Abstract:
A lateral pipe that intersects a main pipe is lined using a lateral pipe-lining material having a tubular resin-absorbing material impregnated with a curable resin and having a flange formed at one end thereof. The flange of the lateral pipe-lining material is disposed on an expandable flange-pressing implement, and an adhesive is applied onto the flange. Hot water is fed to the flange-pressing implement to expand and press the flange against the periphery of the lateral pipe opening of the main pipe. The hot water thus fed also heats and cures the adhesive on the flange to secure it to the periphery of the lateral pipe opening of the main pipe. The drainage performance of the main pipe can be improved because a gap does not form between the flange of the lateral pipe-lining material and the periphery of the lateral pipe opening of the main pipe, and neither underground water nor earth or sand flows into the main pipe.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a lateral pipe-lining method for lining a lateral pipe using a lateral pipe-lining material impregnated with a curable resin having a flange formed at one end thereof, and a flange-pressing implement for a lateral pipe-lining material used in the lateral pipe-lining method. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    Known in the art are pipe-lining methods for lining the internal peripheral surface of aging sewer pipes or other pipes buried underground so that they can be repaired without having to be dug from the ground. 
         [0005]    These methods employ a pipe-lining material having a flexible tubular resin-absorbing material impregnated with a curable resin that is covered with a highly airtight film on the exterior thereof. The pipe-lining material is everted and inserted into the pipe using hydrostatic pressure. The pipe-lining material is heated while being pressed against the internal peripheral surface of the pipe by the hydrostatic pressure, and the resin impregnated in the pipe-lining material is cured, thereby lining the internal peripheral surface of the pipe. 
         [0006]    Such a method can be applied to a lateral pipe that branches from a main pipe, as described in Japanese Laid-open Patent Application Nos. 1992-355115 and 2008-168468. When a lateral pipe is to be lined, a lateral-pipe lining material with a flange formed at one end thereof is prepared and housed in a pressure bag. The flange of the lateral pipe-lining material is positioned on a head collar of a work robot introduced inside the main pipe and is brought into close contact with the lateral pipe opening in the main pipe by driving the work robot. Compressed air is fed inside the pressure bag to evert and insert the lateral pipe-lining material into the lateral pipe. When the pipe-lining material is everted and inserted throughout the entire length of the lateral pipe, the lateral pipe-lining material is kept pressed against the internal peripheral surface of the lateral pipe and heated to cure the impregnated thermosetting resin. The internal peripheral surface of the lateral pipe is lined by the lateral pipe-lining material thus cured. 
         [0007]    The flange of the lateral pipe-lining material is usually impregnated with a thermosetting resin and previously cured when it is manufactured in the factory. Alternatively, the flange of the lateral pipe-lining material is made of a thermoplastic resin. In either case, the flange of the lateral pipe-lining material lacks flexibility at room temperature. Therefore, an adequately close contact with the periphery of the lateral pipe opening of the main pipe cannot be achieved when there is a manufacturing error in the flange or when there are concavities and convexities in the periphery of the lateral pipe opening of the main pipe. 
         [0008]    In these cases, gaps are disadvantageously produced between the flange of the lateral pipe-lining material and the periphery of the lateral pipe opening of the main pipe when lining is complete. Underground water as well as earth and sand from the ground flow into the main pipe via the gap, and the drainage performance of the main pipe is degraded. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    An object of the present invention is to provide a lateral pipe-lining method for lining a lateral pipe that is capable of bringing the flange of a lateral pipe-lining material into adequately close contact with the periphery of the lateral pipe opening of the main pipe to line the lateral pipe with high quality; and to provide a flange-pressing implement for a lateral pipe-lining material that is used in the lateral pipe-lining method. 
