British Gas Plc

Andrew Smart

Trevor G Stafford

An in-pipe vehicle for carrying out at least one operation in a pipeline. The vehicle comprises a train of modules 11-16 interlinked by suspension units 17 to allow serpentine movement through pipe bends. The vehicle train has its own internal power supply and drive mechanism in respective modules. A detector module 14 determines the presence of a service junction and a manipulative module 13 allows the vehicle to be temporarily wedged in the pipeline whilst providing rotational movement to facilitate the desired operation at the junction. This can include drilling and welding of a service pipe to the main using appropriate modules.

Pipeline vehicle with linked modules and carriages

Pipeline vehicle

A polyethylene pipe 10 is joined by a welded joint to a cross-linked polyethylene coupler 14 which has been expanded to make the coupler heat recoverable. Radiant energy (eg light in the visible spectrum or infra-red light) illuminates the outer surface of the coupler 14 supplied by an array of 15OW reflector lamps 20. The coupler 14 shrinks and is forced into engagement with the pipe 10 and the pipe 12 to join the pipes. A fusion welded joint is formed between the coupler 14 and each pipe, 10, 12. In an alternative a pipe is drawn down and inserted in an aperture through the wall of another pipe. A lamp is inserted in the drawn down pipe and the radiant energy causes the pipe to expand into engagement with the edge of the aperture and to be joined to it by a welded joint (FIG. 2).

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Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom

Andrew Smart