Patent ID: 7682106

Claim:
An apparatus for installing a slipliner inside a host pipe, said apparatus comprising: a gripper assembly that advances said slipliner in a longitudinal direction, said gripper assembly comprising a plurality of gripper members that engage an exterior surface of said slipliner; means for positioning said gripper member so as to define a substantially fixed-sized gap between opposing sides of a receiving area through which said slipliner passes, said gap being sized less than an external diameter of said slipliner so that said slipliner is resiliently compressed between said jaw portion so as to be deflected by a predetermined amount to establish a firm engagement therewith; and means for advancing said gripper members along a longitudinal length of said slipliner; a boom assembly that lowers said gripper assembly into an access opening so as to position said gripper assembly substantially level with a mouth opening of said host pipe therein; and a vehicle having said boom assembly mounted thereto so that said boom and gripper assemblies can be transported to a location proximate said access opening.