         [0010]    According to the present invention there is provided a lateral pipe-lining method for lining a lateral pipe that intersects a main pipe, the method comprising: 
         [0011]    preparing a lateral pipe-lining material having a tubular resin-absorbing material impregnated with a curable resin and having a flange formed at one end thereof; 
         [0012]    disposing the flange of the lateral pipe-lining material on an expandable flange-pressing implement; 
         [0013]    pressing the flange of the lateral pipe-lining material against the periphery of a lateral pipe opening of the main pipe via the flange-pressing implement; and 
         [0014]    inserting the lateral pipe-lining material into the lateral pipe and curing the curable resin impregnated in the tubular resin-absorbing material to line the lateral pipe. 
         [0015]    The present invention is also characterized by a flange-pressing implement used in the lateral pipe-lining method. The flange-pressing implement comprises an inner bag having a hose mounted thereon; and a bag-shaped cover for covering the inner bag. A fluid is fed into the inner bag via the hose to expand the inner bag and press the flange of the lateral pipe-lining material against the periphery of the lateral pipe opening of the main pipe. 
         [0016]    The present invention is also characterized by a flange-pressing implement used in the lateral pipe-lining method. The flange-pressing implement comprises a tube mounted in a spiral shape and having a hose attached to one end thereof. A fluid is fed into the tube via the hose to expand the tube in a circular or elliptical shape and press the flange of the lateral pipe-lining material against the periphery of the lateral pipe opening of the main pipe. 
         [0017]    In accordance with the present invention, the flange of the lateral pipe-lining material makes adequately close contact with the periphery of the lateral pipe opening of the main pipe, and therefore, a gap is not produced therebetween. Accordingly, neither underground water nor earth or sand from the ground flows into the main pipe via the gap between the flange of the lateral pipe-lining material and the periphery of the lateral pipe opening of the main pipe. Therefore, the drainage performance of the main pipe can be improved. 
         [0018]    Further features of the invention, its nature and various advantages will be more apparent from the accompanying drawings and following detailed description of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0019]      FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view of a lateral pipe-lining material used in the method of the present invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  is a schematic illustrative view showing a process for fabricating an inner bag of a flange-pressing implement; 
           [0021]      FIG. 3   a  is a top view showing a reinforcement cover for covering the inner bag of the flange-pressing implement; 
           [0022]      FIG. 3   b  is a top view of the flange-pressing implement; 
           [0023]      FIG. 3   c  is a cross-sectional view along the line A-A of  FIG. 3   b;    
           [0024]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a head collar mounted on the work robot; 
           [0025]      FIG. 5   a  is a perspective view showing the head collar on which the flange-pressing implement has been mounted; 
           [0026]      FIG. 5   b  is a perspective view showing the head collar on which a protective cover has been mounted; 
           [0027]      FIG. 6   a  is a perspective view showing the head collar on which the lateral pipe-lining material has been positioned; 
           [0028]      FIG. 6   b  is a perspective view showing an adhesive applied onto the flange of the lateral pipe-lining material; 
           [0029]      FIG. 7   a  is a longitudinal sectional view of the head collar before the flange-pressing implement is expanded; 
           [0030]      FIG. 7   b  is a longitudinal sectional view of the head collar at the time when the flange-pressing implement has been expanded; 
           [0031]      FIGS. 8 and 9  are illustrative views each showing a method for lining the lateral pipe using the lateral pipe-lining material; 
           [0032]      FIG. 10  is an illustrative view showing a heater arranged on the flange-pressing implement; 
           [0033]      FIG. 11  is an illustrative view showing a flange-pressing implement having a tube wound around the head collar; 
           [0034]      FIG. 12   a  is a perspective view of the head collar on which the flange-pressing implement and a cover sheet have been mounted; 
           [0035]      FIG. 12   b  is a perspective view of the head collar having a protective cover attached to the flange-pressing implement; 
           [0036]      FIG. 13   a  is a longitudinal sectional view of the head collar to which the cover sheet and the lateral pipe-lining material have been attached; 
           [0037]      FIG. 13   b  is a longitudinal sectional view of the head collar together with the lateral pipe-lining material whose flange is coated with an adhesive; and 
           [0038]      FIG. 14  is an illustrative view showing a method for lining a lateral pipe using the head collar to which the cover sheet has been attached. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0039]    The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the embodiments shown in the attached drawings. 
