flexible tubular; a drive motor for driving at least a first driven track of the first pair of contra-rotating tracks; wherein the flexible tubular is a flexible liner for insertion into the bore of an existing in-situ pipe, further comprising a guide tube adapted to the in-situ pipe and extending between the contra-rotating tracks and the bore of the in-situ pipe for guiding the liner into the bore of the in-situ pipe; a pull-head, which is sealable to the in-situ pipe, and secured to a leading end of the flexible liner; and a liner seal for sealing about the flexible liner in the guide tube wherein, when a fluid is introduced intermediate the pull head and the liner seal, the pull head is urged along the in-situ pipe for pulling the flexible liner therewith while the contra-rotating tracks push the flexible liner.