Patent ID: 6240965
Filing Date: 2001-06-05
Classification: F16L,Y10T

Abstract:
A conduit repair apparatus comprising:a carriage constructed and arranged for movement within a conduit in which repairs are to be effected, said carriage including a carrying frame and a drive member;an expansion and brake mechanism provided on said carriage, said expansion and brake mechanism including at least one radially movable engagement member operatively mounted to apply a radially outwardly directed force;a force applicator mechanism provided on said carriage, said force applicator mechanism including at least one radially movable pressure member operatively mounted to apply radially outwardly directed pressure and for rotation about an axis of rotation generally coincident with a central longitudinal axis of the conduit in which repairs are to be effected; anda power source operatively connected to said force applicator mechanism to rotatably drive said at least one pressure member about said axis of rotation;whereby a repair sleeve positionable within the conduit can be radially expanded by said expansion and brake mechanism into engagement with an inner wall of the conduit, said expansion and brake mechanism can be positioned at a location outside the repair sleeve and radially expanded to engage the inner wall of the conduit to hold said carriage fixed relative to the conduit, and said force applicator mechanism can be operated to radially actuate said at least one radially movable pressure member and simultaneously to rotate said at least one pressure member about the axis of rotation to thereby apply radially outwardly directed pressure uniformly to an inner wall of the repair sleeve.