         [0040]      FIG. 1  shows a lateral pipe-lining material  1  for lining a lateral pipe that intersects a main pipe. The lateral pipe-lining material  1  has a soft tubular resin-absorbing material  2 , and one end thereof is outwardly folded back to constitute a brim-shaped flange  3 . The portion that does not include the flange  3  of the tubular resin-absorbing material  2  is impregnated with an uncured liquid thermosetting resin, and is coated at the external surface thereof with a highly airtight plastic film  4  composed of polyethylene, polypropylene, nylon, vinyl chloride, or the like (the external surface becoming the internal peripheral surface when everted). 
         [0041]    The tubular resin-absorbing material  2  is composed of a matte, woven, or non-woven material made of polyamide, polyester, polypropylene, or another plastic fiber; a matte or woven material made of glass fiber; or a matte, woven, or non-woven material having a combination of the plastic fiber and fiber glass. The thermosetting resin impregnated in the tubular resin-absorbing material  2  is, e.g., an unsaturated polyester resin, vinyl ester resin, or epoxy resin. 
         [0042]    The flange  3  formed at one end of the tubular resin-absorbing material  2  has a curved surface whose curvature is substantially equal to that of a later-described main pipe  30  (see  FIG. 8 ). The outside diameter of the flange  3  is set to be greater than the inside diameter of a lateral pipe  31  (see  FIG. 8 ). The flange  3  is impregnated with a thermosetting resin, which is previously cured in the factory so as to provide a rigid flange whose curvature fits to that of the main pipe. 
         [0043]    The flange  3  may be composed of a vinyl chloride or other thermoplastic resin rather than a thermosetting resin. In this case, the flange  3  and the tubular resin-absorbing material  2  are joined together using an adhesive or the like. 
         [0044]    A peeling tube  5  of predetermined length is passed over the exterior of the tubular resin-absorbing material  2 , and one end of the peeling tube  5  is removably attached to the external periphery in the vicinity of the flange  3  of the tubular resin-absorbing material  2 . The other end of the peeling tube  5  is open and mounted in an airtight manner to a pressure bag (described later). The same material used for the plastic film  4  may be used for the peeling tube  5 . 
         [0045]    A tubular peeling end  6  is removably mounted on the other end of the tubular resin-absorbing material  2 . The peeling end  6  is composed of the same material as the plastic film  4  and one end is closed off by a connector  7 . 
         [0046]    In the present embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 3   a  to  3   c,  a flange-pressing implement  70  having an inner bag  73  that is covered with a reinforcement cover  74  is used to bring the flange  3  of the lateral pipe-lining material  1  into close contact with the periphery of the lateral pipe opening of the main pipe. 
         [0047]    The inner bag  73  is fabricated as shown in  FIG. 2 . A sheet  71  having a circular opening portion  71   a  in the center and protruding portions  71   b,    71   c  in a side portion is placed over a sheet  72  similarly having a circular opening portion  72   a  in the center and protruding portions  72   b,    72   c  in a side portion so as to form a bag shape. As shown by a dotted line in the lower portion of  FIG. 2 , a peripheral portion  73   d  and the external peripheral portion  73   e  of the opening portions  71   a,    72   a  are respectively bonded airtightly. The sheets  71 ,  72  are made of polyethylene, polypropylene, nylon, vinyl chloride, or another highly airtight plastic. 
         [0048]    The inner bag  73  thus fabricated has an opening portion  73   a  that corresponds to the opening portions  71   a,    72   a  of the sheets  71 ,  72 . The opening portion  73   a  of the inner bag  73  has a size that allows the cylindrical portion of a later-described head collar to pass. The distal ends of the protruding portions  71   b,    72   b  of the sheets  71 ,  72  are not bonded and are therefore used as an intake port  73   b  for taking in a later-described heat medium. The distal ends of the protruding portions  71   c,    72   c  are not bonded and are therefore used as a drainage port  73   c  for discharging the heat medium inside the inner bag  73 . A heat medium feed hose  75  and a heat medium drainage hose  76  are mounted in an airtight manner on the heat medium intake port  73   b  and drainage port  73   c  of the inner bag  73 . 
