Patent ID: 7845211

Claim:
An apparatus for forming and testing the integrity of a pipe, said pipe having a first end with a first opening and a second end with a second opening, the pipe being formed of two or more segments, the apparatus comprising: a frame having a first end and a second end; an elongate mandrel having first and second ends and a length corresponding at least to the length of the pipe and an outer diameter less than the inner diameter of said pipe wherein, when in use, said mandrel is adapted to be received within the pipe to form a mandrel and pipe assembly; the mandrel being supported on said frame and with the first end of the mandrel being secured to the first end of the frame; the first end of the mandrel including a first sealing device for sealing the first opening of the pipe and the second end of the mandrel including a second sealing device for sealing the second opening of the pipe, whereby, when in use, a generally annular space is created between said mandrel, said pipe, and said first and second sealing devices; the apparatus including one or more ports for filling said annular space with a pressurizing fluid or for voiding said annular space of air or said fluid and a means for monitoring the pressure within said annular space; and the apparatus further including a means for permanently joining together the two or more segments forming said pipe.