         [0049]    As shown in  FIG. 3   a,  the inner bag  73  is covered with a reinforcement cover  74  made of cashmere, silk, nylon, rayon, or another fiber; or silicon, polyethylene, polyurethane, or another material that does not easily stretch. The reinforcement cover  74  has an opening  74   a  that corresponds to the opening portions  71   a,    72   a  of the sheets  71 ,  72 ; and protruding portions  74   b,    74   c  that correspond to the protruding portions  71   b,    71   c,    72   b,    72   c.  The reinforcement cover  74  has a shape similar to that of the sheets  71 ,  72 , but the overall size is slightly smaller than the sheets  71 ,  72 . A reinforcement cover  74 ′ ( FIG. 3   c ) similar to the reinforcement cover  74  is provided, and the entire inner bag  73  is covered by the two reinforcement covers  74 ,  74 ′ so as to be housed therein. After the inner bag  73  has been covered, a periphery  74   d  of the reinforcement cover  74 , an external peripheral portion  74   e  of the opening portion  74   a  thereof, and the corresponding portions of the reinforcement cover  74 ′ are sewn or bonded together to provide a bag-shaped flange-pressing implement  70 . 
         [0050]    The reinforcement covers  74 ,  74 ′ have a shape that is slightly smaller than that of the sheets  71 ,  72  of the inner bag  73 . Therefore, the sheets  71 ,  72  in the inner bag  73  are housed in a wrinkled state, as shown in  FIG. 3   c.    FIG. 3   c  is a cross-sectional view along the line A-A of  FIG. 3   b,  which is not an accurate cross-sectional view, but rather schematically shows the inner bag  73  to be housed in a wrinkled state. 
         [0051]    The thus configured flange-pressing implement  70  has an opening portion  70   a  in the center portion into which the cylindrical portion of the head collar can be inserted, and protruding portions  70   b,    70   c  on which the heat medium feed hose  75  and the heat medium drainage hose  76  are mounted, as shown in  FIG. 3   b.  When a fluid (liquid, air) is fed from the heat medium feed hose  75 , the inner bag  73  expands overall in the form of a flat bag and generates a pressing force. At this point, the inner bag  73  is pressed against the reinforcement covers and does not completely expand, thereby preventing breakage or the application of an excessive load to the inner bag. 
         [0052]    The external shape of the flange-pressing implement  70  is not limited to being rectangular, as shown in the drawings, and may also be circular or triangular. 
         [0053]      FIG. 4  shows a metal head collar (pressing jig)  80  that is mounted on a work robot (described later) and a pressure bag to position the lateral pipe-lining material on the lateral pipe. The head collar  80  has a curved portion  80   a  having a curvature that corresponds to the curvature of the internal peripheral surface of the main pipe. A hollow cylindrical portion  80   b  of the head collar  80  passes through the curved portion  80   a  and extends downward. The outside diameter of the cylindrical portion  80   b  of the head collar  80  is slightly less than the diameter of the opening portion  70   a  of the flange-pressing implement  70  so that the cylindrical portion  80   b  of the head collar  80  can pass through the opening portion  70   a  of the flange-pressing implement  70 . 
         [0054]    The cylindrical portion  80   b  of the head collar  80  is passed through the opening portion  70   a  of the flange-pressing implement  70  so that the flange-pressing implement  70  may be mounted on the head collar  80 , as shown in  FIG. 5   a.  The flange-pressing implement  70  is not particularly required to be secured, but may be detachably mounted on the head collar  80  using adhesive tape in the case that there is a possibility that the flange-pressing implement  70  will move. 
         [0055]    As described below, an adhesive is applied to the flange of the lateral pipe-lining material. In order to prevent the adhesive from flowing onto the flange-pressing implement  70  or the head collar  80 , the flange-pressing implement  70  and the head collar  80  are covered by a protective film  81  that is larger than the head collar  80 , as shown in  FIG. 5   b.  The protective film  81  has a central opening portion that has substantially the same diameter as the opening portion  70   a  of the flange-pressing implement  70 . Therefore, the cylindrical portion  80   b  of the head collar  80  is passed through the opening portion of the protective film  81 , and the protective film  81  can be placed on the flange-pressing implement  70  and the head collar  80 . The protective film  81  is secured to the curved portion of the head collar  80  using an adhesive or the like so that the protective film  81  does not move. 
         [0056]    Next, the lateral pipe-lining material  1  shown in  FIG. 1  is inserted from the portion (the portion on which the connector  7  is mounted) of the tubular resin-absorbing material  2  into the cylindrical portion  80   b  of the head collar  80 , and the flange  3  thereof is placed on the protective film  81  so as to cover the cylindrical portion  80   b  thereof, as shown in  FIG. 6   a.  The outside diameter of the cylindrical portion  80   b  of the head collar  80  is made less than the inside diameter of the flange  3  so as to allow the cylindrical portion  80   b  of the head collar  80  to pass through the flange  3  of the lateral pipe-lining material  1  and the flange  3  to lie on the head collar  80 . 
         [0057]    In this manner, the lateral pipe-lining material  1  is placed on the head collar  80  via the protective film  81  and the flange-pressing implement  70 . An adhesive  82  composed of unsaturated polyester resin, vinyl ester resin, epoxy resin, or the like is then coated onto the surface of the flange  3  ( FIG. 6   b ). 
         [0058]    The lateral pipe-lining material  1  mounted on the head collar  80  is accommodated inside a pressure bag  43 , as shown in  FIG. 8 , and the head collar  80  is mounted in an airtight fashion at one end of the pressure bag  43 . 
         [0059]    The work robot  42  has a head  44  that reciprocates in the vertical direction a, b in  FIG. 8 , and is configured so as to rotate (rolling) about the pipe axis in the manner indicated by the arrow c. The head collar  80  is mounted on a head  44 . A monitoring TV camera  46  is disposed on the upper part of the work robot  42 . Draw ropes  47 ,  48  are attached to the front and rear of the work robot  42 . The draw rope  47  is connected to the pressure bag  43  and the other draw rope  48  is extended to above ground. The draw rope  48  is pulled to convey the work robot  42  and the pressure bag  43  so that the flange  3  of the pipe-lining material  1  may be located in the vicinity of the lateral pipe  31  that intersects the main pipe  30 . 
         [0060]    The open end of the pressure bag  43  is closed by a cap  52 , and the other end of the peeling tube  5  that is mounted on the tubular resin-absorbing material  2  of the lateral pipe-lining material  1  is mounted in an airtight manner inside the pressure bag  43 . 
         [0061]    A draw rope  40  and a hot water hose  41  that are attached to the cap  52  in an airtight manner are connected to the connector  7  on which the peeling end  6  of the lateral pipe-lining material  1  is mounted. The hot water hose  41  passes through the cap  52 , extends away from the pressure bag  43 , and leads to a valve  53 . A hot water pump  54  feeds hot water (heat medium) to the hot water hose  41  from a hot water tank  55  that is heated by a heat source (not shown). The hot water inside the pressure bag  43  is returned to the hot water tank  55  via a drainage hose  56  and valve  57 . 
         [0062]    Hot water is also fed via the hot water pump  54  and a valve  66  from the hot water tank  55  to the heat medium feed hose  75  mounted on the flange-pressing implement  70 . The hot water inside the flange-pressing implement  70  is returned to the hot water tank  55  via the heat medium drainage hose  76  and a valve  65 . 
         [0063]    An airtight space closed off by the lateral pipe-lining material  1  and the peeling tube  5  is formed inside the pressure bag  43 . A compressor  61  disposed above ground is connected via an air hose  59  and valve  60  to the airtight space inside the pressure bag to feed compressed air thereto. The airtight space is also in communication with the exterior via a drainage hose  62  and valve  63  to discharge the compressed air inside the pressure bag to the exterior. 
         [0064]    A method for lining a lateral pipe  31  using the lateral pipe-lining material  1  as described above will now be described. 
         [0065]    The draw rope  48  is pulled to move the pressure bag  43  to the location in which the center of the cylindrical portion  80   b  of the head collar  80  substantially coincides with the axial center of the lateral pipe  31  ( FIG. 8 ). 
         [0066]    The head  44  of the work robot  42  is raised in the direction of arrow a to press the flange  3  of the lateral pipe-lining material  1  into close contact with the periphery of the lateral pipe opening of the main pipe  30  via the flange-pressing implement  70 . Close contact is reduced when there is manufacturing error in the flange  3  or when there are concavities and convexities in the periphery of the lateral pipe opening. In view of such circumstances, in the present invention, the flange-pressing implement  70  is expanded to press the flange  3  against the periphery of the lateral pipe opening. 
         [0067]    Hot water is fed from the hot water tank  55  via the heat medium feed hose  75  to the inner bag  73  of the flange-pressing implement  70 . The flange-pressing implement  70  is then caused to expand in the form of a flat bag as shown in  FIG. 7   b.  Hot water that cannot be accommodated is returned to the hot water tank  55  via the heat medium drainage hose  76 . The circulation of hot water through the flange-pressing implement  70  causes elastic pressing force to be produced therein to bring the flange  3  into close contact with the periphery  30   a  of the lateral pipe opening of the main pipe  30 .  FIGS. 7   a  and  7   b  are not accurate sectional views of the flange-pressing implement  70 , but are schematic views for illustrating the state of expansion. 
         [0068]    The pressing force produced by the flange-pressing implement  70  can be adjusted via the valve  66  by adjusting the feed rate of the hot water to the flange-pressing implement  70 . Similarly, the pressing force produced by the flange-pressing implement  70  can also be adjusted via the valve  65  by adjusting the drainage rate of the hot water returned from the flange-pressing implement  70  to the hot water tank  55 . It is also possible to adjust the pressing force of the flange-pressing implement  70  by adjusting both the feed and drainage rates of the hot water. 
         [0069]    Hot water at a temperature of about 60° to 90° C. is fed to the flange-pressing implement  70 . Therefore, the flange  3  is gradually heated, and the adhesive  82  coated thereon is cured. This allows the flange  3  to be bonded to the periphery  30   a  of the lateral pipe opening of the main pipe  30 . The flange  3  is composed of a thermosetting resin and the adhesive  82  on the flange  3  is adequately heated by heat conduction by hot water even when the thermosetting resin in the flange  3  has already been cured. In the case that the flange  3  is made of a thermoplastic resin, the flange  3  is softened by heating and comes into closer contact with the periphery of the lateral pipe opening, thus allowing the flange  3  to be bonded to the main pipe  30  more reliably. 
         [0070]    In a state in which the flange has made close contact with the periphery of the lateral pipe opening, the compressor  61  is driven to feed compressed air into the airtight space inside the pressure bag  43  via the air hose  59 . This causes the lateral pipe-lining material  1  to be sequentially everted and inserted upward into the lateral pipe  31  under the pressure of the compressed air. 
         [0071]    When eversion/insertion of the lateral pipe-lining material  1  into the lateral pipe  31  has ended as shown in  FIG. 9 , the lateral pipe-lining material  1  is kept to be pressed against the internal peripheral surface of the lateral pipe  31 , and hot water is fed from the distal end of the hot water hose  41  and filled into the airtight space inside the pressure bag  43 . The compressed air inside the airtight space is released into the atmosphere via the exhaust hose  62 , while the thermosetting resin impregnated in the tubular resin-absorbing material  2  of the lateral pipe-lining material  1  is heated and cured by the hot water. 
         [0072]    In the embodiment as describe above, the flange-pressing implement is expanded before the lateral pipe-lining material is inserted into the lateral pipe. However, rather than expanding the flange-pressing implement before the lateral pipe-lining material is inserted into the lateral pipe, it is also possible to expand the flange-pressing implement when the lateral pipe-lining material is inserted or being inserted into the lateral pipe, or when the curable resin impregnated in the tubular resin-absorbing material is cured after insertion has been completed, or after curing has been started. 
         [0073]    When the resin impregnated in the tubular resin-absorbing material  2  has cured, hot water is released from the airtight space via the heat medium drainage hose  56  and returned to the hot water tank  55 . The hot water inside the flange-pressing implement  70  is also returned to the hot water tank via the heat medium drainage hose  76 . 
         [0074]    When the lateral pipe-lining material  1  has cured, the head  44  of the work robot  42  is lowered in the direction of the arrow b in the drawing and the flange-pressing implement  70  is separated from the flange  3  of the lateral pipe-lining material  1 . The draw rope  40  is thereafter pulled in the leftward direction in  FIG. 9 . At this point, the peeling tube  5 , the peeling end  6 , the hot water hose  41 , and the like are pulled in the same direction and removed from the lateral pipe-lining material  1 . 
         [0075]    The work robot  42 , the pressure bag  43 , and the like are then removed from inside the main pipe  30  to finish the lining of the internal peripheral surface of the lateral pipe  31 . 
         [0076]    In place of hot water, the heat medium used for expanding the flange-pressing implement  70  and heating the adhesive  82  on the flange  3  may be hot air or a heated liquid. The heat source for obtaining hot air or the heat source for heating the liquid, and a circulation system for circulating the hot air or the heated liquid is prepared in the case that hot air or heated liquid is used as the heat medium. 
         [0077]    In the embodiment described above, the medium for heating the adhesive  82  is the same fluid for expanding the flange-pressing implement  70 , but instead it is possible to use a heater  90  such as that shown in  FIG. 10  to heat the adhesive  82 . The heater  90  is composed of a Nichrome wire or another serpentine heater wire  90   a  that produces heat when voltage is applied. The heater  90  is overall covered by a cover  91  having waterproofness and insulative properties. The cover  91  is substantially the same size as the flange-pressing implement  70 , and an opening portion  91   a  having the same size as the opening portion  70   a  of the flange-pressing implement  70  is formed in the center of the cover  91 . The heater  90  is energized from above ground. 
         [0078]    The heater  90  is disposed on the flange-pressing implement  70  protected by the protective film  81 , and the cylindrical portion  80   b  of the head collar  80  is inserted through the opening portion  91   a  of the heater  90  to receive the flange  3  of the lateral pipe-lining material  1  on the heater  90 . In this case, a single hose is connected to the flange-pressing implement  70  to feed compressed air from the compressor  61  because a fluid circulation system would not be required. 
         [0079]    In  FIG. 7 , the heater  90  is disposed between the protective film  81  and the flange  3  of the lateral pipe-lining material  1 . When the flange-pressing implement  70  is expanded using compressed air and the heater  90  is energized, the flange  3  is pressed against the periphery  30   a  of the lateral pipe opening of the main pipe  30  in the same manner as when hot water is used. Since the adhesive  82  on the flange  3  is heated and cured by the heater  90 , the flange  3  can be secured to the main pipe  30  in a state of reliable close contact therewith in the same manner as when hot water is used. 
         [0080]      FIG. 11  shows another embodiment of the flange-pressing implement in which an expandable tube  100  is wound a plurality of times about the cylindrical portion  80   b  of the head collar  80 . The tube  100  wound about the cylindrical portion  80   b  is bundled by elastic tapes  101  to prevent disassembly. A hose (not shown) is attached in an airtight manner to a mounting end  100   a  of the tube  100 , and another hose (not shown) is also attached to the other end  100   b  of the tube  100 . 
         [0081]    The tube  100  expands in a circular or elliptical shape when hot water is fed from the hot water tank  55  via one of the hoses. The excess hot water in the tube  100  is returned to the hot water tank  55  via the other hose. An elastic pressing force is generated in the tube  100  by circulating hot water. By positioning the flange  3  of the lateral pipe-lining material  1  on the tube  100 , the flange  3  can be advantageously pressed against the periphery of the lateral pipe opening of the main pipe and the adhesive on the flange  3  can be heated by the hot water in the tube  100  in the same manner as the flange-pressing implement  70 . Therefore, the flange  3  can be reliably secured to the main pipe. 
         [0082]    The pressing force produced by the tube  100  can be adjusted by adjusting the feed rate of the hot water to the tube  100  via the valve  66 , by adjusting the drainage rate of the hot water to the hot water tank  55  via the valve  65 , or by adjusting both the feed and drainage rates of the hot water. 
         [0083]    In place of hot water, it is also possible to use a heated liquid, or hot air as the heat medium in the same manner as the flange-pressing implement  70 . 
         [0084]    The flange-pressing implement  70 , the protective film  81 , and the lateral pipe-lining material  1  may be mounted on the head collar  80  after the head collar  80  has been first positioned on the work robot. It is also possible to first mount the flange-pressing implement  70  and the protective film  81  on the head collar  80 , then position the head collar  80  on the work robot, and thereafter position the lateral pipe-lining material  1  on the head collar  80 . 
         [0085]    In the embodiment described above, the head  44  of the work robot  42  lifts the head collar  80  upward from one side (the right side in  FIG. 8 ), and the flange  3  presses against the main pipe  30 . Accordingly, there is a problem in that the orientation of the work robot  42  becomes unstable due to the reaction. 
         [0086]    In view of this situation, the lower portion of the head collar  80  is covered by a cover sheet  120 , as shown in  FIG. 12   a.  The pressure bag  43  is caused to expand by compressed air and makes contact with the cover sheet  120  to support the opposite side (the left side in  FIG. 8 ) of the head collar  80 . 
         [0087]    The cover sheet  120  is a soft cover material composed of cloth or plastic, and tightly stretched over the lower portion of the curved portion  80   a  of the head collar  80 . One end  120   a  and the other end  120   b  of the cover sheet  120  are folded back and secured to the flange-pressing implement  70  using an adhesive ( FIG. 13   a ). The opening portion  120   c  through which the pipe-lining material  1  can pass is formed in the center portion of the cover sheet  120  in a position that corresponds to the cylindrical portion  80   b  of the head collar  80 . A hole (not shown) through which the distal end of the head  44  of the work robot  42  can pass is also formed in the cover sheet  120 . 
         [0088]    After the head collar  80  has been covered with the cover sheet  120 , the head collar  80  is covered with the protective film  81 , as shown in  FIG. 12   b.  The lateral pipe-lining material  1  is thereafter positioned on the head collar  80  and the adhesive  82  is coated onto the flange  3  in the same manner as shown in  FIGS. 6   a  and  6   b.    
         [0089]    The same steps are carried out as those illustrated in  FIGS. 8 and 9  in the case that the lateral pipe is lined using the head collar  80  covered with the cover sheet  120 . In the case that the head collar  80  is covered by the cover sheet  120 , a portion of the pressure bag  43  expands by compressed air for everting the lateral pipe-lining material and makes contact with the cover sheet  120  to support the opposite side of the head collar  80  (the left side in  FIG. 14 ), as shown in  FIG. 14 . This state is also shown in  FIG. 13   b  by the pressure bag  43  shown by the imaginary line. 
         [0090]    In this manner, the head collar  80  is supported on two sides by the pressure bag  43  and the head  44  of the work robot  42 . It is possible to prevent the work robot  42  from being affected by a force that destabilizes the orientation of the work robot  42 , and the work for lining a lateral pipe can be carried out in a smooth fashion. 
         [0091]    The cover sheet  120  is provided across the head  44  side of the work robot  42  as well as the opposite side thereof, but there is no particular requirement that the head  44  side be covered by the cover sheet  120 , and such a portion may be omitted.